7 Ways to Communicate Online with Clients

Effective communication is crucial for maintaining strong client relationships. Ensuring that you can convey your messages clearly and efficiently to your clients is essential for successful interactions and achieving mutual understanding. For this you need the right tool, below are some tools that you might be interested for your video chat needs.

What to Look For?

The first thing to consider is the target audience:

1. You want to have one-on-one meetings,
2. You want to have conferences with multiple people,
3. You want to have streaming sessions to thousands of people

While one alternative can be great for streaming to thousands of people, it might not be very effective for one-on-one client relations.

The other thing to consider is the data:

1. Do you want to record your calls?
2. Do you want to keep recordings for a long time?
3. Do you want to transcribe your calls?
4. Do you want to translate your calls as well?

If you are having a conversation like a doctor-patient, you will want to transcribe your session for further reference and keep your video sessions for years. If your mainly concern is to have daily talks without any saved data, then these will be overkill.

The last thing is the call itself:

1. How easy is it to use the interface?
2. Do you need to install tools?
3. Does it work on every platform?
4. Do you need high resolution?

We recommend using tools that are web based so that both you and your clients don't have to install tools on their platforms, also if it is web based - it means that it is supported on any platform.

Alternatives

Before going through the alternatives, please note that Schemon has video chats as an integrated feature, meaning that if you have Schemon, you won't need to get an additional video chat tool. In case you wish to use these with Schemon, it is also possible, Schemon is able to integrate them too.

Without further ado, let's continue with the alternatives:

‍Zoom

Zoom is a popular video conferencing tool that offers high-quality video and audio, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms for smaller group discussions. It’s widely used for one-on-one meetings, team collaborations, and webinars.

Advantages of Zoom Video Chat

1. Ease of Use: Zoom is user-friendly, with an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users of all technical skill levels to join and host meetings.
2. High-Quality Video and Audio: Zoom offers high-definition video and clear audio, enhancing the virtual meeting experience.
3. Large Meeting Capacity: Zoom allows for large meetings with up to 1,000 participants, making it suitable for both small teams and large conferences.
4. Screen Sharing: Users can easily share their screens, which is beneficial for presentations, tutorials, and collaborative work.
5. Recording Capability: Meetings can be recorded for future reference, training purposes, or for those who couldn’t attend the live session.
6. Breakout Rooms: Zoom supports breakout rooms, allowing larger meetings to split into smaller groups for more focused discussions.

Disadvantages of Zoom Video Chat

1. Security Concerns: Zoom has faced criticism over security and privacy issues, including "Zoombombing" where uninvited guests disrupt meetings.
2. Bandwidth Requirements: High-quality video and audio require significant bandwidth, which can be a challenge for users with slower internet connections.
3. Overwhelming for Large Meetings: While Zoom supports large meetings, managing and engaging with a very large group can be challenging.
4. Data Usage: Zoom meetings consume a considerable amount of data, which might be a concern for users with limited data plans.
5. Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic features are easy to use, there can be a learning curve for more advanced functionalities like webinar hosting and breakout rooms.
6. Dependence on Stable Internet: Effective use of Zoom is heavily dependent on a stable internet connection, which might not be available to all users.

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Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams integrates with Office 365 and provides video chat, file sharing, and collaboration tools. It’s ideal for businesses that use Microsoft’s ecosystem, allowing for seamless integration with other Office applications.

Advantages of Microsoft Teams Video Chat

1. Integration with Microsoft Office 365: Microsoft Teams integrates seamlessly with other Office 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, providing a unified productivity experience​.
2. Collaboration Features: Teams offers robust collaboration tools, including real-time co-authoring of documents, file sharing, and persistent chat threads, which enhance team productivity and communication​.
3. Security and Compliance: Microsoft Teams provides enterprise-grade security features, including data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and compliance with industry standards and regulations .
4. Scalability: Teams can accommodate a wide range of meeting sizes, from small team meetings to large webinars and live events with up to 20,000 participants​.
5. Cross-Platform Availability: Teams is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, ensuring accessibility across different devices​.
6. Integrated Meeting Features: Features such as background blur, meeting recording, live captions, and breakout rooms enhance the video conferencing experience​.

Disadvantages of Microsoft Teams Video Chat

1. Complexity for New Users: The extensive range of features and integrations can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve .
2. Resource Intensive: Teams can be resource-heavy, requiring significant system resources for optimal performance, which might be challenging for users with older or less powerful devices .
3. Internet Dependency: Like other video conferencing tools, Teams relies on a stable internet connection for high-quality video and audio, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity .
4. Notification Overload: Users may experience an overload of notifications and alerts, which can be distracting and reduce productivity if not managed properly .
5. Limited Features in Free Version: The free version of Teams has limited features compared to the paid versions, which can restrict its utility for larger organizations or those requiring advanced functionalities .
6. Integration Issues: While Teams integrates well with Microsoft products, integrating it with non-Microsoft applications can sometimes be challenging and may require additional configuration .

