These days, there are quite a few choices when considering the best video conferencing options. Video meetings and remote events exploded in 2020, and nearly five years later, they're clearly here to stay! Video conferencing can be just two people having a virtual meeting, or can be hundreds of attendees experiencing a company-wide conference. Regardless of your plans, be sure to check out our top three tips for selecting the best site for a video conference.
1) Zoom
When it comes to hosting virutal events, Zoom is our go-to. One of the things we love about the app is that it offers a Webinar add-on. This feature is the perfect tool for large-scale conferences to eliminate background interruptions from participants. We also love that Zoom offers a variety of features, many of which are included with their free plan. For instance, even a free account user is able to host meetings with up to 100 participants for up to 40 minutes. As you upgrade accounts, you're able to increase participant and meeting time, in addition to unlocking more features. Learn more about Zoom packages here. For our clients, we've used Zoom to live stream virtual events, track attendees, and capture remote presenters. It's important to note, of course, that Zoom can only be as good as your Internet. Check out last week's blog post on Zoom lag for tips to fix your Zoom video.
2) Google Meet
For businesses already integrated into the Google Workspace, Google Meet is a great video conferencing option. We love how easy it is to create a meeting. Any Google Calendar event has the option to be set as a Google Meet event, eliminating the need to send out additional emails with links and details that can get lost in inboxes. Like Zoom, Google Meet has a significant amount of free features, including the ability to invite up to 100 participants for up to 60 minutes at a time. It's important to note, however, that if you want to upgrade your Google Meet, you'll have to upgrade your entire Google Workplace. Some premium features include recordings, polling, breakout rooms, and noise cancelation. Learn more about Google Meet here.
3) Zoho Meeting
Zoho is perfect for small teams that need an affordable plan that can grow with them. What we love about Zoho is its overall bang for your buck. Zoom Webinar Add-ons start at $80 (on top of the $14 for the premium Zoom account) with the minimum of 500 attendees. But what if you are a coach or a teacher who hosts frequent webinars with a small audience? Zoho starts at just $8/month for its Webinar feature. Even scaled up to meet the 500 attendees offered for Zoom, it’s still half the price at only $39. Similar to the apps above, they offer a free plan that allows up to 100 attendees for up to 60 minutes. Zoho premium plans start at just $1/host and is based on the number of attendees. Learn more about Zoho Meeting here.
Hire a Professional
Angela Wolf Video offers full-service video conferencing for clients. We provide the web host, track the attendees, run the tech, and provide support. We can do this for a completely virtual event or for hybrid events with in-person filming and live streaming.
Angela Wolf Video offers corporate video production services near Philadelphia, PA. Do you have a specific video question? Schedule a free video analysis call at bit.ly/callawv