Angela Skowronek

Use cases

Integrations

<p>Automating lead generation means allowing the company to focus on more pressing matters maintaining contact with customers. Chatbots can take some weight off your shoulders in this endeavor. According to APSIS, a four score of automation software marketers drive increased leads, and 77% convert more leads than those who don’t. This article will show how you can embed automation and how it can benefit your business.</p>
<h2>Challenges that business faces</h2>
<p>Sourcing high-quality leads is tricky, whether you create helpful content that leads prospects down the funnel or attracts cold prospects. There are three main challenges that businesses usually face:</p>
<p><strong>Not enough high-quality leads</strong>. Improving the quality of leads is one of the most important goals for two-thirds of marketers, according to Ascend2. Some marketers turn to lead generation agencies, and not all get the desired result.</p>
<p><strong>Too many leads</strong>. Wrong targeted ads and giveaways can bring many leads. But, if resources are limited, companies can spend too much time on leads that <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/cut-operational-costs-with-messenger-bot">turn out to be unqualified</a> or miss their chance with high-intent prospects.</p>
<p><strong>Personalizing experience for new users</strong>. According to an Accenture survey, consumers are more likely to shop with brands that offer relevant recommendations. In addition, tailored experiences that keep users engaged demand constant human interaction.</p>
<p>Automation can solve these challenges. It is more accessible than ever to businesses of all sizes. You can use an online platform as a <a href="https://chatfuel.com">no-code tool</a> to create different types of automated systems. <a href="https://funneloverload.com/lead-generation-statistics">80% of marketers</a> say they’ve found that automation like chatbots generates more leads and conversions than other methods.</p>
<h2><strong>How chatbots expand your lead generation sales funnel</strong></h2>
<p>Messages from <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/future-of-chatbots-based-on-data">chatbots have 80% open rates</a>, while emails only have 20% on average. Automation also has 35% click-through rates on messages with links than email’s 2%. It lets you set up triggered email communications easily, without having anything to do with the backend or coding. You can also integrate your CRM or other business tools with your Chatfuel bot.</p>
<p>A lead generation chatbot can work for you 24/7. Users get information without you having to answer repetitive questions with the FAQ template. As a result, you have more time to focus on providing excellent service to your customers and finding new ways to grow.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/624ad1b10181b33bd684bb62_example_FAQ.png" loading="lazy" alt="How chatbots expand your lead generation sales funnel" height="1168" width="2080" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAI0lEQVR4nGP48flLUlBMqH/Fg6uvGb7//y+jFc7Ab/f5938AwsMOePmow9oAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>Users see interactive buttons in your Messenger bot</figcaption></figure>
<h2>How does a chatbot work</h2>
<p>A chatbot is a computer program that has a back-and-forth conversation with users. Simple chatbots follow a script: If the user says X, they say Y. More advanced chatbots use artificial intelligence to provide humanlike answers to user inquiries. Building both types requires no experience.</p>
<p>One of the most common types of chatbots “lives” on Facebook Messenger. It means your business can generate leads from 2.8 billion global users. However, anyone can enter your chatbot without a Facebook account, using a guest mode if it’s embedded on your website. So that’s even more users for your chatbot. Depending on your needs, your bot can attract leads, start a conversation with users, provide information about your services, and ask questions to qualify them.</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<ol>
