Is it becoming too difficult to keep up with all your online customer communications? If so, it might be time to use a chatbot.
These simple tools have made customer service more efficient. They’ve been such a boon that a vast majority of entrepreneurs are expected to be using chatbots by the end of the year.
But what are these things, and how do chatbots work for you and your business? Read on to learn everything you need to know about chatbots.
What is a Chatbot?
First off, we need to talk about what a chatbot actually is. A chatbot is an artificial intelligence that can be used to talk to real people.
Normally chatbots are set up to communicate to visitors of websites or social media accounts. For example, when you visit a website, an instant message box may appear in the corner, allowing you to chat or ask questions.
While this can occasionally be run by a real person, you likely will start your conversation by talking to a chatbot.
How Do Chatbots Work?
So how do chatbots work? In the most basic sense, chatbots are applications programmed to communicate with humans. Usually, they are set up to answer general questions and hold a conversation.
A chatbot succeeds in its mission thanks to two key factors. First, chatbots are programmed with a set script to help them answer specific questions.
Second, chatbots are programmed to learn from their interactions. As they are presented with new ideas and speech, they will grow and build on the data they already have.
Why Use a Chatbot?
Chatbots aren’t just for having conversations though. They can provide important services to businesses and organizations.
One of the major benefits of using a chatbot is to act as an online customer service representative 24/7. In this role, a chatbot can answer questions, direct website visitors to what they are looking for, and move customers to human representatives if necessary.
And chatbots aren’t just for websites. They can also be used for social media as well.
For example, a Facebook Messenger chatbot can respond to messages sent to a business’s Facebook page, providing immediate answers to any questions sent.
This immediacy pays dividends for the organizations that use chatbots. Quick and easy customer service is a great way to ensure potential customers convert to paying customers. This also helps to lessen frustration people may have when looking for information about your business.
The other major benefit that comes from using a chatbot is how it saves you money.
Unlike humans, chatbots can talk to many people at once and work around the clock. While they may not be able to replace humans completely, chatbots can lower the number of employees needed to sit and respond to website and social media communications throughout the day.
It’s Time for You to Use a Chatbot
Now that you know the answer to “how do chatbots work,” it’s time to make them work for you. Setting up a chatbot to help run your website and social media can be a major boon for your communications capabilities and your business as a whole.
Do you have more questions? Check out our other articles for more answers.
