There are dozens of plugins you can implement in your WordPress website to make it better. If you want to make the most out of your content, you can’t forget about chat add-ons.

A WordPress chat plugin comes with plenty of benefits. Generally, it allows your salespeople, agents, or other teams to communicate with website visitors. This is the perfect solution if you want to improve your customer support.

Since you’re improving the communication with your visitors, you can also increase engagement rates and get more valuable information about your target audience.

Are you new to chat plugins for WordPress websites? Don’t worry! Here’s an easy-to-understand guide that will tell you everything you need.

Choosing the Right WordPress Chat Plugin

Essentially, a WordPress chat plugin is a tool that you embed on a website. It allows your visitors to chat with you or anyone else from your team in real time.

When you install a chat plugin on your WordPress website, you’ll get a widget sitting on the bottom right side of the page. If a visitor clicks on it, they’ll open a small window where they can send you a message.

That’s not everything these chats offer, though. You can also send chat invitations to encourage visitors to ask something, which can help with your engagement rates.

The first step toward installing your chat plugin is choosing the right one. There are dozens of them, so how do you know which one works the best?

Consider the following factors before making your decision:

• Budget
• Ease of use
• Integrations
• Unique features
• Mobile support
• Customization

Here are five chat plugin options you can check out today. If you’re eager to install your widget, one of these services may work perfectly for the website:

1 – Chaty

Chaty is a simple-to-use platform that allows you to engage with your visitors on their messaging app of preference. At the time of writing, Chaty supports up to 20+ apps and platforms. Besides having a customizable widget and a simple yet powerful interface, Chaty has a free plan. You can try it out without any commitment to pay for a subscription.

2 – LiveChat

Over 36,000 businesses across the world use LiveChat. It aims to provide immediate and personalized support to your WordPress visitors. Like Chaty, LiveChat offers plenty of chat tools, customizable widgets, and several analytics features to measure your results.

3 – Tidio

 Tidio offers AI customer service, which greatly reduces the need for human intervention. If you struggle to keep up with all the messages on your WordPress website, you could benefit from this tool. It allows you to respond immediately to all your visitors according to your parameters.

4 – JivoChat

JivoChat offers a comprehensive platform that allows you to send proactive chat invitations, create unique chat buttons, and more. Thanks to its Google Analytics integration, you can easily measure how your engagement rates have changed since you started using the app.

5 – HubSpot Live Chat

HubSpot is one of the biggest CRM platforms on the market. Its “Live Chat” platform allows you to chat with all your visitors in real time, save their contact information, and even build email lists. Unfortunately, HubSpot Live Chat doesn’t offer much in terms of customization.

Installing and Activating Your Chat Plugin

Now that you have chosen your plugin, let’s get started with the installation!

1. First, you must download the plugin from the WordPress “Plugins” section. Once you click on “Download,” wait until it’s finished.

2. Go to your WordPress Dashboard, and click on “Plugins.” Then, click on “Add New.”

3. Look for the plugin you chose, and click on “Activate.”

4. Go to your plugin’s dashboard, and start customizing it to your liking.

That’s it! Once you’re done customizing the plugin, feel free to test it as many times as you want.

Configuring Your Chat Plugin

Your customization options will depend on which service you choose. Chaty, for example, allows you to:

• Change your chat widget appearance.
• Set your preferred communication channels.
• Define your business hours.
• Set up automated messages.
• Set any other triggers you may want for the widget.
• Include multiple agents.
• Create contact forms.

Likewise, the dashboard will be different based on the plugin you decide to go with. Usually, all you have to do is:

1. Go to the platform.
2. Click on your widget to edit it.
3. Set your custom parameters/preferences.
4. Save the widget.
5. Test it.

If you want to optimize your WordPress plugin for the best performance, don’t forget to:

• Make the widget match your website’s appearance.
• Test the plugin’s performance.
• Only enable the features you need.
• Adjust image compression if necessary.
• Update your settings from time to time.

If you have any doubts regarding your chat plugin, don’t hesitate to contact its respective customer support team. These people are trained to give you the solutions you need quickly.

Remember, you must make your plugin unique and suitable for your needs.

Using Your Chat Plugin Effectively

Setting up your new chat plugin is only one step of the process. If you want better results, you must create a great strategy to engage with your website visitors.

Here are the best practices to make the most out of your plugin:

Place the Widget Accordingly

It may not seem like it, but widget placement can increase the likelihood of someone clicking on it.

Usually, the lower right-hand corner is the best place to install your widget. Most people are used to checking out that portion of the website for it.

Placing your widget somewhere else will likely confuse your visitor.

Specify Your Working Hours

If you’re not available 24/7, make sure you specify the availability of your customer support service. 

You can set up a message that outlines your working hours. It can also encourage them to send you an email if they want to explain their issue right away.

People who write long messages only to find out you’re not even available to answer will get frustrated, so do your best to avoid that.

Use Message Templates

You can use pre-made messaging templates (or canned responses) to speed up your communication. Some people create automated greetings or apologies. Others set up shortcuts that lead to generic messages.

Make sure to create and customize templates that address the most common concerns and questions your visitors may have. Of course, you shouldn’t rely on these messages to achieve effective communication. Consider the template as the first step toward addressing a problem.

Enrich Your Messages

Text messages won’t always be enough to answer a person’s question. If possible, enrich the content with visual examples, including infographics, images, or videos.

You can easily include a link in your messages that will expand the information you just gave your visitors.

Implement Forms and Surveys

Forms and surveys play a huge role in your customer service journey. A form will help you gather relevant information about your visitors, which you can use later.

Surveys, on the other hand, allow you to gather feedback about your service. If people love or hate it, you’ll find out with the help of these tools.

Personalize Your Sessions and Adapt Your Language

A chat session filled with generic messages will easily become frustrating for the visitor. Even though you can use these canned responses to break the ice, make sure you’re making your visitor’s experience as unique as possible.

This is especially useful if you’re dealing with a customer with a major purchase history. Use the chat’s previous messages to make your responses even better for that specific person.

Remember that the language you use should fit your brand’s identity. This will create consistency among all chat sessions.

Be Empathetic

No one wants to feel like they’re talking to a robot. Avoid being too formal, and don’t use overly technical language if it isn’t necessary. 

Your goal is to create a personal connection with each visitor. Being empathetic will likely lead to more leads and conversions.

Address Requests as Directly as Possible

Try not to waste your visitor’s time. Make sure your answers directly address what they need. The more concise and direct you are, the happier your customers might be.

Tips to Make the Live Chat Experience Better for Everyone

You may encounter a few hiccups when managing your live chat. If you want things to go smoothly, don’t forget the following:

• Create canned responses for your frequently asked questions.
• Set up a knowledge base to ensure easy access to important information.
• Remember to be friendly and helpful toward your visitor.
• Don’t rely on AI.
• Be concise.
• Don’t wait too long to answer a person’s message.
• Consider leaving the chat to another agent if you can’t handle a specific inquiry.
• Update and test your plugin regularly.
• Use the reporting and analytics tools to measure how your plugin is performing.
• Contact the plugin’s customer support team as soon as you encounter a problem with it. 

Conclusion

A WordPress chat plugin is the perfect solution to communicate with visitors, learn more about them, and improve how you handle your business.

By implementing all the tips we gave you, you’ll be ready to upgrade your WordPress website to its best version.

If you’re looking for a reliable WordPress chat plugin to try out for free, consider Chaty. It’s one of the most reliable and customizable options on the market right now.