If you run a WordPress site and want to talk to your visitors in real time, live chat is a no-brainer. Email is slow. Contact forms get ignored. But a chat box? That gets people talking—and buying. This guide is for anyone who wants to set up Olark’s live chat on their WordPress site without getting lost in technical weeds or salesy nonsense.
Olark isn’t the only live chat tool out there, but it’s one of the easiest to use (and it won’t spam you with pop-ups every five minutes). Here’s how to get it working, what to watch out for, and some honest advice about what’s actually worth your time.
Why bother with live chat on WordPress?
Let’s be blunt: People expect instant answers. If you’re running a store, a service, or even a blog, a live chat widget gives visitors a reason to stick around instead of bouncing off to your competitors. It’s handy for:
- Answering quick questions without endless email threads
- Catching leads before they disappear
- Making your site feel more approachable (less like a robot, more like a human)
But not all chat tools are created equal. Some slow down your site. Some are a nightmare to set up. Some just annoy people more than they help.
Olark is a solid choice because it’s straightforward, works with WordPress, and doesn’t require you to sell your soul for a basic feature.
Step 1: Sign up for an Olark account
Before you can add anything to WordPress, you need an Olark account. No way around it.
- Go to Olark’s sign-up page and create an account. The free trial is fine for testing.
- You’ll land in a dashboard. Grab a coffee—you’ll be here a few minutes.
Pro tip: Use a real email address. Olark sends you setup info, and you’ll need it for password resets or notifications.
Step 2: Find your Olark chat code
Olark works by giving you a small JavaScript snippet. You paste it into your website and, like magic, chat appears.
- In your Olark dashboard, look for “Settings” or “Installation.”
- You’ll see a box with code that looks like this:
html
- Copy the entire snippet. Don’t try to tweak it—just copy as is.
Don’t overthink it: You don’t need to be a coder. If you can copy and paste, you can do this.
Step 3: Add the Olark code to your WordPress site
You have two main ways to do this: manually or with a plugin. Here’s what actually works (and what’s a waste of time):
Option 1: Paste it manually (works almost everywhere)
If you’re comfortable editing your theme, this is the cleanest way. The Olark chat will load on every page.
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme File Editor (or “Editor” in block themes).
- Open your theme’s
footer.phpfile. Scroll near the bottom, right before the</body>tag. - Paste your Olark code snippet there.
- Save your changes.
Why the footer?
That way, the chat loads after your main content—so it doesn’t slow down the page for visitors.
Heads up: If you change your theme later, you’ll need to repeat this. Theme updates can overwrite your changes.
Option 2: Use a plugin (safest for non-techies)
If poking around in code makes you nervous, use a plugin. You want something that lets you add scripts to your site’s header or footer.
- Try “Insert Headers and Footers” by WPBeginner (free, popular, and not shady).
- Install and activate the plugin.
- Go to Settings > Insert Headers and Footers.
- Paste your Olark code into the “Scripts in Footer” box.
- Save.
What to ignore:
Don’t waste time on random “Olark for WordPress” plugins—they’re either outdated or just add the same script you can paste yourself.
Option 3: Page builder blocks (for single pages)
If you only want chat on certain pages, some page builders (like Elementor or Beaver Builder) let you add HTML or JavaScript widgets.
- Drag an HTML/JS block onto your desired page.
- Paste your Olark code.
- Save and publish.
Honest take:
Unless you have a good reason, put chat on every page. Otherwise, you’ll miss people who need help.
Step 4: Test your chat box
Now the fun part: see if it actually works.
- Open your website in a private/incognito window.
- Wait a second—Olark’s chat box should pop up in the corner.
- Send yourself a test message.
Back in your Olark dashboard, you should see the incoming chat. If you don’t, check:
- Did you paste the code in the footer, not the header? (Header usually works too, but footer is safer.)
- Did you clear your site’s cache? If you use a caching plugin, flush it.
- Any browser extensions blocking scripts? Try a different browser.
Step 5: Customize Olark for your site
Olark works out of the box, but some quick tweaks can make it feel less generic.
Set up your welcome message
- In the Olark dashboard, go to Settings > Chat Behavior.
- Edit the automated messages—what visitors see when the chat pops up.
Add your branding
- Upload your logo or choose colors that match your site.
- Keep it simple. You want chat to stand out, but not scream for attention.
Set your chat availability
- If you’re not online 24/7, set hours or enable offline mode (so people can leave messages).
- Visitors hate shouting into a void. Make it clear when you’ll reply.
Integrate with other tools (optional)
- Olark plays nice with CRMs, email, and help desks. But don’t get lost in integrations unless you really need them.
- Start simple. Add more when you have a real workflow problem to solve.
Pro tip:
Don’t turn on every feature “because you can.” More widgets mean more distractions—for you and your visitors.
Step 6: Train your team (or yourself) to use Olark well
A chat box is only as good as how you use it. Here’s what matters:
- Respond fast: People expect replies in seconds, not hours.
- Be human: Don’t copy-paste stiff canned replies unless you have to.
- Set expectations: If you’re away, use offline mode or autoresponders.
- Review transcripts: See what questions come up most, and fix confusing pages or add FAQs.
What not to stress about:
You don’t need to hire a call center. Even being available a few hours each day is better than nothing.
Step 7: Keep an eye on performance (but don’t get obsessed)
Olark gives you basic stats: chats started, response times, and so on. Use these to spot trends, not to chase vanity metrics.
- Are people asking the same thing over and over? Add info to your site.
- Is the chat slowing things down? Test your site speed with and without the widget. If it’s a problem, consider only loading chat for logged-in users or on key pages.
Don’t ignore:
If you start getting spam chats, turn on anti-spam filters in Olark’s settings.
What works, what doesn’t, and what to ignore
- Works: Simple installs, fast setup, no need for a developer. Olark’s support is decent if you get stuck.
- Doesn’t: Deep customization is limited unless you pay for higher plans or dive into custom code.
- Ignore: Don’t bother with sketchy third-party plugins. The official Olark script is all you need.
A word on privacy:
If you have visitors from Europe (or care about privacy), make sure your site’s cookie notice covers Olark. It collects data. That’s just the internet now.
Keep it simple, and iterate
You don’t need a perfect live chat setup on day one. Get Olark live, answer real questions, and adjust as you go. If you overcomplicate things, you’ll spend more time fiddling with settings than actually helping people.
Start lean, see what works, and make changes once you see what your visitors actually need. That’s it. Now go talk to your customers.