Online Webinar Tools

Online webinars are useful for business communication, training and sales purposes. Desktop sharing and video-conferencing technology make it easy to hold meetings or training sessions with satellite offices or employees who telecommute. Some companies report expanding their client bases and increasing sales by using webinars to present product information and demonstrations. Webinars save time and money by being an efficient alternative to travel, which can include gas, airfare, car rental, hotels and meals. Business owners can use some online webinar tools for a monthly fee

GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar

Same company, two services. With GoToMeeting you can host a meeting for up to 15 people, instantly or prescheduled. Meetings also can be scheduled on a recurring basis. GoToMeeting features include full desktop sharing, recording, chat, audio conferencing via computer or phone, attendance reports and Outlook Calendar integration.



GoToWebinar includes everything GoToMeeting does, but allows for larger audiences, including three pricing tiers for up to 100, 500 and 1,000 participants. GoToWebinar also has more robust features, including the option for branded webinars and email templates, a post-webinar survey, automatic follow-up email to participants and a full registration service.



Both GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar offer a free, 14-day trial.

Cisco's WebEx

Cisco's WebEx is a popular webinar service which includes desktop sharing with phone and VoIP conferencing. Webinars also can be streamed with webcams.



There is no commitment when signing up for WebEx, but it will renew month to month. There is a flat rate per host, per month. The monthly fee includes training resources and support. Advanced features are available for an extra fee, including capacity for more participants. There is no software to install, and accounts can be be used on any computer anywhere. WebEx is also mobile compatible.

GatherPlace

GatherPlace is newer than established services such as GoToMeeting and WebEx, but is gaining ground in the small-business market. GatherPlace allows for hosting webinars on Mac or Windows. Integration is free, and users are not required to download any software to participate. One of the most useful features is the ability to record sessions, allowing for viewing later. The service offers a 14-day free trial.

Freebinar

Most won't argue with Freebinar's price tag; it's free for up to 150 attendees per meeting. Like many free online services, it is ad-supported. Freebinar allows users to host live, online meetings, sharing presentations and documents with participants. You can brand webinars and registration forms with a logo, and collect post-webinar survey data to measure its success. This service offers free support.

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