GoToWebinar

Overview

GoToWebinar, part of the GoTo suite of products, is a popular webinar platform known for its reliability and robust feature set designed for hosting large-scale webinars. It’s widely used for educational sessions, marketing demonstrations, and corporate communications.

Features & Functionality

• Automated Webinars: Allows scheduling and running webinars automatically, with live, on-demand, and recorded options.
• Interactive Polls and Surveys: Engage audiences with interactive polls, surveys, and Q&A sessions.
• Custom Branding: Offers options to customize the webinar room and materials with company branding.
• Analytics and Reporting: Detailed reports on attendee engagement, registration data, and webinar performance.

User Interface & Design

GoToWebinar offers a functional interface designed for managing webinars before, during, and after the event. While it’s not as modern-looking as some newer platforms, its focus is on functionality and ease of use for organizers and attendees.

Pricing

GoToWebinar does not have a free version and offers several pricing tiers, starting from a starter plan suitable for small webinars to enterprise plans designed for large organizations with advanced needs. Pricing is based on the number of attendees and features required.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Scalable to accommodate a large number of participants.
• Robust analytics to measure engagement and effectiveness.
• Integration with GoToMeeting for smaller, more collaborative sessions.

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some competitors, especially for small businesses or infrequent users.
• The user interface, while functional, could benefit from a more modern design.
• Some users report a learning curve due to the extensive feature set.

Comparisons with Alternatives

Compared to Google Hangouts, GoToWebinar offers a more specialized set of tools specifically for webinars, including marketing and lead-generation features. It’s more appropriate for larger, more formal webinars than Hangouts, which is better for casual or spontaneous meetings.

Verdict & Recommendations

GoToWebinar is recommended for businesses and organizations that regularly host webinars and require a reliable, feature-rich platform. It’s particularly useful for those who need detailed analytics and engagement tools to measure the success of their events.

Tips

• Make use of the pre-webinar practice session to ensure everything runs smoothly.
• Engage your audience with the interactive tools like polls and handouts to maintain attention and interest.