Hey friends!
I’m Tasia and this video will show you how to use Google Meet Video Conferencing as well
as highlight some great Google Meet features.
Google Meet has been all the buzz lately and you may be wondering what is google meet and
is google meet free?
Well I am here to answer those questions and more.
First, Google Meet is a video conferencing app, that’s the business-centric version
of Google Hangouts, which you might be familiar with.
Second, while Google Meet used to be a paid service for business users only, it is now
free for everyone!
So let’s first dive into how to use Google Meet, and then I’ll focus on some great
premium Google Meet feature - and why I think you should be using this video conferencing
tool over the competitors.
So there are multiple ways you can use Google Meet, and start or join a meeting.
But firstly, it would help to explain that you do not have to download a Google Meet
desktop app, like so many other video conferencing services require.
Google Meet works like Hangouts in that it’s web-based.
In fact, if you’re super new to the google ecosystem, you can just visit meet.google.com
to start or join a meeting.
This will work across multiple browsers too, so think Chrome, Mozilla, Safari and more.
Now, you can download mobile apps, if you would rather take your video chats on the
go, rather than from your desktop.
The Google Meet app is available on Android and iOS.
So besides opening a new tab and heading to meet.google.com, how you use Google Meet and
actually start a meeting will really depend on your Google account and frankly, your preferences.
So let me explain some of the different options for you.
I have two separate Google accounts - one for business and one for personal use.
So I’m going to show you here how different your options might look in your Gsuite depending
on the type of account you have.
So I’m logged into both of my gmail accounts, and we’ll start with my business account.
Right away on the left hand side of my business gmail, I’ve got Google Meet options.
If you’re using a business G Suite, you should notice this same little shortcut.
You will have the option to start a meeting or join a meeting right from your gmail.
Now, for contrast, let’s go to my personal google account.
And again, I’m signed into my gmail here.
So, if you’ve got a regular gmail account like I’m showing here, you may or may not
have the shortcut on the left hand side.
Up until last week, I still had my Hangouts conversations on the left.
But now, my personal Gmail just updated on May 19th to display that same shortcut on
the lefthand side, just as my business email does.
So, if you don't have the update yet, all is not lost.
As I said, Google Meet is now free for anyone to use, regardless of whether or not you have
a Google Business Account.
So, if you want to start a Google Meet directly from your personal google account, here are
your options.
From Gmail, or your Google Calendar, click on the Google Apps option in the top right
beside your profile picture.
Then select Google Meet.
You’ll immediately be brought to meet.google.com where you can start a meeting.
You can also start a meeting this way from your business account too, in case your shortcut
is not there.
Now, another way to start a Google Meet is directly from a calendar invite in gcal.
Now, this works the same for a personal google account or a business google account, but
your features will differ slightly which I’ll get to in a minute.
This is honestly my preferred method because this way you can organize a specific time
and date across different time zones with your team or friends and family, and they’ll
have the meeting all setup in their gcal from the moment you send the invite.
So, from your gcal, just click on your calendar at the preferred time.
RIght away in this popup, you have the option to add Google Meet video conferencing.
So, I’ll title this and add my guests.
And now as I add my guests, this is where a really great feature comes in.
If you share gcals with your guests, you can check their availability right from here too.
Now, here you’ll also notice Google has auto-generated a one-time unique meeting ID
for the meeting.
If you click on ‘more options’ you can add details here and useful attachments for
the meeting.
So, once you’ve added your guests, you can either click the option to join with google
meet - which will open your meet.google.com browser, or you can click save.
Since this is a meeting for in the future, I’ll click save and then in this next pop
up, I’ll choose to send the invite to guests.
Now about the different features I mentioned before.
You may notice your personal Google account allows for 100 participants to join the meeting,
and you get the unique meeting ID.
However, if you have a business account, you’re features here will be more robust.
You’ll add the meeting the same way from your gcal, but you’ll be able to add up
to 250 participants and you’ll also be given a call in number with an access code as well.
So, if your team can’t join via the video link, they can still call in to the Google
Meet.
So, that’s a good overview of how to use Google Meet and how to start a meeting and
join a meeting.
Now, let’s get into an actual meeting, and uncover some of the best features.
First things first, two great features that are built in are low light mode and noise
cancelling mode.
These are things you probably wouldn’t even think about but Google has done a great job
utilizing AI to auto-adjust your settings for you.
The next feature I want to highlight is how to change the screen layout to google meet
grid view.
So, on the bottom right, you’ll notice 3 vertical dots.
That’s your quick menu.
If you click on that and head to change layout view, you’ll have options for sidebar, spotlight,
or tiled view.
The tiled view is what everyone is referring to as grid view.
Or you can select auto and let Google Meet pick the best view for the amount of attendees
you have.
Another awesome feature found in this menu section is the ability to adjust your video
settings.
So from the menu, click on settings.
Then click on Video in the popup.
Here, you can change the video resolution for not only your video, but for the video
you see as well.
Another great feature is the Google Meet screen share customization.
So in the bottom right of your screen, click on Present now.
Here, you actually have quite a few options.
You can share your entire screen, but check out these other options.
You can share just a specific window or even share a specific Chrome tab.
This is a game changer.
If you want to share a video for training purposes, rather than showing your entire
desktop, this is the option for you.
Moving on to an accessibility feature, you can add captions to Google Meet.
Just click on Turn on Captions on the bottom of the screen.
This is also handy if you can’t have the volume on loud during your meeting, but you
need to know what’s being said.
Another feature I think is so handy is found in the bottom left of your Google Meet, in
the meeting details section.
Remember when I showed you how to create a Google Meet from your gcal invite?
Well, if you add an attachment in the details of the invite, this is where you will find
it in your meeting - right in the meeting details in the attachments section.
How neat is that?
So now let’s manage our attendees a little bit, and see what feature we have there.
In the top right, click on the little people icon to bring up your sidebar.
If you click the dropdown arrow next to a participant's name, you have the option to
mute the participant, pin the participant to your screen, so your view is only of that
one person, or the host can remove the participant.
This sidebar is also where you’ll be able to add anybody to the chat if you forgot someone.
Now another great feature of Google Meet is the chat functionality.
From this sidebar, click on chat.
This is where you or participants can type questions or send helpful links, without interrupting
who is speaking.
To get out of the sidebar view, just click anywhere on your screen outside of the sidebar.
All these features are available on the mobile apps as well, the placement of the options
might just be in different places.
So that’s how to use Google Meet video conferencing, as well as the best Google Meet features.
Will you be using Google Meet?
What are your favorite features?
Let everyone know in the comments below.
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a comment below.
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Thanks for watching and see ya next time.