Many of today’s meetings are via web conference, rather than face-to-face. It just makes sense, in addition to saving time and travel costs.

But what about using this new media to throw a party? Canyon turned ten in April and we invited clients to celebrate with us using WebEx online meeting service (by the way, we like the functionality of Cisco’s WebEx, but GoToMeeting provides similar capabilities). Here’s how we managed to add some fun:

1) Canyon clients received an e-vite asking them attend the online party.

2) A day before the celebration, attendees received a “party in a box,” which included a party hat, cake, candles, confetti and rock music CD. Also enclosed was a gift – a unique commemorative Canyon Rock Star-branded thermo cup.

3) A card provided the date, time and instructions join us for the web bash.

4) At the appointed hour, clients clicked in via voice and video. Our emcee moderated the party agenda which included group games such as a Canyon trivia game (What is the name of Canyon’s mascot fish?) and identifying photos of Canyonites at age 10 (not so easy).

When you can’t shake a hand (or hug as so many of us do when we meet our clients face-to-face), it’s really important to make web meetings personal, fun and still effective.

As online meetings replace teleconferences because of enhanced capabilities to show graphics, use PowerPoint presentations and stream video to see meeting participants and be seen in real time, we need to step it up and get personal.

Is your company using web conferencing more often in the current economy? What do you do to personalize and add interest to your online meetings?