Buying the domain of your dreams doesn’t have to stay a dream. Neither does selling a valuable domain for a nice profit. With a solid domain broker, you can be well on your way to selling or buying just about any domain you can think of. The problem is that it can be hard to know where or how to find a reputable and reliable domain broker in the first place. That’s what I’m diving into today, as I go through some of the best domain brokers out there you can work with in different capacities. The Top 6 Best Domain Brokers
Here’s a closer look at the best domain brokers available today. #1 – Namecheap — Best For Affordable DIY Domain Brokerage
You might’ve guessed it from the name, but Namecheap is one of the most affordable domain brokers out there both for buying and selling a domain. It carries tons of domain extensions at often half the price that other competing domain brokers sell them for and offers a slew of additional services on the way too. This means if you need hosting, SSL certificates, or privacy protection, it has you covered. Now, as far as domain brokerage goes, Namecheap has a domain bidding system where you can bid on high-value domain names at your leisure. Namecheap makes it easy to transfer domains, list domains for sale, or buy domains once you’ve started an account with them. It’s also a reliable platform that ensures the safe transaction of any domains you’ve listed for sale or want to acquire after reaching out to its owner. If you do sell a domain through Namecheap, it only claims 10 percent of your overall earnings. Not bad at all for cheap DIY domain brokerage that’s safe and affordable. You can get started with Namecheap here. #2 – GoDaddy — Best For A Month-Long Domain Outreach Plan
GoDaddy has a team of domain brokerage experts ready to work with you to acquire your dream domain over a 30-day period. Once you reach out and set your budget, you’re matched with a dedicated domain broker who reaches out on your behalf. If the domain owner is open to selling, GoDaddy’s domain broker negotiates the best deal on your behalf. If it succeeds, GoDaddy gets 20 percent of the sale. It’s a pretty straightforward deal that’s not only secure but affordable too, since you get to set your budget from the beginning. With GoDaddy’s domain brokerage service you don’t have to worry about anonymity, since it ensures your identity isn’t exposed unless the deal goes through successfully. Keep in mind that additional fees are charged if the domain name wasn’t purchased through GoDaddy once you need to transfer it to your own account. Get started with GoDaddy’s brokerage services here. #3 – VPN — Best For Specialized Domain Brokerage
Maybe you’re on a quest to acquire a premium high-value domain that’s going to cost you a pretty penny. But hey, you still need it registered to you. That’s where specialized domain brokers like VPN come in. To date, it’s handled millions, over $65 million to be exact, in domain brokerage transactions. It’s responsible for the 7th largest domain transaction of 2019. As you can imagine, VPN doesn’t work with any run-of-the-mill domains, regardless if you’re looking to buy or sell. VPN offers:
VPN also offers stealth acquisitions, meaning, much like other domain brokers, it keeps your information private as you try to acquire a high-value domain. Once it successfully closes a deal, VPN never charges over 15 percent. Reach out and inquire here to start working with VPN’s specialized domain brokers. #4 – MediaOptions — Best For Boutique Domain Brokerage Services
MediaOptions has worked with big names like Amazon and The Motley Fool as an industry leader in domain brokerage founded in 2007. It provides a boutique approach to domain acquisition by tapping into its worldwide network of connections, researching your target, then ultimately customizing its buying or selling strategy to fit your unique needs. It provides:
To be considered for its boutique brokerage services, your domain has to be valued at at least $75,000. You heard that right. So a domain that’ll only cost you a couple hundred dollars is better left to other more general domain broker services. MediaOptions fees are pretty clear cut. Its minimum fees for its domain brokerage service is either $1,000 or 15 percent, whichever is higher. Unlike many brokers, they will often charge at least part of that fee up front as a brokerage retainer, then deduct that amount from their commission after the deal is completed. If you think your domain transaction fits MediaOptions’ criteria, get in touch with them here. #5 – Brannans — Best For .com Domains
Brannans boasts a 95 percent success rate and has handled more than 10,000 domain names for its clients. Brannans offers domain buying and selling brokerage services, premium domains for sale, as well as strategic domain transactions and domain name auctions. It works on your behalf to acquire a domain of your choice for free until it strikes a deal. Furthermore, it chooses to specialize in, though not only limit themselves to, .com domain transactions, because of how valuable and well-known that extension is. Brannans is a domain broker that proudly touts its past successes on its site. Some of its notable domain transactions include whiskey.com, physical.com, digitalmarketing.com. smartphones.com, residences.com, and even christian.com. Needless to say, it knows a thing or two about selling and buying domains across lots of different industries. To start, you can get in contact with them to discuss an initial plan and to see if it’s a good match for your domain goals. Contact Brannans here to get started selling or buying your domain name. #6 – Domain Holdings — Best For Domain Valuation And Premium Transactions
Domain Holdings is yet another reputable domain broker that specializes in the selling, buying, and valuation of domain names. It works with a wide array of clients ranging from high-profile figures to the average person trying to sell or acquire a premium domain. It has the testimonial and track record part covered as it’s worked with brands like Bustle, Mic, Cheddar, AXS, Target, Deutsche Bank, Girl Scouts, and United Healthcare to name a few. Though, it can’t list specific domain name sales because of confidentiality agreements that are common in the domain brokerage world. Still, it claims to have closed over $200 million in domain transactions. Because of its collective years of experience, especially with the founder having sold his own domain to AOL in a multimillion-dollar deal, dealing with a brokerage service like Domain Holdings grants you access to a network of domain owners and brokers you might not have otherwise. As with most other domain name brokers, it doesn’t charge you an upfront fee and only charges you once a deal has been reached. To learn about its fees and brokerage process in-depth, you’ll need to get in touch with them for more information. You can do so here. How to Find The Best Domain Broker For YouIt’s important to note that there are no licensing requirements to become a domain broker. So it’ll pay off to do your due diligence in vetting any domain broker you come across as a potential partner. Looking for any publicly listed domain brokerage history and past domain deals can help you get a feel for the quality of the domain broker you want to work with. Once you get in contact with a few, you can also inquire privately through email. Finding the best domain broker for you can depend on a few factors that’ll determine the potential of your partnership. Here are a few key criteria to consider. Domain valueSome domain brokers specialize in high-value domain brokerage, like VPN for example. This might also mean that it’s selective with who it chooses to work with as well. While you can also reach out and work with more specialized domain brokers, it doesn’t guarantee a partnership. This is true because many domain brokers don’t make money from selling or acquiring a domain until the transaction is finalized. So they’re essentially working for free. All that to say, your domain value can determine which domain brokers you’re a better match for. Are you holding on to a high-value domain you want to sell for top dollar? Or are you trying to buy a high-value domain that’s already registered by someone else? Considering how easy or hard it is to work with your domain can help you narrow down the list of domain workers you’ll want to work with. Track record and testimonialsSome domain deals can’t be publicly disclosed. But there are plenty that can. Lots of domain brokers will have a dedicated page on its site where it lists its track record selling or acquiring domains for past customers. It’s important to look for this as proof of its brokerage process and as a way to measure its success rate. At the very least, testimonials can help you get a better-rounded idea of the quality of services offered. I highly recommend you do this with every domain broker you’re thinking of working with as you narrow down your search. While some domain brokers are a full-blown team, others are a small business of two or three that work on a more intimate level. The more proof you have of a successful track record of some sort, the more trust and confidence you can have going into a deal. Marketing strategyWhether you’re selling or buying a domain, a domain broker’s marketing strategy is important to consider as it’ll help you vet and understand its sales process. This can be a determining factor in deciding whether you estimate you’ll find success with the domain brokerage process. Not to mention you’ll ensure a smoother partnership, since brokering a domain successfully can potentially take months if not longer. Usage of escrow servicesGranted, if you decide to go the more DIY domain brokerage route and try to sell or buy a domain through platforms like Namecheap, you can rest at ease knowing your online transactions are safe and guaranteed with them as a reputable broker. When you’re dealing with boutique domain brokerage firms that aren’t as known and only work with a select group of customers, you’ll want to inquire about safe payment transactions to ensure a clean deal and to have clear expectations going in. It’s common practice in the domain brokerage world to work through an escrow service when finalizing transactions to ensure the safety of funds and assets of all parties involved. If you decide to work with a domain broker that doesn’t provide clear guidelines for finalizing transactions, you open yourself up to potential issues in the process. It’s best to look for and work with reputable domain brokers that use tools like an escrow service for your own peace of mind. SummaryThere are plenty of domain broker services floating around online. But it’s worth paying closer attention to the best ones to determine which one is best for you and your specific domain goals. To help, here’s a recap of all the domain brokers I reviewed and recommended: For a month-long domain brokerage partnership with a trusted domain broker in the industry, go with a broker like GoDaddy. For a more specialized domain brokerage service that specializes in high-value domain names, go with a domain broker like VPN. For a more DIY approach to domain brokerage where you can take care of domain transactions on a budget, go with Namecheap. If you’re sure you need a boutique approach to your domain needs for a high-value domain, a broker like MediaOptions or Domain Holdings can be your best bet. When you’re ready to make a decision on the best domain broker to go with, make sure you revisit this guide to make your final choice. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-domain-brokers/
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Website security is a top concern for site owners and visitors alike. If your site isn’t secure, people won’t feel safe browsing, purchasing, making clicks, or entering any information on your pages. Furthermore, search engines like Google penalize websites that aren’t secure. How can you improve site security and privacy on your website? At a minimum, you need to have an SSL certificate. SSL stands for “secure sockets layer.” This is a protocol to encrypt the links between servers and web browsers. With an SSL, visitors see “HTTPS” preceding your domain when they land on your site (as opposed to HTTP, without the “s”). SSLs ensure that the site is encrypted, authentic and that a third party has not altered the pages in transit from the server to the web browser. In short, an SSL certificate not only makes your site more trustworthy but also improves security and privacy. The Top 6 Best Free SSL Certificates
There are dozens of ways to get an SSL certificate online—some free and some paid. After extensive research and testing, we’ve narrowed down the top six free SSL certificates available on the web today. #1 – Bluehost — Best Web Hosting Provider with a Free SSL Certificate
Bluehost is one of the best web hosting companies in existence. Over two million sites worldwide rely on this provider—the company’s reputation speaks for itself. Every Bluehost hosting plan comes with a free SSL certificate. Technically speaking, you’ll still be paying for something. But you won’t have to pay for the SSL certificate. You need web hosting to get your site up and running anyway, so it makes sense to go with a hosting provider that will give you freebies like this. In addition to the free SSL certificate, Bluehost also offers a free domain for the first year of your subscription. Bluehost is an excellent choice for new and existing websites that want to switch web hosts. You don’t have to worry about renewing the SSL or anything like that. Bluehost takes care of everything for you. #2 – Wix — Best Website Builder with a Free SSL Certificate
If you’re creating a new website from scratch, Wix is arguably the best website builder available on the market today. The platform makes it easy for anyone to build a site without any coding or design knowledge. Just choose a template and use the drag-and-drop builder to customize your site, all from an intuitive web-based interface. Every Wix plan comes with a free SSL certificate. So, you can rest easy knowing your site is secure without having to go through any extra steps. Additionally, Wix has other security protocols built-in to its plans, including:
For an all-in-one solution to building your website and getting a free SSL certificate, look no further than Wix. #3 – GoDaddy — Best Free and Paid SSL Certificates
GoDaddy is a name that many of you are likely familiar with. This company provides an extensive list of web services, including domain registration, web hosting, web design services, SSL security, and so much more. More than 20 million customers worldwide rely on GoDaddy for various needs. If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for hosting, domain registration, and site security, GoDaddy should definitely be on your radar. When it comes to getting an SSL certificate with GoDaddy, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Technically, the SSLs alone are not free. If you’re seeking an SSL, and only an SSL, expect to pay. However, you can get an SSL for free with GoDaddy by purchasing another service. For example, select web hosting plans with GoDaddy come with a free SSL. Depending on the package you select, you could get a free SSL for one year or even a free SSL for your plan’s lifetime. All GoDaddy SSL certificates offer:
GoDaddy’s SSLs are compatible with all major web browsers and mobile devices. You’ll also benefit from award-winning customer support from the GoDaddy team, 24/7. Whether you need to protect a single site or multiple sites, GoDaddy has you covered. Even though you have to pay for an SSL certificate as a standalone product, GoDaddy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, you can try it risk-free. #4 – Let’s Encrypt — Most Popular Free SSL
Let’s Encrypt has become a name that’s synonymous with SSL certificates. As a nonprofit certificate authority (CA), Let’s Encrypt has provided SSL certificates to more than 225 million sites and counting. One unique standout of Let’s Encrypt compared to other SSL providers is the fact that it’s a nonprofit organization. The service is run for the public’s benefit and is backed by sponsors like Cisco, Mozilla, Google Chrome, AWS, Shopify, Fastly, Facebook, and other industry leaders.
