Chat & Messaging

By now, you have likely heard how beneficial online chatbots can be. They can help reduce contact center costs by addressing common inquiries and needs, and gathering information to direct messages to the right live agent when necessary. When service agents’ time is freed up from having to ask the same mundane questions over and…

Every company has both cost centers and profit centers. Cost centers are departments that are necessary to the business – but don’t directly contribute to its revenue growth. Profit centers, on the other hand, are teams that do directly generate revenue. All too often, customer service is seen as a cost center. Sure, a customer…

Consumer behavior is always evolving. But the events of the past couple years have accelerated that evolution. Of course, we’ve seen a large (and well-reported) shift in where consumers browse and buy products. According to eMarketer, retail eCommerce grew a staggering 32.4% in 2020. And by 2025, eCommerce is expected to account for nearly a…

One of the first topics covered in just about any introductory business class is the sales funnel and the stages within it. In other words, the steps a consumer goes through when making a purchase.  Though there are many variations of the sales funnel out there, a simple one (that’s relevant to B2C brands) might…

At this year’s Shoptalk, the topic of new channels was one that came up time and again. There were sessions focused on it, as well as conversations at networking events and the expo hall.  Clearly, it’s a topic that’s top of mind for brands and retailers. In fact, 75% of Shoptalk attendees said that new…

Consumers have certain, basic expectations when it comes to customer service. That’s nothing new. For example, most have always expected friendly agents and quick resolutions to their issues. But these days, consumers have higher standards than ever before. Per Salesforce’s State of the Connected Customer, over half of consumers say the crises of the past two…

Engaging in authentic conversations has always been an effective way to sell across all industries.  Consider a consumer walking into a brick-and-mortar store, searching for new skincare products. They’re greeted by a sales associate, who strikes up a conversation to learn more about the consumer’s lifestyle and needs. After building rapport, the consumer trusts the…

These days, the vast majority of brands sell through a number of different channels. Taking a multichannel approach to sales ensures these brands can get their products in front of more customers in more places, and in doing so, maximize sales.  Of course, each brand’s mix of sales channels looks different. But it might include…

Think having great products is enough to guarantee success? Well, you might want to think again. According to Salesforce research, 84% of customers say the experience a company provides is just as important as its products. So if you’re looking to grow your business (aren’t all brands?), then you’ve got to make it a top…