2.4 Website Chat Widget: Engaging Website Visitors

Purpose:

The Chat Widget adds an interactive chat bubble (usually in the bottom corner) to your agency website, providing an immediate way for visitors to engage, ask questions, or leave their contact information, turning passive website visitors into active leads directly within Close Master.

Creating/Configuring Your Widget:

  1. Navigate to Sites → Chat Widget tab: Go to the Sites section and select the Chat Widget tab.
  2. Create or Edit: Click + Create New Chat Widget if you don't have one, or click on an existing widget name to edit it.
  3. Choose Widget Type: Select the primary function of your widget:
    • SMS/Email Chat (Recommended Default for Lead Capture): This type primarily focuses on capturing lead information even when you're offline. It typically shows a simple form asking for Name, Phone and/or Email, and their Message. Submissions automatically create/update a Contact and appear in the Conversations inbox. This ensures you capture leads 24/7.
    • Live Chat: Enables real-time, back-and-forth chat conversations between website visitors and your available agents/staff who are actively monitoring the Conversations inbox in Close Master. This requires having team members ready to respond during defined hours.
      • Configure Live Chat Settings: Set Business Hours during which live chat is offered. Customize the Offline Message shown outside these hours (usually reverting to a lead capture form). Define Fallback Behavior (what happens if no agent answers a live chat request within a certain time - e.g., switch to the lead capture form).
    • WhatsApp Chat: If you have the WhatsApp integration enabled (See 22.16), this option allows the widget to directly initiate a chat conversation in the visitor's WhatsApp app when clicked.
    • All-in-One Chat: Presents the visitor with options, allowing them to choose their preferred communication channel (e.g., Live Chat, Send Email, Start WhatsApp Chat).
  4. Configure Widget Window (Appearance): Customize how the chat bubble and window look:
    • Intro Message: Set the greeting text displayed in the chat window header (e.g., "Questions about listings or selling your home? Chat with us!", "How can our team help you today?").
    • Widget Design: Upload your Agency Logo or a representative Image (like an agent headshot). Choose the main Widget Color to match your website branding.
    • Return Visitor Welcome: Optionally set a different welcome message for visitors who have interacted with the chat before.
  5. Configure Chat Type Specific Settings: Based on the Widget Type you chose:
    • For SMS/Email Chat: Customize the form fields shown (you can sometimes add a limited number of Custom Fields, up to a maximum, e.g., 5 total fields). Choose whether Phone or Email is required.
    • For Live Chat: Refine Business Hours, Offline Message, Fallback Behavior, Agent Display Name/Avatar.
    • For WhatsApp Chat: Select the specific connected WhatsApp number to use.
    • For All-in-One Chat: Configure the options and settings for each channel offered.
  6. Configure Acknowledgement Settings: Customize the automated reply message shown to the user immediately after they submit the lead capture form or initiate a chat (e.g., "Thanks! We've received your message and will get back to you soon.").
  7. Save Widget: Click Save to store your configuration.

Installation / Activation (Getting it on Your Site):

  1. Get the Code: After saving, click the Get Code button associated with your configured widget. Copy the provided JavaScript code snippet.
  2. Install on External Site (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace): Paste the copied code snippet into the HTML of your external website. It usually needs to be placed just before the closing </body> tag on every page where you want the widget to appear (often done site-wide via theme settings or a header/footer script plugin).
  3. Activate on Close Master Site/Funnel: If your website or landing page is built within Close Master:
    • Navigate to Sites → Funnels or Websites.
    • Select the specific Funnel or Website project.
    • Go to the Settings tab for that project.
    • Find the Chat Widget toggle and switch it ON.
    • Select the specific chat widget you configured from the dropdown list.
    • Click Save for the Funnel/Website settings. The widget should now appear on the live pages of that project.

Attribution:

Leads captured via the SMS/Email Chat widget type will typically appear as form submissions named "Widget Form" or similar in the Contact's Activity Feed or potentially in form submission reports, helping you track leads originating from website chat interactions.