launching chat from a link

[zogics]

We would like to be able to launch the chat conversation from the click of a link. We have a couple of uses cases on our e-commerce site:

1) is the "Talk to an Expert" link on our product description pages like here:

https://zogics.com/gym-wipes/antibacterial-gym-wipes-z800-4-rolls-case

(located under quantity option and above add to cart button)

2) the "click here" text link after "Chat:"

3) In our footer - the live chat option 

We migrated our chat service from SnapEngage - and we used to use JavaScript to make this happen.

<a onclick="return SnapEngage.startLink();" href="javascript&colon;void(0);" title="Talk to an Expert">Talk To An Expert</a>

Does anyone know the equivalent on click link for the HubSpot chat? Or an alternative solution?

[MFrankJohnson · Accepted solution]

Try this ...

<a id="click-to-chat__cta--text" class="cta cta--blue" style="margin-top: 20px;" onclick="window.hubspot.messages.EXPERIMENTAL_API.requestWidgetOpen();">Chat with Sales</a>

[zogics]

You are a "super-genius" - yes it works. Thank you thank yoy!

[MFrankJohnson]

No genious. Just resourceful HubSpot researcher.

Please mark as solved. Thanks

[soumlabs]

Hey but where do i put this piece of code? I'm no programmer. Also, i see their website they have moved the chat widget to middle of the pages. How to do it?

[Anonymous]

No code required, just "Append #hs-chat-open to the end of your URL to trigger the chat widget launch."

Reference: https://knowledge.hubspot.com/articles/kcs_article/conversations/chat-with-your-website-visitors

🙂 

[soumlabs]

That is not the solution. It will refresh the page upon clicking the hyper link. I don't want the page to refresh.

[Anonymous]

Then it would help to specify your requirments in more detail 

[soumlabs]

I just want it to work like it is working in the website of the originial poster of this thread. Click the hyperlink and the chat opens up without refreshing the page.

Go to the footer of this website and click the live chat hyperlink text

https://zogics.com/gym-wipes/antibacterial-gym-wipes-z800-4-rolls-case

[Anonymous]

@soumlabs  If you want the button/link to open the chat bubble without a page refresh/reload, then don't use the full page link, and just link to the anchor instead.

here you go:

<a href="#hs-chat-open">Open chat</a>

Did my post help your query? Help the community by Marking it as a solution if it solved your query. In addition, Upvotes are welcome too.

[soumlabs]

It was worse than refreshing page. When I clicked the hyperlink, it took my off to a different 404 not found page and then it opened the chat window.

@Anonymous 

[MFrankJohnson]

- see Chat with your website visitors regarding use of #hs-chat-open

- see original solution above (also, image below)

[Anonymous]

@MFrankJohnson  Please stick to DRY principles. Not sure why you'd want to add JS when a simple anchor link works and is the suggested solution as per the Hubspot documentation - link above

[MFrankJohnson]

>>"MFrankJohnson Please stick to DRY principles. Not sure why you'd want to add JS when a simple anchor link works and is the suggested solution as per the Hubspot documentation..."

WOW, Lopser. Appreciate the flogging.

However, one of the reasons the HubSpot Community exists is because HubSpot documented/suggested solutions don't always solve for all use cases.

-ps
The HubSpot Community is a place where EVERYONE is welcome to post their solutions without being patronized or condescended to. BTW - DRY development speaks to reduction in reduncancy and code repetition specifically -- not the use of alternative solutions or .js.

#nlmtu

[Anonymous]

@MFrankJohnson I'm not saying your solution isn't correct, I'm saying that you are recreating the wheel when it's not neccessary - there's a simpler way to implement.

A couple of extra characters or requests here and some more there all adds up and will impact your website performance.

Re: my previous reply, you are right, everyone is welcome to post. I apologise, sometimes my OCD gets the better of me.

Best of luck

[soumlabs]

The anchor redirected the page to a 404 and then it opened the chat. 

[soumlabs]

@MFrankJohnson I couldn't try your method as I don't know where to put code. Explain?

[RZhang]

Hi  i have tried it, but i dont work.
is there anything wrong??

https://campaign.innovatingautomation.asia/test 

[PamCotton]

Hello @RZhang could you please provide us more details in what was changed on your end? 

Thank you,

Pam

[RZhang]

Hi Pam,

I want to realize the effect like that:

When I click a button, the chat box come out in a new tab. Please check the attachment.

https://community.hubspot.com/t5/Tickets-Conversations/launching-chat-from-a-link/td-p/252778


Best Regards

[WareWorks]

Hi Frank

This is not working for me and generating a client side error, Any idea about this?

Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'messages' of undefined
at HTMLAnchorElement.onclick ((index):503)

[MiaSrebrnjak]

HI @WareWorks,

Welcome to the Community! It would be great if you can share which troubleshooting steps you have taken so far and include a screenshot of the error so the Community has more information to work with. 

Thanks

Mia 

[WareWorks]

Hi Mia

I have resolved this issue. Thank you for your help. 

WW

[MiaSrebrnjak]

Thank you @WareWorks, I'm glad you were able to find a solution!

Have a great rest of your day

Mia 

[mediPr]

I implemented this on my websites and it was working, but a recent update seems to have broken it on two independent website. Anyone experiencing the same? Any solutions? Thanks

[PamCotton]

Hello @mediPr 

Would you be able to provide us more information about what is happening in your end?  The more information, screenshots, and details you can provide, the better I can advise on the next steps.

Thank you,

Pam

[pixii]

@mediPr I had the same thing happen to buttons across my entire site, sometime in the last few weeks.

I found something that works.

Solution:

Where your code had:

onclick="window.hubspot.messages.EXPERIMENTAL_API.requestWidgetOpen();"

Replace with:

onclick="window.HubSpotConversations.widget.open();"

This should fix it.

[sharonlicari]

Thank you for sharing @pixii 

[mediPr]

Hi, thanks so much. Excellent. This solved my issue!

[MatthewShepherd]

For anyone looking to not load their chat widget at all until a button is clicked (rather than popping open a chat widget that has already loaded as discussed above), take a look at this post: https://community.hubspot.com/t5/Tips-Tricks-Best-Practices/onclick-action-doesn-t-work/m-p/457288#M...