Live customer help software can help your business provide customer service without making your customers hold on a corporate help line for what seems like hours, or wait more than a day or two for an email response. Live customer service software not only lets you get business done quickly, but it allows your customers to do business from the home or office. Live support additionally gives your customers an alternative to the frustrating pre-recorded phone menu and gives you an alternative to paying for multiple phone lines.

Always make sure live help software suppliers provide more than adequate security since sensitive information is often passed back and forth during business transactions. Live customer service software should also be easy to install, easy to use and reasonably priced.

Factor in the following for guidance in choosing live support software:

1. Live customer support software user reviews

2. Top-rated live support software

3. Free alternatives

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase live help software that is affordable and easy to use, no matter your business size

Any live help software should come with basic features like chat transfer, in case an operator needs the help of a supervisor, and typing indicators, which let customers know operators are working on a solution to their inquiry. Pricier models come with extras such as advertising features and customer surveys.

I recommend: Check out reviews of the top 10 live customer support software applications at TopTenReviews. SoftSea.com provides brief descriptions of numerous live help software applications.

Finalize your decision using live support software free trials

If you're going to invest in live support software, take advantage of free trials. Most live support companies offer trials without asking for a commitment or credit card information. Just by filling out a short form, you can download trial versions and get instant access to software tools.

I recommend: Both Livehelper and Velaro are both highly ranked and are comparable in price and service.

Save your budget with free alternatives

The variety of free live help desk programs is wide, but you'll want to do plenty of product-by-product comparisons of all features, especially security. Among other challenges of a free live help system is the restricted number of customer service reps -- most only allow one at a time but if your business is small, a free live help system may be all you need.

I recommend: Sales-n-Stats, Volusion and SiteChatter.com all offer popular free live help desk software with an option to buy an upgraded version.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you sign up for free live help support for your small business, avoid switching from one company to another and look for software that offers optional upgrades so the software can grow with you business.