Just do a simple search for “web conferencing” on Google and you’ll find more information than you ever wanted (or can handle) on different web conferencing providers. With so many providers and so much information, it can be difficult to determine which company is the best fit for your online meetings.
With all this confusing information out there, I was grateful to find a simple and straightforward article on the ten fundamental requirements for a web conferencing solution. It’s direct and easy-to-read, so I wasn’t faced with information overload. Best of all, it’s published by InsideCRM.com, an independent third-party analyst community, so I knew it was objective.
Here are a few features mentioned in the article that I find the most useful:
- Polls and Surveys – This is one of my favorite web conferencing features because it makes for a more interactive virtual meeting and ensures that the audience stays engaged. As an added bonus, it allows the presenter to gain valuable information about the online event attendees and to tailor information accordingly. For example, a webinar presenter can utilize the polling feature to ask the attendees their level of experience using social media. From these results, the presenter can then determine how basic or advanced their content should be.
- Video Integration – As more and more organizations cut back on travel budgets and implement telecommuting initiatives, employees in diverse locations are meeting online to collaborate and discuss company initiatives. With integrated video, online meeting attendees can see the facial expressions and body language of their colleagues—just as they would in a face-to-face meeting.
- Security – If people don’t trust their web conferencing provider to protect their confidential information, they will never feel comfortable using online meetings to save money and avoid travel. So, it’s essential that any online meeting service provide the firewalls, encryption, and other safeguards that protect the data transmitted during a web meeting. This protection will give people the confidence they need to go virtual—and protect both their bottom line and the environment.
What web conferencing features matter most to you? We invite you to comment and share your online meeting must-haves!
To try out iLinc web conferencing for yourself, sign up for a free trial today.
Posted under Green Business, Travel Reduction, Web Conferencing
This post was written by Christine Olivas on December 9, 2008
