As an online membership site owner, you probably already know that you need to host virtual conferences and events for your members. This helps add more value to your membership program and enhance the learning experience for members.
Ideally, you need a robust video conferencing tool for hosting meetings, for hosting webinars, and for hosting virtual events as a part of your membership subscription program. With so many options available, it can be challenging to choose the right one for your specific needs.
In this article, we’ll show you some of the best virtual conference platforms for membership website owners.
Best virtual conference platforms for membership website entrepreneurs
Here, we’ll go over some of the best virtual conference platforms for membership website entrepreneurs.
#1. Zoom
Zoom offers a simple yet professional solution for businesses looking to seamlessly connect with their customers or team members from all around the globe.
Zoom is a fully professional, dedicated video conference platform. It offers a much smoother experience and high video quality along with other features such as creating online virtual events or creating a chat room for members to interact in.
Additionally, it’s a solid option for people looking for a robust video conference platform on a budget. Zoom offers a free-to-use approach to their platform, however, you’re limited to a 40-minute time limit for each meeting. Zoom also offers exceptional customer support and is trusted by most big-name organizations for hosting their annual meetings. In addition to this, it also offers users the option to create fully featured video webinars. You can take a look at our review on Zoom Webinar for more detailed information. We also have a tutorial on how you can use Zoom without downloading the app and enable the call scheduling feature.
Zoom entry-level plan starts at $14.99 per month for the Pro plan. However, you can still use Zoom completely free by subscribing to the Free package that has a 40 minutes time limit for each meeting.
#2. Skype
Skype, developed by Microsoft, is an intuitive and free video conferencing tool that’s widely used by businesses and organizations all around the world.
Skype is very simple to use and offers a robust video conference platform. This makes it a great option because most people will already be familiar with Skype and know how to join video conferences. Although it might look simple at first, Skype in terms of functionality provides all the right tools you need to host a successful video conference for your organization. It provides you with full control over Skype calls. This means that you’ll have a much easier time managing a virtual video conference with 50+ people.
Other than being easy to use, the best part about Skype is the availability of the app on all devices. Users can use Skype with their phone, desktop, tablet, web browser, Alexa, and even Xbox. This way, you make your video conferences easily accessible for all types of users.
Skype is completely free to download and use across all devices. You can purchase Credits to make cellular calls directly from the video conference platform.
#3. Airmeet
Airmeet is a professional virtual and hybrid video conference platform designed with simplicity in mind. It offers robust tools for hosting virtual meetings, seminars, and virtual conferences of your business.
A great feature that Airmeet offers is the ability to add multiple hosts to your virtual conferences. This is great for inviting celebrities or setting up guest appearances in your virtual events. This way, you can tap into other brand’s audiences. For instance, the celebrity that will be joining your virtual conference will have their own fan following that will also be joining your virtual event or conference. This helps boost attendance for your virtual conference and maximizes business growth.
Airmeet also offers the option to automatically record the whole video conference once it goes live. This is an effective way to generate content and later use clips and videos on your website or social media accounts to drive more traffic. It also encourages people who missed out on the virtual conference to visit your website and catch up on all the “after-event” videos and clips.
Airmeet’s entry-level package is free to use which is best for small-scale businesses looking for a robust video conferencing platform.
#4. Google Meet
Google Meet is a premium video conference service. Google is known for providing great apps and services to its community all around the world. Similarly, Google Meet is a simple, yet professional video conference solution for businesses.
Another thing Google is most famous for is its reliable and fast server speed. This way, you don’t have to worry about dropping your important business calls or disconnecting from the video conference, even with 100+ people in attendance. The best part about Google Meet is that it’s compatible with all types of devices and is very easy to first set up. This ensures that no member will have a problem joining the virtual conference. You just need to send members a link for joining the meeting and they can join the video conference within a few clicks.
Google Meet is now free to use. You just need a Google account to log in and create a new meeting.
#5. Whova
Whova is a robust, simple-to-use video conferencing platform for businesses looking to host virtual conferences.
It offers an all-in-one video conferencing platform that lets you host sessions, pre-record videos for meetings, and offer extensive attendee engagement features. A great thing about Whova is that you can manage all your video and virtual conferences from a single place, you don’t have to hop around multiple apps to access various tools.
Whova is also fully compatible with mobile devices, tablets, and laptops. This means that you (the host) and members can easily access your virtual conferences from their preferred device, anywhere. Additionally, Whova offers higher-tiered tickets for your “exclusive” members. This means that you can offer exclusive meetings or content for attendees that have higher-tiered tickets. This is a great way to provide more value to members and boost revenue for your business.
With Whova, you can request a pricing quote based on your business requirements and according to your virtual conference.