Let’s Encrypt was founded on the concept of creating an internet experience that’s private and secure. They want people to install free SSLs in a way that’s as user-friendly as possible. Another reason why we recommend Let’s Encrypt is because of its versatility. You can install a Let’s Encrypt SSL using SSH access from your web host or through control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and WordPress. Let’s Encrypt recommends installing your SSL with built-in support from your web hosting provider. If your hosting provider does not offer Let’s Encrypt support, there are clear instructions that you can follow online to install it manually. Transparency is another key component of Let’s Encrypt. Every certificate issued or revoked by Let’s Encrypt becomes a public record, and it’s available online for anyone to view. Let’s Encrypt uses advanced security best practices on the certificate authority side and ensures that website operators can secure their servers properly. If you’re searching for a free SSL certificate, Let’s Encrypt should be one of the first places to start. #5 – SSL For Free — Best For Free 90-Day Certificates
As the name implies, SSL For Free is another way to get SSL for your website at zero cost. Getting started is really simple and straightforward. SSL For Free issues certificates in less than one minute. The platform supports single domains, multiple domains, wildcard SSLs, and more. Over three million SSL certificates have been created for free from this provider. There are dozens of free tutorials on the SSL For Free website with instructions about SSL verification and installation, depending on your server’s setup. Unlike some of the other SSL providers on the web, SSL For Free truly lives up to its name and offers free SSLs with no strings attached. Anyone can quickly create an SSL using any modern web browser. SSL For Free uses the Web Cryptography API and generates a private key to create the certificate. You can use SSL For Free to generate 90-day certificates. But you’ll have to keep renewing the certificate manually. That’s the only catch and one of the reasons why the service is free. Fortunately, the process is so easy that the extra couple of minutes every three months isn’t bad. The hardest part is just reminding yourself to take care of it. #6 – GoGetSSL — Best Free SSL For Fast Verification
GoGetSSL is another highly trusted name in the world of SSL certificates. It’s trusted by over 81,500 customers in more than 220 countries worldwide. If you want to get a free SSL quickly, GoGetSSL should be a top consideration. You can use this provider for a domain validation (DV) SSL certificate without filing any paperwork or waiting on a callback from someone to verify the details. GoGetSSL’s automated system issues SSLs in less than five minutes. In addition to domain validated SSLs, GoGetSSL offers business validation (BV) SSL certificates, extended validation (EV) SSL certificates, and wildcard SSL certificates. The BV SSLs are typically validated and issued within two to four days. EV SSLs are issued within two to seven days. Technically speaking, GoGetSSL is not 100% free. But you can try it free for 90 days, which is long for a free trial. Beyond that, GoGetSSL offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re unsatisfied for any reason, you can get a full refund for your SSL purchase. GoGetSSL also offers a price-match guarantee. So if you can find a cheaper SSL from another provider, just contact their team to get the best possible price. For those of you who are new to SSLs and how they work, the security experts at GoGetSSL have an awesome resource and detailed comparison tool to help you compare the different SSL certificates available. The resource is 100% free, which is super helpful as you’re shopping around and comparing your options. How to Find the Best Free SSL Certificate For YouWith so many different SSL certificates available on the web, finding the right one for you and your website can feel like a tall task. Here’s the methodology that I used to pick the winners listed and reviewed above. These factors will help you narrow down the best free SSL certificate for your unique situation. Type of SSL CertificateGenerally speaking, SSL certificates fall into one of three categories:
DV certificates are the quickest type of SSL validation available. You don’t need many documents to apply for one. This is the lowest level of encryption, and it’s generally reserved for internal projects, as opposed to the open web. But some sites that don’t need strict encryption can get away with a DV SSL. OV certificates fall into the medium-range for encryption. The certificates are issued after multiple steps are taken by the certificate authority to verify who owns the domain and ensures the organization operates legally. OVs can take an extra day or two to get issued, but they offer a higher encryption level than DVs. An EV SSL certificate is best for sites that need a high standard for security. This is for you if you’re collecting sensitive visitor data or credit card information for online transactions. Beyond these certificate types, every SSL certificate will fall into another category—single-domain or wildcard. Single-domain SSLs are cheaper because they are used to protect a single website. Wildcards are a bit more expensive because they help protect multiple subdomains. Ease of ImplementationOnce purchased, the SSL certificate isn’t automatically installed on your website. Some additional steps need to be taken. Look for detailed instructions for getting started. You should have an in-depth explanation of the procedure for getting the SSL validated by the certificate authority and getting it installed. The steps required and length of time to implement the SSL will vary from provider to provider. If you’re not too tech-savvy, it’s probably in your best interest to go with an option that involves the least amount of manual work on your end. Encryption Strength and WarrantiesStandard SSL certificates typically offer 128/256-bit encryption. But the actual encryption strength will actually depend on other factors, such as the end-users and the processing power of your servers. For example, a 256-bit encryption strength only refers to the certificate’s capability, not necessarily the encryption’s actual strength. It’s common for SSL certificates to come with warranties if there’s an issue due to a mistake by the certificate authority. Low-end warranties might cover up to $10,000 in damages. High-end SSLs could cover up to $1.5+ million in damages. The warranty is actually in place to protect site visitors, not the website itself. If a CA issues a certificate to a fraudulent site, users could potentially take legal action against the certificate issuer and website. That’s where the warranty comes into play. ContingenciesWith any free product or service, you should always be asking yourself, “What’s the catch?” Not every free SSL certificate comes without strings attached. In some cases, you can only get a free SSL certificate at the most basic encryption level, which won’t be enough for certain websites. Furthermore, many free SSLs are only issued as 90-day certificates. So you’ll have to keep renewing them every few months. Some service providers offer free SSLs when you purchase another related product or service. For example, you can get a free SSL from a website builder or web hosting company. Technically, you’ll still be paying something, but the SSL itself is free. SummaryWhat’s the best free SSL certificate? It depends on what you’re looking for. GoDaddy has both free and paid SSL certificates. To get a GoDaddy SSL for free, you’ll need to sign up for another qualifying service and choose the right package. Wix is a DIY website builder that offers a free SSL certificate with every plan. If you want to get a free SSL directly from your hosting provider, go with Bluehost. Let’s Encrypt and SSL For Free are both quick and easy ways to get an SSL without paying anything. GoGetSSL offers 90-day free trials and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Regardless of your needs, you can use the reviews in this guide to get a free SSL certificate for your website. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-free-ssl-certificate/ Ideally, you want to pick a reliable web hosting provider, so you don’t have to move your website. But it’s possible that you’re unsatisfied with the current web host’s quality of service or simply wish to upgrade to something better. You might be stressed if you find yourself in this predicament, and honestly, I don’t blame you. It definitely sounds daunting. But that’s just it—it only “sounds” daunting. In reality, migrating a website does not have to be complicated. In this guide, I’ll give you a run through the steps required to move your WordPress website to a new host or server. But before we proceed, you should know that many WordPress hosting companies offer free migration. So make sure you ask the hosting provider as it may not be listed on the website. What to Expect When Moving WordPress to a New Host or ServerMigrating to another web host isn’t that difficult. All you need is the right guidance, which is exactly why I created this guide. Here’s what you need to do:
The GoodThe obvious advantage of migrating your WordPress site to a new server or web host is getting better service and performance. You can get better customer support and see an increase in size performance thanks to better hardware, load time, and uptime. You may also get access to more features like building your own theme, monetizing the website, and installing plugins, among others. Then there’s the possibility that your new web host’s subscription plans can be cheaper than your previous choice, which means more savings. Trust me, getting a reliable web hosting provider can make a world of difference in your daily life! What makes this even better is that you can have all this without having to put in too much effort. Migrating to a new web host is a very straightforward process. The steps are simple—all you have to do is just follow them diligently, and everything will be done in a few hours. If you find yourself stuck, you can always call up customer service for help. Plus, there are web host providers that offer free migration services. It’s possible you may not have to do anything at all! The BadThe whole point of migrating to a new host is getting better service. However, if you end up making the wrong choice, all your efforts will be in vain. Precisely why you should put in a lot of thought when choosing your new hosting provider. You should know the type of hosting you want—whether it’s shared, cloud, dedicated, or VPS—followed by the downtime, bandwidth, what freebies are included, and most importantly, the security level and support offered by the prospect. If you’re new to websites, you may find certain terms and processes unfamiliar. Moreover, the whole thing is very comprehensive and precise. You need to follow every step to the T. This may seem scary, but if you pay attention to what needs to be done, you’ll be able to do them easily. Step 1 — Back Up Your WordPress Website FilesYou must back up every aspect of your website before migrating. In addition to being a website migration requirement, data backup should also be a part of your general WordPress security. Here’s how you can backup all your WordPress website file: Installing the Duplicator PluginInstall and activate the free Duplicator plugin on the WordPress site that you want to move. I highly recommend this plugin as it lets you move your website to a new domain name without losing SEO. Download the Archive and Installer FilesOnce you’ve installed and activated the plugin, click on Duplicator on the WordPress admin area, followed by Packages. Click on the Create New button towards the right-hand side of your screen. Follow this up by selecting the Next button and the prompts that come up on your screen. This will then create your Duplicator package. A scanning process will begin (all your results should say ‘Good‘). Click on Build. The building process takes a couple of minutes, so leave the tab open while the plugin does its job. Once it’s complete, you’ll see download options for Installer and the Archive package. The Archive file is a copy of your complete WordPress website, while the Installer file will automate the installation process for you. Click on the One-Click Download link instead to download both files. Step 2 — Import Your WordPress Website to the New HostNext, you will upload the downloaded Archive and Installer files to your new web host. For this, you’ll have to connect your new web host—something that can be done through the FTP. Find Out Your Server’s IP Address and HostnameEnter your website domain name as host when connecting your FTP client. Keep in mind that you‘ll have to enter your server’s IP address or server hostname as your domain name still points to your old hosting provider. Don’t know your server’s IP address or hostname? No biggie. You can contact your new web hosting company’s support team or check your new account’s cPanel dashboard. Use the FTP client to upload both the installer.php file and your archive .zip file to your website’s root directory. You can find this by the following: /username/public_html/folder. Again, if you find yourself lost, simply contact your web hosting company for more guidance. That said, make sure your root directory is empty. If you have WordPress installed in your root directory, delete it. Follow this up by uploading both the archive .zip file and installer.php file to the root directory. Step 3 — Eliminate Downtime by Changing the Hosts FileYou need access to the installer.php file in a browser. Typically, you can do this by using the following URL: http://www.example.com/installer.php But don’t do this right now—it won’t work. This is because your domain name still points to your old web host, and if you search the URL, you’ll end up getting a 404 error. Here’s what to do instead: Add an Entry for Your Domain Name in the Hosts FileYou need a host file on your computer to temporarily access your new site without affecting your old site. A host file allows you to map domain names to specific IP addresses by letting you manipulate your computer into thinking that your website has moved even when it hasn’t. Find the IP address of your new web hosting server. For this, you have to log in to your cPanel dashboard. Select the expand status link (this is located on the left-hand sidebar). You’ll find your service address listed as a Shared IP Address. For a few web hosting companies, you can also find this information under the Account Information heading. The next step will vary depending on whether you use Windows or Mac.
Go to Programs, followed by All Programs and Accessories. Then right-click on Notepad and click on Run as Administrator. When you select Yes on the Windows UAC prompt, it’ll launch Notepad with administrator privileges. Once the Notepad screen opens, click on File and Open. Navigate to the C:/Windows/System32/driver/etc folder. You can now select the host file and open it.
