Technology has come a long way in recent years, with the evolution of the internet and the development of new digital systems and devices completely changing the way we live, work, and communicate with one another.
Businesses across almost every industry imaginable can make the most of different devices and innovations to enhance their output, connect with customers, streamline operations, and so on, and one relatively recent advancement is having huge effects for companies great and small: chatbots.
Rudimentary chatbots have been around for years, but it’s only in recent times, with major improvements in AI learning, that chatbots have started to become so smart, dependable, and useful.
From Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa, high-profile chatbots are being welcomed into homes around the world, and custom marketing chatbots can bring a lot to the average small business owner too.
The benefits of using chatbot marketing on Facebook Messenger and other social media platforms are clear to see for small businesses, and here are just some potential ways you can enjoy great results from chatbot investment.
Dealing with Common Customer Queries
Modern chatbots are surprisingly intelligent, able to retain a lot of information and learn as they work, responding to user needs more and more efficiently as time goes by. They can be used as a customer-facing resource, able to answer questions, provide information to customers, and cope with basic concerns, freeing up your staff to focus their efforts and resources on more important matters.
Product or Service Recommendations
In many cases, small businesses don’t have the time, resources, or manpower to speak individually with every single client and customer efficiently. Chatbots can help with this, using customer information and simple questions to recommend certain products or influence user buying decisions. Again, this can save you a lot of time and resources that can be used elsewhere.
Round the Clock Service
Small and large business owners alike can’t expect their workers to be in the office 24/7, but one of the best benefits of a chatbot is that it actually can be turned on and available at all times, ready to interact with customers, regardless of the time of day, providing help and assistance as needed. Over 60% of internet users say that this is one of the best features of chatbots.
Simpler Payments
You can even make use of chatbots to streamline payment processes for your customers and clients too. The latest developments in chatbot technology allow these bots to take payments directly from clients, store payment details for easier and more convenient transactions in future, and streamline sales entirely.
FAQ
Many chatbots can be set up to function like interactive FAQ sections for your brand’s website or social media profiles. They can be loaded up with common questions and answers, so if new or interested customers want to learn more about your business, such as shipping times, product types, contact information, payment methods, and so on, they’ll be able to easily load up the chatbot through social media messaging and find out whatever they want.
Better Brand Engagement
These days, brand image and personality are very important factors for businesses to take into account. Modern customers like to know more about the personality and character of the brands they buy from, often choosing those that reflect their own ideas and favoring those that put in the extra effort. Setting up a fun and friendly chatbot can be a great way to raise awareness of your brand’s profile and better engage with your customers.
Customer Satisfaction
Another massive benefit of investing in chatbots for small businesses is that they can quite easily lead to higher levels of customer satisfaction. If a customer has a question, they’ll be able to ask the bot and get an answer in minutes. If they want a product recommendation, they don’t have to wait around, and so on. This convenient, accessible level of service is a big bonus in the eyes of many buyers and will help to draw more people to your company.
Final Word
For small businesses, customer service can be a difficult area to manage. It can be hard to find the time and resources to devote to communicating with customers, handling questions, complaints, and so on.
Chatbots are able to store and record so much user data, they can streamline the entire customer service process, offering customized responses for each customer, smarter and simpler payments, better engagement, and so many more benefits too.