Virtual Conference Platforms
There are several different virtual conference platforms available to meet your needs. Here are some of the best: Zoom, OpenWater, ClickMeeting, Nextiva, and GoToMeeting. If you’re ready to host your first conference online, these services can make it easy to organise a productive meeting. Each of these platforms offers a variety of benefits. Before you make your final decision, consider how each one works.
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Virtual Conference Platforms: Zoom
The Zoom virtual conference platform is an excellent tool for businesses that need to keep meetings and webinars moving along. Zoom is password-protected, has a waiting room feature, and integrates with all the leading CRMs, marketing solutions, and video platforms. The platform is easy to use but can be challenging to master.
- It is free to download the Zoom software for your desktop or mobile device.
- To invite attendees to a Zoom event, enter their names and email addresses in the fields provided.
- If you plan to hold a multiple-day conference, you can set up an event registration module.
- Once attendees have registered, they’ll receive a confirmation code.
- The program includes an itinerary, polls, and interactive surveys.
- In addition to allowing users to host meetings, Zoom also lets you record meetings.
The recordings are stored in the Zoom cloud and are accessible to both members of the meeting and the general public. You can either add participants via email or add them manually to your meeting to record your meetings. You can also record the conference automatically with Zoom. To do this, you need to enable the automatic recording feature. Once you’re done, you can watch your meeting back at a later date.
Despite its limitations, Zoom is an excellent choice for video and audio conferencing businesses. Its ease of use and extensive feature set has made it a popular virtual event platform. However, it’s not ideal for large-scale, high-performing virtual events. For primary messaging, it works just fine. Zoom also has a large user base, so it’s worth seeing if it can help your business.
Virtual Conference Platforms: OpenWater
The OpenWater virtual conference platform is ideal for both in-person and virtual events when creating a conference. This platform’s mobile app helps attendees find one another and strike up conversations, regardless of whether they are on their computers or their smartphones. OpenWater’s Guidebook mobile app enables attendees to find other conference attendees and make niche connections.
- Participants can also view conference schedules and participate in exhibitor galleries.
- Other app features include interactive maps, polls, social feeds, and push notifications.
- As a conference organiser, OpenWater can streamline collecting and organising conference content.
- OpenWater’s event cloud software combines an event planning app with mobile phone and in-person support for seamless conference management.
- Its streamlined workflow, complete with customisable submission forms, helps keep conference participants informed and ensures that the event is successful.
- Additionally, OpenWater helps conference staff make sure that communications are effective.
- With tools like scheduled email blasts and email confirmations, attendees can stay connected with colleagues, clients, and partners.
- The OpenWater virtual conference platform also offers an intuitive user experience, which helps the platform grow.
- Its powerful tools enable conference organisers to create interactive, high-quality broadcasts and expand their remote conference platform.
- OpenWater features a fully searchable session agenda, on-demand sessions, speaker bios, and living streaming sessions.
- The platform also features a conference session manager with a review portal and online forms for conference chairs.
- It also allows conference organisers to collect and manage speaker materials, including online presentations and slides.
The customisation of the OpenWater virtual conference platform also ensures that each participant is comfortable. Among the customisable features is branding. Customising conference materials allows sponsors to integrate their messaging and reach potential customers. OpenWater also makes it easy for sponsors to customise their offerings, and it provides a flexible call to action button for lead generation.
While customising the conference experience is an excellent feature for virtual events, you should not compromise your branding.
ClickMeeting
If you are looking for a virtual conference platform that is easy to use and scalable, consider ClickMeeting. This virtual conference platform was founded in 2011 and spun off from its parent company in 2016. Currently, the company has over 70 employees and boasts glowing reviews from Capterra, G2, and the Stevie(r) Awards. Its impressive users include Nest Bank, Jellyfish, and Arturo Tedeschi. In addition, it has won multiple Stevie Awards.
- Users can easily customise the appearance of their screen, assign presenters, manage participants, and send out email notifications.
- In addition, they can easily manage their contacts through their dashboard, create custom fields, and create a panic button to redirect people to another live room if someone drops out.
- Moreover, they can share presentations, hold interactive polls, or distribute handouts and gifts.
- Using ClickMeeting, it is easy to create, host, and manage large digital events and break them up into smaller, interactive meetings.
- The ClickMeeting virtual conference platform is easy to use and highly customisable.