Open the Terminal app, and enter the following command: sudo nano /private/etc/hosts. This will let you edit the host file. Remember the IP address you found out in Step 2? Enter it at the bottom of the host file for both Windows and Mac devices. Enter your domain name after this. This is how it should look: 146.168.1.23 www.example.com. The IP address should be the one you copied from the cPanel dashboard, and example.com should be your domain name. Save the changes. You can now access the new host via your old domain name on your computer. That said, remember whatever you do here, as you’ll have to undo the changes you made to the hosts file after finishing migration (a.k.a Step 6). Step 4 — Create MySQL Database on Your New HostYou need a MySQL database before running the installer on the new host. If you’ve already created a MySQL database, you can jump ahead to the next step. If not, I’ve got you. Create a Database in cPanelOpen your new hosting account in the cPanel dashboard. From there, go to the Databases field, and click on MySQL Database. It looks like this: In the Create New Database field, enter a name for your database. Then click on the Create Database button. Go to the MySQL Users field after creating the MySQL database. Enter a username and password, and click on the Create a User button. Add User to Your DatabaseYou have to add the user to your database to get permission to work on the database. Scroll to the Add User to a Database field and select the database user you just created from the dropdown menu next to User. Choose the database, and click on Add. Your database is now ready to use. Open the Notepad app on your computer, and jot down the database name, username and password—you’ll need it in the next step. Step 5 — Start the Website Migration ProcessFinally, to the main point of this guide. You’ll run the installer file in this step. Here’s what you need to do: Connect to DuplicatorOpen your browser window, and type in the following address: http://www.example.com/installer.php. Replace example.com with your domain name. The installer will run a few tests, after which you’ll have to check the terms and conditions checkbox. Click on the Next button. Enter your MySQL host, database name, username, and password. Now would be a good time to open the Notepad app to copy-paste in the relevant fields. It’s highly likely for your host to be localhost. After this, enter the details of the database you created in the previous step. Select Test Database. If the connection to Duplicator is successful, you’ll see a string starting with Pass. If not, you’ll see database connection error details. Allow Duplicator to Import WordPress DatabaseOnce Duplicator connects successfully, click on Next to continue. This will allow Duplicator to import your WordPress database from the archive .zip file into your new database. You’ll also see options to update the site URL or path. But as you aren’t changing domain names, don’t change anything. Click on Next. After running the remaining steps, Duplicator will show you the Login button. You can then log in to your WordPress site on the new host to check whether everything was imported successfully. Step 6 — Update Your Domain Name Servers (DNS)At this stage, you have a full copy of your WordPress database and files on your new hosting server. The only thing left is to change your domain’s pathway as it currently still points to your old web hosting account. To update your domain, you’ll have to switch your DNS nameservers. Doing this will direct your users to your website’s new location whenever they look up your domain. Change Your DNS NameserversIf you registered your domain name through your web hosting provider, you should simply transfer the domain to a new host—it’s simply more convenient. But if you used a domain registrar like Domain.com for this, it would be wiser to update your nameservers. Contact your new web host to get the DNS nameserver information. This is typically a couple of URLs, such as:
Disclaimer: Changing DNS nameservers will differ depending on your domain registrar or web host. However, the basic concept remains the same. You have to first look for the domain management area and then the nameservers. Fill in your new hosting provider’s information (the two URLs we discussed above) under nameservers, and you’re done! If you need any assistance during the process, you can always contact your web hosting company. Keep in mind that DNS changes take approx 4-48 hours to propagate for all users. But once you click the Save button, all your website content will appear on your new account—without any downtime. Congratulations! Your WordPress migration is now complete. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/how-to-move-wordpress-to-a-new-host-or-server/ If you want to learn about product management but don’t want to deal with the hassle that comes with enrolling in a traditional school, what do you do? You find the best product management course out there and take it online. The only problem is, there are a slew of product management course options out there and vetting them all to choose the right one is a tall order. But that’s what I’m here to do. Today, I’m going over the top product management courses out there as well as what to look for to find a course that’s worth your time. The Top 5 Best Product Management Courses
Let’s dive into the details of what each course has to offer as well as what they’re each best for. Don’t forget to bookmark this guide to refer back to later. #1 – Digital Product Management Specialization on Coursera — Best Free Course
The University of Virginia offers a Digital Product Management Specialization course on Coursera you can access for free once you sign up for a Coursera account. It has a 4.7-star rating with over 28,000 students already enrolled. The beauty of Coursera courses is that you earn an official certificate upon successful completion of the course. And because it’s a self-paced online course, you get to choose the speed at which you go through each module. The average time it takes to complete this course from beginning to end is about five months if you commit to about three hours a week. And if you prefer the course in anything other than English it provides subtitles in more than ten languages. Another highlight of the free course is its approach to learning. To be able to complete the course and receive your certificate you’re required to complete a hands-on project showcasing what you’ve learned. The course offers plenty of practice quizzes, graded assignments, course readings, and videos. This is definitely a great deal for an in-depth course by a respected university that doesn’t cost you a ton of money. To enroll in this course, get started with Coursera here. #2 – Product Management First Steps by LinkedIn — Best For Beginners
LinkedIn offers a stellar Product Management First Steps course for beginners that’s easily accessible. You can either try the 1-month free trial to take it or you can buy the course for $24.99. The course covers skills including product management, business strategy, operations management, usability, and usability testing. The course has been watched over 50,000 times and comes with complementary exercise files and a ten-part curriculum that dives into the ins and outs of product management including the researching, planning, building, and refining of any given product. You can even download the course and view it offline on your own device and in your own time. As far as a self-paced, no-pressure course goes that can help introduce you to the basics of product management comprehensively, this LinkedIn course is a great option for beginners. Get started with LinkedIn’s Product Management First Steps here. #3 – Optimal Product Management by 280 Group — Best For Certification
280 Group offers an excellent Optimal Product Management Course in either live-online or self-study format that comes with certification. In short, it takes its certification seriously. Leaders in companies like Cisco, Capital One, Dell, and Adobe have taken courses from the suite of courses 280 Group offers. The Optimal Product Management course is designed to help you understand the complete product lifecycle while teaching you the core skills required to manage a product successfully. The course is set up so you can interact with fellow course takers and participate in team collaborations. 280 Group’s product management course comes with a whopping 24 hours of course instruction. Digital course completion certification comes with:
To take 280 Group’s Optimal Product Management course, you’re looking at a $2,995 investment. Though you can make that in 6,12, or 24 monthly payments with an APR rate ranging from 0-30 percent if you qualify. Once you successfully take the course and pass the exam, 280 Group will also mail you a certificate of completion you can hold in your hands. Learn more about enrolling and course payment plans here. #4 – Product Management Certificate by Product School — Best For Industry Recognized Credentials
You can become a certified product manager with Product School’s Product Management Certificate course. It’s the first of a three-course roadmap that you can take according to your product management ambitions and how much you truly want to learn on the subject. The course is 40 hours of instruction. With it, you’ll learn the ins and outs of building a digital product from beginning to end and leading project teams. You’ll even get access to mock interviews. It’s safe to say Product School’s course is not only geared towards teaching you solid product management skills and know-how but also equipping you with the necessary tools to be employable in the product marketing job market. Product school offers three closely related product management courses in succession. They are the:
Although you can always take one course and forgo the rest, the courses are designed to work in tandem with each other, for a comprehensive product management curriculum. To enroll, you’ll have to fill in a short application form and a Student Advisor will get in touch with you to discuss your product management goals to ensure you’re taking the right course. Check out Product School and its courses here. #5 – Become a Product Manager on Udemy — Best For Curriculum Depth
Sometimes the best teachers are the ones that have been in the trenches most recently. Created by the Senior Product Manager at SoundCloud, the bestselling Become a Product Manager: Learn The Skills and Get The Job course on Udemy leaves little to be desired in terms of the course curriculum. With over 18 sections, 144 lectures, 25 articles, and 120 downloadable resources, the course teaches you everything you might want to know about becoming a real product manager and what applicable strategies are working today. One of the perks of the courses on Udemy is that you can see the last time it was updated, and you can bet this one is updated constantly with new material as recently as this year. Over 126,000 students have already taken the course and given it an overall 4.5-star rating. These are only a few of the key points the course covers in detail:
For a full list of all the course covers, I recommend you read through it carefully here. The course also comes with an active and dedicated Slack community you can join upon enrolling. And of course, you receive a certificate of completion once you’ve successfully finished the course. The cost? If you haven’t taken advantage of Udemy’s free trial, you can sign up for Udemy Pro free for seven days to either try to take the course during that time or vet it and see if it’s worth investing in. Even if you don’t have access to Udemy, the course is an affordable $12.99 one-time payment. Once enrolled, you have lifetime access to updates, additional course files, and the course community it comes with. As one of the most comprehensive and complete courses you can take online from an instructor that’s actively doing the work instead of teaching theory-based coursework, and the price point, I’d say this product management course is a clear winner as far as value is concerned. Sign up and get started taking Become a Product Manager here today. How to Find The Best Product Management Course For YouAt this point, you’ve decided you want to enroll in the best product management course you can find. But how exactly do you go about doing that? All things considered, online courses are relatively new. This means that virtually anyone with an internet connection and some motivation can create and market a product management course on all the various course offering platforms out there. You’ll find potential courses on the likes of platforms like Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, Teachable, and more. And while some courses are in fact offered by accredited institutions, others are not. It’s important to remember that no accreditation is necessary for the creation of a course. To help you navigate through it all, here are a few features to look for when looking through the many product management courses out there so you know you’re getting a good deal and not wasting your time on subpar courses you won’t get much out of. CertificationWe’ve already talked about certification and how it’s not necessarily a requirement for an online course to exist. But there’s also certification upon completion of a course, which can be important depending on how you plan to use your newfound knowledge. If you’re planning on taking a product management course to pad your resume, get a promotion, or venture into the workforce with a robust set of skills, it’s a good idea to narrow down your search to product management courses that offer some sort of certification upon successful completion of the course. This way, you have something to show for the time and energy you invest in the coursework. If you’re taking a product management course out of pure curiosity or personal reasons of interest, a certificate of completion might not be an important thing to tick off your course checklist. Curriculum and InstructorWith an online course, you won’t want to walk into it completely oblivious to what the course curriculum looks like. This goes for the instructor too. What experience or results can they account for that gives weight to the creation of the course and the information in it? For instance, on course platforms like Udemy or Skillshare, you can readily access the instructor’s profile as well as their course reviews and biographies. This helps you round out your research as far as vetting the quality of a product management course that’s worth your time. ReviewsLots of online courses come with reviews you can easily access and read through to learn about their strengths and weaknesses. They are likely the biggest indicator of how thorough or general a course is, how helpful it was in answering questions, and if there was any support offered in the process. Reviews give you a candid glimpse into any course you might be offering because they come from students who’ve already gone through the course before you. When you’re looking for the best product management course for you, pay close attention to ratings and reviews. SummaryOnline product management courses are an extremely convenient way to educate yourself in-depth on a subject you’re keen on learning more about without having to step foot in a costly institution. Not to mention, it can be a valuable new set of skills you can add to your portfolio. Here’s a quick summary of the best product management courses you can start today:
If you’re still undecided about which course to take, you can bookmark this page to revisit once you’re ready to make a final decision. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-product-management-courses/ You want a website that looks good, functions properly, and is easy to set up. Well, welcome to the club! But what makes things slightly trickier is that you aren’t a coder. So does this mean you should give up on your dream of having a great website? Absolutely not, especially when we have some truly fantastic website builders. Case in point: Squarespace. Squarespace guarantees phenomenal-looking websites, thanks to its beautiful and modern templates. But there’s a hard-to-ignore learning curve involved, which brings me to the point of writing this article. Below, I’ll give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to use Squarespace to create a beautifully designed and functional website in no time. What to Expect When Using SquarespaceSquarespace is undoubtedly one of the best website builders on the market. It’s feature-rich and has several modern and beautiful templates that could be a delight for any website owner. Here’s how you create a Squarespace website:
The GoodSquarespace has many things going for it. As it’s an all-in-one platform, you don’t have to worry about extension or app compatibility. Plus, the knowledge base and customer support cover every potential troubleshooting topic quite efficiently. Its template selection is contemporary and beautiful, and fully responsive, meaning your site design can adjust itself automatically to appear correctly on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops. You can also edit the templates to customize them according to your preferences. Squarespace also has a logo designing app that lets you design logos from a list of symbols and typefaces. Moreover, the website builder takes full care of website security, backups, and redundancy. This takes away a lot of responsibility from your shoulders. The BadThe Squarespace interface is slightly more complicated than its competitors. As there are so many features and functionalities, putting together your website can be overwhelming at times, especially where positioning is concerned. They keep sending you notifications about where you’re going wrong with the editing or that you can unlock a specific feature by upgrading to a paid subscription. But they don’t go the extra step to make it easier for you to make the required move. The end result? Lots of trial and error. You also cannot add third-party apps and extensions to Squarespace. Your options are limited to the platform’s range of premium add-ons. As you may have guessed, these extensions—around 20 in number—are quite pricey. Squarespace is also a pricier option. It may not be feasible for people with tight budgets or those who want to launch a store or multiple websites. Step 1 — Sign Up With SquarespaceIf you don’t already have an account with Squarespace, this is your first step. If you do, you can jump ahead to Step 2. The website builder offers a 14-day free trial, so you can test out the features before subscribing. Head Over to SquarespaceGo to the Squarespace homepage and click on Get Started. Type in the text about the goal of your sites. This will help you see a customized selection of suggested designs. If you don’t have anything specific in mind, you can always click on Skip to move ahead. Pick a Website Design TemplateSquarespace has modern and beautiful website templates, with every template included in your standard Squarespace membership. In other words, you don’t have to worry about any extra charges. On the left-hand side of the screen, the template catalog sits neatly organized by niche/purpose. For instance, ecommerce sellers can click on the Online Stores category. Each one of these templates has been optimized specifically to work for online stores. Browse through these designs before committing to any template. You can also preview how a template will look like with some demo content. Once you find something you like, click on Start with…, and enter your personal credentials. Click on Create Account. You’ll be logged in to your new trial site. Step 2 — Design the Basic Look of Your WebsiteSquarespace takes you through the whole process of getting your website started. I recommend paying full attention at this stage, so you don’t miss out on any important stuff. Name Your WebsiteThe first step is to enter your website title. After this, Squarespace will demonstrate how you can customize your site, like editing pages, creating new ones, and styling them. Add Website LogoLet’s start with the logo first. Adding a logo to the site is very simple. Hover your mouse just below Home until you see Edit Site Header. Click on it. Just upload the logo file, and it’ll appear on the canvas instantly. Don’t have a logo yet? No worries, Squarespace will help you create one. The website builder has a logo maker tool, along with basic editing features. You can also use stock icons to add to your logo. Alternatively, you can use third-party logo maker tools like Wix, Tailor Brands, and Canva as well. Save your photo from the tool and upload it to the main Squarespace website editor. Once the upload is complete, the logo will appear on the canvas. Select Next. Choose an Appropriate FontThought that adding a logo was easy? Customizing your website font is even easier. Squarespace gives you specific font pairings that go well together instead of an endless list of individual forms. All you have to do is decide whether you want to choose sans-serif, serif, or mixed fonts, which will save you lots of time. Go to the main dashboard, and select Designs. Click on any font pairing to see how it looks in the Preview section. Additionally, you can adjust the base font size. Select the font pairing you like, and click on Next to proceed. Pick Your Website ColorsColor settings are similar to font settings. Again, Squarespace lets you pick your colors from the set of designer palettes (a set of colors that match) instead of choosing individually one by one. They are presented as groupings of three colors:
