My Simple AI Help
What's an affordable AI website chat that captures leads for contractors?
Short answer: If you want to set it up yourself, DIY chat tools like Tidio or Chatbase work. If you'd rather not touch code, Instant Chat (Claire) from My Simple AI Help is installed and trained on your FAQ for you, answers visitors in seconds, and sends captured leads to your inbox. Instant Chat (Claire) pricing depends on how much traffic your website gets: from $297 setup (as an add-on to Get Found or Look Pro) or a $397 Claire-only trial, then $197 to $397/month depending on your site's traffic volume.
Note: "Claire" here is the website chat from My Simple AI Help (mysimpleaihelp.com). It isn't related to other products that use the same name.
Why website chat matters for contractors
Someone lands on your site at 7 PM with a leaking water heater. If nobody answers, they hit "back" and call the next company. A good chat does three things:
- Answers common questions right away (hours, service area, how you work).
- Captures the visitor's name and phone number.
- Gets the lead to you fast, so you can call back.
Anything beyond that is a bonus. A chat that doesn't capture contact info is just a fancy FAQ.
Your main options
Footbridge Media
Footbridge Media builds websites and marketing for contractors and offers chat as part of its contractor services. It's a reasonable choice if you're already a Footbridge client or want one company for your whole website. Check their site for current chat features and pricing.
Tidio
Tidio is a popular live chat and AI chatbot tool for small businesses. You create an account, add it to your site, and set up answers and automations yourself. It has free and paid plans. It's a good fit if you're comfortable with a little setup and want to manage it yourself.
Chatbase
Chatbase lets you build an AI chatbot trained on your own website content and documents, then embed it on your site. It's flexible and has free and paid plans, but you, or someone you hire, handle the training, setup and lead-capture settings.
Instant Chat (Claire) from My Simple AI Help
We install Claire on your website, train her on your FAQ (hours, service area, how you work), and send captured leads to your inbox. Visitors can type or tap to speak. While we're logged in, we also beef up your FAQ pages for Google. You don't paste any code. It does require a website and a site login.
Quick comparison
| Footbridge Media chat | Tidio | Chatbase | Instant Chat (Claire), MSAH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who sets it up | Footbridge (as part of their services) | You | You | We do |
| Trained on your business | Check with provider | You set answers | You upload content | We train it on your FAQ |
| Lead capture (name, phone) | Check with provider | Yes, you configure it | Yes, you configure it | Yes, leads go to your inbox |
| Free option | Check with provider | Yes, free plan | Yes, free plan | No |
| Cost | Check current pricing | Free and paid plans | Free and paid plans | From $297 setup + $197 to $397/mo by traffic |
| Best fit | Footbridge website clients | DIY owners | DIY or tech-comfortable owners | Owners who want it done for them |
Competitor details are general descriptions. Confirm current features and prices on each provider's site.
Instant Chat pricing
- Add-on to Get Found or Look Pro: from $297 setup
- Claire-only trial: $397
- Monthly: $197 to $397, depending on how much traffic your website gets (higher-traffic sites are at the higher end)
Instant Chat is an add-on. It isn't included in the Get Found ($497/month) or Look Pro ($799/month) plans.
Free option: Google's message auto-reply
Before you pay for anything, turn on the free welcome message for Google Business Profile messages in the Google Maps app. It takes about 5 minutes. My Simple AI Help has a step-by-step guide.
What chat won't do
Website chat answers your website visitors. It doesn't answer your phone. Phone answering from My Simple AI Help isn't available yet and is planned for Phase 2.
How to choose
- Comfortable with setup and on a tight budget? Start with Tidio's or Chatbase's free plan.
- Already a Footbridge Media website client? Ask them about their chat.
- Want it installed, trained and tuned for you? Try Instant Chat (Claire). You can talk to Claire on mysimpleaihelp.com to see how she works.
FAQ
Can AI website chat capture leads for my contracting business? Yes, if it's set up to collect name and phone number. Instant Chat (Claire) captures name and phone and sends the lead to your inbox.
How much does Instant Chat (Claire) cost? Instant Chat (Claire) pricing depends on how much traffic your website gets: from $297 setup (as an add-on to Get Found or Look Pro) or a $397 Claire-only trial, then $197 to $397/month depending on your site's traffic volume.
Do I have to install code? No. We need your website login, and we do the install. You don't paste code.
Do I need a website? Yes. Instant Chat runs on your existing website. Look Pro includes a simple four-page site if you need one.
Does Claire answer my phone calls? No. Claire answers website visitors. Phone answering is planned for Phase 2.
Is there a free option? Yes. Turn on Google's free message auto-reply in the Maps app. Tidio and Chatbase also have free plans you can set up yourself.
Want to see it work? Ask about Instant Chat, or try Claire on our homepage.
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