---
title: Speak by Olark | Kristen Van Nest
description: Tips on live chat sales, customer service, and building human connections from one of the Internet’s top live chat providers.
---

- [Interested in live chat? Check out Olark.](https://www.olark.com/)

[![Speak: A Blog by Olark](https://blog.olark.com/hubfs/speak-logo-300-01.png "Speak: A Blog by Olark")](https://blog.olark.com)

## Kristen Van Nest

![Kristen Van Nest](https://blog.olark.com/hubfs/kristen.jpeg)

### Recent Posts

[![featured image](https://blog.olark.com/hs-fs/hubfs/santa-boxes.png?width=840&height=460&name=santa-boxes.png)](https://blog.olark.com/small-business-at-the-holidays-5-tips-to-prep-for-the-holiday-customer-service-load)

## [Small business at the holidays: 5 tips to prep for the holiday customer service load](https://blog.olark.com/small-business-at-the-holidays-5-tips-to-prep-for-the-holiday-customer-service-load)

 By [Kristen Van Nest](https://blog.olark.com/author/kristen-van-nest)

In 2018, holiday ecommerce sales reached [$126 billion](https://www.businessinsider.com/2018-holiday-ecommerce-sales-set-record-2019-1), with shoppers spending a record [$7.9 billion](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/27/cyber-monday-sales-break-record-a-record-7point9-billion-spent-online.html) online on Cyber Monday alone. If you own or manage a small business this sudden surge in website traffic can put a lot of pressure on your customer service team; fortunately, though, there are steps you can take to prepare! 

[Read More](https://blog.olark.com/small-business-at-the-holidays-5-tips-to-prep-for-the-holiday-customer-service-load)

[All posts](https://blog.olark.com/all)

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## Connect with us

- [Speak: The Olark Blog](https://blog.olark.com)
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- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/olarklivechat/)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/469764/)

 Product

- [Pricing](https://olark.com/pricing)
- [Chatbots](https://olark.com/chatbot-copilot)
- [Features](https://olark.com/features)
- [Integrations](https://olark.com/integrations)
- [Product Tour](https://olark.com/product-tour)
- [Case Studies](https://olark.com/case-studies)

 Support

- [FAQ](https://olark.com/faq)
- [Help Center](https://olark.com/help)
- [Getting Started](https://olark.com/help/getting-started)
- [Troubleshooting](https://olark.com/categories/tool-tip)
- [JavaScript API](https://olark.com/api)
- [Hire an Expert](https://olark.com/partners-directory)

 About

- [Our Team](https://olark.com/about)
- [Our Values](https://olark.com/values)
- [Become an Olarker](https://olark.com/jobs)

 Connect with us

- [Speak: The Olark Blog](https://blog.olark.com)
- [Our Guide to Remote Work](https://olark.com/tips-for-remote-managers-and-going-remote-guide)
- [Become a Partner](https://olark.com/partners)
- [Contact Us](https://olark.com/contact)

- [Terms of Service](https://olark.com/tos)
- [Privacy Policy](https://olark.com/privacy-policy)
- [GDPR](https://olark.com/help/gdpr)
- [Accessibility](https://olark.com/ada-accessible-live-chat)
- [Statement of Action](https://blog.olark.com/statement-of-solidarity-and-action-for-black-lives-matter)

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