In this constantly changing business climate, you need to stay on top of new strategies that will keep you ahead of the competition. One emerging strategy is the use of chatbots. While B2C companies have already been getting hip to this technology, B2B marketers will also quickly find that chatbots can improve their conversion rates.
What are chatbots?
A chatbot is a software service that businesses can use to interact with customers through a chat interface. Just as a human customer service rep assists customers through instant chat, the chatbot provides similar service robotically.
How do chatbots work and how can they help your company?
Natural language processing, or NLP, is at the core of chatbots. This technology is the same as voice recognition system technology used by virtual assistants, such as Microsoft Cortana, Apple Siri and Google Now.
While some companies may not yet see the value of chatbots, this technology – which is more than just text-based messages – can benefit your company in some important ways.
– Facebook use can be more relevant for B2B marketers.
Facebook has had a stronger focus on chatbots since it introduced more than 30,000 bots to Messenger. And even though B2C companies took advantage of these tools, B2B companies should take note of how this can work for them as well. Many companies check Facebook frequently for various products and services.
– Chatbots can speed up the B2B marketing and sales process.
Chats are becoming the first point of contact for a lead. So, you can get chatbots set up to check algorithms to communicate efficiently with your leads and direct them according to what the leads are seeking. This process is much faster and more convenient for leads than a potentially tedious and frustrating search of the site. Chatbots can ask questions, give information about products and services, manage financial transactions and schedule meetings.
– Chatbots can increase customer satisfaction
In this day and age everything is becoming more instant. People looking for answers, want them quick. Not many businesses can operate and have someone available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Using a chatbot makes that possible. Your business can always be available for potential customers and make sure their questions are answered before they seek out another competitor.
– Chatbots can be programmed to work just like you
The days of using standard “How can I help you?” chat prompts are long gone. Chatbots can be programmed to speak to your site visitors just like you would. Greet your prospects with information related to what they are looking at. For instance, if a site visitor is viewing one of your specific services you can program your bot to start the chat with a customized message geared towards that one service. Once the site visitor is engaged with the bot you can create prompts to capture their e-mail address or phone number to pass off to your sales team.
Chatbots are becoming a force to be reckoned with in the B2B marketing game. The sky is practically the limit. And the sooner your company gets involved with this major game-changer – the sooner you take full advantage of chatbots – the sooner you will speed ahead of your competitors, especially while the market overall is not yet implementing this worthwhile tool.