Considering these palettes are put together by a professional designer, you’re guaranteed that everything will look good on your website, plus save time. You can also put together a custom palette if you want. Choose a color palette that suits you best. Click on Done to finalize these changes. You’ll now see your logo, fonts, and colors added to your website. Step 3 — Customize Your Website HomepageYou can customize your homepage and replace the demo content with your own. Squarespace divides all your content into separate rows. Here’s how your homepage design will look before you customize any aspect of the website: Your website will have three different rows:
Every row has different options and customizations available. Hover your mouse over any element on the page to see options pop up. This can include replacing the logo, adding extra elements, and changing the header layout. Select the Edit button located at the top of the canvas. A visual website editor will crop up on your screen, where you can modify any element on the page, including adding and deleting options. Keep in mind that any text you add or edit is saved automatically. Deleting Website ElementsYou can remove a whole row or any individual element. Simply click over the part you want to delete, and click the Trash icon. Opening ‘Options’ Panel of ElementsYour website design consists of elements that have their own options panels. To access these panels, click on the Pencil icon on the upper right-hand corner of the element in question. This will show you a set of additional options for the specific section. Every element will have a different set of options concerning formatting, backgrounds, colors, and alignment. For instance, here’s how the additional options for the Hero row will look: You can adjust the look for every row by clicking on the displayed options. Adding or Realigning Website SectionsYou can add a new section as well as realign existing sections. Adding new sections lets you accommodate any new content that you want to include in your pages. Pick the spot where you want to add a new section and click on the corresponding ‘+’ buttons you’ll find before and every content section. In addition to adding standard content sections like headings, images, and quotes, you can also add specialized fields for appointments, reservations, newsletters, FAQs, restaurant menus, and more. Squarespace also allows you to realign sections by dragging around individual elements and dropping them into another place on the canvas. You can move sections up and down or use the arrow button in the top-right corner of a given row to switch between sections. Adding Images and Other Visual ElementsSquarespace has templates for image gallery blogs, single videos and images, charts, and music. Important: Click on the ‘+’ button next to where you want to place that content to add new content to your site—in this case, an image or video. If you click on Images, you’ll see a selection of different layouts for image presentation. Click on the Pencil icon next to the image you want to replace and then on the Trash icon. You can also upload an original image if you want. But that’s not it. Squarespace offers editing tools that let you edit your image and change some of its parameters. Click on the Image Editor button to crop, flip, add filters, change the aspect ratio, and adjust the image’s brightness, contrast, and saturation. Step 4 — Optimize Your Website for Mobile PhonesAn unoptimized website can seriously harm your traffic and conversions. Why? You see, it’s more likely for users to visit your website from a mobile phone than a laptop or desktop. Mobile traffic has increased to more than 200% in the last seven years. Luckily, Squarespace makes mobile optimization super easy. It has a clever mechanism that predicts what the best mobile layout for your website design should be. As such, you don’t have to worry about mobile when using this website builder. Click on the Mobile Phone icon in the top right-hand corner of the Squarespace interface to view a preview of the mobile version of your site. Adding ExtensionsSquarespace already has plenty of features and abilities, but if you want to extend it further, you can choose third-party integrations as well. For instance, you can add your preferred accounting software or an email marketing tool to your site. Select the extension you want to add to your site, and then click on Connect to site. Step 5 — Create Relevant Sub-PagesSquarespace users generally want to build more pages than the homepage. This can include the About page, Team page, Contact page, and Privacy Policy and Terms of Service page. Add a Blank TemplateGo to the main Squarespace dashboard to add a page. Select Pages, and then click on the ‘+’ button. You can click on either the Blank Page template or Page Layout. Suppose you click on Page Layout. After this, pick the category of the page you want to build and then select a specific page layout. Customize Main MenuEvery newly added page is automatically added to the main menu of your site. But you can tweak things to make the menu look precisely how you want it. For customizing your menu, you’ll have to go back to the main Squarespace dashboard. Select Pages from there. You can then grab any of the page links in the sidebar and drag them up and down to place them where you want. Adding Optional PagesYou can add a blog or an online store to your website at this stage. Both are optional, so only proceed with this if you really want to add them. Click on Pages on the Squarespace dashboard, followed by the ‘+’ button in the sidebar to add a new page. Select Blog or Store according to what you want. Step 6 — Make Your Squarespace Website PublicYour Squarespace website is private at the moment. If you want to make it visible to the outside world, you have to activate it. Here’s what you need to do: 1. Go to the main Squarespace dashboard. 2. Select Settings, followed by Site Availability. 3. Upgrade to one of Squarespace‘s paid plans to launch the site. Choose the Right Subscription PlanI recommend opting for the personal plan that starts at $12 if you plan on building only one website. However, if you want to run an e-commerce store, the Business or Commerce plans would be a better fit. Compare plans to find the best one for you. Also, every plan comes with a free domain name, so you don’t have to pay extra. You know what? You now have a live Squarespace website that’s available to the public. Well done! via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/how-to-use-squarespace/ Communication is vital when it comes to your business. That means you need a VoIP phone system that serves you well. Ooma offers plenty of basic domestic and international calling features, plus more advanced ones to help your business thrive, like video calling and analytics. But the system isn’t perfect. That’s why we’re here to compare it to some other VoIP systems to help you make your final decision on whether Ooma is the one for you. We consider Ooma a solid option for most businesses. Check out what it has to offer and see if yours is one of them. Ooma Pros and ConsPros
Cons
Compare The Best VoIP Phone Services
We reviewed dozens of VoIP phone service providers and narrowed them down to the best options.
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How Ooma Compares to Top VoIP Phone ServicesOoma consistently makes the top lists when it comes to VoIP phone services. PCMag rated it the #1 business phone system for its reliability. Ooma offers a lot of advanced features, even with its standard packages. However, certain ones, like video conferencing, are only available with the Office Pro package. That puts it a step below other communication systems, like Vonage, which offers video capabilities with their more basic packages. Ooma stands out above the rest for its call quality with crystal clear sound that goes beyond other highly rated systems. For what you get, Ooma is priced comparably to Vonage. However, others, like magicJack, are much less expensive for similar features. Ooma also doesn’t have an annual payment discount like many other companies do. Ooma’s international calling can get pricey. If you do a lot of international calling, you might want to look into magicJack, which gives you free credits for international magicJack users. However, Ooma’s portability rivals other systems with its desktop and mobile apps that provide you with access on the go. Ooma Call QualityCall quality is one of the most important features when it comes to getting phone service. Without good call quality, you can’t offer optimal customer service. You want your customers to know you’re listening to their questions and concerns and are giving them the best information possible. Ooma is praised for its superior high-definition call quality both domestically and internationally. It has better call quality ratings than most of the top-performing VoIP systems out there, including Vonage, magicJack, and RingCentral. Ooma is also known for its excellent service with close to 100% uptime. With that, it rivals other top brands, like Nextiva. Its system works well on both its desktop and mobile apps. You can even transfer your existing phone number or choose a new one in your area code. No matter how you use Ooma, it maintains consistently optimal call quality. Ooma PricingOoma has fair prices for their service and features, but they’re not the best you can find. Ooma comes in three packages:
You get a pretty good deal with Ooma Office, with 35 call features for your business. However, it also leaves off some features that most companies offer with more basic packages. When you’re paying per user, you want to get as many features as possible in the cheapest package. Without these features, you might find that your company has more restricted communication. You also only get the following features when you upgrade to Office Pro:
Once you get to Ooma Enterprise, you can use its analytics features, along with customizable call flows and APIs with only a small price jump. However, if you’re looking to get more features at a better price, try Vonage Premium. They have many of the same offerings as Ooma but for a lower price, including video conferencing. You might also consider magicJack, which starts at $39 per year. Ooma Mobile and Remote FeaturesWith so many people working from home, remote features and mobile apps for VoIP systems have become vital in running a business. Without this feature, you leave out a significant portion of your demographic. It also makes it more difficult for your team members to do their jobs and connect with customers. Ooma gives you mobile features using data or Wi-Fi to support remote workers alongside in-office teams. Remote employees can also use the desktop app to make calls from their computers. You can forward calls and voicemails to mobile devices, making it easy to transfer calls on the go and doesn’t restrict any employee to one location. Plus, with virtual extension, multi-ring, and 2-phone-in-1, you can separate your business and personal numbers. The mobile app isn’t unique to Ooma by itself, but it’s a feature that you’ll need to grow your business and keep it flexible. Ooma’s remote features give you everything you need to do that. Ooma Basic Calling FeaturesWhile Ooma doesn’t offer as much in the way of advanced features to regular Office users, it has several basic features that make it a worthy choice for large and small businesses. It comes with features like:
That’s a lot more features than Vonage’s lowest-priced package. While Vonage is the closest comparable VoIP service to Ooma, its Premium package gives you some of what you’re missing from Ooma’s Office package while leaving out others. For example, Vonage doesn’t come with a virtual receptionist. Whether you prefer Ooma, Vonage, or another service depends on which features you’ll use most for your business. Ooma Customer SupportOoma offers 24/7 customer support for all its packages, which doesn’t come with every VoIP service out there. Many services only offer priority support with more expensive packages. You can look at that in two ways. First, you get better customer service with the basic Office package. But if you get Office Pro or Enterprise, the bump in price doesn’t include a bump to the front of the line if something goes wrong. In other words, no priority support. You wait just as long as someone who bought the cheapest package. If priority customer support is important to you, try RingCentral. They earned the #1 spot for customer support, so you’ll know you’re getting the best care. Ooma International CallsInternational calling features should expand your company’s reach and let you collaborate with international businesses, suppliers, and customers. Not having this feature can limit your business’s growth. Ooma does have international calling, but it’s more expensive than options like RingCentral. However, Ooma comes with international numbers and serves global companies as well as US-based ones, earning them a reputation for worldwide service. Ooma offers almost the exact same international calling features as Vonage. Both allow outgoing calls to 60 countries on landlines and 10 countries for mobile numbers. Though Ooma has a more expensive international calling service than magicJack, magicJack has its own limiting feature. The company only allows you to call other international magicJack users, limiting the number of businesses you can reach across the world. But if you need a cheaper option with unlimited international calling, you’ll find it with magicJack, as long as you don’t mind its restrictions. Ooma Ring GroupsRing groups ensure that someone is available for every caller. Ooma’s ring group feature means that when someone calls your business, the call goes to multiple lines until someone answers it. That can mean a group of customer service or sales representatives, as well as several people within a particular department. The call might ring on multiple phones at once. Alternatively, it may ring on one phone, and if the first person doesn’t answer, the call will go through every phone in that specific ring group until someone picks up. Ring groups lower the risk of customer calls going unanswered or going to voicemail. They also help you create a better overall customer experience when customers feel that someone is always available to help them. Ooma Video ConferencingWe’ve already talked a little about Ooma’s video conferencing feature in that it only exists for Office Pro and Enterprise packages. But if you get Pro or higher, you get a high-quality system with an intuitive interface. Video conferencing with Ooma gives you a click-to-join meeting system along with more advanced features, including:
It lets two or more people share their screens at the same time, making collaboration and visualization easier for team projects. You can have up to 25 participants on video conference meetings. You can also create recurring meetings and view and search for your sessions on the platform all in one place. The features Ooma offers with its video conferencing make it worth springing for the Office Pro package. Ooma Call RecordingCall recording features work well if you need to take notes to remind yourself of what was said during customer conversations. They also allow you to check the accuracy of the information and analyze conversations after they happen. This feature comes with Ooma Office Pro. It puts your recordings in call logs to keep them all organized and saved in one convenient location, so you have access whenever you need them. The system is set up so you can listen and delete the recordings when you no longer need them. Call recording is a must for communication systems. It means you don’t miss a beat, never have inaccurate information, and you can always reference customer and business calls at any time. VoIP Phone SystemsVoIP phone systems come with more features and versatility than your typical handset. They’re also more cost-effective and function better for your business because they store everything in one place. Ooma’s VoIP communication service can make calls from Android and iOS, so you’re not tied to your desk. It works well if you’re a small business that needs a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) cloud-based system. It’s also great for businesses that need to modernize and use better technology to meet customer needs. In other words, if you want to scale your business, you need a VoIP system. Ooma’s VoIP service allows you to do work remotely. It offers features like:
Ooma’s VoIP system has the features you need to meet customer expectations and keep your team running efficiently. Plus, with its mobile tools, you can connect your phone system to your mobile device and have access from your computer with the desktop app. Hosted PBX SolutionsWith this cloud-based system, you can add and remove lines as your business grows. That way, you don’t have to worry about clunky systems or spending extra time to make your system’s capability match your business’s size. Ooma’s PBX solutions offer a quick and easy setup that Ooma helps you with, so you get everything up and running fast. Once it’s all in place, you’ve got a low maintenance system, and Ooma takes care of most of it for you. PBX solutions work best for enterprise businesses. You get email, a mobile fax app, and a desktop app, along with all the usual features you would expect from your communication service. The UCaaS platform keeps your team cohesive. With unlimited extensions, you don’t have to worry about your business getting too big for your phone system. You also enjoy free upgrades with no extra costs and no interruptions to your business operations. Ooma’s PBX solutions allow for efficient global communications, no matter who you need to reach.
