The Best Tools for Virtual Events and Conferences
Increase Engagement with Participants
Virtual events are experiencing a major boom lately - not only because they are often the only way to implement an event due to pandemics. Even away from social distancing, virtual concepts will become an integral part of the event world in the future. Sustainability, greater reach, location independence and cost efficiency are just some of the advantages.
Key to the successful implementation of a virtual event are the right tools. This overview will give you a good comparison of the most popular tools and help you choose the right software for your concept.
Videoconferencing tools
Overview of providers of video conferencing tools
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The core features of Zoom are online meetings in HD video and audio, video webinars, online conference rooms and the telephone system in the corporate cloud.
- Number of participants
100, 300, 500, 1000 - Price from
free of charge (40 min), 13,99 € per month* - Login for participants
Web browser - Login for Host
Web browser / any streaming tool
- Company headquarters
USA - Type
Video conference
- Number of participants
-
Contentflow is a provider for live streams from Berlin. On the one hand, the company offers cloud software for the recording of streams and playout to various channels, on the other hand, it also offers agency services including the rental of recording equipment.
- Number of participants
unlimited - Price from 1500 € per event, license possible
- Login for participant
Web browser - Login for host Web browser, any streaming tool
- Company headquarters
Deutschland - Type
Streaming provider
- Number of participants
-
The focus of BlueJeans is on virtual meetings, rooms, and events (such as plenary assemblies, webcasts, webinars).
- Number of participants
50, 75, 100 - Price from
11,83 € per month.* - Login for participants
Web browser, download - Login for host
Web browser, download - Company headquarters
USA - Type
Video conference
- Number of participants
-
Go to Meeting/Go to Webinar: Both tools were created by LogMeIn. If you decide you want to use both, you may want to set up a shared account.
- Number of participants
150, 250, 3000 - Price from
10,75 € per month* - Login for partcipants
Web browser, download - Login for host
Web browser, download - Company headquarters
USA - Type
Video conference & virtual event
- Number of participants
-
Cisco Webex is a tool designed to make it easier for teams to hold online meetings, events, presentations and conference calls. The participants are independent of location.
- Number of participants
50, 100, 200 - Price from
12,85 € per month* - Login for participants
Web browser, download - Login for host
Web browser, download - Company headquarters
USA - Type
Video conference
- Number of participants
-
The core functions of SpotMe are Agenda & Timetable, Networking, Surveys, Social Media Integrations, Interactive Maps, Virtual and Hybrid Events.
- Number of participants
150, 250, 3000 - Price from
10,75 € per month* - Login for participants
Web browser, download - Login for host
Web browser, download - Company headquarters
USA - Type
Videoconference & virtual event
- Number of participants
-
Hopin.to: The core functions of the tool are Event Receptions, Event Stage, Event Networking, Event Sessions, Event Booths and Event Registrations. Also Meetups, Conferences, Fairs & Trade Shows, Hybrid Events, Webinars, Company Events, Broadcast to Event, Online Course, Summits/Forums, Workshops and Expo & Exhibitions.
- Number of participants
up to 10.000 - Price from
$0.50 per participant * - Login for participant
Web browser - Login for host
Download the software - Company headquarters
UK - Type
Video conference & virtual event
- Number of participants
-
The strength of Adobe Connect lies in its clear design and generous scope of features for webinars and web-based conferences. The possibilities range from virtual teamwork and online demonstrations to online training.
- Number of participants
unbegrenzt - Price from
55 € month.* - Login for participants
Web browser - Login for host
Download the software - Company headquarters
USA - Type
Video conference
- Number of participants
-
Meetyoo supports or replaces events such as trade fairs/conferences, employee events, career fairs, marketing events, training courses or live streams.
- Number of participants
25, 35, 50 - Price from
25 € per month* - Login for participants
Web browser - Login for host
Web browser - Company headquarters
Germany - Type
Video conference & virtual event
- Number of participants
* 03/2020
Confused? No problem!
If you have any questions about implementing your event with MATE and one of these tools, you can contact us at any time.
Engagement tools
Many event organisers have switched to virtual event formats in the past months. Their big challenge is to transform the advantages of a physical event into a digital one, without losing user experience or brand values. This is why we want to present our 10 favourite tools for virtual and hybrid events that help you reach this goal and also increase the engagement of your participants.