- Users can use various tools to hold webinars and organise events, including polls, surveys, and panel discussions.
- ClickMeeting also offers customised templates and call-to-action buttons.
- Besides webinars, they can also be used to organise internal conferences.
- The platform also offers features to promote webinars and conduct online tests.
- ClickMeeting is available on various devices, including Mac, Windows, and Linux computers.
- Guests can join ClickMeeting events either as presenters or attendees
- Hosts can also share the event ID on social media channels, text messages, and emails to invite others. Alternatively, they can also invite attendees by providing the URL of the event.
Nextiva
There is a few differences between the Virtual conference platforms Nextiva and RingCentral. Both offer VoIP conferencing services, but Nextiva is particularly well-suited to larger organisations. For one, both have generous limits for meeting participants, and their plans include features like video conferencing and team chat. Nextiva also offers more advanced phone services, including hot-desking and multi-level auto attendant.
- Although these services are mostly used for large-scale meetings, Nextiva allows for 40 audio-only call participants, 250 video conference participants, and file sharing for audio-only calls.
- It is cloud-based, so you don’t have to purchase expensive conference phones or bulky business communication hardware.
- With Nextiva, you can also dial in using any phone, including smartphones and tablets.
- The desktop and mobile app allow for high-performance video and audio calls and lag-free screen sharing.
- Users can also set up special lines and schedule appointments.
- In addition to this, Nextiva offers excellent support for its service.
- Nextiva’s customer service team has a Gold Stevie Award for customer service.
- They also provide on-premise training, webinars, and live video conferencing.
- Nextiva’s support centre is comprehensive, with guides, help articles, and a service ticket system.
If you have any questions, the company is always there to assist you. The Nextiva customer service department is available 24 hours, seven days a week. The next step in choosing a Virtual conference platform is to decide which features you need. Nextiva allows unlimited calls within the United States and Canada. It has an automatic call notes and transcripts feature. Other features include screen sharing, on-hold music, and various user controls. Some plans offer a 14-day free trial of the service.
Whova
Whova is an online conference software platform that helps you organise and deliver live and recorded sessions. Its powerful features include voting for the most relevant questions, live polling, and social sharing. In addition, you can invite people to join your session by sending a notification within the app. Then, during the live session, you can ask your attendees for their opinions through the Whova app. These features are useful in creating engaging sessions and ensuring your audience is fully engaged.
- Whova is designed for event organisers.
- Its social features allow attendees to plan sessions relevant to their interests easily.
- In addition, it also lets you measure how many people attended each session.
- You can determine which sessions receive the most attention by allowing attendees to sign up for newsletters. It also provides comprehensive workflow management integrations.
- Ultimately, your attendees will benefit from the convenience of using Whova.
- A great virtual conference platform makes the most of its features.
How does Whova work?
First, you need to register and receive an invitation. Once you’ve registered and received the invitation, you must log in with the same email address. Once done, you can view the conference schedule and plan the day’s events.
You’ll also view the conference schedule and watch the live video sessions. Then, you’ll be ready to begin your conference! After setting up your event, you can stream the content from all the sessions on Whova. Zoom and Vimeo are also great options if you’re looking for a live-streaming solution, but they’re limited in flexibility and engagement. You need a virtual conference platform to make your virtual event a success.
It makes it easy for speakers and attendees to participate in online sessions. The platform also offers features that help your attendees engage with each other during the event.
UK VoIP Providers |
Company |
Price |
Free Trial |
Customer Rating |
Who is it Best For |
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£19 per user, per month |
✓ |
4.7 |
Small businesses with big growth plans
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£9 per user, per month |
✓ |
4.6 |
Small businesses looking for a cheap and easy solution
|
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£12 per user, per month (billed annually)
|
✓ |
4.4 |
Telesales teams and small businesses with high turnover
|
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£6 per user, per month |
✓ |
4.4 |
|
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£10 per user, per month |
✓ |
4.3 |
Companies that need to communicate remotely
|
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£7.99 per user, per month (billed annually)
|
✓ |
4 |
Small businesses with varied departments
|
|
£14.99 per user, per month
|
X |
3.9 |
Small companies that are based online
|
Other Useful links about phone systems
All You Need to Know About XO Communications
5 Services Offered by Voxox
Zoom Review
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