Chatbots are a booming trend in 2018. They allow businesses to connect quickly and easily with customers, save time for employees and customers, and convert customers. Chatbots also pair well with offline marketing efforts. Here are some ways you can use chatbots and offline marketing in tandem.

1. Promote events with chatbots.

When you're advertising an event, you can create ads that target people in the area of the event. In the ad, direct people to the chatbot for questions or event registration. Then at the event, you can direct people to the chatbot for purchasing products or receiving info about sales and company updates. Events are a great way to incorporate chatbots because it's an easy way for people to get quick information about your business with minimal effort on your part.

2. Offer in-store specials for people who use the chatbot.

In an ad, you can advertise a special sale or new product and direct them to the chatbot to receive a discount code or coupon. Then they can use the code when they come into the store. This method is really useful if you want more in-person traffic at your storefront or want people to subscribe to your chatbot. It accomplishes both tasks of incentivizing people to meet your staff and utilize the chatbot.

3. Direct people to the chatbot if they have questions with print materials.

If you use business cards or flyers, direct people to the chatbot there. If they have questions or product inquiries, they can ask the bot instead of calling. That saves time for your staff and for the customers, who get their answer instantaneously. The instant customer service the bot provides also improves conversion rates because customers are more likely to follow through on a purchase inquiry if their question is answered immediately.

4. Use chatbots in your referral program.

With chatbots, you can offer incentives for customers who refer their friends to your business. You can offer discounts for people who order through the chatbot, or offer a giveaway contest that's available only to your chatbot subscribers. Offering referral programs and incentives spreads the word about your business and builds rapport with customers. Plus, incorporating the chatbot into the program helps people feel comfortable using it in the future.

5. Automate sales using chatbots.

Product catalogues are a great way to showcase your products, and with them you can send customers to your chatbot to make sales. People can see the products in detail in the catalogue, and then can order through the chatbot. Automating sales not only saves time for your employees, it's easy for customers to use and it streamlines the sales process. And you can also retain customer information more easily because the bot can archive the details it receives when making a sale.

Chatbots are the future of online customer service - 47% of consumers say they would buy products from a chatbot. And 34% of company executives said that chatbots allowed them to focus more on strategizing and creating for their business. If you'd like to know more about chatbots and how they can help you, we can help! Get in touch with us through our chatbot or website, or set up a meeting with us directly. Let us know how we can help you!