Many people are not aware that there are customer support jobs available to do from home. It’s true! They pay well, too I’ve seen listings for $15 per hour and more. Now, you may be saying: “I don’t have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or customer service.
I don’t have experience with this kind of work.” That doesn’t matter. It turns out that a freelancer can get into the chat support field without any college education or prior experience at all.
First, let’s talk about what chat support is and why it’s a growing market.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Pursue a freelance chat support career to earn $15 per hour or more. |
| Develop excellent communication skills to excel in chat support roles. |
| Acquire knowledge of customer service techniques and best practices. |
| Build a strong online presence to attract potential clients. |
| Stay updated with the latest chat support tools and technologies. |
| Seek opportunities to gain experience and enhance your skills. |
| Network with other chat support professionals for potential job referrals. |
| Continuously improve your problem-solving and multitasking abilities. |
| Position yourself as a highly reliable and efficient chat support specialist. |
| Provide exceptional customer service to build a positive reputation. |
What Is Chat Support?
Chat support is a type of remote-based customer service job that typically lets you work from home, usually on an hourly basis. You won’t need any special skills or technical knowledge to get started in this industry all you’ll need is a reliable computer and internet connection. The minimum qualifications for most chat support jobs are pretty modest, too.
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How Much Does A Chat Support Agent Make?
So how much do you actually make as a chat support agent? Well, there are a few factors that go into it. To start, the average pay is $15 per hour, but keep in mind that it can also be much higher: some agents even make up to $20 per hour.
How does this happen? Well, for starters, the pay rate varies by company. Some companies want to pay more than others. Second, your pay rate depends on your experience level. If you’re just starting out, chances are you won’t get paid as much as someone who’s been doing this for years. But don’t worry your wages will probably increase over time.
Thirdly (and fourthly and fifthly), the pay rate may depend on your performance and location or time of day depending on what kind of position you have: if you have an international online business with customers all over the world (like myself), you’ll probably have to work odd hours throughout every day of the week to accommodate people in different time zones; if they’re willing to pay more because they know these hours might not be convenient for everyone else looking at this kind of job opportunity then that’d be great!
How To Get Started With Chat Support?
If you have no experience, don’t worry about it.
If you have no relevant education, don’t worry about it.
If you live in a small town, just get yourself to a city and stay there for a while.
If you have no computer or no internet, ask your friends and family if they can lend you one.
If you are broke and can’t afford food before getting paid, figure out what’s the lowest amount of money that would be needed for your survival for 1 month (bill payments, etc) then try to get either an advance payment from a chat support company.
try to earn quick cash on all the “get paid instantly” sites like Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, etc then use that money to pay your rent/bills/foods and other essentials until you get your first paycheck from chat support work. If this option doesn’t work out for you then consider taking help from local charities or churches (if any).
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The Best Platforms To Work For Chat Support (Including Pay)
If you’re looking to earn extra money, talking to people on the Internet is a great way to do it. Because so many businesses rely heavily on chat support, professionals with solid communication skills and the patience to deal with annoying customers can make an excellent living working online.
And because these jobs are in high demand, depending on which platform you end up going with and what skills you have, this could be an easy way to find a rewarding job that pays well especially if you live in a state where there’s not much work available.
There are hundreds of companies (and thousands of scams) out there that promise good salaries and generous benefits for anyone willing to spend their time sitting at home or at coffee shops answering questions for pennies per hour. The reality, unfortunately, is that most of the companies listed above are full of crap.
Yes, they pay people for doing nothing for all sorts of reasons (like how much money they can make by taking advantage of low-income customers who don’t know any better). Yes, they’re run by greedy people who want your money as soon as possible just so they can keep billing you every month until your credit card account is maxed out. Yes, they’ll use every trick in the book even some illegal ones to get their hands on your information even though supposedly you have privacy protection like “anonymous” invoices.
