Either a reminder or something new if you didn't already know it....
Many of us cut and paste URLs from a browser into the chat window for customers, but I wasn't aware that for the URL to show up as an active (clickable) link in the customer's window you need to include the HTTP:// in the URL. It may look clickable in our provider side chat window once we've sent it, but without the preceding http:// the URL probably won't be active for the user.
So, if you want to send somebody a link to the Chia Pet website, send http://www.chia.com not just www.chia.com.
Good point!
Patrons' browsers don't automatically recognize that chia.com or even www.chia.com is a URL and not simply a string of text. If you're searching for a web site, it's definitely preferred to simply copy-and-paste the URL from your browser into your chat. If you know a URL off the top of your head, always try to include the http://. Also, remember that the patron wouldn't be able to click on an "http://"-less link you send, but they can copy-and-paste it into their browser. It's simply better customer service to provide the "clickable" link.
That being said, you can also copy and paste URLs with commas, such as http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1924492,00.html , or loooong URLs to database articles, such as http://www.oplin.org/databases/proxy/proxy.php?qurl=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004%26rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CPDB%26rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx%26rft_dat=11B29A415878DCB0%26svc_dat=InfoWeb:newsbank%26req_dat=0EB227808D0BAF1C%26fromowl=yes.
Thanks!