The Best Webinar Software Solutions of 2021

What to Look For in a Webinar Conferencing Provider

Different webinar tools are accessible depending on the device you use. Some webinar solutions place limitations on the number of attendees your business can host at one time. Assess what your business needs in a webinar tool to find the right provider. Here are some of the key factors your business should consider before purchasing a Webinar solution.

Browser-Based Software

One major difference between webinar solutions is whether or not they’re desktop-based or browser-based. Your best bet would be to find a browser-based webinar provider. This type of software should utilize WebRTC to ensure a simple setup.

With a browser-based webinar software, your audience does not need to download or install any programs or plug-ins. They simply direct their browser to the proper webpage.

Attendance Limitations

Consider your audience size carefully before you chose a software solution. While you might think it’s cool to have some exclusivity to your webinar, if people can’t get in because you chose a free solution, you’ll look cheap.

Some providers offer solutions that are designed for smaller webinars with only a handful of viewers, enabling a more personalized and interactive experience. Other Webinar providers will make it possible to host up to 500 attendees at once.  Depending on what your business needs, there are different providers for the job.

Reporting and Metrics

Rather than hosting webinars week after week, hoping there is an audience use data to ensure that your webinars are successful.

Some providers will report metrics including audience size, questions asked, lead scoring, and when audience members decided to close out of your webinar. This crucial data will help your business improve future presentations and increase overall engagement.

Mobile Accessibility

Not everyone has time to sit in front of a computer when you’re giving your webinar. It is important to not only find a web-based webinar provider but one that also makes it possible for mobile attendees to see your presentations.

Mobile support helps capture another large demographic of potential viewers that is growing every day.

Webinar Archive

It is important to have an archive of recordings of all your previous webinar presentations. With an archive of previous webinars, your business can look back at to learn how to improve in the future. Find a webinar software provider offering this feature.

Your business could also organize this archive into a content library. This allows your existing clients and users to look back at previous webinars that they may have missed to learn more.

Features to Consider

Many feature lists will be similar when comparing solutions on the market. However, there are some critical features that we think every business should have. Here’s what you need from any webinar solution.

Video Conferencing

While webinars can be hosted through voice only with minimal visual elements to aid the presentation, the best webinars have a strong presentation. These are created through video conferencing, enabling a much more personalized and meaningful connection between the host and the audience.

Not every webinar needs video, but it’s a great way to showcase products and demonstrations.

Screen Sharing Capability

For some webinars, screen sharing capability is even more important than video conferencing. With screen sharing, your business can offer hands-on software demonstrations and presentations. This enables higher levels of training and technical support.

Instead of trying to talk someone through your app, show them exactly what it is you are trying to explain.

Upload Files During Meetings

Along with screen sharing and video conferencing, the ability to upload files is another critical feature. They make your webinars much more effective.

With file sharing, the webinar host can drop-in images, videos, word documents or even spreadsheets. When you add more information for the audience, you give them all the more reason to engage.

Calls to Action

Call to action pop-ups right inside the webinar allow your business to close leads and drive sales. For example, when discussing a new product, the host could trigger a pop-up that directs the audience to the purchase page.

You could also use pop-ups to create polls and ask the audience questions to increase interaction. Interaction and engagement help to push leads down the sales funnel.

Chat Support

A webinar shouldn’t be a one-way presentation. It’s better as a conversation between the audience and the host. With chat and question support, attendees can chime in and ask questions or respond directly to those presenting.

Chat and question support drives more interaction between hosts and the audience, building trust and support for your products and services.

How to Shop For Webinar Software

Webinar software enables your business to connect with both existing and new clients in entirely new ways.  Utilizing the right webinar tool makes promoting a new product or offering in-depth training a breeze.

Your business should take a long, hard look at exactly what a provider offers with their solution. Work to gain an understanding of what your business is looking for before you start shopping. We recommend looking for a provider that offers video conferencing and screen sharing capabilities, as well as a browser-based deployment.

Lastly, you can balance out the different pricing that webinar software costs and figure out which one is most conducive to your business.