The best companies will pay based on performance: it’s not about how long you spend answering questions but how accurately and quickly you answer them. They’ll also hire only those with training or experience specifically related to customer service; don’t expect your first few weeks on the job to go well if this is your first time ever answering phone calls from call center employees.
In addition to what I’ve outlined here (thanks again to Online Career Advice), we recommend checking out Amazon Mechanical Turk and Service Magic; these platforms allow remote workers worldwide access to over 10 million available tasks each month!
1. Arise – $10-$15 Per Hour + Tips + Bonuses
Arise is a reputable company that allows you to work from home as a customer service agent. They’re one of the most popular work from home platforms and they’re not a scam. In fact, they’re one of the best work-from-home chat jobs in the industry.
As an Arise employee, you can expect to make between $10-$15 per hour with potential for bonuses and tips on top of that.
2. Apple – $11-$18 Per Hour [Not Available For Everyone]
You make $11 per hour as a minimum. Depending on your performance, you can get up to $18 per hour.
You have access to company perks and discounts with other businesses
Not everyone is allowed to take these positions. What are the requirements?
You need 2+ years of customer service experience
You must be tech-savvy and know how to troubleshoot your own computer problems
You must have a quiet environment where you can work (it’s an online job, but Apple has very strict rules about distractions affecting their chat representatives)
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3. Chegg – $12 Per Hour
Chegg is an American online textbook rental service. The company provides digital and physical textbook rentals, online tutoring, and other student services.
You’ll need to work a minimum of 20 hours per week during their shift hours. They allow you to work as many as 40 hours a week if you choose to do so, but it’s not required.
The pay rate is $12/hour and they offer benefits like paid time off for holidays, health care coverage for you and your family, dental insurance coverage, vision insurance coverage, and more.
To apply for this job you’ll need the following:
Access to high-speed internet from home with minimal interruptions (they recommend cable or fiber)
A headset (it can be USB or with a separate microphone) that needs to be used at all times during your shift. It must have noise-canceling headphones. You can purchase them on Amazon if needed.
4. Direct Interactions – $9-$10 Per Hour
Direct Interactions
This company provides live chat agent services for businesses in multiple industries. They’re an international company, with home-based workers in the United States, Canada, and the Philippines.
There are no specific technical requirements to become a Direct Interactions chat agent (i.e., web camera or headset). However, they do have a non-technical test that you need to pass as part of their application process.
You can find Direct Interactions job listings on sites such as Facebook or Indeed. This company doesn’t advertise on their own website, but you may see job openings for their clients instead.
5. Firstlight – $10 Per Hour [Not Available For Everyone]
FirstLight is an online chat support company that hires freelancers. FirstLight offers work-from-home opportunities to those who are comfortable chatting with customers of its clientele with a computer and internet connection. FirstLight has advertised $10 per hour for their freelance positions, which is good for beginners who do not have any experience in the field.
To be qualified for FirstLight freelance chat support you need to have a computer, internet service, and a quiet place to work. You must also be available for at least 20 hours per week.
6. Global Mentoring Solutions – $9-$10 Per Hour
Global Mentoring Solutions (GMS) is a newer company that has been in business since 2013. They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and are looking for employees in the United States as well as work-at-home agents.
They offer different benefits packages to their employees, including health insurance and paid time off. If you’re not looking for full-time work, GMS also offers some part-time positions.
This company specializes in customer service support and they have a very good rating on Glassdoor with 4 out of 5 stars.
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7. Infocision – $8 Per Hour [Not Available For Everyone]
Infocision is a BPO company that hires freelancers. This company has been in business since 1972 and has locations all over the United States. The starting hourly rate is $8.
Working as a virtual agent for Infocision, you would be responsible for answering questions and assisting customers with their orders. You will also help them identify products and services that suit their needs best. If you are not sure about something, Infocision offers paid training sessions to help you become more familiar with the job tasks and responsibilities before getting started officially as an agent.