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Google Meet

Google Meet is a video conferencing service integrated with Google Workspace. It offers features like real-time captions, screen sharing, and the ability to join meetings directly from a Google Calendar invite.

Advantages of Google Meet Video Chat

1. Integration with Google Workspace: Google Meet seamlessly integrates with Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) apps like Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and Docs, making it easy to schedule and join meetings directly from these apps.
2. High-Quality Video and Audio: It provides high-definition video and clear audio, enhancing the meeting experience and making communication more effective.
3. Accessibility: Google Meet is accessible on multiple platforms, including web browsers, Android, and iOS, ensuring that users can join meetings from various devices.
4. Security Features: Google Meet offers robust security features, including encrypted video meetings, secure meeting codes, and host controls to admit or deny entry to participants.
5. Scalability: It supports large meetings with up to 250 participants for standard accounts, and even more for enterprise accounts, making it suitable for both small teams and large organizations.
6. No Software Installation Required: Users can join meetings directly from their browsers without needing to download any software, simplifying the process and reducing barriers to entry.

Disadvantages of Google Meet Video Chat

1. Dependence on Google Account: Users need a Google account to host meetings, which can be a drawback for organizations using different platforms or those with participants who do not have Google accounts.
2. Resource Intensive: High-definition video and other features can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting performance on older or less powerful devices.
3. Feature Parity with Competitors: While Google Meet has many features, some competitors offer more advanced functionalities, such as breakout rooms, more extensive customization options, and enhanced collaboration tools.
4. Learning Curve for Non-Google Users: Users who are not familiar with Google Workspace may find it challenging to navigate and utilize all the features effectively.
5. Internet Dependency: A stable internet connection is essential for smooth video and audio quality, and poor connectivity can lead to disruptions during meetings.
6. Privacy Concerns: As with any online service, there are potential privacy concerns, especially regarding data handling and user information.

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Cisco Webex

Cisco Webex provides secure and reliable video conferencing solutions. It includes features like background noise removal, breakout sessions, and extensive security options, making it suitable for both small meetings and large webinars.

Advantages of Cisco Webex Video Chat

1. Robust Security: Cisco Webex is known for its strong security features, including end-to-end encryption, secure access controls, and compliance with industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2​​.
2. High-Quality Video and Audio: Webex offers high-definition video and clear audio quality, ensuring a smooth communication experience during meetings​.
3. Extensive Collaboration Tools: Webex includes a variety of collaboration tools such as file sharing, real-time co-editing, whiteboarding, and integration with other productivity applications like Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace​​.
4. Scalability: Webex can accommodate a wide range of meeting sizes, from small team meetings to large webinars and virtual events with up to 100,000 participants​.
5. Recording and Transcription: Meetings can be recorded, and automatic transcriptions are available, which are useful for keeping records and sharing meeting content with those who couldn’t attend live​​.
6. Cross-Platform Availability: Webex is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, ensuring accessibility across different devices​.

Disadvantages of Cisco Webex Video Chat

1. Complexity for New Users: The extensive range of features and capabilities can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve compared to simpler video conferencing tools​​.
2. Cost: Webex can be more expensive than some other video conferencing solutions, especially for small businesses or individual users, with its premium plans offering the full suite of features​.
3. Resource Intensive: High-definition video and advanced features can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting performance on older or less powerful devices​​.
4. Internet Dependency: Like other video conferencing tools, Webex requires a stable internet connection for optimal performance, and poor connectivity can lead to disruptions during meetings​​.
5. User Interface: Some users find the Webex user interface less intuitive compared to other video conferencing platforms, which can affect ease of use and overall user experience​​.
6. Integration Issues: While Webex offers many integrations, some users may experience challenges when integrating it with non-Cisco applications or existing workflows​​.

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Skype

Skype offers video chat, instant messaging, and file sharing. It’s user-friendly and accessible, making it a good option for smaller businesses or individual professionals needing to communicate visually with clients.

Advantages of Skype Video Chat

1. Wide Accessibility: Skype is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web browsers. This wide accessibility ensures that users can connect regardless of their device preferences​.
2. User-Friendly Interface: Skype has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all ages and technical abilities​.
3. Integration with Microsoft Products: As a Microsoft product, Skype integrates well with other Microsoft services and applications, such as Outlook and Office 365​​.
4. Free Usage: Skype offers free video and voice calls to other Skype users, making it a cost-effective solution for personal and small business communication​​.
5. Screen Sharing: Skype allows users to share their screens, which is beneficial for remote presentations, tutorials, and collaborative work​​.
6. Global Reach: Skype offers international calling to landlines and mobile phones at competitive rates, which is useful for businesses and individuals who need to communicate globally​.

