The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world and marketing teams are looking for new ways to generate leads and retain customers.

Chatbot marketing is something that has been around for some time. This approach has taken on a whole new meaning with millions of people working long hours at home.

Online shopping has many benefits for consumers. This trend will not fade after COVID-19. Chatbots have become an integral part of the strategy of many growth marketing agencies.

Chatbot Marketing will gain momentum after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Chatbots and conversational advertising were already the next big thing in marketing before the pandemic. Recent events have accelerated the rise of chatbots and digital marketing.

These are the top reasons chatbots have become so popular:

• Digital presence can be a powerful tool for companies.

• Online interaction has been favored by consumers over traditional attendance.

• Digital marketing is booming as more people spend time online.

• High-demand technologies can be adapted to new AI capabilities. Chatbots can answer many questions for consumers and streamline sales processes.

Chatbot Marketing Benefits Post-COVID-19

Businesses around the globe are losing money because of the limitations of brick-and-mortar stores. Businesses are moving online and it is difficult to handle the increasing number of digital requests. Chatbots are the solution.

1. Round-the-Clock Service

Many people will work from home even after the pandemic has ended. It generally means a flexible work schedule which can change consumers’ shopping habits. They can search for information at different times of the day, such as late at night, in the morning, or during lunch.

Chatbots are always available to offer advice and guide potential customers to the next step of the sales funnel. This saves money and prevents you from losing valuable leads.

2. Segmentation of Traffic

Chatbots can become a fully-fledged members of your marketing team. You need to quickly segment your traffic with all the people flooding the internet after and during the pandemic. It’s easy for good leads to disappear and you can spend too much time with visitors who don’t have potential.

Chatbots can be used to segment an incoming audience and take the conversation in various directions. The bot can answer questions such as “What is the price?” and offer information about how to buy. If the client is just looking, the bot can provide helpful details about products or services.

3. Instantaneous Response

Consumer reality is impatience. People expect things to be done quickly, even when they don’t have the time. One-minute delay can make you lose a warm lead.

Chatbots can respond instantly to the needs of potential clients. The bot can handle any question that is too complex for you or your marketing rep. Fast responses can go a long way in building trust and improving the image of your brand.

4. Analyze

Analyzing is the foundation of any digital marketing campaign. It can be difficult and time-consuming to collect data for analytics. Chatbots collect valuable information and provide transparent and clear data for further analysis.

This information will not only improve your chatbot marketing strategy but also help you to optimize your business performance.

Chatbots can be a great feedback collection tool. Chatbots are a great way to collect feedback from customers.

5. Nurture Yourself

Chatbots are an essential part of lead nurturing strategies. Chatbots can help you move potential clients through the marketing funnel so that your sales reps always have hot leads.

Chatbots encourage interaction by greeting visitors and being ready to answer any questions. These chatbots ensure that leads are never left hanging.

6. A proactive approach

Companies that adopt a passive approach to business are falling behind as the number of “just-lookers” increases. You could fall behind your competition if you don’t communicate with your audience after it contacts you.

Chatbots welcome visitors to the website when they visit it. This is a proactive approach. You may not be able to initiate a conversation with your customer without it.

7. Brand Image

Bots can make your business stand out from the rest. You just need to give the program some personality. A little humor can make a lasting impression.

The personal touch is a great way to improve the brand image.

Chatbot Marketing Tips during the Pandemic and Beyond

These tips will help you increase your chatbot marketing campaign to retain and acquire clients following the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Ask for information – design your bot to request contact information during the interaction. It is more likely for clients to communicate with you via chat than to complete a contact form.

• Personalize your chatbot – a user will feel more at ease talking to Jane or Joe (picture suggested).

• Let website visitors know about chatbots. In your promotional emails and social media posts, including information about the chatbot.

• Use the chatbot to test it. Before you launch the chatbot, invite your friends and colleagues. You may discover unexpected blunders.

• Do not mix – for websites aimed at lower funnel visits, you can add a sales chatbot. The marketing bot is best for pages in the upper funnel. To avoid misinterpretations, chatbots should be limited in their specialization. This will reduce satisfaction and prevent them from being confused.

• Use smart placement — placing chatbots on pages with content that you are interested in reading or watching diverts the attention of the reader and defeats your original marketing goal. Chatbots should be removed from lead generation landing pages, blogs, or “about us” pages.

Chatbot Marketing is the Future

Chatbots can reduce customer service costs, increase brand reputation, help in lead generation, and have many other benefits. Chatbots are becoming a crucial part of your marketing strategy due to the increasing popularity of online shopping and the increase in internet users.

We are a Growth Marketing Agency and we constantly research the most recent marketing strategies. Contact Kobe Digital for more information on chatbot marketing and its implementation.