How to Incorporate Chatbots into Your Marketing Plan
Marketing is a field that has seen a lot of change over the past decade. Where it used to be based on print, television, and radio advertising, it is now fully encompassed by digital. However, that is not to say that traditional marketing methods are no longer effective - of course not! In fact, some marketers who are not well-versed in digital marketing are now taking advantage of the latest technologies - such as chatbots - to create personalized experiences that their customers will love.
Introduction
Chatbots are pretty much the hot topic of the industry right now. They've come a long way in the past few years, and it is no surprise that brands are wanting to get in on the trend. According to a 2017 report by ZenDesk, it was predicted that over 85% of online customer support queries would be handled by AI-powered chatbots within five years. Of course, chatbots are not just going to be useful for customer support - they will be used for anything and everything, making them an invaluable asset in any brand's arsenal. With so many potential uses for chatbots, it is important for brands to decide how and when they want to incorporate them into their business strategies.
Why use chatbots?
Why would you need a chatbot to improve your marketing? Aside from the fact that it's an easy and effective way to engage with your audience, a chatbot can do a lot of other things that you may not have considered. Engaging with customers on social media - A number of brands are using this as an effective means of sharing news and engaging with their customers on social media. Creating responsive content that is customized for individual customers' requirements and preferences - Chatbots can be programmed to tailor messages to individual users and can present more information in a way that is more convenient and digestible.
Chatbots are easy to use
You might think of them as dumbed down forms of social media bots, but they are actually a lot smarter than that. These bots can interact with your customers through your website or mobile application. They can help you with simple, repetitive tasks, such as answering simple customer support queries. One great example is the website Botring.com. They have a very clever way of solving customer service issues by using chatbots. Instead of sending out a chat request to their customers to get them to provide customer support, they simply rely on the chatbot to do it for them. The bot doesn't even need access to the customer's account, which means it can be used on any website or mobile application.
Chatbots save time
It is no secret that people are busy. The days of people casually chatting away with an employee over the phone are long gone. Instead, people are quick to either type in a question or ask for a canned response, and almost never ask follow-up questions or requests. If you think that this practice will kill your business' productivity, then you're clearly incorrect. Customers who type in a query are just as likely to return to your website to follow up with you or return to a specific page they have visited. In fact, according to a survey from mobile commerce software provider Adyen, up to 85% of customers would be more likely to return to a business if their previous queries were responded to immediately.
Chatbots are highly effective
Many companies are employing chatbots as their primary marketing tool. They can offer a truly one-of-a-kind user experience, where you, as a consumer, are not confronted with an automated message. Instead, they are able to proactively communicate with you and interact with you in a highly personalized way. Because chatbots are able to analyze your data and behaviors, they are able to present a more accurate and transparent service in the context of your conversations. But what makes chatbots such an effective tool? Because chatbots are built using modern technologies, they are highly cost-effective. When they do not take up a significant amount of time or effort, they are a highly attractive marketing tool.
How do you integrate chatbots into my marketing plan?
If you are to begin to create a personalized marketing plan that will truly wow your customers and help you stand out from the crowd, there are some key ways to incorporate chatbots into your plan. Personalize Your Website. Your website is by far one of the most important factors in your marketing plan - and one that we will discuss in greater detail below. However, there is a basic principle that we should all consider when developing a personalized website, and that is to personalize everything, from your URL and the navigation bar to your name and the image displayed in your header. The list is seemingly endless. You can't afford to invest in a strategy that doesn't offer some type of consumer-focused interaction.
We help you Design a chatbot marketing strategy
Chatbots are undeniably the hot topic right now, with many brands, including the likes of Facebook, working on developing chatbots in an effort to improve customer interactions and grow their business. The good news is that many new trends are emerging, some of which you can use to improve your brand’s marketing strategy. Here are the three major trends you can look at incorporating into your marketing plan.
How to use chatbots to improve customer service
Chatbots and AI can prove to be a valuable addition to your marketing arsenal. At first glance, they may seem intimidating and difficult to learn, but once you learn how to use them properly, they can be extremely beneficial in delivering memorable customer experiences. Today, a majority of customers expect a personalized experience when interacting with companies. In a recent report by Civic Technologies, 69% of customers said that a company's websites are the first and foremost way that they interact with a company. If that's the case, then it makes sense that many companies are turning to chatbots to improve their customer experience. So, why should you use chatbots in your marketing?
How chatbots can help with recruitment
Just as virtual assistants and mobile apps revolutionized the way we interact with computers, chatbots have the power to redefine how we interact with businesses in the 21st century. Companies that are leading the charge are using this technology to streamline many of their processes, helping them to grow, expand, and better serve their customers. Before you panic, the applications for chatbots in marketing are not just limited to building "sales" channels, although they certainly play a key role in that. The potential for chatbots in recruitment lies in using them to create better customer experiences and improve the quality of candidates they attract. After all, candidates should know that there is a human who will be talking to them as part of the recruitment process, right?
Conclusion
Marketing is a complex field, and it can often be hard to master. But with the correct preparation and the right tools and resources, you can succeed and win your customers over for life!