Disadvantages of Skype Video Chat

1. Connection Quality: Skype's video and audio quality can be inconsistent, especially when compared to newer video conferencing tools. Users may experience lag, dropped calls, and poor video resolution​.
2. Security Concerns: While Skype provides encryption for communications, it has faced criticism for its overall security measures and handling of user data.
3. Limited Group Call Features: Skype's group call features are more limited compared to other platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, particularly in terms of managing large meetings and providing collaboration tools​.
4. Competition with Microsoft Teams: Microsoft has been focusing more on Teams as its primary communication tool, which may affect the future development and support for Skyp​.
5. User Experience: Some users find Skype's interface and user experience outdated compared to more modern video conferencing tools​.
6. Integration Limitations: While Skype integrates well with Microsoft products, its integration with non-Microsoft applications is not as seamless as other platforms like Zoom or Slack​​.

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BlueJeans

BlueJeans is a video conferencing tool known for its high-quality video and audio capabilities. It offers features like Dolby Voice audio, smart meetings with automatic highlights and transcription, and integration with various productivity tools.

Advantages of BlueJeans Video Chat

1. High-Quality Video and Audio: BlueJeans offers high-definition video and Dolby Voice audio, ensuring clear and crisp communication during meetings​​.
2. Cross-Platform Compatibility: BlueJeans is available on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web browsers, allowing users to join meetings from any device​.
3. Robust Security Features: BlueJeans provides enterprise-grade security with features like encryption, secure access controls, and compliance with industry standards, ensuring that meetings are secure​.
4. Integration with Other Tools: BlueJeans integrates seamlessly with productivity tools such as Microsoft Office 365, Google Calendar, Slack, and Trello, enhancing its utility in various workflows​​.
5. Scalability: BlueJeans supports a wide range of meeting sizes, from small team meetings to large webinars and town halls, making it suitable for various organizational needs​​.
6. Screen Sharing and Collaboration Tools: BlueJeans offers robust collaboration features, including screen sharing, real-time chat, and interactive whiteboards, enhancing teamwork during virtual meetings​​.

Disadvantages of BlueJeans Video Chat

1. Cost: BlueJeans can be more expensive than some other video conferencing solutions, particularly for small businesses or individual users who may find the subscription fees high​.
2. Resource Intensive: High-definition video and advanced features can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting performance on older or less powerful devices​​.
3. Learning Curve: While the interface is user-friendly, some users may find the range of features overwhelming at first, leading to a learning curve​​.
4. Internet Dependency: Like other video conferencing tools, BlueJeans relies on a stable internet connection for optimal performance, and poor connectivity can lead to disruptions during meetings​.
5. Integration Issues: While BlueJeans integrates with many productivity tools, some users may experience challenges when integrating it with non-supported applications or custom workflows​.
6. Market Competition: BlueJeans faces stiff competition from other well-established video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, which may offer similar features at competitive prices​​.

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GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is a web-hosted service created and marketed by LogMeIn. It is designed to facilitate online meetings, video conferencing, and screen sharing.

Advantages of GoToMeeting Video Chat

1. High-Quality Video and Audio: GoToMeeting provides high-definition video and clear audio quality, ensuring effective communication during virtual meetings​​.
2. Cross-Platform Compatibility: GoToMeeting is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web browsers, allowing users to join meetings from any device​​.
3. Screen Sharing and Collaboration Tools: The platform offers robust collaboration features such as screen sharing, drawing tools, and in-session chat, enhancing productivity during meetings​.
4. Meeting Recording and Transcription: GoToMeeting allows users to record meetings and provides transcription services, which are useful for reviewing discussions and sharing information with those who couldn’t attend​​.
5. Security Features: GoToMeeting offers secure access controls, encryption, and compliance with industry standards, ensuring the privacy and security of meetings​.
6. Integrations with Productivity Tools: The platform integrates with popular productivity tools such as Microsoft Office 365, Google Calendar, and Salesforce, streamlining workflows and enhancing efficiency​​.

Disadvantages of GoToMeeting Video Chat

1. Cost: GoToMeeting can be more expensive compared to some other video conferencing solutions, especially for small businesses or individual users who may find the subscription fees high.
2. Resource Intensive: High-definition video and other advanced features can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting performance on older or less powerful devices​​.
3. Learning Curve: While the interface is user-friendly, some users may find the extensive range of features overwhelming at first, leading to a learning curve​.
4. Internet Dependency: Like other video conferencing tools, GoToMeeting relies on a stable internet connection for optimal performance, and poor connectivity can lead to disruptions during meetings​.
5. Integration Issues: While GoToMeeting integrates with many productivity tools, some users may experience challenges when integrating it with non-supported applications or custom workflows​.
6. Market Competition: GoToMeeting faces stiff competition from other well-established video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, which may offer similar features at competitive prices​​.

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Verdict

Choosing the right solution depends on your specific needs and business scenarios. If your primary requirement is basic video chats, any of the alternatives mentioned above will suffice. However, if you require an integrated solution that includes features like file sharing, note-taking, scheduling, appointment management, archiving, and payment processing, we recommend considering Schemon.

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