There are two ways to join a Webinar (online lecture) on Zoom:
With an invite link , which looks like this: https://theartssociety-org.zoom.us/j/99077351610
Or with a meeting ID , which looks like this: 99077351610
Notice that the meeting ID is the same as the number at the end of the link –
https://theartssociety-org.zoom.us/j/ 99077351610 – this number is the Webinar’s unique
location online… Think of it as the number on a door – ‘ lecture hall 5’.
Joining via invite link:
This is how most of us will be joining lectures or meetings. Whoever is organising the event
will distribute this link to everybody attending, usually within the 48 hours of it starting.
The link could be embedded (which just means available/there) via email, on a website, in a
Mailchimp, or even in a document, and will look like this –
https://theartssociety-org.zoom.us/j/99077351610 . If it’s blue and underlined, this is because
it is a hyperlink . With a hyperlink, all you have to do is click on it to go to the right place.
If that doesn’t work for you, highlight and copy the link and paste it into the URL (address)
bar at the top of the screen.
Once the link has been clicked a new window will open with instructions.
Notice that there are three options:
1. ‘If you have Zoom client installed, launch meeting’
This means that if you have already downloaded the Zoom app, just click here to go to the
Webinar. (Sometimes, if you already have it installed, there will be another pop-up that says
‘open Zoom meetings?’ Just click ‘open zoom meetings’ to go to the right place).
2. ‘Otherwise, download and run Zoom’
This means you can click here to quickly download the app, and then launch the webinar.
3. ‘If you cannot download or run the application, join from your browser’
This is only available if you are joining from a desktop or laptop and means that you’re able
to attend the Webinar via your internet browser (internet explorer, Google Chrome, Safari for
example), and without downloading the Zoom app. Your experience will be limited and less
stable, and you may not be able to engage with the Q&A or the chat functions.
The Zoom App:
It’s worth saying here that since March, when there were some rumours circulated about the
security of the Zoom app, Zoom has become a massive internationally used piece of
software, used thousands of times daily by organisations and corporations of every size. As
a result, it has had to modernise its security fast, and is now one of the safest apps there is.
It costs nothing to download, and the file size is small. These things considered, it is highly
recommended you download the app for the best experience. You can also uninstall it from
your device if you change your mind at any time.
Download the latest version of the Zoom App here –
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/zoom.us/download
Joining via Meeting ID:
Simply go to join.zoom.us and enter the meeting ID!
FAQs
Do you need an account to use Zoom?
A Zoom account is not required if you are simply joining Zoom Meetings or Webinars as a
participant. If someone invites you to their meeting, you can join as a participant without
creating an account. However, if the host has restricted joining meetings using
authentication profiles, then the participant will need a Zoom account to access the meeting.
Learn more about joining a Zoom meeting, but our advice to Societies is not to do this.
A Zoom account is only required if you need to create your own meetings and send
invitations to participants. Having a Zoom account allows you to create your own Instant
Meetings or Schedule Meetings. An account also allows you to access your personal
settings, where you can update your profile or upgrade your plan at any time.
Can I watch from my internet browser without downloading the application?
You can, but only on a laptop or desktop and with a reduced experience. If you are watching
from a tablet or phone this option will not be available.
Visit the Zoom website by clicking here for more FAQs.