What is a chatbot and how can it help you in business?
What is a chatbot and how can it help you in business?
What exactly is a "chatbot," and why is everyone talking about it? Well, there’s a valid reason for it to be a popular topic in the world of digital marketing. But first, let’s talk about a common problem that businesses face when they start selling online: messaging.
Hundreds of messages across different digital channels that need to be addressed every day. Why respond to them all? You never know what business opportunity might arise with a potential customer, no matter your industry. The golden rule is: answer every question your audience has.
Yes, it’s an exhausting task, and that’s why artificial intelligence has the solution. Let’s get to the point, a chatbot is a personal assistant for everyone who contacts your business via message.
There are simple ones and others that are super sophisticated, capable of having complex and fluid conversations with your audience. In short, a chatbot is a sales assistant that works 24/7 for your business. Sounds good, right? But that’s just the beginning.
In this article, we’ll help you discover the benefits of “hiring” a chatbot to respond to your potential clients:
1. They provide support 24/7
What’s the problem with hiring someone to handle messaging? They will only respond to messages from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Of course, it’s impossible for a person to be available 24 hours a day for customer service.
This doesn’t happen with virtual assistants; a chatbot will respond tirelessly every day of the year, for as long as you keep it active. It’s very effective for people who have immediate questions about your products or services; they won’t wait to receive an answer.
2. They are cost-effective
Although it may seem expensive at first, in the long run, it’s a more than smart investment. Think of it this way: it works 24 hours a day all year round, and you won’t have to pay for vacations, sick leave, or any issues related to the human factor. A marvel!
It’s that simple; it’s much cheaper to build a good chatbot than to hire a real person to keep track of all daily conversations with your potential clients. What decision will you make?
3. They can do it all
Well, you might wonder, “Will this artificial intelligence talk to my potential clients and close all my sales?” Well, no.
Let me put it this way: imagine you have a medical clinic and receive many questions about treatments, costs, and schedules. A chatbot can be configured to answer the most frequently asked questions and filter people who are interested in hiring your services. Then, you can call all of them and close as many appointments as possible.
This can be replicated for any business, regardless of the industry.
4. They can “live” on your most relevant channels
Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and also your website. Messages come from everywhere, and yes, you can build your chatbot to function on all of them.
What do the data say?
- In 2020, chatbots accounted for up to 85% of all customer service in digital channels.
- 63% of internet users prefer to interact with companies via messaging rather than phone calls or contact forms.
- In 2022, chatbots will save companies up to $8 billion annually.
Why you should know this
As a business owner, betting on artificial intelligence is a decision you should make very soon. Chatbots help automate many processes and also resolve questions from your potential clients at any time of the day.
The world belongs to those who dare to innovate. Now is the best time to start innovating in your business; many are already doing it. When will you start? If you need a hand to begin automating customer service for your business, send this form and let’s talk.