Best Video Conferencing Services For Small Business
Dec 10, 2019
The advent of reliable video conferencing services over the last decade has changed so much about how we do business. Getting face time with remote employees, vendors, customers and collaborators is often as simple as the click of a button. But with so many services to choose from, it's difficult to know if you're getting the service that best fits your business's needs, both today and in the future.
Do you need a service that ties seamlessly with your existing office tools? Are you growing rapidly and need scalability? How about features? For example, will you need more than just a few people on a video conference at one time? How's the customer service if something goes wrong?
Here are some of the things to consider when choosing a video conferencing service:
Capacity: If you're a sole proprietor communicating with just your product manufacturer, sales associates and your accountant, you may be able to get by with a free service. But if you're a growing corporation with offices scattered around the country or the world, you may need a service that allows as many as 100 people to join a conference call.
Picture and Sound Quality: If it's just your internal team you'll be conferencing with, perhaps you won't mind the occasional lag or even losing your conference entirely. But if your conferencing capabilities will be a direct reflection on the quality of your business, you may need a more robust service with high-definition video.
Real-Time Private and Group Chat: Do you want to be able to clarify points with a team member in private during a video conference? If so, a chat option built into the your conferencing service may be important.
Ability to Share Files: Maybe you just want to see the people you're talking to, but if you plan to share presentations or documents, you'll want a service that allows you to share your computer screen with the group. Maybe you even need a service that allows you to draw on documents that other participants can see.
Downloads vs. Cloud-based or App-based Services: If you're just meeting with your internal teams, it's not a big deal to ask your employees to download video conferencing software, but do you want to ask clients or potential clients to do so? If not, a service that just requires a dial-in and possibly a passcode may be for you.
Ability to Record & Archive Conferences: Not all services allow you to keep a record of your conference call. If keeping a record of your conferences is important to your business, you'll want a service that provides this feature.
Usability Across Operating Systems: Not all services are available across all operating systems (or web browsers, for that matter), so if you'll want to ensure access--regardless of whether a client is using an Android phone or a PC--you'll need to look for a service that can meet your needs.
Customer Service: That old saying that "you get what you pay for" is sometimes true, and especially so when it comes to totally free services. Make sure you'll get the customer service you need if there's ever a disruption in your services (or prepare to have a backup plan!).
Cost: There's a huge difference in the associated costs of using different video conferencing services, so it's important to fully understand just what you're getting for your money.
With all of these things in mind, here are our choices for some of the best video conferencing services available today.