<li>Users open a chat with your Messenger chatbot by clicking your Facebook ad or browsing <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/add-a-messenger-chatbot-to-your-website">your website</a>.</li>
<li>The bot offers basic information about your business: their names, emails, or phone numbers.</li>
<li>The bot then asks the user a few questions to determine if they’re warm leads. For instance, it can provide a discount if the user follows your organization on Facebook or signs up for newsletters.</li>
</ol>
<p>Depending on your needs, you can set your bot to take the next step: help users to <a href="https://youtu.be/9jGuWa1sgAw">schedule an appointment</a>, gather their contact details and send them to your CRM, <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/849315-live-chat">pass the conversation over</a> to a human agent, or more. Once you’ve set up your automation, it can start generating and qualifying new leads. That means you can wake up in the morning to an inbox or spreadsheet or calendar full of promising new leads.</p>
<h2>Chatbot lead generation examples</h2>
<p>Currently, lead generation chatbots can benefit different industries, such as vehicle operations, insurance, real estate, food, and drinks. Let’s look at some of these Chatfuel customers who use a chatbot as their primary lead generation marketing method.</p>
<h3>1. Nissan dealership, Israel</h3>
<p>A car is a big-ticket item that most people aren’t going to buy on the spot. Instead, they’ll make an appointment to visit the dealership, test drives the vehicle, and ask the salesperson their questions. A lead generation chatbot can be the first link between the dealership and these consumers looking to purchase a car — which is precisely why this Nissan dealership in Israel built one.</p>
<p>Their chatbot asks a few questions to confirm that the dealership has the type of car they’re looking for. Then it lets the user schedule an appointment for a test drive to move them down the lead generation funnel.</p>
<h4>Results</h4>
<p>The chatbot turned out to be a far more accessible and more efficient way for the dealership to get qualified potential customers in the door. The first month after launching the Facebook bot, the dealership sold ten cars ($380,000 in revenue) to customers who came through it. Check out the complete <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/nissan-sells-cars-using-messenger-bot">Nissan case study.</a></p>
<h3>2. Real estate and insurance lead generation: Tacobot</h3>
<p>Tacobot is a marketing agency building chatbots that generate leads for insurance brokers and real estate agents. Their clients no longer have to pay more for low-intent leads, thanks to their bots. Instead, Tacobot builds them a Facebook chatbot that qualifies leads through a simple questionnaire. It gathers information about each prospect and functions as a quoting tool so users can get an immediate, tangible benefit to incentivize them to complete the process.</p>
<h4>Results</h4>
<p>Tacobot’s clients can expect high-quality insurance leads for $2-5 each and high-intent real estate leads for less than $10. Check out the complete <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/marketing-agency-uses-messenger-bots-to-deliver-high-quality-leads-for-clients">Tacobot case study</a>.</p>
<h2>Put your business lead generation on autopilot</h2>
<p>Whether it’s lead generation for lawyers, lead generation for restaurants, or a B2B lead generation, a chatbot can help. Businesses across industries that depend on leads are turning to Facebook Messenger and Instagram automation for a lead generation more and more.</p>
<p>With Chatfuel, building your lead gen chatbot is easy. Use our templates to load, customize, and launch automation for your own business regardless of your coding experience. With interactive automation, you can save time. Focus on improving things that matter most while providing constant communication with your customers. <a href="https://dashboard.chatfuel.com/sign-in">Sign up</a> today to get started.</p>

