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Woopra Forums » General Discussion

Chatting with visitors

(17 posts)
  • Started 5 months ago by lpotts
  • Latest reply from thomaskrueger

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  • lpotts
    Member

    Has anyone used the function that let's you chat with your visitors? How did they react? I have to admit I might be a little freaked if a wenmaster popped up when I was at their site. I mean I know as well as anyone that unless I take measures, there's no privacy in my web browsing. However, having it made so plain that I'm being observed in real time makes the point a little too blatantly.

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • diablo943
    Member

    It certainly has big brother implications, but If the site itself had information explaining that the webmaster might pop in and say "hi", then it could be a pretty interesting tool.

    Take for example, you ran a contest with the 10,000 visitor winning a prize. Well. You could pop in and congratulate the person in real time.

    Hmmm...

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • kingbull
    Member

    It's just about integrity and being honest with the visitors. Put up a notice that says you might welcome them to your webpage personally, just to say hi, and that they don't have to respond. It's just you being friendly. Human kindness, anyone?

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • dlt123
    Member

    To be honest, I'm not sure I will ever use this feature except for maybe with my friends, but not with unknown site visitors. I agree with the first poster, this may seem intrusive or elitist to those who visit my site and I don't want to scare people off, but rather encourage them to visit frequently.

    Dennis

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • Robert
    Member

    I use it all the time and my customers love it. I really would much better have it embeded on my site though. I do not know if they are seeing it all the time because of blockers on the browsers etc.

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • AccessibilityNZ
    Member

    My partner told me about Woopra yesterday and was approved today for her site. She asked me to go visit her site, and suddenly, pops a request for chat! I sort of knew it was coming and it freaked me out!

    But I feel it has great potential, if visitors' expectations are managed properly. Kingbull's suggestion to notify visitors that you might pop in and say hello would be the thing to do the trick.

    I look forward to be approved for testing and try it out on my sites' visitors

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • elpie
    Member

    I'm not sure I would just pop up to say "Hi" but I can see potential for using this for live support. I have a tutorials/help site and the ability to be chatting with a visitor when we are on the same page could really extend the usefulness of my site.

    The privacy aspect bothers me a little but letting people know in advance is, I think, the way to go.

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • winstonford
    Member

    Privacy: Real world and the Internet

    Here's a scenario to explain my point of view:

    You're out shopping in the real world and you walk into a store. A nice looking person at the door greets you an welcomes you into the store. You begin to browse down an isle looking at bags. In a few minutes, that same person wanders over and says, "Let me know if I can help you find something." You respond that you're looking for one to hold your 17inch mac book. She says, "Oh, these here will fit, and all these over here."

    Is that intrusive? Was she invading your privacy as she walked over to where she saw you standing?

    No, that not privacy invasion, it's just good business. No different than real time analytics and a helpful chat.

    Now, if she planted a bug on you to record where you went after you left the store.. that's privacy invasion. Just like malicious spyware.

    Now if only the mac books had the required version of java to run woopra!

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • nehima
    Member

    I think it's an interesting feature, but not one that I see myself using, really. "Hey, this is the webmaster (mistress?), what's your name?"

    That would be freaky!

    I'm sure a lot of other users would find that a very helpful tool, though!

    Posted 5 months ago #

  • imageability
    Member

    I have used this during testing a few times in three months. Most do not appear to get the invite, I am guessing they somehow have it blocked. One of our contributors (a tech guy that supplies live police scanners on our site) loved it when I popped in on him one day. When we were done he responded "Chat anytime!"

    A few days ago I saw a visitor from a town a friend of mine works in. I assumed it was him since the person had been to the site 30 or 40 times. I extended an invitation, no response the person disconnected and I have not seen them again.

    I later found my friend was home and not at work. Looks like "Is that you George?" spooked our reader.

    At a minimum, I need to add what we are doing to our privacy page. It is a new world with Woopra.

    Steve Young
    Londonderry Hometown Online News
    http://www.LondonderryNH.net
    Posted 3 months ago #

  • Lorelle VanFossen
    Moderator

    Great examples of how the chat feature works with Woopra. We will be making it customizable in the future so the chat "greeting" is more welcoming and personalized.

    I'm seeing a lot of people on Twitter talking about using it on their site to just invite people to come by and chat, enter contests by chatting, and giving interactive feedback in one on one consultations and discussions. At least one person said they were using it with one-on-one consultation, guiding the person through their website as they talked about their project. Fascinating!

    Look forward to a lot of improvement on this feature, especially as we learn more how people are using it.

    We will be adding badges and helpful alerts, and even a way to have a visitor alert the webmaster they wish to chat from the site in future versions.

    Indeed, it's a new world with Woopra. Hey, that would be a good T-shirts saying! Why don't you add it to the list? It's a great one.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  • Photography by Toine
    Member

    I would love it if the user can initiate the chat, to use as a "contact me" form. Then, have a Javascript badge that shows whether or not I'm on line.

    T

    Posted 3 months ago #

  • thor918
    Member

    "Photography by Toine"...
    just what I want too.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  • bizzim
    Member

    Has anyone got an example of adding a click-to-chat button? im desperate to get this working for my users.. trying to iniatiate a chat session myself rarely works due to pop up blockers etc, or users get spooked.

    Reading winstonford senario made me think about my own and for me its more like you enter the store and are browsing the products while un known to you the assistant is following you around, watching your every move without you knowing. Then just as you are about to pick something off the shelf the assistant jumps up in front of you SURPRISE!... can i help you.. the imediate reaction for most people is to run away!

    Posted 3 months ago #

  • thor918
    Member

    I agree, however they havent released the click to chat init by user.
    as far as I know they are working on implanting it.

    looking at firefox DOM, I found this function..I'm guessing it's releated to that functionality..
    _InitChat(msg, owner, avatar)

    I think we just have to wait for it

    Posted 3 months ago #

  • Lorelle VanFossen
    Moderator

    You can find a picture example of the Woopra on the Woopra features page at http://www.woopra.com/features/ to see what the chat screen looks like. It's evolving and will soon be customizable.

    So far, the immediate response is to check it out. People are using this in so many creative ways, including announcing they are open for onsite chats through Twitter and holding contests (Chat with me win a prize) and such. It's really fun and we'll be writing about these soon on the blog.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  • Thomas Krueger
    Member

    He he, I'm baffled with the chat function. Simply GREAT!
    We offer 360° spherical panorama pictures, and having the opportunity to interact with the user I can help him to navigate or to test a 360° panorama.

    Is it possible to change "Webmaster" on the chat panel to my real name?

    Thomas

    http://www.YachtPanorama.com
    Posted 2 months ago #

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