Given the current condition of most of the globe’s population and workforce quarantined in their homes we felt it relevant to write this short article. For most professionals it has become a new reality that they may need to work from home or have the capability to do so. Makes sense as long as you are not a brick and mortar business and don’t rely on a store front to conduct transactions. If you’re in that boat, then you’ll need to invent new ways to reach customers from home.
What we’re getting at here, is that the world has changed and you have to be able to connect with people wherever they may be located, including at home. The best way to make those connections and conduct business fluidly is by leveraging what people are already used to doing and that is watching online video and connecting over web meetings.
What you really need is web conferencing not video streaming software.
You’ll want to get online meeting or web conferencing software, very different than live streaming software which is limited to a one-way broadcast instead of two-way or multi-way. Web conference software enables participants to host or attend meetings online by simply clicking a link or downloading some software. Some of the highlights of this software include: VoIP, video conferencing, instant messaging, file and screen sharing.
These web video software tools have become central to how many companies conduct business and can commonly be found in use by sales and support teams within an organization. Web conferencing software enables remote employees, customers, and partners to connect easily and often.
The most common uses for web conferencing and online meeting software are:
- Presentations, group meetings, webinars
- Conference calls
- Video meetings with multiple participants
- Running product demos and online training
- 1-on-1 meetings with remote employees
- Face-to-face virtual customer support
As you can see there are a number of immediate uses for online meeting and web conferencing software at companies of all sizes. By implementing a remote video-based communication strategy you will see enhanced engagement with team members, reduced travel costs and overall increased efficiency across the board.
Here are a few recommended online meeting and web conference software tools to consider:
- Google Hangouts – Google Hangouts is a communication platform that includes messaging, voice, VoIP, and video call capabilities.
- Join.Me – Join.me is an audio, video, and web conferencing tool that can be used across various devices and includes features such as one-click scheduling, personal links, interactive whiteboards, and presenter swapping.
- GoToMeeting – GoToMeeting is an online meeting, desktop sharing, and video conferencing software with a suite of online meeting tools, including real-time screen sharing and integrated audio.
- BlueJeans – BlueJeans is web conferencing multi-vendor, multi-device interoperability with both mobile and browser integration for businesses of any size.
- TeamViewer – TeamViewer is fully integrated online conference solutions for audio and video communication, including interactive screen sharing and remote access features.
- Cisco WebEx – Webex is a video conferencing platform that supports team meetings, webinars, online training, real-time technical support, and conference calling.
- Lifesize Video Conferencing – Lifesize is an online meeting platform that incorporates web conferencing software with meeting room devices and wireless screen sharing.
- Skype – Skype is a free web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software with the ability to call mobile phones and landlines, paid international calling, and conference calling capabilities for up to 25 people.
- Adobe Connect – Adobe Connect is a web conferencing platform that enables users to create presentations, online training materials, and learning modules.
- Fuze – Fuze is a unified communications platform that includes IP PBX voice service, video conferencing, and collaboration tools such as content sharing and instant messaging capabilities.
- UberConference – UberConference is a web conferencing platform with document management capability that integrates with third-party applications such as Google Drive, LinkedIn, Evernote, and Dropbox.
- Highfive – Highfive is an integrated hardware and cloud-based software product for room-based video conferencing, wireless projection, and web conferencing.
- Whereby – Whereby is a video conferencing platform for small teams, both in a free edition hosting up to 4 guests simultaneously in a session or a paid edition that supports up to 12 simultaneous meeting guests, among other features.
- Blizz – Blizz is a web conferencing that aides users in connecting with contacts and remote teams through video meetings, instant chat messaging, screen sharing, and conference recording on desktop and mobile.
- Vidyo – Vidyo is a web conferencing platform that features video calling and instant chat capabilities.
- Mikogo – Mikogo is a free screen sharing solution with built-in VoIP for online meetings, web presentations, web conferencing and sales demos.
- Proficonf – Proficonf is a professional video conferencing platform that allows its users to make or join video meetings with up to 250 participants without any downloads or installations.
- MegaMeeting – MegaMeeting.com is a 100% browser-based Video & Web Conferencing solution.
- LoopUp – LoopUp is a remote meeting/web conferencing platform.
- Zoom – Zoom is a unified communications platform primarily known for its use as a web conferencing tool. It features HD video and audio, collaboration tools, chat functionality, and an enterprise cloud phone system.
