The 5 Best Integrated Chat Solutions For Small Businesses

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In today’s digital world, your customers expect you to have a website, an app, or some other form of digital presence. That’s not all though! Your customers also expect your services to be accessible on any device they may happen to be using at the time. As you can see, there are many new requirements for businesses operating in the modern world that aren’t quite as simple as having a website and an app. One of these complicated requirements is integrating chat into your services. Luckily, integrating chat into your business is much simpler than it appears. There are plenty of integrative solutions available that make it easy to add chat functionality to just about any website or app. Here are the 5 best integrated chat solutions for small businesses

What is integrated chat?

Integrated chat is a feature that allows you to establish and maintain a live chat session with your customers while they’re browsing your website or using your app. Chat is often deployed as a way to replace phone calls, emails, and live chat support agents. Integrated chat works by accepting incoming messages and displaying them on your website or app. You can reply to these messages right on the page and the message will be sent back to the customer who sent it. This allows your customers to get help from you and ask questions without ever leaving the website or app where they’re currently browsing. Chat is a really convenient way to keep your customers engaged and make sure they’re getting the help they need. It’s also a great way to handle a large volume of support requests without getting overwhelmed.

How to integrate chat in your business

There are three main ways to integrate chat into your business -- using a dedicated host, using a dedicated application, or using a plug-in. Using a dedicated host - Dedicated chat hosts are services that host your conversations and integrate with your website or app. When a customer sends a message, it will be routed to your chat host and then sent back to your website or app. This is the most hands-off way to get chat up and running, but it also has the highest monthly cost and might not be the best option for businesses with a smaller budget. Using a dedicated application - Another way to integrate chat is to install an application on your website or app that will handle your chat messages. This is a good option if you don’t want to deal with a monthly fee, but it also means you’ll need to be much more hands-on when it comes to setting it up and maintaining it. Using a plug-in - A plug-in is software that you install on your website or app and will integrate with your existing infrastructure to provide chat functionality. This is the fastest way to get chat set up, but it does mean you’ll have to deal with more maintenance and upkeep.

Google`s answer to Skype and Slack: Hangouts Chat

Hangouts Chat is Google’s new unified communications platform that includes integrated chat, video, and an API. It was created as Google’s response to unified communications platforms like Skype and Slack. One of the biggest advantages of using Hangouts Chat over other chat solutions is that it’s already integrated into your Google account. This means you don’t have to manage multiple accounts and logins to keep your communications flowing smoothly. As an added bonus, you can also use the video and screen-sharing functionality of Hangouts Chat to host virtual team meetings. Hangouts Chat is free and can be installed on your website or app in just a few clicks. You can also use the API to build custom integrations using other Google products.

Microsoft’s Skype Integration: Skype for Business

Skype for Business is Microsoft’s dedicated unified communications platform that was launched as an evolution of their old Lync product. This platform includes everything you’d expect from a modern chat service, including video conferencing, screen sharing, and file sharing. The best thing about using Skype for Business is that it’s already integrated into Microsoft’s other products and services, like Office and Outlook. This means you can tie in all your communications and make sure your team is always working together and communicating effectively. The great thing about Skype for Business is that it’s free to use and can be installed on your website or app in just a few clicks. You can also use the API to build custom integrations using other Microsoft products.

Facebook’s Answer to Skype and Slack: FB Messenger

FB Messenger is Facebook’s attempt to take over the chat world. It’s integrated into all parts of Facebook, including the newsfeed and website, and can be used to send both public and private messages. The best thing about FB Messenger is that it’s free to use and can be installed on your website or app in just a few clicks. You can also use the API to build custom integrations using other Facebook products. The downside of using FB Messenger is that you’ll need to convince your customers to sign up for yet another account. On the other hand, requiring a Facebook account also gives you access to more data and insights about your customers.

Slack Is Everything Right Now

Slack is a communication platform that’s become incredibly popular with small businesses. It combines the best features of Skype and email, and can be used to host live team meetings. The best thing about Slack is that it’s free for smaller businesses and can be installed on your website or app in just a few clicks. You can also use the API to build custom integrations using other Slack products. The downside of using Slack is that, like FB Messenger, it requires your customers to sign up for yet another account. On the other hand, requiring a Slack account also gives you access to more data and insights about your customers.

The Bottom Line

Integrated chat is a great feature for websites and apps. It can shorten your support times, improve your customer satisfaction, and help you get more done with less effort. All of the chat services above can help you increase the efficiency of your business and get the most out of your team. All you need to do is choose the right one for your needs, install it on your website or app, and then get started chatting with your customers.

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