The former gives participants the option of calling into meetings directly from their phones without being charged for domestic calls.
You can upgrade to a business account with unlimited meeting duration for $14.99 or $19.99, depending on the plan.
Cost: Free for meetings of three or more attendees for up to 40 minutes.(Tip: Join through your web browser versus the app since it’s quicker to receive any security updates.) Also, unless you have a business account, meetings of three or more users are capped at 40 minutes. Cons: Lately, users have experienced Zoom-bombing, or uninvited guests entering their meetings.Pros: Accommodates up to 100 people and users have access to a number of key features, including virtual backgrounds.Cons: Although video calls are encrypted, Skype isn’t end-to-end encrypted, which may stir some users’ privacy concerns.It’s user-friendly and hosts can control who’s allowed into their meeting. Pros: You don’t need an account to use it.There are a lot of options to choose from, so to help you determine which one works best for you, we’ve broken down our top picks below: While you won’t need to decide on a venue for your happy hour, you’ll still need to figure out which online communication platform to use. Then, once you have confirmed your guest list and guests’ availability, send out a calendar invite, an email or even a paperless invitation (if you’re feeling fancy) at least a week in advance. In terms of how many people you should be inviting, we find that a smaller group size of three to 10 people tends to work best as it allows for everyone to get some face time. And while an online happy hour doesn’t call for extensive arrangements, as host, there are some basic to-dos you should be checking off your list.įirst, reach out to your guests a week or two in advance to get their availability. via Unsplash Make a PlanĪny event, including virtual events, requires proper planning. Whatever the reason, identify what type of work or social event you are planning to keep guests informed and prepared. Or maybe a friend has just announced their engagement - certainly a cause for celebration. Perhaps a colleague is moving on to another work opportunity, and you want to send them off properly.
How to Host a Virtual Happy Hour Determine a ThemeĬonsider whether there are any special occasions warranting a virtual happy hour, and determine your virtual happy hour theme from there. From tips on planning to advice on etiquette, here is our essential how-to guide to virtual happy hour.
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to. In case you may be struggling with how to go about planning your virtual get-together, not to worry. What social platform is best? What kind of virtual discussions and activities won't remind everyone of workplace Zoom meetings? If you're considering hosting a virtual happy hour, you might be wondering how to even go about starting. You still get that needed shot of human interaction and fun, but there's no need to arrange transportation, get a babysitter or drive home tired. While face-to-face interaction has its own charms, there's something to be said for sitting in the comfort of your own home, enjoying a relaxing beverage and mingling with friends and new acquaintances who are in all corners of the city, country or even world.