Posted by Would you like a 20% bump in sales?
Was that a really stupid question?
Of course you want a giant bump in sales, but you’ve probably thought that live chat is something for the “big” guys, and not for you.
Before you dismiss it, you might consider the following…
Customers WANT to consult with you about their questions and fears. They want to feel like they are part of the family, and they need to feel they can trust you.
With live chat, you have the ability to talk to your prospect at the exact moment they are making a buying decision.
And with live chat, you can even upsell them to a higher price point package, too.
Here’s some recent live chat data:
- 92% of customers are happy to use live chat over other channels.
- Live chat tops in the ranking of customer satisfaction rates, with 73%.
- 77% of visitors don’t want to purchase from a company having no live chat support.
- Live chat increases annual cross-sell and up-sell revenue by 2.4 times.
- 38% of consumersare more likely to buy from a company if they offer live chat support
- 51% of consumersare more likely to stay with or buy again from a company if they offer live chat support
- Customers who use live chat are three times more likely to buy
But the software you use is a major factor in whether your prospects have a positive experience or not.
An effective live chat tool needs to be intuitive for the customer to use.
Whether your prospects are looking for more information, or they need help with an order, a poorly designed chat screen is potentially worse than no live chat at all.
If you’ve looked at live chat software before, you’ll be relieved to know the options have drastically improved.
You can now provide a much better experience for your visitors, even for customers who demand faster responses and mobile-friendly options.
Here are several affordable options to consider…
WebsiteAlive
WebsiteAlive is a live chat tool that specializes in sales and customer happiness.
The company offers a variety of services of which live chat is just one part. One of its more unique offers is the ability to hire live chat agents who will engage prospects for you on a pay-for-performance scale.
Pricing – WebsiteAlive’s plans start at $30/month for one operator.
Olark
Olark claims to be the “world’s simplest live chat software.”
Its ease of use comes in the form of real-time reporting, automated messages, and straightforward team management tools. The platform is also highly customizable, so you can adjust it to fit your exact live chat needs.
Pricing – All plans cost $17 per agent per month, with discounted options available if billed yearly or biannually.
PureChat
PureChat is one of the only tools on our live chat software list with a completely free offering at its lowest level.
From both the customer and operator’s point of view, PureChat is both intuitive and simple. The chat box is unobtrusive and can be customized with its own color scheme and agent photo.
Pricing – The platform begins with a free plan, and the Pro plan starts at $29/month.
Zendesk Chat
Zendesk Chat, formerly Zopim, is a logical choice for anyone already using Zendesk for customer service.
This platform is on the smaller side of the pricing scale – making it a choice worth looking at for startups and small businesses alike.
Pricing – Zendesk Chat offers a free plan for one agent, one concurrent chat, and 30-day chat history. Beyond that, advanced plans range from $14—$29 per agent per month.
ClickDesk
ClickDesk is one of the few tools on our live chat software list to make voice and video chat as much of a priority as standard, text-based live chat.
It essentially aims to be less of a live chat solution, and more of a well-rounded all-in-one product that anticipates the needs of potential customers far beyond what website live chat can do.
Pricing – The platform is free for up to ten users, then paid plans range from $14.99 — $39.99 per month.
SmartSupp
SmartSupp is a fairly standard live chat service, but what sets it apart is its video recording options.
A little bit more than your average live chat program, SmartSupp lets you record and track visitor mouse movements and clicks directly from your agent dashboard.
Pricing – SmartSupp offers a free plan with an unlimited number of agents and chats. But for features including video recordings, saving chat history, and automated messaging, plans range from $8 per agent per month to $19 per agent per month.
Kayako Engage
Kayako Engage is primarily a helpdesk software company, and its live chat feature is designed to play a role in the customer service process.
Best known as a helpdesk software, Kayako is used by thousands of companies around the world.
Pricing – Kayako offers five different plans for its live chat and customer service tools, ranging from free to $59 per agent per month.
LiveHelpNow
LiveHelpNow is an easy-to-use option that’s designed to be a “powerful, no-nonsense chat platform.”
It’s a full-service customer management suite that integrates live chat, ticket-based support, call management and a knowledge base to help agents quickly and easily access information.
Pricing – LiveHelpNow’s plans start at $21 per agent per month.
Chatra
Chatra is a live chat and messenger tool that adds a personal touch to your service.
Pricing – Chatra offers a free forever plan and a paid plan. The paid plan costs $15 per agent per month when billed annually.