Freelance Chat Support Career: 14 Things You Didn't Know

Hello there! Have you ever wondered about a career in freelance chat support?

If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Today, I’m going to show you 15 things you didn’t know about being a Freelance Chat Support Agent. Buckle up, because we’re about to take a trip into this exciting world.

$13/hr Online Chat Support Work at Home Jobs (Non-Phone)

Takeaways
1. Freelance chat support offers a rewarding career path with flexible work options.
2. Effective communication skills are vital for success in freelance chat support roles.
3. Building strong online etiquette is crucial to maintain professionalism in chat support.
4. Continuous learning and upskilling help freelance chat support agents stay competitive.
5. Freelance chat support can provide opportunities for higher earnings and career growth.
6. Understanding customer needs and providing exceptional service are key to success.
7. Networking and building relationships can lead to more freelance chat support opportunities.
8. Balancing work-life and setting boundaries are important for maintaining well-being.
9. Freelancers should stay up to date with chat support tools and technology advancements.
10. Time management and organization skills are essential in freelance chat support careers.
11. Freelancers should leverage online platforms to find chat support job opportunities.
12. Freelance chat support allows for remote work, providing flexibility and freedom.
13. Developing a strong personal brand can help freelance chat support agents stand out.
14. Freelancers should continuously seek feedback to improve their chat support skills.

Table of Contents

1. The Pay Can Be High For A Chat Support Job

If you’ve decided to work as a chat support agent, part of what makes freelancing so appealing is that you’ll be able to make a good amount of money per hour.

As previously mentioned, hourly rates are based on how many chats you can handle in one month and some agents make well over $2-$3 USD per hour for each chat.

If you maintain your client’s standards and continue to take on more chats without sacrificing quality, your pay rate has the potential to keep going up from there. After several months with the same company, you might even qualify for a promotion.

Are you ready to explore the world of freelance customer service? Discover 10 lucrative opportunities that can help you make money online as a freelance customer service agent and take control of your career.

2. It’s Not Exactly A Work From Home Job

A common misconception with online jobs, especially chat support jobs, is that they’re flexible and allow you to work from anywhere in the world. While this is true to an extent, there are some requirements that employers look for that not everyone has access to.

For example, if your employer requires you to be in a quiet place while you’re working, then a coffee shop or library isn’t going to cut it. You must be able to completely shut out distractions during specified periods of time each day so that you can focus on providing quality service.

That said, if you have the option of working from home and selecting your own hours/shifts instead of having them assigned by your employer, then consider yourself lucky.

Other requirements include a stable power supply (power outages aren’t fun), a reliable internet connection (the faster and more reliable the better), and is available at specific hours (e.g., 9-5 EST).

3. Thankfully, The Hours Are Flexible

Thankfully, the hours are flexible. Employers have different schedules and they need to staff their support teams around-the-clock. This means you can pick a schedule that works best for you, whether it’s a standard 9-5 shift or one that runs later in the evening.

Schedules are also dependent on your location, so make sure you take the time zone into account when picking your preferred shift!

This is an especially useful feature if you’re still studying in a college or university (or if you have other commitments). You can work around your academic schedule and still earn a full-time income!

In addition to this flexibility, some companies may not require that you work every day of the week. You could get away with working three days per week instead of five. These kinds of arrangements are very common among students who want to make money without neglecting their studies!

Although freelance chat support jobs don’t offer much vacation time, this increased flexibility might compensate for that limitation. Pick your shifts carefully and don’t overwork yourself you’ll be fine!

4. You’ll Need To Provide Your Own Computer, Headset, And Internet Connection

The first thing you will need is a computer. This doesn’t have to be the most up-to-date machine, but it should be able to run current versions of the programs and applications required by your client. Additionally, you will need a reliable internet connection with a speed fast enough for you to work effectively.

You’ll also need a headset with a microphone for taking calls, as well as somewhere quiet and comfortable where you can concentrate fully on your job without interruption from others or loud noises from appliances or pets.

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5. You Can Still Do It If You Don’t Have Any Background In A Particular Product Or Service

If you’re thinking of applying for a position as an online chat support agent but are worried that you may not be qualified, fear not! If you don’t have any experience with the products or services that this position will be supporting, there is one thing you can learn:

how to quickly and efficiently research for answers. In fact, it’s something that all customer service agents should know how to do.

