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Best Web Conferencing Software for Small Businesses

Best Web Conferencing Software for Small Businesses

Web conferencing software allows people to efficiently handle meetings with participants all over the world without leaving their desks. In other words, it has never been easier to have a virtual meeting with a client on another continent, or allow employees to work from home. The price might be steep for some, but considering the amount of money saved on travel and office rent, the investment is worthwhile. These and other reasons make web conferencing platforms a great addition to any business, no matter how big or small.

Why your small business needs web conferencing software

When you own a small business, you need to be extra careful about where you’re going to invest your money. Without a doubt, web conferencing software is something you should consider. First, web conferencing software cuts travel costs significantly. No longer do you or your employees need to travel to other cities or states to have a meeting with a potential client, investor, or partner. Instead, you just need to click the ‘start meeting’ button, and you’re ready to go. Moreover, web conferencing platforms are the perfect solution for employees working remotely, which means lower office rent and higher employee retention.

 

But that’s not all. When used correctly, a good web conferencing platform can help you to develop a competitive advantage. Customer support is one of the first factors that can significantly improve with web conferencing software. Rather than emailing back and forth, your customer support agents can just schedule a meeting with the customer and provide help in real time, or even ask for remote desktop access and solve the problem for them. Happy customers provide the best marketing you could ever ask for, and web conferencing software offers you all the necessary features to earn them.

Basic requirements for web conferencing

There are only two things you need to run a web conference: a computer and an internet connection. Of course, that doesn’t mean your online meetings will be the most efficient possible. For example, ensuring that you have a reliable microphone so participants can hear you clearly and a good webcam is essential when participating in virtual meetings. Anything else can be seen as an extra that may improve your online meetings but might not be worth the investment.

Depending on the web conferencing software provider you choose, systems requirements are going to differ. That being said, most web conferencing platforms work on all operating systems for desktop and/or mobile. This means that you can join in not only from your desk but also on the go.

How to choose the best web conferencing software for your small business

 

There are various web conferencing software providers out there offering different features and distinct price points. Consequently, only you will know which one is best for your company, and this means you’ll need to spend some time exploring the market. The very first thing you should do is decide how you’re planning to use web conferencing software. Is it to enhance employee workflow and productivity? Is it to offer one-on-one customer support? Is it to provide a competitive way to reach out to potential clients outside the country? Or maybe you’re looking for a product that answers all these needs and then some.

For example, if you’re looking to do business in Europe, you need to follow GDPR guidelines and to use web conferencing software that acts accordingly. If you want to offer one-on-one customer support, having the ability to take over your client’s computer is essential. Long story short, regardless of what goal you may have, you need to have one: only this way will you be able to find the web conferencing platform tailored to your needs.

Obviously, another factor you need to consider is the price. Each web conferencing software provider has its own price structure, which means that you’ll always find one that best suits your wallet. There are even some web conferencing platforms that have pricing plans designed for small businesses, and others that provide limited free plans that you can use forever.

Recommended web conferencing software for small businesses

GoToMeeting logo

GoToMeeting

Editor's rating:
Starting price: $12/mo
Main features
  • One-click meetings
  • Call into conferences
  • AES-128 encryption
  • Highly customizable
  • One-click meetings
  • Call into conferences
  • AES-128 encryption
  • Highly customizable
  • Simplistic apps
  • Light on in-call features
Summary
View summary

Technology has shaped everything around us, including how we work. Now it’s possible for an entire business to have employees in every corner of the globe communicate as if they’re all in one office. It’s all thanks to web conferencing software like GoToMeeting, which was first released in 2004 by Boston-based company LogMeIn – also known for the VoIP service Grasshopper and other entries in the GoTo series, like GoToWebinar. GoToMeeting is known for its speed, letting you set up a meeting with just one click – saving you time whenever you want to have a quick call. The service can be accessed through its desktop apps, browsers, mobiles, or by dialing into a call from anywhere in the world. GoToMeeting offers three different tiers that will suit your needs depending on your business’s size, but you can first test the software by taking advantage of the free 14-day trial.

BlueJeans logo

BlueJeans

Editor's rating:
Starting price: $9.99/mo
Main features
  • Well priced for the features provided
  • 256-AES encryption
  • User-friendly video-call handling
  • Comprehensive list of features
  • Well priced for the features provided
  • 256-AES encryption
  • User-friendly video-call handling
  • Comprehensive list of features
  • Some features are hard to set up
  • User-experience differs depending on the platform
  • Induction should be more thorough
Summary
View summary

BlueJeans might seem like a strange name for a video conferencing solution – at least until hearing that the founder had the objective to make video calling as common as a pair of blue jeans. Considering its vast number of users and its high ratings, we would say he succeeded. BlueJeans offers a vast array of online meeting features that go from simple session recording to more advanced options like allocating attendees to smaller rooms inside the main web conference. The service is well priced for what it offers, with the lowest price point being $9.99 per host per month. Unfortunately there’s no money-back guarantee, but users can test the web conferencing service through the 7-day free trial.

Microsoft Teams logo

Microsoft Teams

Editor's rating:
Starting price: $5/mo
Main features
  • Large number of integrations
  • Reliable video calls
  • Quick, sharable recordings
  • Outstanding browser client
  • Large number of integrations
  • Reliable video calls
  • Quick, sharable recordings
  • Outstanding browser client
  • No end-to-end encryption
  • Not possible to record on mobile
Summary
View summary

With the rise of working from home, web conferencing software is now a key component of many businesses. It’s important to use conferencing software that’s reliable, which is why a lot of businesses turn to tried-and-tested companies with good reputations like Microsoft. Released in 2017 to replace Skype for Business Online and to compete with Slack, Microsoft Teams aims to combine online chats, calls, and conferencing to be the ultimate tool for workplace collaboration. As part of the larger Microsoft umbrella, Teams has access to a huge number of integrations like OneNote, OneDrive, Outlook, and many more, all combining to create a comprehensive package. Users can test out the premium version of Microsoft Teams by signing up for a one-month free trial, or by signing up for Teams’ free forever version.

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