#6. HighFive
HighFive offers a very simple, quality solution for organizations looking for a video conference platform.
HighFive is all about ease of use and offering a lightweight solution for your business conferences. Your members don’t need to download any app, they can directly join the video conference from their browser, using the HighFive URL link you provide, without having to enter any pins or passwords. You can also host an unlimited timed meeting or video conference without worrying about restarting long meetings when the time limit ends. Members will also have an easy time joining your video conference using any device including the web, PC, Mac, iOS, or Android.
It’s easy to create a room within minutes with HighFive and start your virtual conference quickly. Additionally, it offers an advanced admin dashboard that lets you easily control your branding, add or remove integrations and review all registered users from a central place.
HighFive’s entry-level price starts at $9.99 per month that is billed annually.
#7. Livestorm
Livestorm, a browser-based platform is a video conference and virtual event platform designed with productivity in mind.
Livestorm offers robust tools that let you create unique virtual events for your business, help engage and encourage more people to join, and also lets you collaborate with other businesses and brands. With Livestorm, you can offer your members an easy and simple way of joining your virtual conference. All they need to do is paste a URL link in their browser and click enter.
Additionally, you can also enable the automatic starting and end of your virtual conferences. This way, it makes it easier for you to start and manage your virtual conferences and follow a strict schedule. Livestorm also integrates seamlessly with tools such as HubSpot and Intercom that can help you also manage all your business insights from a single platform. You also don’t have to worry about any bugs and issues when using the platform as the team at Livestorm is available to help you 5 days a week, during business hours.
Livestorm’s entry-level plan is free to use and offers all the features you need to set up your virtual conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are virtual event platforms?
A: Virtual event platforms are software platforms that allow organizations to host virtual events, such as conferences, trade shows, and meetings, online. These platforms provide features and tools to create interactive and engaging virtual experiences for participants.
Q: What are the benefits of using a virtual event platform?
A: Using a virtual event platform offers several benefits, including cost savings, increased reach and accessibility, flexibility in scheduling and attending events, data analytics for tracking performance, networking and engagement opportunities, and the ability to host events in a virtual environment.
Q: What types of virtual events can be hosted on virtual event platforms?
A: Virtual event platforms can host various types of virtual events, such as conferences, trade shows, webinars, virtual meetings, virtual classrooms, product launches, virtual career fairs, and online workshops.
Q: What are the 10 best virtual event platforms for 2023?
A: The 10 best virtual event platforms for 2023 are platforms that offer a range of features and capabilities to host successful virtual events.
Q: What is a hybrid event?
A: A hybrid event is an event that combines both in-person and virtual elements. It allows for a mix of physical attendees and remote participants, providing a seamless experience for all participants.
Q: How can I choose the best virtual event platform for my business?
A: To choose the best virtual event platform for your business, consider the specific needs of your event, such as the number of attendees, desired features, budget, user experience, and integration capabilities with other systems. It is also important to research and compare different platforms to find the one that aligns with your requirements.
Q: What are the different types of virtual event platforms available?
A: There are various types of virtual event platforms available, including all-in-one platforms that offer end-to-end event management solutions, specialized platforms for specific types of events (such as webinars or virtual trade shows), and customizable platforms that allow for more flexibility in designing the event experience.
Q: Can virtual event platforms be used for online courses?
A: Yes, virtual event platforms can be used to host online courses. These platforms provide features such as live streaming, interactive chat, breakout rooms, and content sharing, which are essential for delivering engaging and interactive online learning experiences.
Q: How can virtual event platforms enhance event marketing?
A: Virtual event platforms offer various features, such as branding customization, sponsor/exhibitor visibility, social media integration, and registration tracking, that can enhance event marketing efforts. They provide the opportunity to reach a larger audience, engage with participants before and after the event, and collect valuable data for targeted marketing campaigns.
Q: What should I consider when choosing a virtual event platform?
A: When choosing a virtual event platform, you should consider factors such as the platform’s features and capabilities, ease of use for both organizers and attendees, scalability, security measures, customer support, pricing structure, and integration options with other tools or systems you may use.
Conclusion
Deciding on the right virtual conference platform for your business can be tricky. You should consider important factors including your budget, your use-case, and your requirements. Ideally, you want to ask yourself these questions before deciding on a virtual conference platform:
- Are you looking to host a virtual conference for more than 100 people or less than 50?
- Do you require additional tools to help you manage your virtual conferences? For example, integration with marketing tools like HubSpot?
- Does your business have special requirements or needs for a virtual conference event?
Hopefully, after answering these questions and going through our list of the best virtual conference platforms, you’ll be in a much better place to take the next steps.
Do you know of any other virtual conference platform? Let us know down in the comment box below.
