Video Calls Become the Norm
The Covid-19 pandemic completely transformed the video conferencing industry almost overnight. According to McKinsey, the pace of technological adaptation has vaulted ahead by several years:
As the chart above highlights, the percent of people working remotely has skyrocketted to over 60% just in the United States. And this shift appears to be more than temporary.
A Forrester Research report predicts we will see a 300% increase in virtual meeting participation moving forward versus pre-Covid levels. Video conferencing is here to stay.
With this ongoing reliance on platforms like Zoom, more attention is being placed on the environments visible in employees‘ video feeds.
The Impact of Unprofessional Backgrounds
According to a 2020 LinkedIn survey, over 70% of professionals admit to multitasking and losing focus during video conference calls. So before judging someone for having a messy bedroom visible during an important meeting, we‘ve likely all been distracted at some point.
However, research also demonstrates that one‘s visible environment impacts impressions:
- A University of Michigan study found interviewers may make negative assumptions if books aren‘t visible behind the interviewee
- Over 80% of employees surveyed say an unprofessional background is distracting and reflects poorly on the individual
So while occasional distractions happen to all of us, taking steps to project professionalism is still advised when camera use is required.
This is where Zoom‘s background blur feature comes to the rescue!
Using Backgrounds for Good
Beyond just hiding a messy location, virtual backgrounds can also:
- Display an office if working remotely from home
- Reinforce your personal brand with logos/consistent imagery
- Add some appropriate humor to informal calls
But remember to keep things professional for formal business meetings and external presentations.
Now let‘s get into the step-by-step guides for enabling background blurring during your Zoom calls!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Blurring on Desktop
[Original instructions from previous content]Troubleshooting Tips
If you followed the steps but are still having issues blurring your background, try these troubleshooting suggestions:
– Relaunch the Zoom desktop app and retry toggling on background blur. There may be a glitch in the app preventing correct performance. Quit out of the app completely before reopening to restart the program.
– Update your Zoom app to the latest version (at least 5.3.0) for access to more robust background effects and virtual scene processing. In the app click your profile -> Check for Updates.
– Change your camera resolution settings. Lower resolutions can prevent the software from accurately blurring the background precisely around your silhouette.
In the Zoom Settings, navigate to Video and raise the camera resolution. 720p or 1080p is recommended.
– Alter your lighting. Brighter front lighting and darker backgrounds yield the best blur effects. Add portable lights or move locations if needed.
Enabling Virtual Backgrounds
Alongside blurring, Zoom also enables swapping your background for a virtual one. To do this:
1) Navigate to the Background & Filters tab in Settings (or during a call)
2) Select Virtual Background
3) Choose from the available images or videos
You can also upload your own virtual backgrounds by clicking the + icon and selecting a custom .jpg, .gif, or .png graphic.
This opens creative options beyond basic blur!
Leveraging Backgrounds on Mobile Devices
Using virtual backgrounds and blur effects on mobile works the same as covered previously:
1) Start a meeting
2) Tap the More tab
3) Choose Background & Filters
4) Select your preference
However, some older mobile devices don‘t have full support for advanced background effects due to camera hardware and graphics processing limitations.
According to Zoom‘s documentation:
- iPhone 8 or later
- iPad 5th Generation or later
- Android 8 or later
So if you are on an older mobile phone and still can‘t get backgrounds working properly, an upgrade may be required.
Optimizing Your Zoom Setup Like the Pros
Hopefully you now have your environment neatly hidden from sight! But video calls involve more than just hiding distractions.
Here are a few expert tips for presenting yourself professionally on camera:
Framing
Position your camera so your face and shoulders nicely fill the frame. Having excessive overhead space can be distracting.
Lighting
Place a lamp, portable light, or face your window for optimum visibility. Avoid having strong backlight from windows behind you. Close blinds to soften.
Background
Tidy up the area visible behind you even if applying background blur. And remove any distracting pictures, signs, piles of stuff, etc.
Appearance
Dress professionally as you would for an office. Have good posture and engage your camera when speaking.
Get these basics set up properly and you‘ll look polished, focused and professional!
When NOT to Use Zoom Backgrounds
While backgrounds can add some fun and humor at times, take caution using these features in formal business situations.
For example, selecting a tropical beach scene while delivering a serious presentation to execs is not advisable.
Stick to basic background blurring or subtle, professional virtual backgrounds whenever interacting with external clients, leadership, investors, etc.
The safest bet for formal calls is blurring if your environment isn‘t office-appropriate. Save the fun filters for happy hours with co-workers!
Upgrading for Enhanced Zoom Performance
Zoom offers several tiers of paid plans beyond the basic free version. Upgrading unlocks benefits like:
- HD video and VoIP phone audio
- Viewer capacity increased from 100 to 300+ participants
- Cloud recording and video transcripts
- Company branding and custom URLs
- Admin dashboard and managed domains
For people who host frequent calls, paid Zoom plans often provide a strong return on investment:
| Plan | Price (Annual) | Primary Benefits |
| Pro | $149/year | More participants, branding, support |
| Business | $200/year | Company usage monitoring |
| Enterprise | $200/year per host | Dedicated account manager |
The largest plan levels also enable enhanced integrations and add-ons like:
- Collaboration tools (Dropbox, Slack, etc)
- Productivity automation (Zapier, IFTTT)
- External recording tools
- Custom CRMs and analytics
So review your current conferencing usage to decide if an upgraded paid Zoom plan makes sense. But the free version still works great for personal usage!
Security Concerns Remain
Despite Zoom‘s wide adoption for remote video interactions, some companies and governments continue banning usage over security flaws uncovered in the platform:
- Encrypted data routed through Chinese servers
- Privacy issues like ZoomBombing attacks
- "Bug doors" exposing personal information
Zoom claims to have addressed many of these problems. But assessments of enterprise-grade security needs remains an open area of debate.
Selecting web conference tools involves carefully weighing collaboration benefits against vulnerabilities. Andremember to use complex passwords and control meeting access!
Blur Away Distractions in Your Zoom Calls!
I hope this guide gave you lots of helpful advice for tactfully managing your visible environment across desktop and mobile Zoom apps.
Don‘t let clutter impact your professionalism during important video meetings! Just follow along to neatly blur away distractions.
Let me know if you have any other questions down in the comments!