Being able to locate and absorb information from a vast array of different sources is an essential skill in today’s world, especially so if your job involves providing support for products or services with which you aren’t already familiar.

Online chat support careers aren’t seasonal they’re a great way of gaining work experience at nearly any time of year, whether it happens to be summertime or winter break.

6. You’ll Need To Keep Abreast Of The Latest Information On Products And Services

To be a good agent, you’ll need to keep up to date on the latest information about products and services. A top-performing agent should be able to explain new features and products to customers as well as give them answers based on the latest research on how best to use them.

If you’re new to chat support, there’s no need for you to know everything from day one but it’s important that you take steps towards learning the information necessary for performing your job well. Once you’ve mastered that, all that’s left is for someone in management or HR to notice your stellar work ethic and give you a promotion!

7. You Don’t Need To Be Tech-Savvy

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually have to be tech-savvy in order to work as a chat support agent. What you really need is the ability to follow instructions and learn your way around a computer and online tools and also, of course, the internet itself.

What this means is that even if you’re not sure how an internet browser works or what an app is or what “an email” actually refers to, that’s okay! The important thing is being able to find relevant information online through search engines and company knowledge bases. Your employer will be able to provide training for this.

8. There’s No Limit To The Companies That Offer Chat Support Jobs

There are a number of companies that offer chat support jobs, and new ones are constantly popping up. This may sound exciting, but there’s a downside: the demand for these positions often outpaces the supply.

Chat support work is gaining popularity as a growing number of companies look to provide customers with instant service via their websites, apps, and social media pages. If you’re interested in setting yourself apart from your competitors and landing one of these jobs, it may require contacting dozens of companies before you receive any offers.

Social media etiquette is crucial for freelancers to establish a positive online presence. Learn the best practices and guidelines in our comprehensive guide on social media etiquette for freelancers to effectively engage with your audience and showcase your professionalism.

9. The Pay Is Higher For Technical Chat Jobs When Compared With Non-Tech Chat Jobs

Sometimes the pay for tech support chat jobs is higher because the work is more technical than non-technical chat. The minimum wage for a non-tech chat job in the US is $9 per hour, while some technical chat companies start at $10 to $12 per hour. However, if you choose a company that has a multi-level wage structure, your hourly rate will increase after you’ve been with them for a certain amount of time.

It’s important to keep in mind that the type of customer service job you are doing can vary widely from one company to another, and it may not be worth taking on extra work just for an increase in pay. This can put a strain on your personal life as well as your professional life.

10. You Can Work For Apps Such As Facebook Messenger And Whatsapp Too

If you think of WhatsApp as just a private messaging app, then you’re missing out. It’s actually become a platform for businesses to connect with customers. They use it to provide customer support and resolve issues, send shipping notifications and receipts, and more.

Facebook Messenger is another popular service that companies use for customer support, although the requirements for agents will vary from company to company. To find out if these options are available in your area and learn about the requirements, do some research online or contact the companies directly.

You should be comfortable with technology if you want to work in chat support. You’ll also need access to a smartphone. It’s helpful if you have a good understanding of how people use social media too since most chat apps are also social networks or at least they started out that way!

11. There Are Training Involved During Your Application Process That Last Two Weeks Or A Month Depending On The Employer

Chat support jobs sometimes require you to undergo two-week or one-month training.

Training is important for you to understand how the company works, how to use the tools needed in your job, and most importantly, help you with your growth as an agent.

The duration of training varies per company but most of them last for two weeks while others may take up to one month.

Usually, training is done online via Skype where the trainer would take you through a series of modules that must be completed before being considered as trained.

12. Some Employers Even Cover The Cost Of Training By Deducting It From Your Payroll

Many employers will cover the cost of training for employees by deducting the fee from your first payroll. This is great because it means you don’t have to pay anything upfront. However, some companies will make you pay for the training out of your own pocket and later reimburse you on a case-by-case basis if they decide to hire you. That’s not nearly as awesome.

Every now and then, you’ll find an employer who covers only part of the cost of training or even charges a fee that’s deducted from payroll (not exactly ideal).

Some companies offer free training but then deduct the cost from your first payroll; still, others offer free training but then deduct the cost from your first payroll; still, others offer them directly through their clients’ websites, which makes things a little more complicated depending on whether or not they’re willing to give out access credentials to applicants.

