Starting Your Own Meeting
What if you want to be the host? Maybe you want a weekly family call or your knitting group wants to go virtual. Good news — it's way easier than you think.
First thing: you'll need a free Zoom account. Go to zoom.us, click Sign Up, and follow the steps. Takes about 2 minutes.
Start an Instant Meeting (Right Now)
- Open the Zoom app
- Click the orange "New Meeting" button
- You're live! Now click "Participants" at the bottom
- Click "Invite" and copy the meeting link
- Text or email that link to whoever you want to join
Schedule a Meeting (For Later)
- Open the Zoom app and click "Schedule"
- Pick a date and time
- Give it a name (like "Sunday Family Call")
- Click Save — Zoom creates a link for you
- Send that link to everyone who should attend
The Best Part?
The people you invite don't need Zoom accounts. You send them a link, they click it, they're in. You're the only one who needs an account.
Quick Reminder
On the free plan, group calls (3+ people) have a 40-minute limit. One-on-one calls? No time limit at all.
Screen Sharing, Backgrounds & Troubleshooting
Okay, now that you know the basics, let me show you a few extras — plus what to do when things go sideways. Because they will. Happens to everyone.
Screen Sharing
Want to show someone a photo, a document, or a website? That's screen sharing.
Click the green Share Screen button
- Click the green "Share Screen" button on the toolbar
- A window pops up asking what you want to share (see below)
- Pick your option and click the blue "Share" button
- When you're done, click the red "Stop Share" button at the top of your screen
Select a window or application that you want to share
🖥
Screen
Shows your entire desktop — everything you see, they see
📄
Window
Shows just one app — safer if you have other things open
🖊
Whiteboard
Draw or write on a blank canvas together
Share
Virtual Backgrounds
You can replace your background with a beach, an office, or outer space. Good for hiding a messy room — no judgment. Here's how to find it:
- Look for the little arrow (^) next to the Video button on the toolbar
- Click that arrow — a small menu pops up
- Click "Choose Virtual Background..."
- Zoom opens a settings window with background options
- Click any background to preview it — you'll see it behind you right away
- Close the settings window when you're happy with your choice
Video Settings...
Choose Virtual Background...
Choose Video Filter...
This is the menu you see when you click the arrow next to the Video button.
Skits' Tip
Virtual backgrounds work best when you have a plain wall behind you and decent lighting. If your background keeps flickering or your head disappears — it's probably the lighting. A green screen helps, but honestly, most people do fine without one.
When Things Go Wrong
Here's the part where most people get tripped up. But I've got you covered.
"They Can't Hear Me!"
- Check if you're muted (look for the red line on the mic icon)
- Make sure you clicked "Join with Computer Audio" when you first joined
- Check your computer's volume — is it turned up?
- Try leaving and rejoining the meeting
"I Can't Hear Them!"
- Turn up your computer or device volume
- Check if your headphones are plugged in (or connected via Bluetooth)
- Click the little arrow next to the Mute button and select the right speaker
- Try leaving and rejoining
"My Video Is Frozen!"
- Your internet might be struggling. Try turning off your camera for a minute
- Move closer to your Wi-Fi router if you can
- Close other apps or browser tabs that are hogging bandwidth
- Last resort: leave and rejoin
If your video keeps freezing, it might be your internet, not Zoom. Take our Slow Internet microcourse to find out.
Notice the pattern? "Leave and rejoin" fixes about 80% of Zoom problems. Don't be afraid to do it.
Quick Check 3 of 6: Match 'Em Up
Match each Zoom feature to what it actually does. Click one on the left, then click its match on the right.
Feature
Gallery View
Speaker View
Share Screen
Virtual Background
Chat
What It Does
Show a document or website to everyone
Send a text message during the meeting without unmuting
See everyone in equal-sized boxes at once
Replace your messy living room with a beach
Whoever's talking gets the big window
Zoom Etiquette
Here are a few quick things that'll make you look like a Zoom pro — even if today's your first day.
The Unofficial Rules
- Mute when you're not talking. Background noise is the #1 annoyance on group calls. Your dog, your TV, your dishwasher — everyone can hear it.
- Join a couple minutes early. Gives you time to fix anything that's acting up.
- Camera is optional. Nice to see faces, but nobody's going to force you. Do what's comfortable.
- Good lighting helps. Sit facing a window or lamp. If the light is behind you, you'll look like a shadow.
- Eye level is best. Prop your laptop or phone up so the camera is at eye height. Nobody needs to see up your nose.
- Stable internet matters. If your video keeps freezing, try moving closer to your router or turning off video for a bit.
And when the meeting's over — click the red Leave button. Don't just close your laptop. I've heard stories. People said things they wish they hadn't.
Quick Check 4 of 6: What Would You Do?
You're on a Zoom call and your dog starts barking while someone's trying to talk. People are giving you looks. What do you do?