Introduction
Numerous business prospects are made available through video conferencing. The system is effective, affordable, and scalable, whether used to manage suppliers, collaborate across departments and geographies, or engage remote workers. A quality video conferencing system for your team is worth the investment because it facilitates collaboration 30% more effectively than audio-only arrangements. Fortunately, many excellent, free alternatives for video conferencing software can be used with affordable audiovisual items like video conferencing webcams. To be inclusive of distant peers and foster collaboration between workers in various places, a straightforward yet high-quality web camera is a need.
It is unfair for distant team members to participate in audio-only meetings. Remote team members are less involved in team meetings. They have less influence on the team due to not being able to see visual signals, not knowing who is speaking, and typically not being able to hear effectively. Team meetings that include a workable video component, one-on-one talks between managers and remote employees (or vice versa), and brief chats amongst remote team members all contribute to employee productivity improvement. Because participants may converse face-to-face and more easily understand body language, video conferencing tools improve the effectiveness of interactions.
Best Platforms For Online Conferences
Zoho Meeting
Users that need a single platform to hold virtual marketing conferences, webinars, internal team meetings, one-on-one meetings, and more might choose Zoho Meeting. One of the most powerful platforms for virtual conferences, Zoho has many features, including interactive elements like audience Q&A, polling, making attendees presenters, and letting participants "raise a hand" to speak during the event. But it's the sophisticated security features of Zoho Meeting that genuinely stand out. With features like encryption, two-factor authentication, alerts for entrance requests, and more, Zoho goes above and beyond to keep virtual events safe from individuals who shouldn't be there.
Key Qualities And Advantages
- Advanced security measures to protect the privacy and security of your meetings
- As you present, provide your audience access to many video feeds.
- Script and distribute your virtual events.
- Download your events so you can watch them later.
- Get thorough analytics to evaluate the success of your virtual event
WebinarJam
With up to 5,000 attendees and six speakers, 4-hour webinars, meetings, and live streaming are all possibilities with WebinarJam. It is a virtual event platform that runs in the cloud and offers excellent accessibility and interoperability with cell phones, computers, and tablets. All you need is a quick broadband internet connection to get started. Regular reporting on the state of demand, marketing, and sales is necessary for dynamic company contexts. Analytics may be collected and turned into workable company plans. So said, this is one of the top webinar software solutions available and is the all-in-one program for virtual conferences. WebinarJam is helpful here since it enables subordinates to present by sharing their screens and streaming live.
Top Benefits & Features
- Five thousand people can attend your virtual events.
- Excellent for holding remote employee onboarding sessions
- Six or more presenters
- Offers ready-made templates for making registration pages
- Free hosting for all time, split testing
- They were streaming in 30 frames per second of high-quality audio and video.
- Use the button labeled "Replica" or "Reply" to replay all live sessions in full detail.
- In the event of a live meeting occurrence, press the "Panic Button."
- Real-time polling and surveys enable communication with respondents.
- Import the file and share it on your screen to deliver presentations.
- An annotation, illustrations, and notes can provide a detailed explanation of the message.
Zoom
Zoom is a virtual conferencing powerhouse due to the numerous features offered in each package. Our best platform for video conferencing also offers faultless video, crystal-clear audio, and fast-sharing features. Due to their difficulties with other accessible platforms, many Zoom users frequently transfer from alternative conference call software. Zoom is the best web conference software for users who wish to quickly and efficiently communicate with customers and clients remotely. It also supports Linux OS and Chrome for more versatility and secure socket layer (SSL) encryption to ensure safe conversations.
- The best free features
- Host up to 100 visitors.
- Individually and in groups
- Endless meetings
- HQ audio and video
- Display sharing
- Arranged meetings
- Group and private conversation
- Host in charge
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is made for seamless productivity and teamwork. It interfaces with Office programs like Word and SharePoint, and thanks to its architecture and design, it is incredibly engaging. Microsoft Teams may now incorporate Skype for Business, thanks to the business. The expanding number of collaboration platforms, such as Slack, that have dominated the market in recent years prompted the creation of this program. Microsoft Teams is a general-purpose chat tool for the office, but it also has a fascinating and potent video conferencing feature. Users have the option to start video conferences right from their conversations.