Tool 1 for Virtual Events: Sli.do
Sli.do is a Q&A and polling tool that allows your participants to actively participate in your event, ask questions and vote on whatever you wish them to vote on. At large events, it is ideal for involving your audience, but it is also a great tool for breaking the ice, getting to know each other, working together as a team and brainstorming together at events such as professional conferences or (company or association) meetings. They win extra points for their genious promotion video as well.
Why we love Sli.do:
Sli.do offers a simple and clear moderator interface for full control of the event.
Tool 2 for Virtual Events: Click it
With Click it, your participants can upload a photo of themselves during the event. All the photos combined form a large mosaic in which everyone is literally part of the whole image, even if they are all in different places. Afterwards, the resulting picture can be sent to all participants as a souvenir.
Why we love Click.it:
Click.it offers participants a nice souvenir of the event and it is easy to integrate.
Tool 3 for Virtual Events: Wonder.me
Wonder.me is a virtual space and networking tool where all participants can come together, get into groups, and talk to each other in breakout rooms. Participants can move from group to group at any time to exchange with others. This makes it an ideal networking tool and also well suited for large events or conferences. Another plus: Wonder's functions are currently still offered free of charge.
Why we love Wonder:
It encourages trial and error with its innovative interface and it is currently still free of charge.
Tool 4 for Virtual Events: Zoom/Teams
Most people are probably familiar with Microsoft Teams and the video conferencing tool Zoom. This is why we want to add them here: they are popular, easy to use and still the most reliable market leaders. The tools support you in holding meetings, conferences, webinars or meetings online and when integrated in a Virtual Event Platform you have all the possibilities!
Teams - as the name states - also offers numerous functions for organizing whole teams. You can chat, make phone calls, hold larger meetings, and work on documents together. Teams also has its own calendar function.
Why we love Zoom/Teams:
These two tools are so common that by now most people can handle them and are therefore particularly accessible.
Tool 5 for Virtual Events: Big Blue Button
Big Blue Button is a German open source solution for video conferencing, comparable to Zoom, Teams, GotoMeeting etc., but without requiring a server installation. Instead, it can simply be integrated into the Event Reception of MATE.
Why we love Big Blue Button:
It is hosted in Germany and therefore also the GDPR winner out of the conferencing tools in our list.
Tool 6 for Virtual Events: Fanomena
Fanomena (formerly eventbaxx) offers digital goodie bags. Far too often, physical goodie bags end up unused in the trash, which is why digital solutions are becoming increasingly relevant not only for purely virtual events, but also for hybrid and on-site events.
A digital goodie bag, which you can fill with discounts, voucher codes, offers etc. (if required together with your partners or sponsors), has huge advantages in terms of sustainability, but also time and costs, and can be easily designed, filled and evaluated.
Why we love Fanomena:
Fanomena motivates sponsors to invest through its simple and user-friendly interface.
Tool 8 for Virtual Events: Miro
Miro is a virtual whiteboard tool especially suited for meetings, workshops, collaborative brainstorming sessions, etc. All participants can edit the board, follow others' edits live, enter and add things, and thus interact directly with each other and the event content.
Why we love Miro:
In Miro, participants can be creative and have fun while engaging with other participants.
Tool 9 for virtual events: Votr
Votr is a voting tool for open and anonymous online voting. This makes it particularly suitable for virtual meetings or events where decisions are made and votes are taken jointly and are to be evaluated directly - naturally in compliance with data protection and the law.
Why we love Votr:
Voting on Votr is anonymous, which makes it good for associations.
Tool 10 for Virtual Events: TEDME
Another voting tool, albeit with slightly different features, is TEDME. TEDME helps you to collect Q&A questions or audience opinions or to interactively query the knowledge of your participants. This makes it well suited for webinars, among other things.
Why we love TEDME:
TEDME is particularly well suited for anonymous elections such as general meetings.
Conclusion
As our research shows, there are now numerous tools available to help you make your virtual event a complete success. All these tools, as well as all your favourite tools, can be integrated into MATE's Virtual Event Platform and used for your event. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our sales team.
By Annina Boettcher
Freelance copywriter, concept developer & brand consultant for Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, all of Germany and beyond.
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