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How to choose a free online whiteboard

Studies show that 65% of the population are visual learners, so how do you communicate with them? By using visual aids. 

 

With more than half of the population being visual learners, a free online whiteboard is an excellent option for most people. As the standard tool for brainstorming, planning, teaching and learning, whiteboards are a tried and true method for real-time collaboration. It’s also an excellent way to connect and engage with your remote workers and remote teams.  

 

The traditional whiteboard is a great tool to crowd around in a meeting or a daily standup, but with teams spread across the globe, you need a different solution.  

 

But what considerations should you keep in mind when choosing your free online whiteboard?  

Virtual real-time collaboration online  

With the increase of workers telecommuting, simplifying teamwork is important and the ability to facilitate real-time collaboration from anywhere is on the minds of many business decision-makers. The whiteboard is shifting and changing, much like the workforce. This traditional real-time collaboration tool is moving from the office to online. And now, everything you do on a physical whiteboard can be done in the digital space using a free online whiteboard.  

 

Free online whiteboards give you options that traditional whiteboards don’t, such as:

 

  • An infinite digital canvas
  • The ability to save and resume work anytime from anywhere
  • Accessibility from multiple devices
  • Improved learning 
  • Increased engagement 

 

They also offer a wide range of options such as the ability to incorporate audio, video, images and text, making meetings and presentations easier, more visual and more collaborative.  

 

How do you choose a free online whiteboard, and what considerations should you keep in mind? First, start by asking yourself simple questions such as “what am I using this for?” and “what features will matter for me or my team?”.   

 

Let’s take a look at some of the chief features and capabilities you should consider when searching for a free online whiteboard.  

 

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Collaboration

Traditional whiteboard meetings consist of a few people leading while attendees share their ideas verbally. These types of meetings typically turn into something more akin to a brainstorming session where the quieter, less vocal participants are not involved. This situation can lead to issues like missed opportunities, low creativity and low collaboration. 

 

But can you collaborate in real-time? Yes. Free online whiteboards encourage everyone involved to be an active participant in the process. 

 

Rather than being a passive recipient of already prepared information, this ability to collaborate in real-time opens the floor to everyone in the group. With this increased contribution to the discussion, your meetings will be more engaging and more productive

Accessibility  

With teams dispersed across the globe, people will likely be accessing meetings using everything from a mobile phone or tablet to a desktop or laptop. One of the many benefits of a free online whiteboard is the ability to access it from anywhere and on multiple devices. But it’s essential to determine if the free online whiteboard you’re exploring works across different platforms and devices. You run the risk for low adoption across your teams or remote workers if people’s ability to access it is difficult or limited.

Flexibility 

Whiteboard meetings are typically informal and ad hoc, but that approach is changing with the use of free online whiteboards. Unlike traditional whiteboards, free online whiteboards are limitless in their space and time giving options that aren’t available otherwise. They allow users to tackle problems with a slower and more methodical approach to thinking. 

For example, when working digitally, you can add ideas and edit the whiteboard post-meeting, sharing it with others who can do the same. The flexibility of working on a digital document allows you to reap the benefits of both approaches—both digital and traditional. 

Customization 

Most people want some customization when it comes to the software programs they use, so exploring the customization options for your free online whiteboard is meaningful. Knowing that many people are visual learners, the product you choose must be able to add images and videos or share files.

Integration

One of the most critical capabilities of a free online whiteboard is whether it’s a part of a larger productivity suite or can it integrate with other productivity tools such as free video conferencing or free screen sharing. Having this ability gives you more flexibility and options when it comes to how you run your online meetings.

The smart choice for visual learners

 

Free online whiteboards are, in many ways, replacing traditional whiteboards. Real-time collaboration with remote workers and teams helps not only engagement but productivity as well. Research shows that between 70%-93% of communication is non-verbal, making the use of a free online whiteboard a smart choice, especially for visual learners.  

 

No matter which free online whiteboard you choose, consider all of the capabilities it offers concerning your needs and how you plan to use it.  

 

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