BigMarker versus GoTo Webinar:
Which Is Best for B2B Marketers?
GoTo Webinar preview:
You're probably already aware that there are a ton of digital event platforms out thereāand many of them make the same claims. It can be super challenging to wade through the waters and pick out the exact right tool when the sea is so crowded with options.
However, you likely also know that this decision is an important one! You're looking for a webinar solution that you can start using on day one, with minimal training. You also want to know that the platform you choose will be there for you if you need help during a live streaming event. And, you want to partner with someone who will help you grow in the future.
Choosing the Right Digital Event Platform
It's likely that at this point, you've narrowed down your search to BigMarker and GoTo Webinar. Congrats on choosing two great options!
To help you make your decision, we've put together a comparison of both platformsāas well as some info about Goldcastāso you can decide which webinar software works best for you.
Letās get down to business!
BigMarker versus GoTo Webinar
Hereās a quick, high-level breakdown of the features and functionality offered by each SaaS platform and how they compare.
BigMarker
BigMarker was an early pioneer in the webinar space. Customers today rely on the platform for all types of events, including hybrid, webinars, and digital live webinars.
BigMarker is a reliable choice; however, today's modern marketer may find the platform lacking when it comes to branding, customization, and engagement options.
Functionality to host a variety of webinars
With BigMarker, event organizers have the flexibility to host both real-time and pre-recorded webinars.
Ability to host multiple downloadable resources
If you want to make resources available during your event, BigMarker can do that. You can upload and share documents, links, handouts, and other resources
Available engagement features
BigMarker offers what we think of as "standard" interactive features: polls, chat, and Q&A. These are a handy way to boost engagement and foster connection during your live webinars.
Built-in feedback surveys
BigMarker offers built-in surveys, which can help you get information from attendees when it's still fresh on their minds.
Native integrations are lacking
B2B marketers need integrations to get info where it's most useful. BigMarker's integrations are only available through Zapier, which can limit the amount of data you share across tools.
Steep learning curve
Ease of use was lacking for many BigMarker users, who noted that the platform was difficult to learn and manage. This can eat up your time, as you'll spend more of your day onboarding new users and speakers, as well as learning the platform yourself.
Limited customization
Modern marketers want a customizable experience, and BigMarker falls short here. From registration pages to event emails, people felt the customization was limited.
Difficult on-demand process
The ability to host on-demand webinars is an essential part of the overall virtual event experience. Unfortunately, this process is far from seamless with BigMarker. Customers say the platform makes it difficult to launch and scale evergreen webinar content.
The Details: BigMarker Pros & Cons
To summarize, hereās a simplified chart that outlines the top pros and cons of BigMarker.
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GoTo Webinar
Next up: GoTo Webinar, another of the early players in the virtual events space!
The GoTo brand is very well-known, and GoTo Webinar is a helpful product for business communication via video conferencing, as well as face-to-face events. As of right now, however, it also lacks the customization options and engagement features that digital marketers are looking for.
Live chat, polls, and Q&A
Like BigMarker, GoTo Webinar offers basic engagement features that allow organizers to interact directly with attendees.
On-demand content hub
One of GoTo Webinarās biggest strengths is its always-on content engagement hubs. These allow organizers to host on-demand event content, as well as other relevant content.
Supports accessibility
Event accessibility is a high priority for many organizers, and GoTo Webinar offers captioning across live events. This is also handy for companies looking to reach a diverse, global audience.
Live and pre-recorded webinars
The GoTo Webinar platform supports both live and pre-recorded event content. This helps balance live events and audience engagement with the ability to effectively scale event programming.
Post-event data points
Analyzing event performance through post-event data is critical for showcasing event ROI. GoTo Webinar offers post-event analytics around registrants, attendees, and in-event engagement.
Complex webinar set up
Many customers do not find the GoTo Webinar webinar platform user-friendly and noted that setting up video conferencing and events is not intuitive. You may have to invest in training to scale events across teams. New speakers also find it difficult to navigate without proper onboarding and training.
Unreliable live support
A lack of live support was one of the most frequently cited frustrations with GoTo Webinar. Many customers said that there was a delay in receiving help when issues arose during live web conferencing, which is when you need help the fastest.
Outdated look and feel
User reviews consistently said that the GoTo Webinar interface does not reflect a modern experience. This is a big concern for brands looking to provide an engaging, relevant experience for audiences.
Audio and video glitches during live sessions
AV issues, including audio lag and video glitches, were also commonly cited by GoTo Webinar users.
Add-ons and advanced analytics can get expensive
The GoTo Webinar pricing model can be expensive, especially for small to midsize companies. Many common featuresālike breakout roomsāare priced as āadd-onsā and only available in the āwebinar eliteā package.
The Details: GoTo Webinar Pros & Cons
To summarize, hereās a simplified chart outlining GoTo Webinar's top pros and cons.
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Goldcast: The Revenue-Driven Event Marketing Platform
While BigMarker and GoTo Webinar clearly have their sets of individual strengths, there is another option we'd like to share with you: Goldcast.
Goldcast was designed with B2B marketers in mind. Our entire platform was created to help you run digital events and experiences that dazzle and engage your audience. We've worked with top B2B brands like Salesloft, Lattice, Mailchimp, and more.
With Goldcast, B2B marketers can easily set up and run crowd-pleasing digital events and provide sales with the right post-event insights to drive demand and pipeline.
Proven results
Rate
every month
That was the best partāwe made the decision to pivot on a Friday, and I didnāt have to work or stress over it on the weekend. I knew that Iād be able to move the whole event into Goldcast on Monday. It wasnāt even a concern.
Goldcast was super easy to use compared to other platforms for both our employees as well as our guest speakers
Our MQL goals saw an increase of 20% through Goldcastās video production capabilities. The experience was super engaging and very modern!
Built specifically for B2B marketers
Looking for a Netflix-like experience that will grab your attendees' attentionāand keep it? We've got you covered.
Flexible for an array of events
Whether you want to host a community event, a simple webinar, a hybrid event, or something else, we've got a solution.
Embed resources directly in events
With Goldcast, you can easily embed CTAs and other resources into your events.
Robust engagement features
Not only do we have Chat, Polls, and Q&A, we offer it in a fully customizable interface so it looks like your brand.
Video production tools
Enhance the attendee experience with overlays, lower thirds, and tickers.
Accessibility options
Reach a global audience with translation in 14+ languages, captioning, and subtitles.
Event templates
Easily duplicate your event templatesābecause there's no need to reinvent the wheel!
Deep, native integrations
We'll push 16+ engagement points to your CRMs and MAPs after an event. We work with tools like HubSpot, Marketo, Pardot, and more. And, you can chat with your sales teams through Slack and Salesforce to make sure they know who's engaging during your live events.
Always-on access to content
Within 24 hours of your event, you can expect on-demand access to the recording.
Easy-to-understand pricing
We'll never trick you with opaque pricing models. Our pricing is generous and designed so you can focus on growing your business.
Dedicated customer support
You'll get live customer support for all of your events, as well as a dedicated team for other questions that come up.
Frequently Asked Questions
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