Improving SEO with a Live Chat Feature

[Ross McElroy-Gray]

Does having a Live Chat / Help feature on an E-commerce site improve SEO? And what are the other benefits of introducing this feature apart from the obvious ability to advise and upsell products to potential clients...?

 

[Annoying Donkey]

I never saw any SEO benefit on our sites...

Live Chat does seem to have a positive effect on conversions...

 

[fisicx]

No SEO benefits at all. But it can improve conversions if you are online when people visit your site. Which means employing someone to do the chatting while you are doing other things.

 

[Shopclicks]

I can see a major benefit to your conversion rate by installing live chat, considering the bespoke nature of your products. However, if you're not being found, the benefits are going to be minimal. There are plenty of other opportunities to improve your ranking.

 

[StevePoster]

Does having a Live Chat / Help feature on an E-commerce site improve SEO?

Live Chat/Help feature has nothing to do with SEO but it can establish good relationship between the service provider and client.

 

[UmerShoukat]

I'm agree with Steve poster it just increase the conversion rate but for better conversion only the chat features is not responsible. There are many other aspects to follow to increase the conversion rate.
Online chat establish relationship between client and seller and also gives ease to user to make decision of purchasing and collecting info about product.

 

[HazelC]

I was going to say the same, I have seen no proof that it helps SEO but it really helps build relationships and increase conversions.

 

[neils3]

Just to add another point to consider to this conversation: If people are regularly using a live chat service then that suggests those questions are not already being answered through your website and actually represents an opportunity. Also, you may want to consider having a FAQ page instead.

 

[Scott@KarmaContent]

I find some of them annoying. As soon as you go on a site, there's a 'chat with us' box that pops up with a picture of a square jawed American jock called Brad who blatantly isn't anything to do with the company in question.

Either that or you click on the 'chat with us' and you get an apology saying that there is nobody available to chat. Thanks for that.

I think that many of them that aren't implemented properly are just a distraction and have the potential to do more harm then good.

 

[Audrey Wright]

Nope, nope, nope, nope.... If there is anything that live chats do in relation to SEO is damage.

Considering the implementation of the chat, and the chat system itself, you can dramatically slow down your page speed.
If you're going to install one, make sure the page only renders some banner or button to begin with and the chat itself loads in the background after html has been served. Also, it's a good idea to not load the actual chat service untill anyone has clicked on it.

 

[marry hingis]

Live chat is show very effective, many people made friendly with one another, because of it many traffic generate on your site.
Thank You.

 

[fisicx]

Don't be daft Marry. Live Chat doesn't generate traffic.

 

[Bradley Holmes]

Hi,
Yes Live chat will only help if you are sitting there available to chat with your customers,

It works great for me because I´m signed into it all day in case any customers have a support issue so when a new customer drops in, if they have a few sales related questions I´m there.

There are companies that will man the live chat for you, but you do have to make sure that you have supplied them with every possible question and answer though.

 

[antp__]

For those saying you always need to be there. Correct, it is annoying when you have a quick question that doesn't really require a phone call or email. However, we use Olark and have an app on our phone/s to chat even when away from computer.

 

[devidweb]

This will make your search engine marketing and optimization efforts far more efficient and effective.
Thanks
Devid Web

 

[fisicx]

Nope. Wrong on both counts.

 

[Ikkie]

I dont think it help SEO in anyway however, it does help user experience stand point. Which may help you to win user trust and confidence.

 

[Bill1954]

Wow some totally conflicting answers in this thread. How the hell does it increase traffic ??? doesn't the traffic have to be on the site already to see the live chat function.
Personally I hate it, if I'm on a site and a live chat box pops up, the first thing I do is close it. I tried it from the other side of the fence years ago and binned it due to the countless idiots who came on leaving stupid comments.

 

[boring-friday]

Maybe worthwhile for high value products. If you get people questioning your £10 item though then the chance of them being a problem customer has just increased by 500%.

 

[Claire Freshney]

Live chat does not improve SEO.

What it can do is improve conversion rates, statistics show that having a live chat feature on your page can help increase sales. 38% of people are more likely to purchase if they have any questions answered with a website help feature.

Live chat is more of a UX feature on a site.

 

[Scott@KarmaContent]

Maybe worthwhile for high value products. If you get people questioning your £10 item though then the chance of them being a problem customer has just increased by 500%.

+1

"Can you tell me about the Silverline SD74 Soft-Grip Flat Head Flared Screwdriver you have for sale for 99p (+free UK delivery)? I'd appreciate it if you could let me know the exact substance the handle is made out of and a full chemical breakdown if possible. I have allergies..."
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-...ef=sr_1_4?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1448097772&sr=1-4

 

[fisicx]

Even more people are likely to purchase if they don't need to use a live chat feature. A well built ecommerce website with the right content shouldn't need a live chat feature.

 

[Bill1954]

This was an email but the kind of thing I used to get on live chat "Can you tell me the size of the 1200 x 760mm shower tray ?
No wonder my hair is going missing

 

[Ross McElroy-Gray]

Nope, nope, nope, nope.... If there is anything that live chats do in relation to SEO is damage.

Considering the implementation of the chat, and the chat system itself, you can dramatically slow down your page speed.
If you're going to install one, make sure the page only renders some banner or button to begin with and the chat itself loads in the background after html has been served. Also, it's a good idea to not load the actual chat service untill anyone has clicked on it.

Thanks Audrey, that is great advice