As more companies enlist technology to help co-workers and outsiders collaborate around the world, webinars, videoconferencing, instant messaging and online meetings can make business communication easier - and cut travel costs as fuel prices soar. But, there can be some unintended and often embarrassing consequences.

Only a few keystrokes separate one’s private life from the virtual world. The wrong computer settings, an awkward web-camera angle, and even something as harmless as the “hold” button on the telephone can create lasting career memories. Unlike face-to-face blunders, virtual gaffes can be captured for posterity on web sites and ridiculed by viewers time and time again.

Webinar Success President, Ken Molay:

One solution, is for corporations to create guidelines for employees so that they can properly represent the company. Workers from staff assistants to the suits in the corner office need to be more tech-savvy, he says, from learning how to use equipment to presenting themselves professionally through different forms of technology. Otherwise, they might find themselves part of an office punchline.

There are some precautions you can take to prevent your embarrassing moments from appearing on youtube.com or other media sites. The first rule is to become as familiar as possible with the online meeting technology before using it live. When creating a webcast, in which a company broadcasts video and audio feed to an audience via the Internet, the presenter should be aware of the sound quality and camera angles.

Hold a practice session ahead of time and then analyze the way you sound as well as your posture and mannerisms. If you plan on incorporating technology tools regularly, it may be wise to invest in a training session with a consultant.

Finally, disable any potentially distracting applications, such as instant messaging, email notifications and telephone on-hold music, before engaging in a web conference. Companies often record and archive these online meetings to use as reference material.