How to Choose the Best Conferencing Software for Your Business December 13, 2010 @ 01:12 PM | By Cambria Vaccaro

InterCall offers a broad range of conferencing software to fit the needs of everyone from solo-preneurs to SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. But which solution is best for you? Before you make a decision, it helps to assess your needs in a number of areas.

Features
If your conferencing software doesn't do what you need it to, you won't be happy with it. Decision makers should make a list of what you hope to accomplish with the software and what you'll be using it for. For instance, are you hosting webinars or web conferences? Do you want the room to be available with one click whenever you need it? What is the maximum number of people you'll need a room for at any one time?

Other features you may look for in conferencing software include:

• Desktop sharing
• Polls and surveys
• Integration with other popular software such as Microsoft^® Office Suite
• Shared web browsing

Customer Service
When you consider conferencing software providers, make sure they offer the level of customer service and tech support you need. What happens if you have a problem? Is someone available 24/7 to walk you through troubleshooting? Is training provided prior to your first web meeting?

Ease-of-Use
The bloggers at Online Meeting Tools Review say it best when they write, “...if you want to present information online or have a virtual team-meeting you can’t waste time trying to figure out how to get a specific gadget to work. Meeting organizers and participants need easy-to-use software to operate quickly and smoothly.” 

For some users, this means having streamlined software that does what they want it to—and nothing more—similar to InterCall Unified Meeting. Other businesses require robust packages like Cisco WebEx^TM Web Conferencing, provided by InterCall. The world's most-used web conferencing tool is user-friendly and intuitive. With InterCall's tech support staff standing by, if you happen to have a question, you won't be stuck.

Cost
Budget is also an important consideration when you select the best web conferencing software for your business. Larger companies might be able to afford solutions that have every bell and whistle required by every department. Small businesses, on the other hand, typically want something that is reliable, simple and cost effective. That's why InterCall offers web conferencing solutions tailor-made for small business users.

If you still need help assessing what’s best for you, InterCall offers a simple interactive tool that can get you started.  Check it out and let us know what you think!

Cambria Vaccaro is the Senior Director, Marketing Communications and our “Industry News” blogger.  Cambria has been in the conferencing industry for nearly fifteen years, and has seen it evolve from a traditional video bridging service to include cool web features and remote communication services.  She is an avid runner, cook, wife and mother of two gorgeous girls.

Comments

[Paul Holcroft]

Nice article and you are absolutely right, if you are going to use an Internet video conferencing system you need to think about what features you are going to need (like desktop sharing, guest speakers, polls and surveys) before you decide which package to buy.

If you just buy and then find it will not do what you wanted it to, then you will definitely be disappointed... I know I was.