This article will show how expand your lead generation sales funnel and how it can benefit your business

How to automate your business lead generation funnel

Mary Rybakova

Industries

<h2>The Brand</h2>
<p>Yash Bhansali and Vikram Kanodia met in high school. Now, they’ve founded a chatbot agency together called <a href="https://talkative.ai">Talkative.AI.</a> Their chat agency’s mission is “to use conversational AI to power ecommerce, create unique customer experiences, and empower brands.” And when the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, they saw opportunities to help their clients weather the storm using AI chat bots. This is the story of one such consumer marketing client, a Mumbai bakery called Essange that specializes in stunning cakes and cupcakes.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb0a55deacf1_AI chatbot for bakery.png" loading="lazy" alt="" height="1194" width="1618" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAIAAAA7ljmRAAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAMklEQVR4nAEnANj/AE0mHHJgWNvf4Pv7+wAkAABkPUHPzdHV3eMAPjA0LwAAqpme////YFUS/ITogA0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>Essange is known for their beautiful desserts.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The Problem</h2>
<p>When the COVID-19 pandemic escalated, lockdowns went into effect all around the world. Since gatherings and parties were prohibited, Essange experienced a sudden, major drop in business. “Regular orders slowed down,” explains Yash, “and many people started baking at home for themselves instead by following online video tutorials on YouTube, <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/instagram-messenger-boost-business">Instagram</a>, and Facebook.” To stay in business, the bakery’s owner knew she needed to pivot—and fast.</p>
<h2>The Solution</h2>
<p>Yash and Vikram knew that a robust AI chatbot would be the perfect solution to help this client keep her business afloat. Their Facebook chatbot agency had already built her a bot for <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-for-customer-service">FAQ automation</a>, but they knew that now was the time to turn that into something even more powerful and engaging. “We decided to use this opportunity to create a unique, memorable experience for all her customers while generating a new source of income at the same time,” Vikram and Yash tell us.</p>
<p>Here’s how the <a href="https://m.me/essangedessertbar?ref=BakeAtHome">Bake at Home bot</a> works:</p>
<ol>
<li>Customers buy a DIY “bake at home” kit from the bakery, which includes everything they need to make their dessert of choice except for milk and eggs. 📦</li>
<li>The customer uses their phone to scan the QR code on the kit, and they’re directed to the Facebook chatbot that Yash and Vikram built. 🤖</li>
<li>The AI bot acts as a virtual baking assistant, guiding the customer through each step of the baking process with instructions and GIFs. 🗺️</li>
</ol>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb8182deacf2_Agency builds AI chatbot.png" loading="lazy" alt="" height="788" width="940" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAIAAAA7ljmRAAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAMklEQVR4nAEnANj/AKSkpKKjpGtra6qwsgBRS0YkHheTlJTa4OUA4uLir6+vvsLHztXaiTsWL9C/jV8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>The AI chatbot for the bakery guides customers through instructions for baking their dessert.</figcaption></figure>
<p>“Not only does the chatbot make the baking experience super easy and fun,” Vikram explains, “but it also retargets the customer a few hours later to upsell other DIY baking kits.” The Messenger bot also invites users to tag the bakery in a photo of their completed creation on social media, which helps the business generate social proof.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bbd847deacf3_Customer experience chatbot.png" loading="lazy" alt="" height="788" width="940" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAIAAAA7ljmRAAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAL0lEQVR4nGP4//9/SnJyakbG////Gf7//29tbCTOzAHi/PjxY9XqdUsXL//x4wcA0xwY2GyHGk4AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>The bakery chatbot invites customers to share a photo of their creation on social media once they've finished it.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Yash and Vikram explain that they wanted to use a chatbot for something more than a marketing channel or a <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-for-customer-service">customer service experience</a>. “The client said, <em>Can we make the bot part of the business?</em> And that’s when we figured out that there’s a tandem opportunity to actually make the bot part of the product she’s selling,” they share.</p>
<h2>The Recipe</h2>
<p>“We’ve found that good chatbots don’t need to be complex chatbots,” says Yash. “Some of the most effective bots are those that use only simple or basic features, but are designed to focus on business goals and providing the best customer service experience through smooth interactions.”</p>
<p>That’s why Chatfuel was the right fit for their project. “We feel that the Chatfuel team keeps the end-user in mind while designing the platform,” shares Vikram. “The end-user experience is our relentless focus with every chatbot, so using Chatfuel helps us create more value for our clients.”</p>
