Webinar hosting gives you the power to reach every corner of the world, without ever having to step outside of your home. You have two basic choices when it comes to these services. You can choose between a software program or a hosting provider. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages. It is important to educate yourself on both types and make the right decision for your webinar based upon your research.

With a provider, you are relying upon someone else for the success or failure of your web conference. However, this is the perfect choice for many businesses that do not want to deal with their own server or any software of that type. Here are some advantages to webinar providers:

• Interactive Features - Features such as Polling, moderation, question and answer sessions

• Simple Set Up - You get step by step instructions from the provider on how to set up your web conference.

• Easy Use - More step by step instructions on how to use their specific software and take advantage of its many features.

• Backup Servers - If one server happens to falter, another will take its place immediately with proper notification.

• Presentation Archives - Have a backup of all your webinars available at your fingertips. This allows you to not only keep record, but also allow guests something of a transcript from the event.

• Moderators or Consultants - Some providers offer moderators or consultants to assist you with your webinar. They will check the function of the software, moderate it for you, and control tools you need.

Some disadvantages of hosting providers include:

• Reliability on Someone Else - You have to rely on the provider and their server. If something were to happen and you experience downtime, you will have to contact their support team for troubleshooting.

• Costs - hosting services sometimes cost more than a software program that you host on your own servers.

Overall, webinar hosting is a solid and viable solution for any business looking to hold a web conferencer, but is not looking to use a software program or host it on their own server. Choosing the right provider means comparing costs, features and other aspects. It also means checking on their reliability, uptime, and testimonials from other clients who have used their services before.