One of my favorite features in Zoom is the Zoom Waiting Room. It's like a virtual tailgate party before your actual Zoom session. I like it because you can customize the waiting room to make it fun, engaging, + informative. Of course, using the waiting room is also helpful for security; you can see who is in the waiting room and admit them accordingly. I'm going to show you how to customize the waiting room K?
Steps to customize the Zoom Waiting Room:
1. Log onto your free or paid Zoom account at zoom.us
2. Click on Settings in the toolbar (my toolbar appears on the left hand side of my screen if that is helpful).
3. Scroll down in the settings just a touch to Waiting Room. When you are there, make sure to toggle the switch on to activate the Waiting Room.
4. Then, go to the next setting which is Waiting Room Options and choose Edit. This allows you to edit who actually goes to the waiting room before your Zoom begins. I personally send everyone to the waiting room, because to me, the waiting room is the pre-party/tailgate to the Zoom. Ha!
5. Next, click on Customize Waiting Room. This is where all the fun lives! You can add a very small graphic, change the title, meeting focus and blurb. Make sure when you edit each block of text, you click on the little checkmark to save your edits. I like to make my main blurb playful, like this:
"Hey there! Are you ready to Zoom together? Right now, I'm getting our Zoom space clean and sanitized for you. I'm also adding bouquets of flowers because it's spring! In just a few moments, our virtual Zoom doors will open. In meantime, enjoy the (faux) waiting room music! See you virtually very soon - Jen"
6. Exit out of settings.
7. Next time you host a Zoom, your guests will arrive to the waiting room. To admit them, click on Participants and either admit guests one-by-one or click on admit all (which is generally what I do for large groups). If a participant arrives late to your Zoom, you will see a waiting room announcement come up and remind you to let them into the Zoom.
