customer communications Archives - PROSAR Inbound Inc.

The process of understanding a prospect’s needs and then communicating how you can effectively satisfy them, is what leads to earning their business. Conversations have always led to conversions. But now, virtually all of those conversations are happening remotely – via email, social media, telephone, online video and interactive websites. (Note: The SharpSpring platform has strategic in-app solutions such as automated emails, social monitoring and management, sales dialer, video calling, and read on about SharpSpring’s chatbots.)

Understanding Chatbot Workflow Logic

Chatbots are an automated communication service. They allow users to search for answers about your content, and they provide a series of answers and means of collecting data. Whenever you create a new chatbot, SharpSpring provides a default chatbot workflow. This workflow is made to be a general-purpose chatbot that can be used in nearly every circumstance.

Conversations through chatbots use a specific logic path. A chatbot workflow starts with a welcome message, progresses to an initial question, provides specific answers, allows the user to respond, collects any necessary information, and then displays a message that ends the conversation. This logic path best emulates person-to-person communication.

Though chatbots have a certain amount of customizability available to them, their general structure cannot be changed, and few parts of the workflow can be deleted outright. These limitations are in place to prevent chatbots from suffering from logic breaks in the workflow. You can modify the chatbots welcome message, questions and answers, but not change the overall structure.

Once the chatbot asks a question, it will display a number of outputs. These outputs are premade answers and act as a sort of multiple-choice answer to the question. All answers are valid, and they will each branch off into a different set of responses and information gathering. You can add, modify, and delete outputs to better customize answers to a question and provide different ways to continue a conversation.

It may sound a little complicated, logic can seem that way, but it is actually quite easy to set-up chat bots and customize them to get results.

[dt_quote type=”pullquote” layout=”left” font_size=”big” animation=”none” size=”1″]Drive 24/7 conversions with a network of unique chatbots that know who you’re engaging with, what they need, and where they are in your sales process.[/dt_quote]

Configure Actions to Provide, and Gather, Information

Actions follow a chatbot response. Actions are the core of a chatbot workflow. They are how you provide information, collect visitor data, and otherwise facilitate human interaction with a visitor. While chatbots will function without actions, the majority of your logic branches will need actions to help a visitor with their problem.

Customize Chatbots for Specific Audiences

You can cater to target audience segments by customizing chatbots to address their specific needs. Beyond customizing a chatbot’s dialogue and actions, you can choose who sees it.

	Audience		Description
	Everyone		This chatbot will be shown to everyone who visits your site.
	New Visitors		This chatbot will be shown to anyone who visits your site anonymously.
	Returning Visitors		This chatbot will be shown only to known leads who are being tracked.
	Leads in Pipeline		This chatbot will be shown only to leads in an open opportunity.
	Customers		This chatbot will be shown only to customers.
	Custom Fields		This chatbot will be shown only to leads with a determined custom value.

Customizable Reporting to Continuously Improve Performance

Detailed reports can be configured in many ways, [link to reports] to measure each chatbot’s effectiveness and contribution to revenue. Reports can be scheduled, saved and edited to better guide your ongoing strategy.

	Benefits of Chatbots
	Boost engagement with customizable chat workflows
	Trigger automation and progressively profile site visitors
	Keep your sales team running 24/7
	Transfer sales-ready leads right to Live Chat using Slack
	Integrate the power of forms, media centre, lead scoring, and workflows
	Drive relevant and timely communication at every stage of your funnel

Article includes content from Forest Myers of SharpSpring.
PROSAR Inbound Inc. is a SharpSpring Partner.

Although nothing beats meeting with people to fully communicate, understand each other, and form well-rounded impressions. Communicating via email and text is efficient and can be very effective once a relationship is established. Phone calls are much better at discussing complex issues and getting to know a person, while video calls provide the benefit of voice, facial expression, as well as shared screens and group presentations.

Communication has always been the key to marketing and sales. Now, and for the foreseeable future, video calls have never been more important. Here are some tips for making effective and professional use of video calls.

Making Good Video Calls

Since we’re all spending more time in virtual meetings, consider these tips for good video calls:

Look Professional: If it’s a business call, show respect for the other participants, your company and yourself — dress accordingly for your business and role. Video calls from home can be a little more relaxed, but you still want to be seen as competent and professional so hygiene, grooming and pants are strongly recommended.
Be Prepared: Keeping people’s attention can be more difficult online so don’t create downtime or lags searching for information or trying to remember what you wanted to say. Have all resources close at hand and ready, make notes beforehand and include your goals for the meeting to keep you on track content-wise and strategically.
Set the Scene: A cluttered or discordant background make it difficult to focus on you; it may also make it difficult to take you seriously. A plain background is your best backdrop. Good lighting is critical, but from the front not back. Avoid lights and windows behind you.
Watch the Time: The informal nature of a video call versus an in-person meeting can foster long, boring affairs. Be mindful of the time and what is being accomplished. Keep to the agenda schedule for your input and move others along if you are the chair.
Watch your Mouth: Video calls are often recorded, so think twice before you speak.
Take Notes: Just as you would in a regular meeting, take notes to remember key points and action items that involve you. Ensure your notes are in sync with the meeting minutes.

Making Good Video Calls with SharpSpring

SharpSpring has complemented its Sales Optimizer with in-application video calling. It makes it easy to connect with others on their laptop or desktop. Recipients don’t need to use SharpSpring and there is no software to download. Their browser will ask permission to use their laptop’s mic and speaker and that’s it… you’re face-to-face creating relationships and opportunities.

Getting connected for online meetings and meaningful conversations is simple. Reach out to leads in your SharpSpring CRM with the click of a button, invite anyone via email, even invite people to video calls already in progress. Easily contact team members by clicking Video Call in the top toolbar.

SharpSpring Video Call Features

A full complement of video call features will help you succeed online:

Tag: customer communications

Chatting Up Conversions

Understanding Chatbot Workflow Logic

Configure Actions to Provide, and Gather, Information

Customize Chatbots for Specific Audiences

Audience

Description

Customizable Reporting to Continuously Improve Performance

Benefits of Chatbots

Improving Customer Communications with Video Calls

Making Good Video Calls

Making Good Video Calls with SharpSpring

SharpSpring Video Call Features