There may be plenty of online meeting software out there, but that doesn’t mean that the software itself or the company providing it is reliable. For every good business, there’s always one that isn’t so good. On the surface, they can look incredibly similar, but once you start paying for services, you’ll notice the difference very quickly. Are you making these mistakes with your online meeting software? Look for these telling signs in your software, so you know whether it’s worth continuing to use or not.
High Costs
If you’re paying a ridiculous amount per month for your online meeting software, you’re probably getting cheated. Video meeting software and conference calling software shouldn’t be expensive, and, in fact, shouldn’t cost more than a traditional phone bill! Landlines can become quite expensive with multi-caller and long-distance fees, and if your online conference software is costing about the same, it’s time to look for a new service.
Basic online conferencing software costs an average of about $10-$20 per month. Sometimes, the pricing is per-user-per-month, and other times it’s a simple monthly fee. If you’re paying above $30-$40 for online meeting software, you’ll want to do some research and find a different provider. Even the best online meeting software doesn’t cost that much!
This is why it’s so important to do your research before you buy anything. Some companies will charge an outrageous amount of money for a product or service with claims of superiority, only for you to find that the quality is actually lacking. Search the web, do your research, and always compare prices before you buy.
Unreliable Connections
Nothing is more frustrating than an online meeting service that constantly drops audio or video calls. Whether it’s server problems or a faulty connection on their end, you don’t want to work with a company that can’t keep a call going. It’s also important to see if the quality of the call starts to drop when more than ten people join. Many online conference companies offer options for up to 250 callers, and some even go up to 1,000!
An unreliable connection can cause a lot of frustration among the call’s participants, and, if you’re working with new clients, it’s a bad way to make a first impression. Be sure your provider offers a secure and stable connection so calls aren’t dropped or have reduced audio/video quality often.
Poor Audio/Video Quality
With a bad connection usually comes poor audio and video quality. Even if your provider has a secure connection, if their software isn’t able to handle HD video and audio, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere. You wouldn’t want a pixelated image of your callers or VHS tape-quality audio feeds! This is 2019 after all, and everything is pretty much expected to be in HD at this point; it’s become the standard for both audio and video.
This is why businesses opt for a professional video and audio conferencing service, rather than using something like Facebook Messenger. Better audio and video make for a better call experience, and you’ll feel like you’re actually getting your money’s worth!
No Support Staff
A business with no support staff behind its products is probably not a business you want to work with. Think about it; if you had a product you were proud of, and stood behind, wouldn’t you provide a dedicated support staff to your customers in case of any issues? Not having a support staff says a lot about a business, and can leave you stranded when things go wrong.
A dedicated support staff should be one of the first considerations you make when searching for online meeting software. If there’s no one there to answer the phone, you’re pretty much on your own when it comes to connectivity or quality issues, and who wants that?
Limited Options
Lastly, don’t choose a service that provides only limited options. There are companies that provide plenty of extras in addition to the online meeting software; from the ability to record meetings to online cloud storage. Limited options mean you’re not getting your money’s worth, which can be incredibly frustrating if you’re not happy with the service to begin with!
Choose a feature-rich software program for an improved experience and a more cost-friendly option. Opt for some of the big names in the business, such as Zoom, Vast Conference, Skype, and Join.me.
Conclusion
Choosing an online meeting provider doesn’t have to be a difficult task if you follow these simple tips. Overall, you want to ensure you’re getting what you pay for. You want HD audio and video, a dedicated support staff, and a reliable connection at the minimum. Anything other than those few things is an added bonus, but shouldn’t cost you too much more than you’re already paying.
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