On the internet, there are many different types of conferences. However, an online conference is where people utilise technology to hold a meeting or gather over the internet via the web.
What is an Online Conference?
An online conference could be any number of things on an electronic medium. Usually, when one refers to an “online” conference, they mean a chat room-like platform where multiple users can come together and talk about certain subjects related to their field.
For example, if you had five friends who all wanted to play miniature golf today but could not get together because each person lived in a different city, you could set up a conference where each person joins the conference room via a webcam and a microphone.
Then, you can discuss alternative times or places to meet and play miniature golf from there. This is an example of an online conference.
Types of Online Conferences
There are various online conferences available for people to use over their internet connection. In addition, they all have their benefits that will be discussed later in this article:
VoIP Conference Apps: These types of software have no limit as to how many people can join the conference server at once, except for what the hosting computer/website can support.
Video Conferencing Programs: These types of programs can host any number of people at once but make it difficult to attend if the person using the software does not have a webcam and microphone (or can pop out their webcam).
Chat Rooms/IRC: These platforms create chat rooms that multiple users can join in at once. Then, when one user speaks into their mic or types something into the chat box, all other users will see what they say on screen.
Reasons Why Online Conferencing is a Must-Have
There are several benefits that online conferencing has to offer. Whether you’re an individual, business owner, or a part of a large corporate organisation, the ability to hold virtual conferences can help further your own personal or professional development in ways not possible before. This includes audio and video conference calls with multiple participants from all over the world.Â
Spend less on travel
So many businesses today run on very tight budgets meaning that money saved is money earned. Implementing web conferencing lets companies save on travel expenses that can be used for other parts of their business.
Unite geographically dispersed work sites
Rather than having everyone in the office, online conferencing allows businesses to unite people from different areas into one cohesive team that produces excellent results. This is done by bringing together all of your employees no matter where they are located to collaborate better and create a stronger company overall.
Online conferencing also has another significant benefit: it helps expand your knowledge base and help develop your interpersonal communication skills. Whether you’re an individual or part of a corporation, hosting web conferences will give you more self-confidence, increase your public speaking skills and help you get further in your career than ever before.
Features to Look for Online Conference Softwares
There are several features that one should look for in conference software. These are just some of the many things to consider when choosing an online conferencing program:
Number of People It Can Host: Obviously, this is one of the most critical factors for any conferencing program. Therefore, it would be recommended that you choose a service or application that can host as many people as possible at once.
If they offer different levels/packages/plans with increasing numbers allowed on their servers, then obviously, the higher the number you can pay for is preferred.
You can always run multiple conferences simultaneously if they all have different host/participants limits, but there’s no need to limit yourself unless necessary (i.e., if you are on a budget).
Privacy: This is another essential thing to consider, especially if the conference you plan on hosting will be for business or other serious purposes (such as online study groups or job interviews). Some services will allow you to password-protect your online conference room to enter only invited participants.
Other services do not give this option. However, an experienced user is not stopping from entering your conference even if the host did not invite them. Just something to keep in mind when choosing which service to use for your needs!
Host vs. Participant Interaction: Being able to interact with hosts and guests alike throughout your conference entirely is crucial too. Most services make it possible for all participants to communicate with each other, but not all provide the same level of interaction.
Some services will allow you to chat/talk to anyone in the conference by clicking on their name and typing a message into a prompt box next to their avatar. Other services will only give you a text-only chat panel moderated by someone who has administrative power over the conference (meaning you can’t talk directly with guests unless they speak through them).
Benefits of an Online Conference
Logging into a conference server and getting right down to business is extremely helpful for accomplishing tasks quickly or studying for tests. And unlike regular teleconferencing services, there are no long-distance fees involved.
Though, some features might cost money depending on which service you choose. However, most services offer free trials and basic conferencing programs for those on a budget.
The ability to communicate quickly and easily with your preferred service also makes it easy for those who want to keep up their relationships with friends, family members, and colleagues alike (provided they use the same software as you).
For example: if someone has given you their name and password for that software, download that program to your computer or smartphone and log into it whenever you want to talk to them!
Some services will even allow you to send them money through PayPal. Therefore, making it possible for users who have any financial connection (or anyone else) can help alleviate the inconvenience of having physical money exchanged over long distances.
Other benefits of online conferences include:
- A familiar meeting place where you can meet people in real-time.
- A simple means to hold an effective conference.
- The ability to keep in touch with friends/family/colleagues thousands of miles away.
- The ability to save your important files in one place (and access them later if need be).
Conclusion
There are many different reasons for hosting an online conference, but ultimately it is up to the user’s discretion. Before deciding which conference server to use, consider the features that each conferencing service offers so that you don’t end up spending more money than you need to.