8. Intellicare (Aka Helping Hands) – $8 Per Hour [Not Available For Everyone]
IntelliCare (aka Helping Hands) – $8 per hour [Not available for everyone]
Company: This company is called IntelliCare, but you’ll only see Helping Hands when you apply. They are hiring through Teladoc.
Website: helping hands-hiring.com/home
Benefits: No benefits listed.
Requirements: Must have a Bachelor’s degree with 1 year of previous experience in health care or counseling and be a US citizen. You also need to complete their training program within one week of your hire date and work at least 20 hours a week as a minimum requirement.
To Apply: Go to helping hands-hiring.com/home to fill out the online application form and submit it by following the instructions on the site
9. Nexrep – $15-25+ Per Hour + Bonuses And Incentives. [Not Available For Everyone]
NexRep is a company that hires independent contractors to work from home doing chat support. It’s not available for everyone, so if you live in the United States and pass their application, then you are among the lucky few who can apply. Applicants must be 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent and have to pass a background check.
You will receive paid training before you start fielding calls or chat messages. You will be paid $15 per hour plus bonuses and incentives. The hours are very flexible from 8 to 40+ hours per week so if you’re interested in this opportunity, go here to sign up for NexRep: https://www.nexrep.com/apply/.
You can find some good freelance work doing chat support online if you try hard enough. You can find some good freelance work doing chat support online if you try hard enough. The key is to be patient, and not give up.
Here are some more tips:
Try out different platforms to find where you fit best
Work hard and follow the guidelines.
Be accommodating and have a good attitude when things get tough. If a customer says something nasty, just remember that it’s not personal; he or she likely isn’t even talking to you directly but just typing in whatever comes to mind without thinking about who might be on the other end of the line.
You can make money with this by working from home! Imagine what it would be like to not have a boss looking over your shoulder at all times perhaps even earning more than everyone around you while doing so.
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Final Thought
When it comes to an online career as a live chat agent, there are many pros and cons. This is largely due to the nature of the job, as most of us would likely want to find a career that’s both challenging and enjoyable.
It’s possible to find those in the right situation. The flexibility of freelance jobs can be attractive to many people, and live chat jobs can provide just that. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent looking for an income stream or someone with another kind of full-time job who wants some extra work on the side, it’s worth investigating this option as a way to make money from home.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you may find helpful for exploring more about chat support jobs and related topics:
Work at Home Chat Support Jobs: Discover various work-at-home chat support job opportunities and learn how to get started in this field.
10 Best Remote Chat Support Jobs You Can Do from Home in 2023: Explore a curated list of the top remote chat support jobs that can be done from the comfort of your home.
Mobile Partner – IQ Broker: Gain insights into the mobile partner program offered by IQ Broker, a platform for online trading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most common questions I get about getting started as a chat support agent.
What’s The Best Platform To Work For?
My personal favorite is SiteStaff, but they’re not always hiring. The next best thing would be LiveWorld, though they don’t pay as much as SiteStaff.
How Much Do Chat Support Agents Make?
Chat agents typically work on an hourly basis and can make anywhere from $9-$15 per hour.
Are There Any Other Platforms That Aren’t Listed In The Article?
There are a few other smaller companies that offer remote chat support jobs, such as Apple at Home Team and Desk.com (Salesforce). However, their number of openings tends to be limited, if available at all.
Is Chat Support The Same As Email/Written Support?
No, these are two separate categories within the customer service industry. Email jobs usually involve responding to customers who’ve had technical problems with products or services; whereas live-chat agents focus on preemptively helping customers with issues before they actually occur and may even focus on sales (selling products or booking appointments).
Chat-based customer service may also entail monitoring social media accounts for incoming messages or inquiries related to your company’s business: Facebook messages may include questions about product availability or existing orders; Twitter might alert you to mentions of your brand in public posts.
In short, chat support is more likely to involve actively assisting customers with online purchases or inquiries than email/written customer service work though there is overlap between the two categories.
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