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We reviewed dozens of VoIP phone service providers and narrowed them down to the best options.
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SummaryAmong the top-rated business phone systems available, Ooma gives you a versatile interface to make customer service operations simple for your team. With over 35 features in the Office package, it’s not hard to find everything you need with this system. Office Pro and Enterprise only sweeten the deal with more advanced features. However, if you prioritize features like video conferencing, check other companies for cheaper packages that include it. That said, Ooma has reasonable pricing, excellent call quality, and plenty of mobile and desktop features that allow you to call domestically and internationally. The company has solutions for both small businesses and large enterprises. No matter where you do business, Ooma can help you improve the way you communicate. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/ooma-review/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best business credit card for most people is definitely the Chase Ink Business Cash. A good business credit card goes beyond day-to-day purchases. They can give you high spending limits, fantastic rewards like airline points and cashback, and useful tools to grow your business. In many instances, you don’t even need a formal business structure to apply for a small business credit card. If you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur without a registered LLC, you can still apply for cards using your social security number as opposed to a tax ID or EIN.
This guide is perfect for anyone interested in a small business credit card. I’ll show you the top options and explain how to find the best business credit card for your situation. Top 8 Best Business Credit Cards for 2021There are hundreds of business credit cards on the market today. It seems like they all claim to be “the best” for something. But really, there are only eight business credit cards that I recommend:
I’ll highlight the top features, benefits, costs, and any other considerations for each one below. The Best Business Credit Card ReviewsChase Ink Business CashChase Ink Business Cash is the best overall business credit card. We love their benefits and flexibility for a wide range of business purposes. Chase offers outstanding rewards for things you’re already spending money on.
You get up to $1,750 cash back each year if you max out those first two categories. Chase offers built-in protection for instances using your Ink Business Cash card. You can decline collision insurance offered by rental companies when you’re renting a car. Chase Ink Business Cash has you covered. The card also provides purchase protection against theft or damage to items for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account. It also extends qualified manufacturer’s warranties on purchases for an additional year. You can get extra cards for your employees at no cost, and set individual spending limits for each cardholder and the Ink Business Cash card does not have an annual fee. *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineBlue Business Cash Card From American ExpressBlue Business Cash Card gives you the benefits of American Express without the annual fees. You’ll earn 2% cash back on purchases up to $50,000 in a calendar year. After that, you’ll receive 1% cash back on your purchases. Rewards will automatically be credited to your statement, so you don’t have to worry about manual redemption. One unique feature of this card is the spending capacity terms. You have the ability to spend above your credit limit with Amex’s expanded buying power. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have unlimited spending freedom. The amount available above your limit varies based on things like your payment history, usage, and other factors. American Express offers outstanding travel and transportation benefits with this card. In addition to car rental loss and damage insurance, you’ll also have access to 24/7 services with global hotline assist whenever you’re more than 100 miles from home. This program gives you access to legal, financial, medical, and other emergency services coordination, such as helping you travel with a lost passport. Other Blue Business Card highlights include:
American Express has a long history of providing exceptional service to its cardholders. Their dispute resolution services are second to none. *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineChase Ink Business PreferredThe Chase Ink Business Preferred card offers better benefits and rewards than the Ink Business Cash card. However, customers need to pay a $95 annual fee. It’s a better option for business owners who spend more money regularly and prefer rewards points as opposed to cash back. Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on the first $150,000 in combined purchases on:
Earn up to 450,000 points per year if you spend money in those categories. You’ll get 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases, unlimited. If you redeem your travel points with Chase Ultimate Rewards, the points are worth up to 25% more. For example, 80,000 points will get you roughly $1,000 toward travel. You can even transfer qualified points to your favorite frequent travel programs at a 1:1 value. Chase Ink Business Preferred gives you protection for auto rental collision, cell phone protection, as well as trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance. If you miss a business trip or need to cut it short due to sickness, weather, or other situations, Chase will reimburse you up to $5,000 for prepaid, non-refundable expenses. This includes hotels, airfare, and tours. If you refer other business owners to an Ink Business Preferred card, you can earn up to 100,000 bonus points per year (20,000 per approved referral). *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineCitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select World MastercardThe CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard is the best business credit card for frequent American Airlines travelers. If you or your employees frequently fly with American, you definitely need to consider this card. Their benefits offering might make you want to consider flying exclusively with American Airlines after you read it. Travel Benefits:
Rewards Benefits:
You’ll also earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate for domestic travel after spending $30,000 per year. That’s easy to do if your business has a lot of routine spending. The certificate is worth a free round-trip domestic flight for someone else on your itinerary. NOTE: You’ll still be on the hook for taxes and fees. It’s easy to justify the annual fee is you travel with American Airlines often enough. Assuming you check a bag when flying, two round-trip tickets would normally cost $100 in bag fees. The card pays for itself right there. *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineAmerican Express Business GoldAmerican Express Business Gold is a great credit card if you’re looking to accrue a ton of points. The card allows you to earn 4x membership points on the top two categories where your business spends the most money each billing cycle. Those categories are:
The 4x points are valid for the first $150,000 spent per year combined on your top two categories. You’ll earn one point for every $1 spent after that. As such, this is a great card for businesses that regularly have big expenses each year. American Express has an outstanding membership rewards program for redemption. Your points will transfer to the majority of popular loyalty programs. Booking a flight with AmEx Travel allows you to pay with your points too. Do that and you’ll get 25% of those points back to your account. You also get all of the exceptional American Express travel perks like no foreign transaction fees, car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, and the global assist hotline. Furthermore, the Amex Business Gold card offers room upgrades and a $100 hotel credit for dining, spa, and other resort activities when you stay at a participating property for at least two consecutive nights. *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineChase Ink Business UnlimitedThe Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card is very similar to the Ink Business cash card. However, rewards are earned differently. With the Ink Business Cash card, you’ll get a different percentage of cash back based on your spending category with certain limits and restrictions for how much can be earned in a year. The Ink Business Unlimited card is much more straightforward. You earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases; no limit. All of the other features and benefits are the same as the Ink Business Cash card. You’ll get a $500 cash back bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months using the card. There is no annual fee for the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card. *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineCapital One Spark CashCapital One Spark Cash offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. There is a $95 annual fee for this card, but it’s waived for the first year. Some of the top features and benefits for Capital One Spark Cash include:
The best part: If you accidentally lose a card, you can use your mobile app to immediately lock the card. That prevents it from being used by bad actors. You’ll also benefit from a detailed year-end summary report that’s perfect for budgeting and tax preparation. It’s easy to integrate your purchase records with Quickbooks to simplify your accounting tasks. Capital One provides emergency card replacement, as well as emergency cash 24/7 at locations throughout the world. Not everyone will be eligible for this card. To apply, you’ll need an excellent credit score and a business registered in the US. *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineCapital One Spark Miles For BusinessIf you’re a frequent business traveler, the Capital One Spark Miles cards will reward you with miles instead of cash or points. There are actually two options to choose here. One card is free with decent perks, and the other has a $95 annual fee with better rewards. Beyond that, the two cards are basically identical. Here’s an overview of each one: Capital One Spark Miles
Capital One Spark Miles Select
The Spark Miles Select card will best for those of you who don’t want to pay the annual fee. But if you travel often enough, the $95 is justifiable for Spark Miles card. *Terms apply – Learn how to apply onlineHow to Choose The Best Business Credit CardNow that you’ve had the chance to review the top business credit cards, you’ll need to choose one for yourself. But the best business card for me might not be the best for you. Everyone’s situation is different. This is the methodology that we used to come up with the cards on this list. You can use the same process to evaluate the best option for your business. FeesOne of the first things you should look at is how much the card will cost you. The cards we reviewed ranged from $0 to $295 in annual fees. An annual fee is easy to justify if you’re going to be spending enough to get the most out of the perks and rewards. But if you’re a single-member sole-proprietor working out of your home office, you probably don’t need a card with an annual fee. Beyond that, look for APR, cash advance fees, foreign transaction fees, transfer fees, and late payment fees. Personally, I always pay my cards in-full each month, so the late fees and APR aren’t really relevant to me. But things like foreign transaction fees can add up quickly during international travel. RewardsWhat type of rewards do you want? Some cards offer cash back, while others offer points or miles. Cash back will likely be the best option for most of you. If you travel often for business, cards that reward you with miles should definitely be taken into consideration. Just make sure you understand how rewards get earned and if there are any stipulations. Some cards will limit the number of rewards you can earn in a year. Qualification TermsSome cards require you and your business to have excellent credit. You won’t get approved for certain cards if your credit score is below 700. You’ll also need to have an incorporated business to be eligible for certain cards. Other cards allow you to apply using just your name and social security number. Loyalty ProgramsThere are certain business credit cards that are tied to a specific loyalty partner. For example, the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard is an American Airlines card. In most cases, it’s best to stay away from those airline or hotel-specific cards because you won’t be rewarded as much for purchases with another company. So you’re better off with general miles, cash back, or points that can be used with any airline or hotel. With that said, if you know that you’ll be flying a specific airline often, these types of loyalty programs will give you the most rewarding benefits. So if you fly from Chicago to Dallas once a month (both American Airlines hubs), it makes perfect sense to get a card tied to AAdvantage. Spending HabitsA business spending $10,000 per year shouldn’t have the same credit card as a company charging $100,000 per year. Your spending categories can also influence your decision when choosing a card. Certain cards offer better rewards for purchases at restaurants or gas stations. Others will give you extra benefits for money spent on advertising or your phone bill. PerksThere are dozens and dozens of potential perks that could sway you to choose one card over another. Some of these include:
The list goes on and on. Find a card with perks that align with your business and spending habits. For example, the American Express Business Gold card has a 50,000 point sign up bonus if you spend $5,000 in the first three months using the card. But if you don’t normally spend $5,000 in three months, this card isn’t for you. The $295 annual fee won’t be worth it. ConclusionEvery business owner needs a credit card. Fortunately, the credit card companies have created cards with a wide range of benefits, rewards, and perks to accommodate your needs. Here’s a quick recap of the best business credit cards on our list:
Whether you want cash back, miles, or points, I made sure to include something for everyone on this list. Some of these cards are best for larger businesses that travel frequently, while others are suitable for small business owners and sole proprietors. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-business-credit-cards/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best electronic medical record system is AdvancedMD. Read on to find out why. No matter the size of your practice, you need a good electronic medical record (EMR) system. Having digital, searchable, and constantly accessible information about each patient in the practice helps medical professionals make the best healthcare decisions for their patients in the shortest amount of time possible. Protecting this sensitive data is important too, and the best EMR systems keeps data safe, while making it easily accessible to the people who need it. Proper documentation leads to a more efficient billing system and reduced time spent on paperwork as well.
