Dealers using live chat are seeing one in four conversations generating a sales lead, according to statistics from Auto Trader.

From 70,000 consumer conversations with 350 dealers, 17,000 leads were generated.

Live Chat is an online instant messaging service that connects potential customers with a dealer’s sales team.

Auto Trader believes live chat allows dealers to interact with customers at an early stage of the buying process and can help engage with consumers in a way that static online web pages can’t.

Nathan Coe, Group Director, Auto Trader said: “We are seeing time and time again that dealers that have properly implemented live chat functionality are seeing leads that in most cases are incremental to the leads they had before implementation.

“This goes to show that good online marketing with the ability to reach out and interact means hundreds of savvy dealers are winning more customers in a cost efficient way.”

Top 10 live chat tips

1. Respond quickly
2. Stay online
3. Use friendly introductions
4. Don’t demand
5. Ask for contact details
6. Find out if they are at work
7. Suggest a visit to the dealer
8. Strike while the iron’s hot
9. Be honest
10. Once you’ve engaged with a customer, stay in touch.