Before you pay for another conference call, check out one of the free conference calling services available online. There are many of these around that offer quality conference calls without any fuss, hassle, and, most of all, money.
Benefits of Free Conference Call Services
The most apparent benefit of a free conference calling service is that it doesn’t cost you anything. Instead of paying to make sure you can talk to the people you need to talk to when you need to talk to them, you can do it for free with an easy access number and code.
In addition to the fact that you get your call for free, you will get all of the features that you’re used to in a conference call. While some of the features, like having your call recorded, may cost a minimal fee, most of them are free and can be activated from a web portal or your handset.
Features of Free Conference Call Services
Different free conference calling services have different features. However, most of them offer secure, private digital connections (so your conversations are safe) and 24-hour system access (in case you need to call someone on the other side of the world during their business day).
In addition, some of these services offer a web portal where you can manage your conference calls both before, during, and after a call. These vary widely, but many will let you set up preferences for a call beforehand, see who is participating in the call as they join, mute and un-mute callers as the need arises, and eject any caller who is inappropriate or should not be there.
Things to Look for in a Free Conference Call Service
If there are specific features you’d like to use in a free conference calling service, make sure that those features are available and, if you don’t want to spend any money, available for free. For instance, some services will charge you for recording a call but some will record it for free.
If you want your calls recorded, make sure that it is done in a format that is compatible with your computer setup. You will also want to make sure that the call is erased after a certain amount of time and that it is stored in a secure fashion.
Finally, check for hidden fees. While most free conference calling services are straightforward about their policies, some will try to charge you for things after the fact, when it’s harder to get the charges removed.
Things to Avoid In a Free Conference Call Service
Avoid a free conference calling service that will not let your business grow. For instance, it may be acceptable to have calls limited to 10 people right now, but consider whether that will still work for you in a year. While you can always change services, it’s easier to stay with one long-term.
In addition, make sure any free conference calling service you select does not have negative reviews online. You can search for these through Google and they can go far in helping you decide which service to use.
