Web chat

Every web chat, in one inbox

The chat widget on your own site, staffed by the same responders. Someone reading about your ministry can ask a question right there, without leaving the page or downloading an app.

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Connecting

How web chat connects to Echo

Everything is self-service. You can connect every channel yourself, whenever you’re ready, without talking to us first.

Echo gives you step-by-step instructions, and most connections take 10 to 15 minutes.

Before you start, have these ready.

  • A style for the chat widget: full screen in a new browser window, a panel that opens along the right side of the screen, or an overlay that floats over the page.
  • A language for the widget. It defaults to English.
  • A name for the chat website, so your team knows where chats come from, and the address of the page it goes on.
  • Whether to hide the chat when no responders are online. It applies to the pop-up styles only.

Chat website integration guide

Set by each platform, not by Echo

Interaction time frames

Some platforms limit how long a ministry can reply after a seeker’s last message. The clock starts over every time the seeker writes again, so a conversation that keeps going stays open. Echo shows the time left on every conversation, so a responder can see what is about to close.

  1. Web chatStays open until a responder or seeker closes it, not until a timer runs out.
    Until closed

Your responders

Your team only needs an Echo login

A responder answers Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and every other channel from inside Echo, and needs no account on any of them. Nobody on your team has to have Facebook to answer someone on Facebook.

Their personal accounts stay separate. A responder’s own Facebook or WhatsApp has nothing to do with the conversations they answer in Echo, and the two are never connected.

That protects your team. The platforms see your ministry’s account and the Echo connection, not the people replying through it.

Pricing

This channel costs nothing to add

Included

Social, email and web chat

Included in your monthly price.

See pricing

FAQ

Open the status page

Yes, and most cost nothing extra to add. WhatsApp accounts and phone numbers carry a monthly charge, and voice calls and SMS are billed by usage.

No. A responder only needs an Echo account. Your channels connect through your ministry’s own accounts, and a responder’s personal accounts on those platforms are never connected to Echo.

No, though having one is an advantage. Setup should be a simple process for someone with basic technical knowledge. EchoSupport is available for assistance. If a volunteer can text, they can take conversations in Echo.