Compare Quotes From The Best Electronic Medical Record Systems Get matched up with a EMR system that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotes
Here is our collection of the best EMR systems currently on the market, as we aim to help you find the right system for the needs of your particular practice. The 10 Best Electronic Medical Record SystemsThe 10 best EMR systems are:
Keep reading to find our in-depth reviews of each one. 1. AdvancedMD
>> Compare Quotes Regardless of whether you need basic or advanced features in your EMR, AdvancedMD has you covered. It is versatile enough to fit the needs of many different practices. The primary dashboard available through AdvancedMD does require some work to learn to use well, but once you figure this system out, you’ll be able to do some impressive things to help your practice operate more efficiently. Pros
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2. Athena Health
>> Compare Quotes Small and average sized practices often need an easy-to-use EMR system, as they may not have the time or personnel required to do a deep drill down into a complex piece of software. The AthenaHealth EMR fits this need. It’s fully web-based, so it will work for the practice where personnel use a variety of types of input devices. Pros
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3. CareCloudThe CareCloud EMR interface gives you the ability to clearly determine how the patient flows through your practice. This helps spot potential bottlenecks, making your processes more efficient in the process. They’re also web-based, so you can use them with any input devices. The interface is highly adaptable too. That’s perfect for the ever changing world of laws and regulations. Pros
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4. Greenway Health Intergy
>> Compare Quotes Greenway Health’s Intergy EMR is a very flexible system. That’s because it’s highly customizable—which makes it perfect for large medical practices that handle a wide variety of cases and patients. It may take you awhile to figure out all of the different aspects of Intergy, but it’s definitely worth the time spent. Pros
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5. Kareo
>> Compare Quotes Kareo EMR is very easy to use. This system’s interface is a little older than some others, but it still will work nicely for small and average sized practices. Those working at your practice will be able to pick up the basics of the EMR quickly, allowing for you to be up and running with very little time spent. Pros
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6. NextGen Healthcare
>> Compare Quotes For average and smaller sized practices, NextGen has the kind of customer support that these practices often need. A practice of this size may not have the tech staff required to run training and other services, but the NextGen customer service and training capabilities are extremely strong. NextGen EMR is also very customizable. You’ll be able to tailor their service to your practice’s exact needs and specifications. Pros
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7. Sevocity
>> Compare Quotes The Sevocity EMR has quite a few good features for small and mid-sized practices, but it likely will not be powerful enough to meet the needs of larger practices. The interface in this EMR is extremely easy to use, and you can perform basic customization features. The customer service people are available 24 hours a day. Pros
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8. TheraNestFor practices that need to be able to access the EMR interface using multiple types of devices, TheraNest is a smart choice. You can use a traditional computing system to run TheraNest, or you can access it with smartphone apps. It even has a client portal to allow clients to schedule their own appointments or to submit forms. Pros
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9. Virence Health Centricity
>> Compare Quotes For small to medium sized practices, Centricity from Virence Health is an ideal option. It has multiple features that give smaller practices the ability to track data in a similar manner to what a larger practice traditionally has been able to do. Centricity has a mobile app, so personnel at a medical practice can use it in the manner that makes the most sense to them. Pros
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10. WebPT
>> Compare Quotes For practices that specialize in outpatient services, including occupational, speech, and physical therapy, WebPT has a platform that’s ready to use. This is a web-based solution, so personnel at the practice can access it using a multitude of devices. It has a strong customer service reputation, offering access to support at any time. Pros
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How to Choose The Best EMR System For YouFinding the best electronic medical records system for your particular practice becomes easier when you focus on the specific needs of your practice. Figure out which areas of your practice need the most help, and focus on an EMR system that excels in those areas. Here are 10 of the areas we weighed when creating our list of the best EMR systems. 1. Automatic RemindersA big part of managing a patient’s care is maintaining a regular schedule of appointments. With certain EMR systems, you can set up an automatic reminder system that alerts the patient about upcoming appointments or about reminders to set an appointment. The EMR system could send a text message, make an automated call, or send an email to the patient, depending on the patient’s preference. Automatic reminders will save time for the staff at the practice, freeing them up for other tasks. These reminders also reduce the number of appointments that patients forget about and miss, which makes your practice more efficient. 2. Scanning DocumentsBy selecting an EMR system that allows for document scanning, you will be able to match whatever needs your billing system requires for supporting documentation for claims. Rather than submitting these documents via fax, printout, or email, you can simply digitize them and add them to the patient’s EMR. Should the billing service need these documents for an insurance claim, they will be readily available, eliminating wasted time and the potential for lost documents. 3. Sending PrescriptionsWithin the majority of EMR systems, you will have the option of submitting patient prescription drug orders electronically to the pharmacy, using an e-prescription system. Sending prescriptions electronically is safe and efficient, ensuring that the order for controlled substances travels only to the patient’s pharmacy of choice, eliminating the chance of the patient losing a handwritten prescription. With an e-prescription, you also eliminate the chance of an error at the pharmacy because of unreadable handwriting on the part of a doctor. 4. Specialty PracticesIf your practice has a specific area in which it operates, you may need to track atypical data about patients. You may need an EMR system that gives you the ability to customize data fields and to adjust how the system stores the data. A vendor may need to help you customize the system after installation, so if you have special needs for tracking data, always ask the vendor about how it handles this type of situation. In other cases, the vendor may have a specialty specific EMR system or add-on service that will perfectly meet your needs. Tracking this type of information can be a significant hindrance to your practice when you must do it by hand, so having an EMR system that can match your specific needs is incredibly important. 5. Systems IntegrationIf your EMR system has the ability to integrate with multiple systems already in use at your practice, this streamlines record keeping. This feature is especially important for meshing the EMR system with the billing system you have in place, for example. Whether your practice sends its billing information to an outside service or does billing in-house, having integration between the EMR system and the billing system saves quite a bit of time and reduces coding errors. Should your practice have an affiliation with a larger network, such as a hospital, integrating your EMR with the hospital’s system simplifies the patient care process. The EMR vendor can help you figure out how its system may be able to integrate with other systems you already have in place. 6. Task RemindersEvery medical practice has hundreds, if not thousands, of mundane tasks to perform on a daily basis. Whether you’re awaiting results from tests sent to an off-site lab or you need reminders to check with other colleagues about a patient’s status, certain EMR systems make this process far easier than others. With timestamp deadlines attached to the various reminders, a doctor can be certain to have all of the required tasks finished regarding a certain patient’s case before it’s time for the patient’s appointment. With the tasks finished ahead of time, the doctor will not waste time searching for information or making calls while the patient sits idle in the exam room. 7. Template CreationSay your practice sees a certain type of disease or condition on a regular basis in the community. With the right EMR system, the medical team could create a template that contains information about treating the particular condition, ensuring that all of the doctors and nurses follow the same steps. This saves time in treating this common condition, while also reducing the possibility of mistakes. 8. Tracking Patient FlowSomething that you may not think about when comparing EMR systems is the way they can track patients flowing through your office. For example, you don’t want patients occupying exam rooms waiting for a certain doctor, when that doctor cannot see the patient for at least 45 minutes, leaving other patients stuck in the waiting room, rather than being in an exam room, receiving treatment from other doctors. Your EMR system may be able show exactly where bottlenecks are occurring in the patient flow in your office, helping you become more efficient. However, this is not a feature that all EMRs will provide in an easy-to-understand manner. 9. Tracking PrescriptionsWhen you have patients who take multiple prescription drugs, keeping on top of potential side effects and drug interactions is a time consuming process. Before the advent of EMR systems, the patient may have given a hand-printed list of drugs to the doctor for inclusion in the patient file. The list may or may not have been accurate or up to date. By selecting an EMR system that allows prescription drug tracking within the patient’s records, spotting drug interactions will be easier and will occur in a timely manner. Doctors also can see any drugs the patient has tried in the past that did not work or that created unwanted side effects, avoiding trying those drugs again in the future. Additionally, should a patient show an allergy to a certain class of drug, this information is readily available to the doctor in the digitized patient record. No longer will the doctor need to rely on a patient’s memory regarding drug allergies, which may lead to errors. 10. Vendor ResponsivenessPicking the right vendor is an extremely important part of choosing the EMR system as well. Even if the EMR system is great, it will be nothing but a headache for your practice if the vendor support is not up to par. Some practices need more responsiveness from the vendor than others. Some practices want to be able to access help or to ask questions of the vendor any day of the week and any time of the day. Others may be able to live with a vendor that’s only accessible during normal working hours. If your practice does not have a person or department that handles IT, you may be able to hire a vendor that can deliver these features for you. Summary: Finding the Best EMR SystemsAlthough you will find some vendors attempting to use the terms EMR and EHR (electronic health records) interchangeably, they technically have a few differences that you should understand.
The EMR system simplifies the ability of a single practice to care for the patient, helping the practice send out reminders to the patient for upcoming tests or health screenings. Finding just the right EMR system will produce significant benefits for patients and for those working in your practice, making the process of caring for patients more streamlined and more successful in the long run. Compare Quotes From The Best Electronic Medical Record Systems Get matched up with a EMR system that fits your specific needs. >> Compare Quotesvia Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-emr-systems/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best website builder for ecommerce for most people is Wix. If you want to start selling online, you need a great ecommerce website builder. These are website builders built specifically for ecommerce. It’s different than your run-of-the-mill website builder or ecommerce platform. Ecommerce website builders are really the only option to consider if you’re building a website from scratch. It’s much easier than building out the entire website yourself. I’ve reviewed 9 of the best ecommerce website builders below. Use this guide to find the right one for you.
The Top 9 Best Ecommerce Website Builders
I’ll explain the top features, benefits, prices, and specific use-cases for the platforms below. I’ll point out any potential downsides or drawbacks as well. Wix
Wix is the best ecommerce website builder. Period. It’s especially great if you’re a beginner. If you’re creating a new ecommerce site without any experience, the simplicity of Wix will make your life much easier. Its incredibly versatile platform is practically tailor-made with someone with no web development experience. It’s jam packed with features to help you grow your site and generate leads. Your Wix website will be SEO-friendly and fully customizable with its drag-and-drop builder. Wix has specific plans made for ecommerce websites. All of the ecommerce solutions have unlimited bandwidth, $300 in advertising vouchers, a free domain for one year, and visitor analytics. It’s also worth noting that all online payments from your Wix store are 100% commission free. This is a HUGE benefit. Most ecommerce software takes a percentage of all your sales. It’s an extra tax on your entire business. You’ll save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars per year by going for Wix for this reason.
