With increased expectations in the age of digital connectivity, the good service providers have come up to newer heights of integration with instant response and personalized interaction. The customers demand seamlessness in communication through different contact means to be more closely related to the services companies are offering. Having WordPress live chat plugins installed into a WordPress website can enhance this intercommunication with the client in real-time. This guide will take you through everything you might be interested in knowing about the WordPress live chat plugins: why it matters and the best features to look for and which ones you must select according to your needs.
Why You Need a Live Chat Plugin on Your WordPress Site?
Before we dig into the differences with each of the many WordPress live chat plugins, let’s speak to why live chat functionality should be a great add to your WordPress site:
- Live Chat Support – Helps customers get their business-related questions and concerns answered instantaneously, thus reducing frustrations and improving customer satisfaction levels.
- More Conversions– A visitor in the process of buying can be converted to a paying customer through support in due time.
- A Better Experience – Problems could be solved without having to leave the site, so there would be a more perfect journey for a user.
- Cost-Effective Support – It is less costly to deal with various customers’ queries simultaneously compared to phone support through live chat.
- Precious Learnings – Majorly all live chat software is pre-installed with analytics, which means insights from the form of customer behaviour and preference insight, what are the most frequently asked questions, and so much more.
Features to Look for in a Live Chat Plugin for WordPress
The following should top your wish list when choosing a live chat plugin for your WordPress website.
- Usability – Extremely friendly interface for agents and visitors
- Customisation – Maintain the overall look and feel of the widget consistent with your website
- Integration – Any company tool and email marketing tools and/or CRMs.
- Responsive/Mobile-friendly – Extremely easy on all devices.
- Automation – It supports pre-chat surveys, scripted answers, and chatbots within its feature sets.
- Multi-lingual Support – Useful for businesses selling their products to customers worldwide.
- Analytics and Reporting – Using these tools, track how well your chats are doing and how satisfied your consumers are.
- Security – This function provides full conformity with the GDPR, encryption, and guarantees that the information of its users’ private.
Best 5 WordPress Live Chat Plugins 2024
1. Tawk.to
Tawk.to is another very popular free WordPress live chat plugin. It is free, easy to install to the user, and it comes with everything free. No additional charges. Recommended for Startups and Small Businesses.
Features
- Site visitors tracking in real-time.
- Customizable chat widget.
- For support on mobile, there is a mobile app also.
- Offline message ticketing system.
Pros
- Totally free.
- Scales to limitless agents.
- Visitor tracking.
Cons
- Branding removal for a paid subscription.
2. LiveChat
One of the premium WordPress Live Chat plugins, which focuses primarily on business professional customer support, is LiveChat. Large corporations use it because it provides a clear interface with excellent functionality.
Features
- Chat triggers for automatic engagement.
- Integration with over 170 products, including Google Analytics and Shopify.
- Dashboard with rich analytics.
- Ticket management and file sharing.
Pros
- Fully adaptable.
- Compatible with multiple systems.
- 24/7 client service.
Cons
- It is costly when compared with other options.
3. Zendesk Chat
This is in the Zendesk suite. It is the perfect solution for companies that are already using Zendesk products. This is a fusion of solid customer support features and a chat capability.
Features
- It automates the AI feature in the chatbot.
- It integrates with the Zendesk ticketing system.
- Monitoring visitors in real-time
- Supports mobile applications.
Pros
- Interaction is smooth with the Zendesk software.
- This can adapt to all company sizes.
Cons
- Needs an account on Zendesk
- It can be very costly for smaller companies.
4. HubSpot Live Chat
HubSpot offers a free WordPress live chat plugin as part of its CRM services. The best thing is that it works great for businesses who take advantage of the features offered by HubSpot.
Features
- Integrated with CRM from HubSpot.
- Constructor for auto-reaction bots.
- Tracking and contact management features.
- Email responses to messages sent offline.
Pro
- HubSpot CRM is free.
- Comprehensive analytics.
- Great for generating leads.
Cons
- Less feature-rich than stand-alone chat programs.
5. Intercom
Live chat is just a part of Intercom. This is an all-in-one client communication platform that companies use to speed up marketing, sales, and support.
Features
- Automated chatbots and workflows.
- Support via multiple channels with email and in-app messaging.
- Customizable chat widget.
- Powerful analytics and reporting.
Pros
- Advanced automation features.
- Suitable for complex workflows.
Cons
- High pricing.
- Needs technical expertise to set up fully.
How to Set Up a Live Chat Plugin on WordPress
Installing a live chat plugin on your WordPress site is relatively simple:
- Select the plugin that satisfies your budget and the company’s demands.
- To upload the plugin, navigate through Plugins > Add New inside the WordPress dashboard, select the chosen plugin, then click the “Install Now” link.
- After successfully uploading the plugin, enable it.
- Depending on the installer’s directions or the option you feel best fits the functionality and brand of your need.
- Test that the chat widget works perfectly on mobile and desktop computers.
- Educate your support staff on the features and user interface of the plugin.
The Best Ways to Use Live Chat
Use these best practices to get the most out of your WordPress live chat plugins:
- Be flexible – To keep clients interested, reply to chats in a matter of seconds.
- Customise – Make use of client names and make the response to the question unique.
- Use Chatbots – Automate after-hours assistance and FAQs.
- Ask for Feedback – To identify areas for improvement, ask customers to score their chat experience.
- Track performance – Monitor and assess chat metrics in relation to ensuring response times and satisfaction levels are maximized.
Conclusion
WordPress live chat plugins are no longer a luxury for businesses to deliver excellent customer service. The right plugin will improve customer interactions, increase conversions, and streamline support operations, regardless of the size of the company. Assess your needs and try out the options above to select a plugin that adds the most value. Invest in a live chat solution now to elevate customer engagement on your WordPress website.
FAQs
How safe are live chat plugins?
Generally, well-established live chat plugins are known to secure the transfer of data using encryption methods and comply with the general data protection regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
Can live chat plugins integrate with CRM tools?
Yes, most professional live chat plugins integrate smoothly with CRM tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho, thus aiding in managing customer interactions appropriately
Which is the best live chat plugin for my site?
Consider the needs of your website, the plugin’s features, ease of use, compatibility, and pricing when choosing the best live chat plugin for your WordPress site.
Do live chat plugins have analytics?
Yes, many plugins provide analytics and reporting tools to track the performance of chats, monitor user behaviour, and measure customer satisfaction.
Do live chat plugins offer a chatbot?
Some plugins have in-built features of chatbots or permit integration with third-party AI chatbots to automate responses and streamline the process.
