A bonafide lockdown success story, Zoom has become one of the most talked-about (and used) apps of the year. It’s so popular it’s even become a verb – ‘Let’s Zoom later!’. Zoom has helped thousands of colleges move their courses online and allowed office workers to communicate as though they were together.

But how did this start-up succeed in a more-than-crowded communications marketplace? What did Zoom offer that other companies couldn’t? And how do we use it? We’ve got everything you need to know right here.

Origins

As with most great ideas, the concept emerged from something everyday – travel. More specifically, it came from one man’s frustration at the 10-hour train journey he had to take to see his girlfriend (now wife). Chinese born Eric Yuan, a student at the time, used to spend the long journey imagining how this could be easier. And just like that, the idea of Zoom was born. 

Of course, Zoom didn’t simply come into being. Yuan’s first ideas about improving long-distance communication began in the 80s – years before the internet was widely used. After working for communications companies in Silicon Valley and battling to gain a US visa, it wasn’t until 2013 that Yuan officially launched Zoom in America. 

The company quickly began to grow, and by 2017 it was classed as a unicorn – a start-up worth $1billion. Even pre-pandemic, the company was experiencing massive growth, with daily users increasing from 10 million in December 2019 to 300 million in April 2020. But in a marketplace occupied by Skype, Facetime and Microsoft Teams, why have so many people opted for Zoom?

Why everyone is using Zoom

Zoom may have joined a competitive industry, but it did so much so well. Firstly, it solved a problem: the need for high-quality video calls. Although other companies offered this tool, few did it seamlessly. Tech issues and low-quality visuals were common with video conferencing. But Zoom has allowed participants to use the app, even if their internet connection dipped or there were multiple users. 

Zoom is also easy to use. Their icons are clear and simple to navigate and signing up is hassle-free. And, best of all, the basic version is free. 

Another reason for Zoom’s success is its focus on its customers. Back when it first began, founder Eric Yuan personally emailed every customer who cancelled their service – now that’s dedication! Yuan may have stepped back from the customer service side, but Zoom still records some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry. 

Zoom’s success is understandable – it does what it says it will, and it performs well at every stage. And in a world plunged into a pandemic, it’s exactly what we’ve needed! For educational institutions in particular, Zoom has allowed classes to continue even though students can no longer physically attend. Multiple people can engage in lectures, discuss topics with their classmates and teachers, and complete their education. 

How to use Zoom

Chances are that since the pandemic, you’ve had to use Zoom, whether it be for work, study or talking to loved ones. But if you haven’t signed up yet, then here are some basic how-tos to get you started. 

Downloading is simple and can be done for free from their website. For students, the free version works perfectly.

Once logged in, you’ll notice its simple layout with options to start, schedule or join a meeting. For students joining an online lecture, you will find a Zoom link in your Learning Management System. Simply click this to join the class.

Once you have begun or joined a Zoom meeting you can:

  • Turn your camera and sound on and off using the microphone and camera icons in the bottom left corner.
  • Change your microphone and camera settings using the arrows to the right of the icons. You can even choose a virtual background to liven up your meeting aesthetics!
  • Share your screen to show someone what you’re working on. Simply select Share Screen from the panel along the bottom and choose which window you’d like to share. 
  • Add people to your meeting by selecting Participants from the panel. A meeting link and ID (password) will be sent to your new participant. 
  • Use the chat feature for sharing links or other notes with those in your meeting. Within the chatbox, you can choose to send messages to everyone in the group, or someone specific. 
  • Leave or end a meeting by clicking End at the right of the panel along the bottom. 

Dos and Don’ts

Just like with any social interactions, there are a few Dos and Don’ts with Zoom. Of course, eating your breakfast during a meeting would be frowned upon, but there may be a few other pieces of meeting etiquette that you hadn’t considered: 

Do

  • Check your internet connection, video and microphone. Be ready for the video call and keep the beginning of the meeting free from ‘technical issues’. 
  • Mute yourself when you’re not talking. Having another person’s background noise can be seriously distracting. So is having one person talk over another. Only turn your microphone on when you need to speak. 
  • Wear headphones. It might seem strange if you’re home alone, but it does help you hear everyone better, and vice versa. 
  • Get dressed. You may have only just got out of bed, but you don’t need to look like it. By all means, keep your pyjama bottoms on but make an effort on the top half. It gives a more professional appearance and may make you feel more ‘meeting ready’.

Don’t

  • Turn off your video. Seeing your face throughout a meeting may not be your favourite thing, but it’s the whole point of video calls! In a real meeting or class you wouldn’t be hiding your face behind a black screen, so don’t do it here. Everyone will be far more engaged with you if they can see you. 
  • Be close to another person in the call. This will create interference that will interrupt the flow of a meeting.
  • Have a zoom call in a crowded place. Background noise can be distracting, so although the coffee shop is a great place to work, it might not be best for Zoom calls.

If you need extra help with using Zoom, then their website is full of useful video tutorials. Happy Zooming!