interactive support for a site

**angelize** · 22 February 2012, 05:34 PM

I'm looking into what kinds of ways I could possibly add some level of a support function to a site that would be done with XDP7. I may be doing a website for a client who wants to be able to have a way for visitors to ask questions and for her to be able to answer them interactively. At this point I don't think she would need a full forum, I have looked into something like Olark.com I have experimented with Olark and I know I can easily embed that into a DP7 site, I am just looking to see what other kinds of solutions there might be and what I may be able to offer my client.

**jamesd** · 22 February 2012, 07:00 PM

Hi Frances,Try http://www.craftysyntax.com its free :-)

**Big Frank** · 23 February 2012, 11:03 PM

That's a good software tip James, many thanks for that.

Only problem is that for it to be effective, it's best that somebody manns the website during at least part of every day. But if that isn't an issue, it's a great way to get client leads. I myself have used live help on websites where I wasn't too interested in sending an email, it's a great marketing tool.

**scruffy.thedog** · 24 February 2012, 03:24 PM

James have you had experience of this in use and DP7?

Has any one else got any other solutions now that Angelize has opened the subject. Crafty syntax seems amazing value for $20 for complete customisation and data it can retreive

Scruffy

**jamesd** · 24 February 2012, 07:09 PM

James have you had experience of this in use and DP7?

I have only used the free version but not with Xara.

CoffeeCup also do a Live Chat app $34 http://www.coffeecup.com/live-chat/. I haven't used it before but usually CoffeeCup works well with Xara

**angelize** · 24 February 2012, 07:41 PM

Thanks James I will have a look at both of those, I'm still waiting at this point to meet with the client and get a better idea of what she wants and what will best suit her needs.

**scruffy.thedog** · 27 February 2012, 09:40 AM

James

I have used a lot of CC products in xara and they all work easily..I looked at the cc version before your post..simple to use and integrate but with very limited functionality compared to the info from crafty - depends on what the client wants (simple chat then cc may be the way) but of course CC offers 1 months free trial to see if it is all you need.

Scruffy

**andymack** · 27 February 2012, 11:48 AM

How about a blog page that is embedded into the site? This way, people can comment and your client can monitor however they want. It does not have to be called a "blog" just an "info" or "queries" page, that way, it does not need monitoring full time, as with a chat-based option. All your client has to do is set up a blog, and you embed it into their site. This way, your clients visitors do not leave the website and yet your client has full interaction via their own blog that is immediately updated in the web page.
I did this with a few clients: From my earlier post: It is very simple to embed a Blogger Blog, ( not WordPress page) just create a placeholder and enter this HTML code:
<div align="left"><iframe src=http://thisdomainname.blogspot.com/ width="950" height="610"></iframe></div>
Obviously swap out the name of the blog, change the width and height until you see it fits OK and you are done.
Someone will tell you that Xara resizes to the placeholder, but I experiment with manual page sizes until it fits inside the webpage, which means the visitor to the site does not leave the website, yet the Blogger can edit as normal, (in Blogger.com) and have the changes reflect immediately in the webpage. See here for my example: http://sandysbythesea.com/blog.htm

**angelize** · 28 February 2012, 01:02 AM

Thanks Andy, that may be another good way to go. I'm still waiting for the client to get back to me so we can set up a time to meet, so I still don't have a clear idea of what will best fit her needs.