How to Use Google Meet for Video Conferencing

Incorporating Google Meet into the workspace has been a trend for years, especially for one-on-one conversations with one or more participants. 

However, many people still struggle with setting up Google Meet for their video conferencing sessions, thereby employing the help of another individual.

Google Meet is a popular video conferencing tool that Google developed. It is ideal for business meetings, online classes, personal video chats, and other collaborative work environments. Thanks to its intuitive user interface and integration with Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), it is easy to use via browsers and mobile apps.

This guide is for you if you have a one-on-one meeting to schedule and want to make your next video conferencing easier via Google Meet. It will walk you through how to set up and use Google Meet for video conferencing, covering everything from scheduling a meeting to joining a call and utilising advanced features during the session.

 1. Getting Started with Google Meet

To use Google Meet for a video conference, it is important to have a Google account, which can be either a Gmail or a Google Workspace account. Here's how to get started:

Create a Google Account (if you don't have one)

• Go to Google Account and follow the prompts to create an account.
• Access Google Meet via Google Meet Compute System or a web browser. Download the Google Meet app from the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS).
• You can also access Meet directly through Gmail or Calendar by clicking the "Google Meet" link.

2. Scheduling a Google Meet Video Conference

You can schedule a Google Meet meeting either through Google Calendar or manually create one using two options:

Option A: Using Google Calendar

Google Calendar offers seamless integration with Google Meet, allowing you to schedule meetings in advance. Follow this guideline:

• Open Google Calendar
• Create a New Event by clicking on a time slot on the calendar or clicking the + button.
• Add a title for your meeting (e.g., "Team Meeting" or "Client Call").
• Add the Google Meet link in the event details, and click on Add Google Meet video conferencing. This will generate a link for the meeting.
• Add Guests: Under the "Guests" section, enter the email addresses of the participants.
• Set the Date and Time: Choose the date and time for the meeting.
• Send Invitation: Once everything is set, click Save and then click Send to send invites with the meeting link to your guests.

To start the video call, click the Google Meet link in the event description.

Option B: Scheduling Without Google Calendar

If you don't want to schedule through Calendar, you can directly create a meeting on Google Meet.

• Go to Google Meet
• Click New Meeting and select:

1. 1. Create a meeting for later: This generates a unique meeting link to share with participants.
   2. Start an instant meeting: This starts a meeting immediately and provides a link to share.

• Invite Participants: Share the meeting link with your participants via email, message, or any preferred method.

3. Joining a Google Meet Video Conference

There are several ways to join a meeting, depending on how the host has set it up.

Option A: From the Google Calendar Event

• Open the invitation email or event in Google Calendar.
• Click on the Join with Google Meet button.
• If prompted, sign in to your Google account.
• If you’re given a meeting code, visit the Google Meet site or open the app, then type the code in the “Join a Meeting” section.

Option B: Using the Google Meet Link

• Open a web browser or the Google Meet app.
• Enter the meeting link in the browser or tap the link in the app.
• If you're not signed in to your Google account, you'll be asked to sign in.
• Click Join Now to enter the meeting.

Option C: Joining by Phone (Audio Only)

• For audio-only participation, dial the phone number provided in the invitation. You can join the meeting via phone if you're having connection issues or prefer using audio.

4. Starting and Managing a Google Meet Video Conference

Once you're in the meeting, you can take advantage of various controls and features.

1. Starting the Meeting: If you're the host, once you click the meeting link, you'll be taken to a preview screen where you can adjust your microphone and camera settings. Click Join Now to start the meeting.
2. Video and Audio Controls

• Microphone and Camera Toggles
• Use the microphone icon to mute/unmute your audio.
• Use the camera icon to turn your video on or off.

1. Change Background: Click on More Options (three dots) and select Change Background to blur your background or use preset images.

Screen Sharing

To share your screen with participants:

• Click the Present Now button (bottom right).
• Choose whether to share your entire screen, a window, or a Chrome tab.
• Select the content to share and click Share.

Managing Participants

• Mute Participants: Click on the participant's name and select Mute to mute individual participants.
• Remove Participants: As a host, click on a participant's name and select Remove if you need to remove someone from the meeting.
• Pin or Spotlight Participants: Right-click on a participant's video to either Pin their video (keep it in the main view) or Spotlight them for all participants.
• Chat:  During the meeting, you can communicate with others via text. To open the chat window, click the Chat icon (a speech bubble) on the right side of the screen. Type your message and hit Send. 

Subtitles

Google Meet offers live captions for spoken words. 

• Click the More Options (three dots) button.
• Select Turn on captions.

5. Ending a Google Meet Video Conference

When your meeting concludes, the host or any participant can leave the meeting by:

• Click the Leave Call button at the bottom right of the screen.
• If you’re the host, once all participants leave, the meeting will end for everyone.

Tips for a Successful Google Meet Video Conference

• Test Your Audio & Video: Always test your microphone and camera before the meeting starts to avoid technical issues.
• Use a Good Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection for the best video and audio quality.
• Mute When Not Speaking: To minimise background noise, mute your microphone when you’re not speaking.
• Be Mindful of Background: If possible, use a neutral background or use the blur background feature to maintain a professional appearance.
• Prepare in Advance: If you’re presenting, have your materials ready to share, and be sure to test your screen-sharing beforehand.

Advanced Features in Google Meet

Google Meet provides several additional features for a more streamlined and collaborative experience:

1. Breakout Rooms (for Google Workspace users): Breakout Rooms allow the host to split participants into smaller groups for focused discussions. To enable this feature, click on Activities (the icon with four squares), select Breakout Rooms, and assign participants to different rooms.
2. Meeting Recordings: Google Meet allows meeting hosts (with appropriate licenses) to record meetings. To record;

• Click on More Options (three dots).
• Select Record meeting.
• When the meeting is finished, the recording will automatically be saved to Google Drive.

1. Hand Raising: Participants can raise their hands virtually to signal that they want to speak or ask a question. To do this, click on the Hand icon (bottom left). The host or other participants will see the hand raised and can call on you.

Conclusion

Connecting with work colleagues and even organising casual catch-ups with friends have been made easy through video conferencing platforms. 

Amongst many platforms with video collaboration solutions, Google Meet is known for its simplicity and reliability to users at any skill level, especially for users whose work is powered by Google Workspace tools like Google Sheets, Google Docs, and more. 

Whether you are hosting a team meeting, a one-on-one chat, or an online class, Google Meet has been engineered to cater to all your needs. It provides a comprehensive and convenient solution for virtual meetings.

ow that you know how to use Google Meet, you’re ready to host your next meeting or join one easily! Happy conferencing!