Here are some other great features Wix’s ecommerce plan offers:
Your store manager makes it easy for you to track orders, inventory, and your product pages. You’ll also be able to add a blog and design your own logo without any third-party integrations. The SEO tools are also a big standout. They allow you to optimize your website for mobile by creating an automatic mobile-friendly version of your website as you customize it. They also get your site listed on Google within 60 seconds. Wix’s AppMarket is also great. It provides a bunch of excellent apps from services like MailChimp, Quickbooks, and HubSpot to seamlessly integrate into your website. That way you can take advantage of their offerings to grow your business. These are the price points for Wix ecommerce solutions:
Wix does have cheaper plans but they’re for personal or portfolio sites. But if you want to accept online payments, the Business Basic plan is the lowest plan available. To save some money, you could always sign up for an entry-level Wix plan without the ability to accept online payments. You can build a personal website with Wix for as low as $13 per month and then upgrade to an ecommerce plan once you’re ready to start selling. If you’re not happy with Wix, you can always cancel within 14 days to get a full refund. Try Wix for 14 days free. Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms. More than one million online stores are powered by Shopify. They’re still growing too — and for good reason. Out of the box, Shopify is the most powerful ecommerce website builder on the market today. This web-based CMS comes with everything you need to set up and manage your online store. To get started, choose from one of Shopify’s 70+ free and premium themes. Each theme has settings that allow you to customize everything to your liking. Add features and functionality to your store by installing apps from the Shopify App Store. One of the best parts about using Shopify is that all payments are handled directly through the platform. With Shopify Payments gateway built-in to your plan, you won’t need to connect any third-party processors to accept payments. So you can start selling immediately. With that said, you can always use another payment gateway by choosing from one of the 100+ payment processors that integrate with Shopify. All plans come with web hosting, unlimited email forwarding, unlimited bandwidth, and a content delivery network for optimal performance. You’ll also benefit from marketing and SEO tools, mobile optimization, and analytics. Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat. With Shopify, you have the potential to set up dropshipping, customer accounts, target abandoned carts, POS software, and manage your shipping rates. There’s an expansive Shopify App platform to add any feature that you want Here’s an overview of Shopify’s plans and prices:
Consult with a Shopify sales expert if you’re building a high-volume ecommerce shop and need an enterprise-level solution. You can try Shopify free for 14 days. Zyro
Zyro offers a very beginner-friendly experience. Not only is the interface tailor-made for new users but it also comes at a highly affordable price. Using drag-and-drop tools, you’ll be able to lay out exactly how you want your website to look and see it change in real time. In fact, you’ll be able to set up your website within minutes of signing up. You’ll be able to promote and sell your products across websites like Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon. They also offer a ton of different customizable themes across 9 categories—so you can pick the perfect one for your business. One thing that helps set Zyro apart form the competition though is their powerful AI business tools. These tools leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to help you ideate and create using:
The AI content generator will furnish SEO-friendly content for your website. Perfect for those new at writing copy for the web or anyone who might be a little nervous about their word choices. Currently their prices and plans are as follows:
As you can see, even the most expensive plan is still pretty affordable. If you really want to get the most out of your ecommerce experience with Zyro though, I highly suggest you go with the ecommerce plan at least. That’ll give you unlimited storage and bandwidth, along with a free domain, the ability to accept online payments, and their line of ecommerce functionality. Get started at Zyro. Squarespace
Squarespace is one of the most popular ecommerce website platforms in the world. There’s a good reason for that. They offer ecommerce functionality built directly into its plans, which is not the case for most traditional website builders. Another benefit: Their beautiful, award-winning designs. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro, or if you’re building your first site. Anyone can build a modern and visually appealing ecommerce store using Squarespace. Every element of your pages can easily be customized using the intuitive and highly-responsive, drag-and-drop builder. Squarespace has award-winning templates that are specifically designed for online stores. Whether you’re selling products, services, subscriptions, or digital goods, Squarespace has a solution for your needs. The Squarespace mobile app allows you to manage and edit your website on the go. You can also use it as a POS solution if you have physical locations. Squarespace has built-in SEO tools, blogging tools, analytics, and anything else you’d need to make your online store a huge success. There are hundreds of apps built-in to Squarespace. However, there is not an app store or marketplace for one-click installations. So if you want to install a third-party app that’s not already built-in to Squarespace, you’ll need to use a code injection. Squarespace has four different plans, three of which have fully-integrated ecommerce capabilities:
Online selling starts with the Business plan. Although I’d recommend the Basic Commerce option as the bare minimum for most of you. This option has 0% transaction fees, POS, ecommerce analytics, customer accounts, and other features you’ll want at your disposal once you start selling online. It’s well worth the extra $8 per month. As your business scales and you want more advanced features, you can always upgrade to the Advanced Commerce plan. But you may not need that on day one if you’re starting a new store from scratch. All plans come with 24/7 customer support. You can try Squarespace for free with a 14-day trial. Square Online
Square is best known for their point-of-sale software (which is great btw). However, they also have a great website builder that comes packed with features for free. It’s especially great if you already use Square for your POS system. The website will be able to seamlessly integrate with Square POS. You’ll also be able to accept all major credit cards, sync with your existing Square POS, and streamline your inventory management. They’re also very flexible in how you connect with customers too, allowing you to sell through Instagram, on your website, or local pickup and delivery. Setting up the website is a snap too. You don’t need to know a bunch of code, or even hire a developer. All you need is a computer or mobile device and you can get started. Square also gives you SEO tools to help your website reach even more potential customers. Prices start free with 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction. Complete pricing is as follows:
Try the Square Online for free. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a reputable and trustworthy ecommerce site builder. It’s also very versatile. It has B2B-specific features like bulk pricing rates, quote management, customer groups, and custom price lists. BigCommerce specializes in multi-channel selling. Every plan comes the ability to sell on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google Shopping, eBay, Amazon, and POS. So for those of you who want to leverage omnichannel sales, BigCommerce should be at the top of your list. The website builder itself is very intuitive and includes a drag-and-drop tool that makes creating the website easy. BigCommerce is packed with lots of essential features right out of the box. Compared to other platforms on this list, it’s probably the most extensive feature list that you’ll find. That said, beginners might be wary of BigCommerce. That’s because the extra features tend to make things more complex. The platform is designed to help larger ecommerce sites scale quickly. So if you’re just starting out, you’ll most likely be paying extra for features that you won’t be using. However, if you want the ability to have tons of ecommerce and website customization features at your disposal without paying extra for apps or extensions, BigCommerce will be perfect for you. All BigCommerce stores benefit from enterprise-level security and high uptime rates. You’ll also get 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email. Here’s a look at the price points for BigCommerce:
These rates are almost identical to Shopify. While Shopify is a bit easier to use, BigCommerce comes loaded with more features. So if you’re deciding between those two options, you’ll need to determine which features are the most important to you. You can try BigCommerce for free with a 15 day trial before you select a plan. 3DCart
3DCart is certainly not the most popular ecommerce website builder on the market, and it shouldn’t be. It’s not made for beginners, so the platform definitely ranks low in terms of ease of use. However, developers and experienced ecommerce store owners can benefit from using 3DCart. They offer a wide range of customization options that’s sure to appeal to any tech savvy website builders. The platform has more than 200 features built-in, and it’s one of the best site builders for SEO readiness. Your store will be optimized for search engines right out of the box. 3DCart has 50+ free themes and supports 100+ payment processors. 3DCart comes with features and benefits like:
Again, things like API access won’t be beneficial to an ecommerce beginner building their first site from scratch. But developers and experienced site owners may want that functionality at their disposal. As such, 3DCart is perfect for B2B sellers, tech startups, SaaS outfits, and other businesses looking to get in the weeds with their website customization. 3DCart’s pricing is very transparent. There are no hidden fees or long-term contracts. You can cancel at any time and all plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It’s worth noting that these are introductory prices for new customers. Your rates will double after your first year using the platform. Weebly
Weebly is another well-known website builder that offers a free forever plan. In fact, this plan made my list of the best free website builders on the market today. Unfortunately, the free plan doesn’t include ecommerce capabilities. But you can still use it to test out the Weebly platform before you upgrade to a paid subscription. Their ecommerce builder plans are still some of the lowest priced plans out there. That makes Weebly one of the most affordable options you could look at. You can accept payments with popular gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square. Weebly makes it easy for entrepreneurs to establish an online presence and expand with ecommerce. So if you already have a small or local business, I’d recommend Weebly as the best solution for you. Since Weebly is powered by Square, it’s very easy to integrate the Square POS with your online sales system as well. You’ll be able to manage your products and inventory all in one place. The drag and drop site builder allows you to launch your store with minimal effort and no coding. You’ll get tools for email, SEO, site stats, shipping, inventory, and more. Help your customers find what they’re looking for by adding Weebly’s product search to your online store. Add badges to products when items go on sale or when availability becomes limited. These are Weebly’s prices for online stores:
The Pro plan is pretty basic, but it’s affordable if you don’t need any complex ecommerce features. It’s essentially just a shopping cart with the ability to accept payments. If you want to get the most out of Weebly, you’ll need a Business plan at a minimum. Try out Weebly’s free forever plan and use it as an extended free trial before you officially launch your online store. BigCartel
If you’re looking for a cheap ecommerce website builder, Big Cartel is the best option for you. They are the only legitimate provider that I can find offering a free ecommerce plan. But Big Cartel is a prime example of the expression, “you get what you pay for.” The free plan is extremely limited, and only lets you sell up to five products. Overall I wouldn’t recommend it. With that said, BigCartel has some of the cheapest paid ecommerce plans on the market. You can sell up to 25 products for just $10 per month. Even the most expensive option is priced at a point similar to entry-level plans of other platforms on our list. The cheapest Big Cartel plan still comes with features like:
But all plans are limited to just five images per product. Overall, “limited” seems to be the best word to describe Big Cartel. I’d only recommend this if you’re selling a handful of products and don’t need advanced ecommerce features. But if you want to sell 15 different shirts for as cheap as possible, Big Cartel can be taken into consideration. How to Find the Best Ecommerce Website Builder For YouWe tested all of the ecommerce platforms above using rigorous criteria, allowing us to discover the strengths and weaknesses of each one, along with what makes them stand out from one another. You can use the same methodology we used for your own decision making process. But ultimately, this is going to be unique to you. After all, the humble online store selling cottage goods is going to need different things than the seven-figure dropshipping company. However, we find that these elements are most important when considering a platform: Easy to Use (Without Sacrificing Quality)If you’re creating your first ecommerce website, you likely have little to no experience building websites. But without knowledge of code or web design, creating a site can be frustrating and stressful. That’s why you want to find a platform that makes creating a beautiful yet powerful site easy. Not only does this mean you can launch more quickly, but it also saves you money and time you otherwise would have spent doing it yourself or on a web designer (who can sometimes cost you over $10,000). Even if you have more complex needs like multiple digital storefronts or bigger product inventories, you still want a website builder that’s easy to use with a simple learning curve. Good website builders make the process simple for you in a variety of different ways. For example, Wix uses powerful AI technology to help you create a website from the ground up once you answer a few quick questions. If you’re looking for the simplest option, definitely go with Wix. Many of the websites on this list, such as Squarespace and Zyro, use drag-and-drop technology so you can easily customize your website. This gives you more freedom over how your website looks without having to know how to type a single line of code. If you have more complex needs (but still want to benefit from an easy-to-understand-no-computer-degree-needed builder), try a platform like BigCommerce. It’s packed with features, such as bulk pricing rates and customer groups, to help larger ecommerce businesses grow quickly. 3DCart is another option, one that offers features such as API access to let more seasoned ecommerce store builders have more control over their site. Depth of CustomizationWhile we looked for ecommerce website builders that were easy to use, we also wanted to make sure that those who wanted to customize their website more could do so. The builders on this list include a lot of tools and features to help make your website more customizable. For example, Shopify has a ton of different plugins and integrations—like Google and Facebook integrations, email marketing tools, live chat bots, and more—to build the right site for your business. Those social media integrations can be especially helpful if you plan on having an omnichannel ecommerce business. If that’s something you’re interested in, you’ll want to definitely take a look at platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce. Each of BigCommerce’s plans, for example, comes with the ability for you to sell on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google Shopping, eBay, Amazon, and more. If you have a warehouse with inventory, look for easy integrations with your warehouse management system and logistics/shipping systems. Once again, BigCommerce is another great option for that. Another area that these platforms can offer customization is through SEO tools. Some offerings like Wix, Shopify, and Weebly help you build Google-friendly web pages and articles with suggestions as you customize your site. Often these tools are optional and come in the form of plugins or dashboard features. Overall, they can be incredibly helpful if you plan on using SEO marketing as part of your growth strategy. The templates offered by these websites offer varying levels of customization too. You’ll want to make sure that they give you options you need to fit your brand. Quality and Variety of TemplatesEach of the website builders on this list comes with a variety of different templates for you to easily create a great website for your ecommerce business. When reviewing the templates for each of the builders on this list, we looked at two areas:
The templates offered by each platform differ—sometimes drastically—from each other. For example, Squarespace puts a lot of emphasis on visuals—splashy and vibrant photos, beautiful art, gorgeous design, and so on. If your ecommerce website has a lot of products that can create strong images (e.g. photography and art businesses), Squarespace is a no-brainer. If you’re looking for an ecommerce site that also relies heavily on a blog for content marketing purposes, I highly suggest something like Wix. They offer 500+ templates, with most including a blog along with an ecommerce component. They easily offer the most options for templates on this list too. It’s definitely worth mentioning though that Weebly is another platform that is incredibly versatile, allowing you to do a lot of different things with your site. If you want to run just a pure ecommerce site and really home in on that, Shopify, Zyro, BigCommerce, and Square are platforms I highly recommend. Their design templates really let you optimize for sales and create the best site for your specific products. Additional Considerations (But Not Deal Breakers)There were other elements we took into consideration as well, but they weren’t deal breakers when it came to our ultimate decision with this list. They might be important to you, though, so we want to take a look at them now. They include: Responsive customer support: You’ll want to make sure that the ecommerce website builder you choose can help you out with any questions you might have quickly. After all, if your site crashes in the middle of a product launch you want that fixed ASAP. Analytics and reporting. This helps you track your website’s traffic and engagement–and can help you improve them as well. Email integration. If you plan on scaling up your business and want to get serious with branding, you’ll definitely want to be able to get a branded email address using your ecommerce store’s domain. Some platforms like Wix allow you to create a branded email address, or purchase one from their website. Pricing: Don’t get us wrong, pricing is important. However, it wasn’t necessarily a deal breaker for how this list was arranged. That’s because all of the offerings on this list are in line with what we consider to be the industry standard. A builder like Shopify might be on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but nothing too outrageous considering their quality and strong offerings. The price tiers for each offering on this list are roughly equivalent to one another, and they tend to offer a free version with minimal features or (at the very least) a free trial. SummaryIf you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for building an ecommerce site, then look no further than the choices on this list. These are the best choices for building a new online store from scratch. I’ve included an option for every type of website below. Here’s a recap of my top picks for the best ecommerce website builders to see which category fits your unique situation. Best Ecommerce Website Builders for 2021
via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-ecommerce-website-builder/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best video conferencing service for most people is definitely RingCentral or GoToMeeting. I consider a great video conferencing service to be critical for any business--especially in this day and age. Whether you have remote employees, clients, prospects, or team members across multiple locations, you need video conferencing software that you can depend on. Tools like Skype or Facetime aren’t robust enough for companies. They lag too often, can’t handle groups well, and are a pain when setting up meetings. If you’re ready to take your conference calls to the next level with video, you need to read this guide.
