Customer service is everything in the business world, and as technology continues to change, the way we interact with customers is changing as well. For many consumers, live chat has become an increasingly important feature when communicating with a seller and vice versa. The current generation is used to getting anything they can dream of in an instant, and they expect the same service when it comes to communication from various businesses.
Live chat is an extremely comfortable way for buyers and sellers to quickly communicate and problem solve when used properly. Countless companies have added this feature to their websites in order to provide real-time answers to their customers - and consumers are LOVING it. According to Super Office, more than half of all customers prefer to chat with someone in real-time and online, rather than call a company for support. Don’t get us wrong, phone calls are still extremely important, but it’s becoming crucial for businesses to offer a variety of communication options for their customers. In fact, the same report mentioned that 79% of customers say they prefer live chat purely because of the immediacy it offers compared to other channels.
And live chat isn’t just great for your customers, there are real benefits to your business as well. Of the companies they’ve surveyed, Zoho reported that 43% claimed to have a better understanding of their customers after interacting with them in a live chat software - and understanding who your customer base is and what they care about is vital. According to another study by Forrester, live chat leads to a 48% increase in revenue per chat hour and a 40% increase in conversion rate - the results truly speak for themselves.
So, what are some other benefits of live chat?
- Consumers get to talk to a real person - There’s nothing worse than being put on hold for an indefinite amount of time, just to speak to a robot. While live chat is solely online, it still lets the consumer talk to a real-life human in a timely manner.
- Instant customer satisfaction - We live in an instant gratification world and consumers want answers fast. Live chat gives you the ability to quickly answer any question a potential buyer might have on the spot.
- Easily accessible for customers - Live chat allows your customers to easily contact you wherever they might be with just a click of a button.
- Builds customer relationships - If you respond quickly and efficiently, consumers are bound to come back to you if they have specific questions.
Stay tuned for more information on specific tips for using live chat, coming soon!