Yikes! You Mean Even My Chat Solution Now Has To Be “Secure”?

Posted on October 31, 2019January 12, 2021 by marketing

If you operate in any of the more than 26 states with new privacy laws going into effect, yes.

Check out this recent article from Axios for a quick overview of the rapidly changing world of privacy in the U.S.

So what does that have to do with chat?

Chat is one of the best ways to engage with clients and website visitors. But companies can no longer have just any chat platform. Like all of their data systems that could send or store personal information (names, addresses, emails, financial info, etc.), the chat platforms will need to meet new privacy law requirements that will protect that data.

As more and more states in the United States are enacting data privacy laws (following data privacy laws in the European Union), we want to remind you of a few helpful security best practices to look into as you research SaaS products, and specifically, chat providers.

1. Securely manage all confidential data

Confidential information comes in the form of personal identifying information–basically any information that when used together, could let an outsider identify and/or find the person. It also includes credit card information, images of customers or prospects, Social Security numbers, and more.

Keep your business compliant with up-to-date security requirements and provide site visitors and clients peace of mind.

“We must adhere to strict security regulations from highly regulated states like California. Compliance with GDPR and HIPAA was a key factor in selecting SnapEngage as a partner.”

Marketing Innovation Manager at a global moving company

2. View and filter all live chat account changes

As your business grows, more and more individuals may have access and accounts within your data systems. Having a proper audit system in place provides much-needed checks and balances when monitoring account changes.

“In addition to HIPAA compliance, the ability to send and receive images and secure data is indispensable. These are ‘WOW’ factors for our clients, they are amazed.”

-Jenna Vallejo, COO, Potomac Pediatrics

3. If you do business internationally, be aware of GDPR

The European Union (EU) has had data privacy laws in place for quite some time. Called the General Data Protection Regulation, it mandates strict requirements for any business doing business with European or UK customers.

Look for software that satisfies the EU’s data privacy laws, known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Aligning your business with GDPR allows for secure communication with clients in the Americas and the EU.

Use the SnapEngage Approval Checker to ask for website visitor consent before a chat session is initiated.

4. If you’re a healthcare provider or service those organizations, safeguard patient data

HIPAA-compliance: Usually reserved for United States healthcare providers or any business possessing Protected Health Information (PHI), and is considered one of the most intense forms of compliance for the commitment to privacy, security, and transactions. If your business or state has in-depth security laws, HIPAA compliance, as the gold standard, is a safe avenue to take.

Choosing new software for your business is not easy. Use your internal team and don’t be afraid to reach out to other industry experts to see what has worked for them. Use your community to make informed decisions, and be prepared to learn as you go. The right technology provider can upgrade your business in a big way.

Have questions about buying a secure chat platform? Ask us

Building An Award-Winning Chat Support Team

Posted on October 17, 2019November 9, 2020 by marketing

Part 1 – The Basics

There are plenty of reasons why you should be leveraging live chat at your company. But just implementing a chat solution doesn’t mean you will instantly reap these benefits. Just like every other aspect of your business, you must invest in this strategy in order to make it succeed.

In this series, we are going to share some of the best practices that keep the Best Support Stevie Awards flowing in the door at SnapEngage. We’re all striving to reach as high of a Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) as possible; you can use this as your guide.

Let’s start with the basics in this initial piece.

1. Agent photos

A more detailed blog post on Agent Photos was recently published, but if you’re looking for the quick hitter version, here are four tips for taking engaging agent photos:

Smile! Visitors like a smiling face greeting them.
Use a longer focal length as studies show that they make you look more competent and trustworthy.
When taking the actual photo, have the light source facing the subject or you will mask the details of the agent’s face.
The worst thing you can do is have an avatar representing your humans!

2. Response time

You purchased chat to provide your customers with more timely responses at scale, so you should measure your agents against response time to assure a great chat experience for your visitors:

Individual agent performance metrics are available in your chat application.
15 seconds is a good target, but high-performing chat teams average no more than 12 seconds per an initial response.
You don’t need to solve every case immediately, ask for contact info and let your visitor know you will get back to them with an answer.
The worst thing you can do is activate chat and not have anyone answering the line!

“15 seconds is a good target,

but high-performing chat teams

average no more than 12 seconds

per an initial response.”