I’ve already done all the research and heavy-lifting to help you choose the best video conferencing service for your business. Regardless of your company size, industry, or conferencing needs, there’s definitely an option for you below. The 8 Best Video Conferencing ServicesOf the dozens of options available, there are really only eight solutions I would recommend to a business owner. In no particular order, those are:
As I said, these video conferencing services are in no particular order and all have their pros and cons. Use the in-depth reviews below to compare them. RingCentral – Best video conferencing service with VoIP business phone plans
RingCentral is our top choice for video conferencing. That’s because they go beyond video conferencing services. They also offer VoIP business phone services. You can get rid of your traditional phone plan too. RingCentral provides video conferencing features as an added bonus. You can always purchase RingCentral Meetings as a standalone product. Those plans are below: Free — $0 per month
Essentials — $14.99 per month per user
Advanced — $19.99 per month per user
The free plan is actually pretty decent if you compare it to others on the list. While you’re capped at 40 minutes per meeting, you can still have up to 100 participants. At the same time, the paid plans are also limited to just 100 participants, which is low compared to the competition. However, you can add-on larger meeting options to your plan for an upcharge. RingCentral also has great enterprise solutions. You’ll need to contact their sales team to get a custom quote. But you can save some money by bundling RingCentral Meetings with a VoIP business phone. GoToMeeting – Best video conferencing service for small businesses
GoToMeeting makes it easy for you to turn any video conference into a highly collaborative workspace. As such, it’s a top choice for remote workers and clients alike. Everyone from sales managers, to business owners, to IT teams use it. A big reason why: GoToMeeting easily integrate with the systems your business is currently using. They also offer an all-in-one hardware and software kit for those of you who want to transform your physical conference room into a digital one. This hardware is more advanced than the built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers on your current devices. Some other top features and benefits of using GoToMeeting for video conferencing include:
Unlike the other platforms that we’ve reviewed so far, GoToMeeting has just two plans for you to choose from:
The plans are very similar. GoToMeeting offers unlimited meetings and unlimited meeting durations with both options. You’ll also benefit from things like Salesforce integration, Slack meeting launcher, and an admin center with each. The biggest difference between Professional and Business is that they can host up to 150 and 250 participants, respectively. In addition to more participants, the Business plan gives you access to transcripts, keyboard and mouse sharing, unlimited cloud storage, and mobile cloud recording. I think it’s a no-brainer to sign up for the Business option instead of Professional. The added benefits are worth the extra $5 per month. GoToMeeting does offer enterprise-grade plans for up to 3,000 participants. But those prices aren’t available online. You’ll need to speak to a sales rep for a custom quote. Save 16% on your GoToMeeting plan with an annual contract. You can try GoToMeeting for free with up to 250 participants for 14 days. ClickMeeting – Best video conferencing service for webinars
ClickMeeting is a bit different compared to some of the other video conferencing services that we’ve reviewed. This platform has a specific standout: webinars. It’s a great option for those of you who want to hold large online events, market your products with video demonstrations, and host online courses or training sessions with live video. They also traditional video conferencing solutions for team meetings and business collaboration. However, if that’s all you need, I’d look towards the other options on this list. Their pricing is complicated too. There are two plans that depend on how many attendees you have. Here’s an overview of those price points per month for each plan: Live
Automated
For video conferences with more than 1,000 attendees, contact the ClickMeeting sales team for a custom enterprise solution. You can try ClickMeeting free for 30 days and run webinars with up to 25 attendees to try it out. Save up to 20% off your with annual billing instead of a month-to-month contract. The Automated plan is your best option for broadcasting professional video webinars. This plan comes with advanced features like auto-streaming to Facebook or YouTube, automated follow-up emails to attendees, Google Analytics integration, and certificates of attendance. As you can see, ClickMeeting is definitely pricey compared to the other options on our list, which is why I wouldn’t recommend it for just basic video conferencing use. But the price is worth it if you’re planning to use the webinar features. Zoho Meeting – Most affordable video conferencing service with basic features
Zoho Meeting is arguably the most straightforward video conferencing solution on the market today. There isn’t a bunch of bells a whistles. Just one plan for video conferencing. Pricing is simple; it’s $10 per month per user, or $8 per month for an annual contract. The plan comes with everything you need in a video conferencing service. However, it’s limited to just 100 participants per meeting and storage of up to 10 recordings. This isn’t enterprise-grade software by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s an affordable and suitable choice for lots of small business owners. Some of Zoho’s top features include:
You’ll also have the ability to switch a presenter, give someone control, and remove users from a video conference. As expected, Zoho Meeting integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM. So if you’re already using a Zoho product, this will be a top option for you to consider. This isn’t the most feature rich video conferencing software out there. But it’s a high-quality solution for small business owners who just need basic features and already utilize Zoho products. Zoom – Best video conferencing service for scalability
>> Compare Quotes Since launching in 2011, Zoom has quickly become an industry leader in the video conferencing space. The software is trusted by large businesses like Ticketmaster, Uber, Pandora, and GoDaddy, to name a few. Where Zoom shines is its simplicity. They have a plan for businesses of all shapes and sizes, including a free option. Zoom has video conferencing capabilities with up to 1,000 participants, and up to 49 videos on the screen simultaneously. The platform is secure, with role-based user security options, password protection, and waiting rooms. Zoom makes it easy for your team to collaborate with screen sharing, filing sharing, and other interactive features. Zoom is modern, so naturally, the service can be accessed from a mobile app as well. This is perfect for participants who are on the go and unable to reach a computer for a meeting. Here’s an overview of Zoom’s pricing model: Basic — Free
Pro — $14.99 per month per host
Business — $19.99 per month per host
Enterprise — $19.99 per month per host
As you can see, there is a plan for everyone. The free option is an excellent choice for an entrepreneur or freelancer who only needs to video chat once in a while for brief meetings. Beyond personal use, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro or Business plans to get the most out of Zoom. Fortunately, Zoom makes it easy for you to scale to another plan as your company grows. Just be aware that your plan will impact the level of customer support you receive. To get premium support, you’ll need to upgrade. Microsoft Teams – Best video conferencing service for internal communication
>> Compare Quotes Teams is an instant messaging service with video capability, offered by Microsoft. The platform is designed specifically for internal communication in the workplace. With chat, audio, and video capabilities for group sizes of 10 or 10,000, Teams is the ultimate in-house communication solution. Slack is a direct competitor of Teams. But Teams shines with its superior technology and video conferencing features. However, the setup, usage, and onboarding are a bit more complex. So just be aware of that ahead of time. Teams is best when it’s accessed from a desktop device or web app. There is a mobile app, but overall the web version is easier to navigate. Here’s a quick overview of the plans and pricing:
Both paid plans are only available with an annual contract. The Free plan and entry-level paid plan both have a limit of 300 users, while the Office 365 E3 option is unlimited. You’ll still have access to quite a few features with the free version, including video calls. But you’ll need Office 365 Business Premium to get the most out of this software. Paid plans have 140+ app integrations, 1 TB of storage, scheduled meetings, meeting recordings, and administrative support. The biggest downside of Teams is that it’s limited. It’s not really a true video conferencing service. Instead, it’s better for one-on-one video meetings or smaller groups. If you want to host large-scale video conferences and make presentations to clients, you should look elsewhere for a more suitable solution. Join.me – Best annual contract for video conferencing services
>> Compare Quotes Join.me offers solutions for individuals, teams, and businesses. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, Join.me is a popular choice. It’s also incredibly easy to start and use. The signup process is as quick as it gets. There’s no need to consult with a sales representative or get a custom quote. Just visit their website, and you can start a call in minutes. To start a new video conference, simply invite others to “join” your meeting (hence the name). You can invite people via email or with a custom link. With Join.me, you can customize the video conferencing background, customize the URL, and share your screen with just one click. You can invite people to your meeting even if they aren’t already using the Join.me platform. Here’s an overview of the plans and pricing options: Lite — $10 per month per user
Pro — $20 per month per user
Business — $30 per month per user
Note: The Lite plan does NOT include video conferencing. As such, I highly recommend you go with the Pro plan. It’s also worth noting that all plans are offered with an annual contract only. Month-to-month plans are unavailable. However, you can try Join.me free with a 14-day free trial. Compared to other options on the list, Join.me is a bit limited in terms of meeting participants and the number of video streams per meeting. But it’s a fine option for those of you who won’t need more than ten simultaneous video streams per conference. Webex – Best video conferencing service for cloud collaboration
>> Compare Quotes Cisco is a brand name that’s synonymous with superior technology. So it should be no surprise that Cisco Webex ranks so highly on our list for video conferencing software. With Webex, you can host massive virtual events with up to 100,000 participants and run an interactive webinar for 3,000-person audiences. Webex is perfect if you need to run on-demand training lessons for large groups as well. This is a great tool for onboarding employees at scale throughout multiple locations. The Webex mobile app is another standout feature of the platform. Hosting and joining meetings are both simple and accessible from anywhere. Webex is built for teams. Arguably the best part about this video conferencing software is the cloud collaboration features. It’s easy to share files and screens with other meeting participants to stay organized and make the conference more interactive. Cisco offers four different plans for you to choose from, including a basic free option. Free — $0 per month
Starter — $16.95 per month per host
Plus — $22.95 per month per host
Business — $32.95 per month per host
At first glance, the Webex prices appear to be higher than Zoom. However, you can save 20% per month with an annual contract. It’s also worth noting that the Webex Plus plan doesn’t have any host minimums, and the business plan has just a five license minimum. Zoom has a 10 and 50 host minimum for their plans at similar price points. So Webex will be a better option if you want those business or enterprise-level features for a smaller team. How to Find the Best Video Conferencing ServicesCompare Quotes From The Best Video Conferencing Services Get matched up with a video conferencing service that fits your specific needs. Compare Quotes
Now that you’ve had a chance to review the top solutions on the market, how can you find the best option for your unique situation? This is the methodology that I used to come up with this guide. I’ve identified each feature set that matters the most and why you need to take it into consideration when you’re evaluating prospective platforms. Conference SizeEvery video conferencing plan has some limit on the number of participants who can join a meeting. This can be as 25 or as high as 100,000. Make sure you choose a service and plan that can accommodate the number of people you need for your video conferences. You don’t want to overpay for a plan that has participant limits that you’ll never reach. But more importantly, you don’t want to be in a situation where your participant list is too large for your platform and plan. Meeting LengthWith the global pandemic putting a ton of people into remote work, businesses and schools need to be able to take as long as they need for certain calls. That’s why we took a close look at how long each plan allows you to meet when determining this list. Often, they had to be counterbalanced with how many participants are allowed in a plan as well. After all, a plan that offers unlimited time but with only a dozen participants might not be helpful for larger teams. Scheduling OptionsGood video conferencing tools allow you to schedule easily and across a wide breadth of calendar apps. When looking at scheduling options, see if they integrate with common planning and calendar services such as Google Calendar, iCal, and Office 365. Video StreamsYou might be able to have a large number of participants in a conference, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every user will be able to broadcast a video stream. For example, RingCentral plans have up to 100 participants per meeting, but limit you to just ten simultaneous video streams. So don’t be swayed by the participant limits alone. Always check to see how many users can actually stream a video at the same time. Collaboration ToolsCollaboration tools are crucial for groups and teams. Features like screen sharing, built-in chat, file sharing, and cloud collaboration are very useful for presentations and group projects. It’s also helpful when a video conferencing service integrates with existing tools and platforms that you’re already using to run a business. You can look for features like Salesforce integration or Google Analytics integration. ConclusionTake your virtual meetings to the next level with video conferencing software. What’s the best video conference service on the market? The answer depends on who you ask and what you’re looking for. Here’s a quick recap of the platforms reviewed above.
Based on this guide, I’m confident that you can find the best choice for your business. No matter how unique your situation might be, these options can accommodate your needs. If you are still not sure which one is right for you then complete the short form below to compare the best solutions further. Compare Quotes From The Best Video Conferencing Services Get matched up with a video conferencing service that fits your specific needs. Compare Quotesvia Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-video-conferencing-services/ |
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