Hi Alexandra,
I use Google+ hangouts for a weekly mastermind. If we use the hangouts plus feature, it allows the six of us not only to meet in real-time, see and speak to one another, but also to share our screens. That way, if we want feedback on a site or are trying to figure out a program, we can all see the screen in question and provide feedback.
We use the chat box to share links to websites and other data that can be clicked on or copied and pasted elsewhere.
This feature is also great for helping clients and for showing a group how to use a specific application and answering questions about it.

@alexandrabriggs if you want Live Chat as a feature on your website, I can check back–I looked into it for my last company.

But, you need to ensure you have staff available in whatever window you say you will staff it. It gives a very negative impression if you say Live Chat available, and then a visitor gets a message no one is available.

Some systems actually do not show the live chat when your staff is not available–I think you can even have the widget display a form or other feature.

I am also interested in this topic. @alexandrabriggs   I have been using the Google+ hangouts, but would love to be able to do this with a larger group. People love seeing each other!  Does anybody know of face to face chat room that is also out there?

@alexandrabriggs

we send auto requests after 3 page visits.  I used to keep an eye on visitors also and if they lurked at the checkout would send manual invites to chat.  We have in the past sent of triggered invites with coupons and competitions.  I like it as a system and its not stupid expensive and easy to intergrate

Sorry I am late to this party, but Live Chat is my industry so I thought I would chime in albeit long after this thread started. I work for a company that has a social media application that enables businesses to incorporate the same chat functionality across all their customer touch points (website, email marketing, social channels, mobile, etc.). This means that all your chat data can be aggregated and your chat agents aren’t working with multiple programs.As LivePerson’s social media manager, I incorporate chat features into our dominant social channels. Plus we are able to add live chat buttons to email campaigns and throughout our public communities. Having all this data feed into one system enables us to monitor cross-channel visitor behavior in a unique way.There are many really awesome chat providers out there that offer a wide range of features and functionality. It’s a really cool industry that is constantly evolving as ecommerce itself evolves. I definitely suggest considering a chat option for your customer touch points. I don’t have the exact statistics in front of me, but having live chat deployed definitely increases conversions, average order values and customer satisfaction. If you want to see the numbers or case studies, I’d be happy to post them.Thanks!