Teleconferences are fairly common these days, even for the smallest of businesses. Running one isn't rocket science, but a bit of judicious planning makes for smooth going. Since such meetings often have a combination of local and remote participants, the convenience of both parties should be considered when preparing. Also, make sure that the more general issues are taken care of before the meeting.

1. Sound check.
   If there's an echo in the room, remote participants may have difficulty hearing. Pre-test the conferencing equipment as well as the sound characteristics of the primary meeting room, if there is one.
   
   
2. Assign a moderator.
   This person's role is to introduce, mediate, monitor and control each segment of a meeting, and generally ensure that it goes smoothly and ends on time. The person who organized the meeting and booked the room and teleconference service usually takes the role of moderator.
   
   
3. Have an agenda. At the invitation stage, a meeting agenda should have been sent out with the invitations. The agenda should list items of discussion as well as the participants who will be speaking.  After introducing the agenda at the start of the meeting, pass control back forth between yourself (moderator) and those who are presenting.
   
   
4. Have a presentation.
   In-person meetings typically have presentations that include diagrams, charts, tables and reports. There's no reason not to use them in teleconferences. However, unless you're using a videoconferencing service, remote participants should be sent these materials beforehand - even on the day of the meeting, if materials cannot be sent earlier than that. Ask anyone who is presenting at the meeting to send you materials no later than a day or two before.
   
   
5. Assign minute-taking.
   Someone, possibly the moderator but preferably someone else, should be assigned the role of minutes taker. A moderator should concentrate on the flow of the meeting, and minute-taking will disturb that role. If a minute-taker can be selected beforehand, that's best. Else ask for a volunteer, unless you are in a position of authority and can ask someone to do it. Minutes will be important to post-meeting followups.
   
   
6. Request muting.
   If possible, remote participants should mute their conferencing devices when they are not talking. This reduces the likelihood of ambient noise and other disturbances, which will disrupt the meeting. Make this request when each person joins the conference session, or when the meeting starts - which ever is more appropriate.
   
   
7. Control meeting flow.
   Decide whether questions will be handled during or after the main discussion. Announce this choice at the start of the meeting. Controlling flow also means:
   
   
   • Enforcing timeliness - contact a person if they have not joined the meeting on time
   • Ensuring each person that joins introduces themselves and indicates their role, if necessary.
   • Ensuring that the meeting does not disintegrate into casual gathering - i.e., becomes unproductive.
   • Ensuring that all questions from participants get asked.
   • Ending the meeting on time.
   
   
   
8. Assert control.
   Implement Robert's Rules of Order. While it was originally intended for parliamentary gatherings in politics, a watered-down version is used in all sorts of business and society meetings. It serves to ensure that only one person speaks at a time, and that there is a moderator to conduct the meeting, amongst other provisions.
   
   
9. Moderate discussion.
   Those who are speaking will have been approved beforehand, and a moderator will introduce each. However, other participants will likely have questions. The moderator should indicate when questions will be handled - either after each presentation or at the end of the meeting. Ensure that one participant does not get favored over another.