Plans for Microsoft Teams all include:
- In addition, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel have online versions.
- Storage and exchange of files
- the capacity to host 300 users at once
- 24/7 phone and online help
One of Microsoft Teams' newest capabilities lets users invite people not listed in their company's Azure Active Directory as guests. Additionally, voicemail is supported on iOS and Android devices through Microsoft Teams' mobile app.
Google Meet
Previously known as Google Hangouts, Google Meet is a built-in component of Google's G Suite productivity suite. Customers may link all Google products, such as Gmail and Google Calendar, with Google Meet. For example, using Google Calendar, you may instantly generate a Google Meet link and call-in number. The speaker's video stream is automatically detected and shown in Meet, although gallery view is also an option google has improved the platform's audio, video, and noise reduction quality in order to keep its position as the market leader. A meeting may be hosted by anybody with a free Google Account for up to 60 minutes. In addition, businesses, institutions of higher learning, and other organizations can benefit from premium capabilities that cost money, such as live broadcasting to up to 100,000 people in a domain.
Every Google Meet plan requires the following:
- Simple one-click meeting joining (no download necessary)
- Screen Sharing features for particular files, windows, or the entire screen
- Access from a mobile device, tablet, or desktop
- A waiting area
- Whiteboarding for cooperation using a virtual whiteboard
- Anyone with a free account can host up to 100 players and users. Up to 250 people can attend a meeting on a premium account.
Airmeet
A website called Airmeet encourages significant sponsorships and works to create long-lasting social connections. You may keep track of the biographies of keynote speakers with this application, allowing audiences to select who they wish to connect with. We refer to this as one-to-one networking. You may connect with others who share your interests by joining networking booths with a single click. The best place to seek solid sponsorships if you're a virtual event organizer is Airmeet. Additionally, sponsors can solicit feedback while selling the tickets directly through Airmeet. Finally, members can practice or have conversations in the software's private virtual backstage before performing in front of an audience.
Top Benefits & Features
- Easy-to-use platform
- One-on-one networking quickly
- Integrates quickly with all MarTech tools
- Publish your events on a variety of sites ( Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube)
- Use the 'raise hand' button on interactive emojis to ask questions.
- Utilize real-time analytics and session recording
- Establishes a connection with Stripe to accept payments for event tickets
- Virtual backstage access
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is still a highly refined remote meeting software with an extensive list of capabilities that would fit the requirements of most corporate environments, even though it no longer rules the video conferencing market. This simple program's polling and "raise a hand" capabilities provide it with some significant benefits over its rivals. Additionally, GoToMeeting offers unlimited video sessions that are end-to-end encrypted for security. Depending on the type of subscription you choose, GoToMeeting supports 10 to 250 people. But only three people may participate in the free version, as opposed to 100 on other platforms.
Every GoToMeeting plan features:
- 24/7 client support
- HD video
- Unlimited meetings
- Sharing a screen from a computer, a tablet, or a mobile device
- Messaging
- Web audio without a phone
- Security
- You can see the features' simplicity and convenience with a 14-day free trial.
Eventzilla
You can host, set up, and administer all virtual events, including webinars, live streaming, and conferences, with Eventzilla, a virtual conference platform. You may communicate immediately from the browser, which works with any video streaming partner, including Zoom, GotoWebinar, ON24, and others. It automates repetitive duties like waitlist management and email scheduling so you can concentrate on the event's most important aspects. Eventzilla also makes it simple to develop registration sites for online events like webinars and live streaming without knowing any programming language. The event page may be rapidly edited or reorganized thanks to its drag-and-drop builder. Additionally, each event page is already inherently mobile-friendly.
Features like: it assists you in automating the entire registration procedure.