Your pay is based on how many chats you make per month. If you want to get promoted, you’ll need to keep chats as active as possible.

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13. Your Pay Is Based On How Many Chats You Make Per Month

The more chats you make, the more money you make. If a chat takes 10 minutes and pays $1, it will take 100 minutes to reach the $10 payment threshold. In one hour of work, your earnings would be $5 with a 10-minute response time, or $12 with a five-minute response time.

Although this may not seem like much at first glance, if you’re consistent in initiating new conversations throughout your shift, the numbers do add up! And the more skills you’ve developed in your career (see the section below), the better equipped you’ll be to handle these conversations without feeling overwhelmed by them.

Additionally, there are also other benefits from being an active part of our program that can help increase your income:

You can get promoted if you make a lot of chats during each shift? but only if these chats are quality interactions for customers. Your performance level determines which promotions are available based on how well trained and experienced we believe other users would be with having those skills when interacting with customers at different levels of difficulty or complexity.?

14. The More Chats You Make, The More Skills You Develop

Your starting pay is anywhere between $2-$3 (USD) per hour but this could increase depending on how long you stay with a company. But even if you put that into perspective, it’s still minimal compared to the amount most people earn annually in their home countries.

However, there are ways to increase your hourly wage. This could be through promotions or getting additional bonuses from your company. It’s also possible that some companies don’t have an hourly rate at all and reward based on productivity instead.

Master the art of online chat support with our step-by-step guide. From understanding customer needs to providing exceptional service, our complete guide to online chat support will equip you with the skills to excel in this rewarding career path.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have finished reading this article, which I think is a good introduction to the world of chat support. If you are interested in working with clients and customers through chat support, I hope this article will give you a good sense of what it involves and the kinds of work available.

The article was informative and educational, so it’s recommended for those who are trying to find out more about these roles before applying for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Apply For A Chat Support Job?

You can go to a company website, like LiveWorld.com, and look for their careers pages. They usually have a “contact us” button somewhere in the footer of their website. You can also send an email directly to the hiring manager or HR team to ask them about any vacancies they might be having.

What Should I Wear For My Chat Support Job?

Freelance chat agents are required to wear business casual attire while on duty. That means no jeans, short skirts (no shorter than knee length), sleeveless shirts and blouses, sandals or slippers, and very casual clothing (like t-shirts with slogans).

For men, it’s also not advisable to wear shorts or flip-flops as they are not considered appropriate business attire.

What Are The Requirements For A Chat Support Job?

To work as a freelance chat agent, you need some basic IT skills including typing speed of at least 40 words per minute (this is often tested during interviews), and familiarity with Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel.

Ability to navigate websites easily; excellent research skills; good communication skills both written and verbal; time management abilities that allow you to complete tasks within deadlines set by companies before paying out any commissions earned during their shifts worked each month.

How do I get started as a freelancer?

Getting started as a freelancer involves several steps:

Identify your skills and areas of expertise.
Create a professional portfolio or website to showcase your work.
Network with potential clients and build connections in your industry.
Consider joining freelance platforms or marketplaces to find job opportunities.
Continuously improve your skills and stay updated with industry trends.

How can I find freelance clients?

Finding freelance clients can be done through various methods:

Utilize online freelance platforms and marketplaces such as Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr.
Network with professionals in your industry through social media platforms like LinkedIn.
Leverage your existing network and ask for referrals or recommendations.
Create a compelling online presence through a portfolio website or blog to attract potential clients.
Attend industry events, conferences, or meetups to connect with potential clients face-to-face.

How do I set freelance rates?

Setting freelance rates depends on various factors:

Consider your level of experience and expertise in your field.
Research industry standards and market rates for similar services.
Factor in your desired income and the value you provide to clients.
Assess the complexity and scope of each project or task.
Be flexible and willing to negotiate rates based on the specific requirements of each client.

How do I manage my finances as a freelancer?

Managing your finances as a freelancer is essential for success:

Set up a separate bank account for your freelance income and expenses.
Keep track of your income and expenses using accounting software or spreadsheets.
Set aside a portion of your earnings for taxes and other business expenses.
Consider working with an accountant or bookkeeper to ensure proper financial management.
Create a budget and plan for variable income by saving for lean months and emergencies.

Herman Edward

I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!

Freelance Chat Support Career: 14 Things You Didn’t Know