Implementation Best Practices
Get the most out of Resly by following these proven best practices from successful customers.
Knowledge Base Content
Do
✓ Start with your top 20 most-asked support questions ✓ Write in clear, simple language customers understand ✓ Include specific examples and step-by-step instructions ✓ Keep articles focused on one topic each ✓ Update content when policies or products change
Don’t
✗ Upload technical jargon or internal documentation ✗ Include outdated or contradictory information ✗ Write 5000-word articles when 500 will do ✗ Forget to include common variations of questions ✗ Leave gaps in critical workflows
Quality over quantity: 10 well-written articles covering common questions outperform 100 poorly organized docs.
AI Tone and Guidance
Do
✓ Match your brand voice (friendly, professional, casual, empathetic) ✓ Give specific examples of how to respond to edge cases ✓ Set clear boundaries (what the AI should/shouldn’t do) ✓ Test different tones with real customer questions ✓ Iterate based on how customers respond
Don’t
✗ Use generic “be helpful” guidance ✗ Contradict your knowledge base content ✗ Tell the AI to do things it can’t (e.g., access accounts it can’t see) ✗ Change tone drastically after customers are used to it
Example good guidance:
“Always mention our 30-day guarantee when discussing returns. Never promise refunds over $500 without manager approval. Escalate billing questions about enterprise contracts.”
Widget Placement
Do
✓ Put chat widget in bottom-right (standard for most sites) ✓ Put search launcher in bottom-left if using both ✓ Test on mobile to ensure launchers don’t overlap content ✓ Make sure both are visible above fold ✓ Use contrasting colors so they’re easy to spot
Don’t
✗ Hide widgets behind other page elements ✗ Use accent colors that clash with your brand ✗ Position launchers where they cover critical content ✗ Forget to test on tablets and mobile devices
Testing Before Launch
Do
✓ Test with at least 20 real customer questions ✓ Review the event log to see what knowledge the AI retrieves ✓ Try edge cases and off-topic questions ✓ Have multiple team members test independently ✓ Check on different browsers and devices
Don’t
✗ Launch without testing in preview mode first ✗ Assume it’ll work perfectly on day one ✗ Skip testing on mobile ✗ Test only happy-path scenarios
Always test in preview mode before deploying to production. Verify the AI retrieves the right content and provides accurate answers.
Monitoring and Iteration
Do
✓ Check the Analyze tab weekly for common questions ✓ Look for patterns in what customers ask ✓ Add knowledge base content for frequently asked questions ✓ Monitor ticket escalations to see what the AI can’t handle ✓ Refine AI guidance based on real interactions
Don’t
✗ Set it and forget it ✗ Ignore customer feedback about AI responses ✗ Let knowledge base get stale ✗ Keep content that’s no longer accurate
Weekly review checklist:
- Check top 10 most-asked questions
- Identify content gaps (questions AI can’t answer)
- Review escalated tickets for patterns
- Add/update 2-3 articles based on findings
- Test improvements in preview mode
Escalation Strategy
Do
✓ Set clear criteria for when to escalate to humans ✓ Make escalation easy (one-click ticket creation) ✓ Include conversation context in escalated tickets ✓ Respond to escalated tickets promptly ✓ Use ticket feedback to improve knowledge base
Don’t
✗ Make customers ask three times before escalating ✗ Lose conversation context during handoff ✗ Let escalated tickets sit unread ✗ Escalate everything (defeats the purpose)
Good escalation triggers:
- Customer explicitly requests human support
- AI confidence is low (<0.7 relevance)
- Question is outside knowledge base
- High-value transaction needs approval
- Customer is frustrated or angry
Measuring Success
Key Metrics to Track
- Resolution Rate - % of questions answered without escalation
- Average Response Time - Should be <2 seconds
- Customer Satisfaction - From feedback buttons
- Time Saved - Hours not spent on repetitive questions
- Knowledge Base Coverage - % of questions AI can answer
Expected Performance
| Timeframe | Resolution Rate | Response Time | Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| First month | 40-60% | <2s | 75%+ |
| After 3 months | 70-85% | <2s | 85%+ |
| After 6 months | 80-94% | <2s | 90%+ |
Performance improves over time as you add content and refine based on customer interactions.
Content Organization
Article Structure
Good article structure:
# Clear Title (matches how customers phrase it)
Brief intro explaining what this article covers.
## Step 1: First Action
Specific instructions with examples.
## Step 2: Next Action
More details.
## Common Issues
- Problem: Solution
- Problem: Solution
## Need More Help?
Link to related articles or escalation option.Topic Coverage
Priority 1 (create first):
- Top 20 support questions
- Getting started guides
- Common troubleshooting
- Policy information (returns, shipping, etc.)
Priority 2 (add next):
- Product/service details
- Account management
- Advanced features
- Integration guides
Priority 3 (nice to have):
- Best practices
- Tips and tricks
- Industry-specific guides
- Edge cases
Continuous Improvement
The best Resly implementations improve over time:
Monthly Review Process
Week 1: Analyze performance
- Review resolution rate trends
- Check customer satisfaction scores
- Identify top unanswered questions
Week 2: Plan improvements
- Prioritize content gaps
- Draft new articles
- Update outdated content
Week 3: Implement changes
- Add/update knowledge base
- Refine AI guidance
- Test in preview mode
Week 4: Monitor impact
- Check if resolution rate improved
- Review new escalation patterns
- Adjust as needed
Consistency is key: Small, regular improvements outperform occasional large updates.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Insufficient Knowledge Base
Problem: Deploying with too little content Solution: Start with minimum 20 articles covering common questions
2. Unclear AI Guidance
Problem: Generic instructions like “be helpful” Solution: Provide specific examples and boundaries
3. No Testing
Problem: Deploying without thorough testing Solution: Test with 20+ real questions before launch
4. Set and Forget
Problem: Not monitoring or improving after launch Solution: Weekly reviews and continuous iteration
5. Wrong Tone
Problem: AI voice doesn’t match brand Solution: Test different tones, use specific guidance
Advanced Tips
For E-commerce
- Upload return and shipping policies first
- Configure order lookup integration early
- Set maximum refund amounts for safety
- Add product FAQs by category
For SaaS
- Start with onboarding documentation
- Add API reference for developers
- Create troubleshooting guides by feature
- Include billing and account management
For Documentation Sites
- Organize content by topic hierarchy
- Use instant search mode for speed
- Include code examples in articles
- Link related documentation
Next Steps
- Deploy your widget following these best practices
- Monitor analytics weekly
- Review use cases for industry-specific tips
- Get support when you need help
Remember: The best implementations start simple and improve continuously based on real customer interactions.