- Various registration cycles are based on multiple types of attendees.
- Self-service for attendees to register, change, cancel, or receive a refund.
- Register for several sessions.
- Automated approvals and waitlists.
Numerous SEO and marketing tools are already integrated into it, such as the ability to conduct tailored email campaigns and discount coupons. Additionally, you may advertise your blog by adding a registration widget to your website, Facebook page, or blog. Additionally, it enables you to make speaker profiles where you may provide any necessary data. You can also produce and email certificates to every participant without using any code. You may view information about your registrations, orders, and total traffic on Eventzilla's dashboard. You can measure ticket sales, visitors, and referrals by integrating Google Analytics. Even standard custom reports and CSV files with attendance data are importable.
vFairs
A virtual event platform, vFairs enables you to hold webinars, trade exhibitions, conferences, and other events entirely or partially online. It interacts with the best CRMs and marketing tools and provides a chat room feature with one-on-one audio and video help. One of its most notable features is 3D Booths. It gives your attendees a taste of a real trade fair and makes marketing your event simple. Additionally, its 3D poster hall allows for simultaneous browsing and interaction with guests and authors while allowing organizers to exchange gathered information. Another distinctive feature is the ability for visitors to compile a wishlist of all the 3D booths they visited—this aids in understanding audience preferences and developing focused marketing initiatives.
Additionally, the mobile-friendly platform enables you to design unique registration forms using your brand's aspects to gather all the necessary data.
- Other notable characteristics include the following:
- Plan live webinars.
- Audio/video-enabled chat rooms for groups and one-on-ones.
- Support for customers in all time zones.
- Increase participation via polls and live Q&A sessions.
- During the event, provide downloaded papers and other visual materials.
- Utilize analytical reports to track parameters such as the success of your event.
- Reporting feature in vFairs
- Access to presentations and datasheets for downloading before or during the event
- The capacity to include CRM tools
- Customize the landing and registration pages.
- To accommodate a varied ethnic audience, use multilingual support.
- In-event gamification
- Organize breakout sessions
- Plan online commencements, reunions, and orientation days.
- Recruitment campaigns should be held to speed up hiring and recruit talent worldwide.
ClickMeeting
A virtual event software called ClickMeeting makes it simple to plan paid webinars, automated webinars, sizable virtual gatherings, and more. You may concurrently live-stream your material on Facebook and YouTube to increase attendance. Additionally, it offers a multi-user account for team collaboration and a Huge Virtual Events ability to interact with 10,000 guests. Thanks to its Huge Virtual Events capabilities, you may communicate with 10,000 guests simultaneously. Additionally, it enables you to make a registration page with aspects of your identity and send personalized invites for the event. To construct email campaigns and deliver reminders just before the event, ClickMeeting further provides a variety of editable email templates with an additional registration CTA.
Other noteworthy characteristics include the following:
- Sharing a screen.
- Moderated private conversation.
- Webinars are accessible on demand.
- Statistics on attendees and analytical reports.
- Automatic capturing.
- Social media dissemination
- Address book included for managing your contacts.
- Livestream on YouTube and Facebook.
- Organize polls, questionnaires, and Q&A sessions.
- Use the whiteboard's drawing tools, text boxes, erasers, and shapes to represent your thoughts during the event.
Conclusion
The majority of virtual conferencing systems function similarly. Additionally, most of them are user-friendly due to their allure and rising popularity. Finding the ideal platform will help you organize a meeting, conference, or get-together for your visitors that is genuinely stunning since your online event takes place within the forum you select. Consider your requirements, your financial status, and your top priorities. Then, create a shortlist of your favorites from there, such as the ones in the list above. Before deciding, test out the options and read reviews. Most of these apps provide common functionality like screen sharing, analytics, private chat, polling & survey choices, etc. Your decision would, however, be based on your unique company needs.
References
- https://www.hoppier.com/blog/best-virtual-event-platforms-and-tools
- https://www.communicloud.com/blog/10-business-benefits-of-video-conferencing/