Webinars are one of the most effective ways for businesses and institutions to promote themselves to a wider audience, especially when physical seminars are not possible to facilitate due to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, it’s important to find the best webinar platform that best suits the business’ nature and its operations. There are lots of these programs in the online space but here are some of the best webinar software available right now.
16+ Webinar Software
1. Zoho
2. GoToWebinar
3. Adobe Connect
4. ON24
5. Zoom Video Webinar
6. BlueJeans Events
7. BigMarker
8. Livestorm
9. RingCentral Meetings
10. Cisco Webex Events
11. WebinarGeek
12. Demio
13. Webinar.Net
14. ClickMeeting
15. SwiftMeeting
16. INXPO Webcasting
17. LiveWebinar
What Is Webinar Software?
“Webinar” comes from the word “seminar” which is an event where groups of people gather around and to listen to expert speakers of the topic(s) that might be of relevance to them and their field. Webinars usually has its own program flow agenda to ensure a smooth, concise seminar gathering. A webinar serves almost the same purpose, except that it takes place virtually online and attendees and speakers can attend the webinar anywhere, usually from the comfort of their own homes. Webinar software is voice over internet protocol (VoIP) programs that facilitate these webinars with interactive presentation tools that people can use during the program.
Benefits
There are a lot of benefits to hosting a webinar. Aside from the fact that attendees can attend webinars from the comfort of their own homes, webinars are also widely available to people worldwide as opposed to a physical seminar where it takes place in one physical location. It can also boost the image of a company or institution as attendees are aware of their presence through webinars. Depending on the host of the webinar, they can be replayed at any time through webcasts, which are recorded live webinars. Webinars are also more interactive as attendees can interact with the speakers and the host through various tools like a chatbox. This is most useful when asking questions to the speakers in an open forum.
- People can attend webinars from the comfort of their own homes
- Webinars are widely accessible
- Webinars can boost an image of a company and institution
- Webinars can be replayed at any time depending on the hosts
- Interactive tools that make webinars more lively for the guests and speakers
Features
The most essential feature of webinar software is the ability to host several high-quality video calls in one simultaneous stream. Processing a series of live video feeds at the same time is a heavy task and webinar software has to ensure that this process is smooth and does not slow down guests’ devices, which may include compressing the quality of the video calls slightly. Other essential features are interactive tools that speakers and hosts can use such as screen sharing for interactive presentations (common for many webinar software) and an embedded virtual whiteboard software (not all webinar software has this). Hosts should be able to have administrative tools including recording webinars and facilitating breakout rooms where guests are divided into smaller groups for an activity. Everyone should also have the ability to access the webinar’s chatbox where everyone can see the feedback in real-time, especially for a Q&A session.
- Host several video calls simultaneously
- Interactive tools such as screen sharing, recording
- Breakout sessions where guests are divided into smaller guests for an activity
- A real-time interactive chatbot that can be seen by the guests
Top 10 Webinar Software
1. ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting targets several groups of people from educators to businesses and offers all of the essential webinar tools without having to download to use the program. Founded in 2010, the company has 80 employees and its annual revenue is $9.7 million.
2. Zoom Video Webinar
Zoom extends its video conferencing tools to a suitable webinar software spin-off where it can accommodate up to 50,000 guests in one Zoom webinar with tools that perfectly suits for a webinar. The 2,532-employee company was founded in 2011 and has earned $2.65 billion in revenue in 2020..
3. Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect has the premium webinar tools that aims to be more accessible to everyone with special needs.
4. Cisco Webex Events
Cisco Webex Events offers interactive webinar tools such as a dedicated Q&A and polling option and seamless livestream on social media. The program promises that it can hold up to 100,000 guests in one webinar.
5. Zoho
Known for its office document programs, Zoho offers a more simpler tools needed to host an interactive webinar that is still up in the industry standard of quality. Founded in 1996, the company has over 7,000 employees and earned a revenue of $610 million in 2020.
6. Demio
Demio wants to be the hassle-free webinar software for marketers that doesn’t require downloading and has simple tools for an effective seminar. The company was founded in 2014 and has 7 employees running the company with a revenue of $3 million in 2020.
7. LiveWebinar
LiveWebinar offers unique, advanced tools that hosts can use to fully customize webinars to their liking, including easy, no-downloading needed access, customizable URLs and clear HD calls and recording.
8. GoToWebinar
Founded in 2004 and hosted over 2.7 million webinars, GoToWebinar offers business with tools to host a webinar for business or internal communications with “success without the stress” as their slogan suggests.
9. Livestorm
With its no-download required, simple interface, Livestorm assures quality webinars with tools that can cater to different types of webinars as well as its seamless integration with third-party apps. Since being founded in 2011, Livestorm earned $11.5 million in revenue in 2020.
10. BigMarker
BigMarker has powerful, technology-focused tools that can make webinars feel like an interactive experience with no requirement of having to download a program to use the software. Founded in 2010, the company has over 113 employees earning an annual revenue of $8.3 million per year.
FAQ
What is the difference between a webinar and a video conference call?
While most webinar software can be used for video conferencing, the differences are its functionalities and the kind of tools available to use. While video conference calls are small virtual meetings, webinars are wider gatherings that are expected to have more than hundreds of guests attending. Due to the huge capacity, certain tools available for video conferencing are adjusted to accommodate the nature of webinars. Some tools such as camera and microphone may even be removed or disabled to avoid guests from disrupting the webinar.
Is it possible to hold a webinar and a seminar at the same time?
It’s actually possible to hold hybrid seminar-webinars. Some webinar softwares can accommodate special tools that can allow hosts to host a smooth hybrid seminar-webinar event if you contact them in advance.
How can webinars boost a company or institution’s image?
Just like seminars, some webinars may be sponsored through several companies. Their names attached to these webinars advances their own image to these guests and while also advancing the image of the host company as well. Some webinars may be inbound marketing in nature as they would tailor their seminars to specific audiences to promote the host company’s brand.
While the world still recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, webinars are still the best ways to reach out to employees, partners and customers. The work of having to host a seminar is now cut in half as hosting a webinar proved to be more easier and flexible with its interactive tools that ensure a great, memorable webinar that people will experience.
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