BoatChat adds SMS Text to its website chat

Savvy boat dealers using BoatChat live chat software or managed chat services now have the option to include SMS Text chat on their websites. The boating industry’s top chat provider enhanced its award-winning software with the new technology to give boat dealers another channel for lead generation – and more importantly – increase boat sales.

“Boat dealers increase their digital presence and boost boat sales with our live chat. A certain percentage of shoppers will actually prefer to text over chat, so we’ve added that capability,” said Jeff Sterns, Vice President of Sales. “We know dealers using our fully managed chat generally see a website sales lead increase of around 50 percent, and this can boost performance even more.”

SMS Text conversation can be initiated from a link on either the desktop or mobile website and uses a double opt-in system to ensure compliance and a quality shopper experience. Website visitors click the SMS TEXT link, select the opt-in box, add their phone number and submit the request. Then they receive an initial text message on their phone that lets them authorize the chat conversation. From there the chat operator can engage them just as they would in a chat conversation.

“This option is ideal for a certain segment of website visitors who don’t have the time to complete a chat conversation all at once,” said Sterns. “With text they can participate in the conversation as time allows. For example, they can ask a few questions during their lunch break and pick up the discussion after work or school.” Dealers managing their own chat with our award-winning chat software can participate in text conversations through the console just as they do with chat.

Other features of BoatChat SMS Text include:

• Ability to save a conversation in the console and continue at later time
• Simple and convenient for boat shoppers
• Allows for local phone numbers
• Automatically shortened URLs
• Shoppers don’t need data or wifi connection to participate

“One thing our dealers like is they can put the local SMS phone number on their boats with a “text us now” sign and collect contact information from their own lot after hours,” explained Sterns.

Another benefit is that the shopper has already provided their phone number so they may be more open to getting a callback from the dealership. BoatChat’s SMS Text ability is the latest in a continuous development of industry innovations. Other advancements include the industry’s best mobile chat, a custom chat operator console, SignalR server technology to boost chat reliability, TRUSTe security certification, and more.

Call, chat, or text today to schedule a quick web demo.