3. Practice empathy

You’re on your quest for that 97% Customer Satisfaction Score, you have agent photos and you are initially responding to chats within 12 seconds – what’s missing? EMPATHY! You are the first line of defense for your company, chatting with customers who are potentially frustrated or looking for a resolution. Take a deep breath and try considering the importance of:

“Be more interested than interesting”

Acknowledgment: Get on the same page (be more interested than interesting) to discover the root issue.
Transparency: Let the client know what you are doing each step of the way to set up realistic expectations.
Feedback: Get accurate information and feedback from clients / give accurate information back.
Follow-up: At times a resolution can’t be found on chat and you need to escalate additional information. Be sure to collect a good email address from the client and check-in during the process to reassure and further comfort them.
The worst thing you can do is not care, so show a little empathy for crying out loud!

Follow these three best practices and you’ll be well on your way to boosted Customer Satisfaction scores.

Already doing these things well, are you? Looking to level-up? In Part 2 we’ll get into the advanced best practices that bring home the gold!

Already a high-functioning customer support team? Chat with us to level up.

A Day in the Life of the SnapEngage UI/UX Director

Posted on October 8, 2019 by marketing

Coffee with SnapEngage

Our clients are global and so are we. Culture is more than a word, culture is how we live and work every day. Join us in welcoming Jackson Carson, our UI/UX Director, in our Coffee with SnapEngage series which celebrates SnapEngage employee culture and our mission to connect people wherever they are.

When you chat with us, you are always chatting with a real member of our team; it’s about time you meet them. Today we learn about Jackson, all things regarding UI/UX, and exciting upcoming projects.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

My mission is to bring delight to the world through music, photography, and user experience design and strategy.

2. Share a bit about your role within SnapEngage.

As UX/UI Director at SnapEngage, I help build the bridge between the founders’ vision and their customers’ needs, with delight as the magical element that binds them.

3. What exactly is UI and UX? Are they different?

Many people are confused about the difference between UX and UI. UX stands for ‘user experience’ and UI stands for ‘user interface’. I like to think of UX as being is about people. UX addresses what the user feels and thinks while engaging in your product or service. What are their expectations? What is their mental model? What are their emotions and thoughts? Is their experience effortless? Is it confusing? Are they delighted? Miserable?

UI is more about the cosmetics of the design and what the user sees or hears. How do the buttons and icons look? Is it visually integrated with your brand? A good visual interface should be pleasing to the eye, accessible by sight challenged users, and be well integrated with the surrounding environment in which the interface exists. “It’s very attractive” or “I love how the new feature looks in the app” would be praises you might hear about a UI.

The two go hand-in-hand. A beautiful interface can be ruined by a clunky or confusing navigation just as a brilliant user flow can turn sour with an unattractive interface. These days, users expect a higher aesthetic in the interfaces they use. A delightful experience requires that interfaces look good. But it’s not just about cosmetics. As the saying goes, you just can’t put lipstick on a pig. A good UX should mean that the user doesn’t have to think. Users will say “it just works” or “it’s super easy to use”.

As UX/UI Director at SnapEngage, I help build the bridge between the founders’ vision and their customers’ needs, with delight as the magical element that binds them.

-Jackson, UI/UX Director

4. What is an exciting project you’re working on currently?

I’m super excited to be working towards a more cohesive brand and experience across SnapEngage in our communications and product.

5. What makes SnapEngage stand out?

We are a strong incumbent with some of the most powerful features around. And we live our mission every day of connecting people and helping them reach their goals.

6. What is your favorite thing about working for SnapEngage?

The people! Our team is so well-intentioned, talented, and has amazing tenacity to get stuff done. I’m so proud to be working with this group of amazing people!

7. What piece of advice would you give a new employee starting in the software space?

Listen to your customer and always learn.

8. Why is chat essential to companies?

Chat is a great channel to connect with your users in a way that is both personable and efficient.

9. How do you collaborate with the other teams in the organization?

I work across most of the business. Whether it’s strategic planning with the product team or helping Sales and Marketing put their best foot forward.

Jackson takes photographs in his spare time, including these here! Check out more photographs on his website: https://www.jxnpx.com/

Interested in joining a company that drives results for businesses around the globe? We're hiring!

Month: October 2019