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5 Video Conferencing Solutions for Small Businesses

video conferencing

We’re living in strange, scary times, folks. Schools are closed. Professional sports seasons are canceled. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper are the new gold standard. And suddenly, video conferencing has gone from the technology of the future to the technology of now.

The world has come to a screeching halt, and no one has felt the pinch more than the “non-essential” small businesses that have been ordered to shutter their brick-and-mortar shops for the foreseeable future with no timeline as to when they might be back up and running.

But, as Freddie Mercury famously crooned, the show must go on. Millions of Americans suddenly are forced to work from home and abide by strict social distancing rules. Video conferencing has become the new norm as a result.

Whether you’re looking for a way to keep in touch with far-flung team members or continue doing (virtual) business with clients, customers, partners and vendors, these telecommunication technologies provide a much-needed solution in a world suddenly turned on its ear.

Zoom

For small businesses, Zoom is one of the best video conferencing platforms available. Their free plan is incredibly generous, offering unlimited one-on-one meetings (fantastic when you want to connect with a customer or a vendor), up to 100 participants, and private and group chat capabilities. Need more? The pro version is $14.99 “per host” per month, and the business plan costs $19.99.

Just be careful. While Zoom is the hottest name in the space right now, it’s also one of the most controversial. The company admitted to “mistakenly” allowing calls to flow through China, with CEO Eric Yuan apologizing and freezing product development for three months to focus on bolstering security and privacy.

GoToMeeting

Another big player in the telecommunications game is GoToMeeting. Its plans feature screen sharing, HD video, personal meeting rooms and unlimited cloud recording. Pricing is based on the number of participants you want to include. The professional plan allows for up to 150 participants and can be had for $12 “per organizer” per month after a free 14-day trial.

Skype

When it comes to telecommunications, Skype basically does it all. You can get a designated Skype number, use the platform for video calls, host a conference for up to 50 people and even enable subtitles and captions if needed. Prices vary depending on the features you choose.

RingCentral

For tailored, industry-specific plans, RingCentral has you covered. Their small business solution includes video chat, cloud phones, team messaging, online meetings and the ability to connect from anywhere. A personalized demo is available, followed by a free trial. Pricing starts at $14.99 per person per month.

ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting takes traditional video conferencing to the next level. The technology boasts features that allow you to connect with your team and vendors, and make it easy to host webinars for your fans and followers. Their most popular plan will set you back $40 per month. But it allows for live, automated and on-demand webinars, 25 audio feeds and four video feeds, 2 GB of file storage and 10 hours of recording. It also provides the ability to auto-stream on Facebook or YouTube, making it easier than ever to share with those who can’t attend live.

We’ll Be Seeing You!

We might all be stuck at home for the most part and maintaining a strict 6-foot distance when we have to be out in public. But that doesn’t mean we’ve lost our ability to connect. Video conferencing solutions allow small businesses to keep doing business anytime and anywhere!

Things are tough right now, but Mischa Communications is still here for all your small business needs. How can we help?