Why Live Chat Matters
Live chat is the fastest-growing support channel. Customers prefer it over email and phone for its immediacy and convenience. Adding live chat to your website takes minutes with the right tool.
The Basic Script Tag (Any Website)
Most live chat tools provide a single script tag you paste before the closing body tag. This works for any website — WordPress, Shopify, static HTML, or custom applications.
React and Next.js Integration
For React apps, create a ChatWidget component that loads the chat script in a useEffect hook. This ensures the script only loads on the client side and does not break server-side rendering.
Next.js users can use the Script component with strategy='afterInteractive' for optimal loading performance.
Vue Integration
In Vue, load the chat script in the mounted lifecycle hook of your App component. This ensures the DOM is ready before the chat widget initializes.
Customization Options
- Match widget colors to your brand
- Set custom welcome messages by page
- Configure operating hours and offline behavior
- Add pre-chat forms to collect context before conversations
- Set up proactive triggers based on user behavior
Performance Best Practices
Load the chat widget asynchronously to avoid blocking page render. Defer loading until after the critical content is visible. Use lazy loading to only initialize the widget when the user scrolls or hovers near it.
