It’s been just over three years since a newly discovered virus with a strange name spread panic and fear around the planet.

Organizations that had long resisted remote work over productivity fears suddenly found themselves embracing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Slack out of panic-driven necessity.

Now that the World Health Organization has reclassified COVID-19 as an ongoing health issue – and it is no longer a public health emergency – IT leaders have some breathing room to review their remote work experiences and strengthen their hybrid work roadmap. In other words, it’s time to refocus on collaboration – and collaboration apps. 

Amid the self-isolation and quarantining of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom has matured into the most popular platform around for video conferencing. It faces stiff competition from existing players like FaceTime, GoTo Meeting, Skype, and new entrants like Facebook's Messenger Rooms; for the time being, however, Zoom rules the roost.

So far, if you've only used whatever features of Zoom you've needed to get by, you should be aware that the platform offers tricks and features that make your time on it easier and more productive. While you can join someone else’s Zoom meeting without setting up an account, to access these settings and functions requires you to set up a free account. You can also log in and make changes or customizations using your Google or Facebook accounts. What follows are ten Zoom tips to help you to get the most out of the tool.

Enter Quietly

If you'd like to get on a Zoom call in progress without being disruptive, Zoom allows you to make your entrance silently. It's a feature that can be useful when you need to enter a meeting that you're late to. You can quietly make your way in without anyone noticing.

To enter a Zoom call silently, click on the Settings gear icon in the Zoom app, click on the Audio tab, and check the box for 'Mute my microphone when joining a meeting'. You can unmute the microphone using the button at the bottom of the screen when you need to speak during the meeting.