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Last Updated on January 23, 2021 by Work In My Pajamas
Online meeting tools were on the rise before the pandemic struck. Now, virtually every business uses them at some point during the week.
There is no shortage of options, and most of the ones we’re about to share with you have free versions that will allow you to get started with no risk. You might not even need the paid version if your organization falls under a certain size.
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What Is Your Meeting Frequency?
Before choosing, however, first determine your company’s need. Information from Meetio, a popular workspace sharing application, estimates the average employee spends about 31 hours each month in a meeting of some kind.
Knowing your numbers will help you determine the level of service you should pay for, or if a premium subscription is necessary at all. From there, consider one or more of the following.
1. Slack
Slack has made remote work easier since 2013. Unlike some of the other popular options out there, it’s less about video conferencing and more about online chat. That could be what your online meetings need, though!
If you can communicate what needs to be said in a simple chat window, whether a direct message, company-wide, or to a special group, why wouldn’t you? Slack allows you to do just that without jumping into any of the other frills.
2. Asana
Asana is another great option in the age of the remote worker. It helps manage your teams and projects without the need to break away to a specific location or at a specific time for the intrusiveness of a formal meeting. Like Slack, it primarily is chat-driven.
3. Zoom
Many employees might think Zoom is a new creation, but it’s actually been around since 2011. The company hit its stride over the last year, however, as it was uniquely positioned to take advantage of the remote video market when offices were forced to quarantine employees.
From March 2020 to early 2021, it has reported 367 percent revenue growth. Like other video conferencing platforms, it offers video, audio, and chat functions, as well as free functionality for small groups and companies.
4. GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is another source of collaboration for companies of all sizes. Multiple persons can phone in and use the video call feature simultaneously. Companies can also record their meetings and share screens to make documenting meetings a breeze.
5. Skype
Skype allows real-time translation and transcription through its Skype meeting feature. This offers the unique advantage of being able to transcend language barriers for organizations that have employees or freelancers living in international locations.
Aside from that great function, Skype also allows simple audio and video calls for small groups. This makes it an ideal choice for organizations where employees are entirely remote.
These Online Meeting Tools Will Give You an Edge
This is hardly an exhaustive list of the online meeting tools at your organization’s disposal. However, they are at the top of the heap when it comes to keeping industries going during these uncertain times.
Whether you need a simple project management platform that enables real-time communication or a more robust video conferencing application, give them a try. We think you’ll be pleased. For more helpful remote work tips, check out some of our additional posts.