<p>Here are a few of the Chatfuel tools and features the Talkative team used to build this baking bot:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Artificial intelligence (AI)</strong>. “We leveraged Google’s NLP to understand user input and respond intelligently. This ensures a seamless, unrestricted, and natural user experience,” says Yash. To apply AI in the simplest way, you can <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/828883-keywords">set up AI rules</a>, which are pre-set messages your bot will send  in response to certain text inputs from users. Or, you can learn how to set up Dialogflow for a more robust user experience with AI. Either way, an AI chatbot can significantly improve the user experience, as it did for the Bake at Home Bot.</li>
<li><strong>Customer Chat Entry Point.</strong> Yash and Vikram used this plugin so that the chatbot would pop up and offer help to anyone who visits the bakery’s website. <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/add-a-messenger-chatbot-to-your-website">Adding a chatbot to a website</a> is an easy way for any brand to get new users.</li>
</ul>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb4e80deacf4_Chatbot for website.png" loading="lazy" alt="" height="1390" width="2588" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAI0lEQVR4nGP4//dnXW6Op6XFhXMXGK6eOqrAwNBWVtA+ZQkAuvMNJIfb5pwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>The chatbot is ready to engage anyone who visits the bakery's website.</figcaption></figure>
<ul>
<li><strong>Facebook Ads Entry Points.</strong> This feature lets you easily set up <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/sponsored-messages-guide-to-reengaging-chatbot-subscribers">sponsored messages</a> and <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/create-click-to-messenger-ads-to-drive-traffic-to-your-bot">click-to-Messenger ads</a> for your bot, and Yash and Vikram took advantage. “Sponsored messages and click-to-Messenger ads on Facebook <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/use-instagram-ads-to-bring-users-to-your-dms-or-your-messenger-bot">and Instagram</a> were ‘baked’ into the branding and marketing strategy,” they tell us.</li>
</ul>
<p>Vikram and Yash shared that they also made use of <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/925465-media-assets">gallery cards</a>, images, GIFs, and sequences in the recipe tutorials. User attributes and <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/a-marketing-automation-love-story-chatfuel-zapier">Zapier CRM integrations</a> helped them with personalization and retargeting. All these features combined helped improve the customer experience for the bakery bot’s users.</p>
<h2>The Results</h2>
<p>The Bake at Home Bot performed extremely well, according to Yash and Vikram. “The chatbot achieved its design goals beyond expectation in terms of lead conversion, increased sales, brand building, and customer engagement,” they tell us.</p>
<p>“Our experience-oriented design <strong>acquired 250% more users in a month</strong> than the automated FAQs version was able to acquire in over a year,” shares Vikram. “User activity spiked to <strong>50x Active Users</strong> and 13x Reengaged Users. Plus, online-to-offline sales conversions also increased significantly, which helped our client jump-start her business amidst the COVID slowdown!”</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb4692deacf5_AI chatbot metrics.png" loading="lazy" alt="" height="707" width="1600" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAI0lEQVR4nGN4/frN959/ymtbJ0yZwzB33qL4pAxtQ8vo+FQA1xANoh6FLuYAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>The virtual assistant version of the bakery's chatbot acquired 250% more users in a month than the FAQ version did in over a year.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>A chatbot can get your business sweet results 🍰</h2>
<p>The digital customer experience the Bake at Home Bot offers was a game changer for Essange Bakery, as it helped them expand their customer base, increase sales, and stand out from the competition. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level with a free AI chatbot, get started with Chatfuel today. <a href="https://dashboard.chatfuel.com">Start with a free account</a> to get familiar with <a href="https://youtu.be/D4n6VLQHE5U">the basics of building a Chatfuel bot</a>, then <a href="https://chatfuel.com/pricing">upgrade to Pro</a> when you’re ready for unlimited users, priority support, and other perks.</p>

A marketing agency built an AI chatbot for this bakery to help them stay afloat and even grow during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bakery Uses AI Chatbot to Create New Revenue Stream During COVID-19 Shutdown

Features

<p>When you buy a new car, you decide which add-ons you want it to have. From an upgraded engine to a state-of-the-art navigation system, the add-ons you choose make your car more powerful and useful. When it comes to chatbots, the same idea applies.</p>
<p>You can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr8kmZ-oG_8&t=72s">build a basic chatbot in five minutes</a>. But to make it more powerful, you’ll want to incorporate some add-ons. While many no-code add-ons are available for your Chatfuel bot (like artificial intelligence and <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/a-marketing-automation-love-story-chatfuel-zapier">Zapier integrations</a>), there are developer solutions too. The JSON API for your (or your customer’s) chatbot is easily the most popular of these.</p>
<h2><strong>What is the JSON API?</strong></h2>
<p>JSON stands for Javascript Object Notation. It’s one of the most commonly used formats for data transfer for fetching real-time data from one source, bringing it back, and displaying it in another.</p>
<p>Data in the JSON format is passed from place to place via a fetching tool called an API. So the JSON API lets you fetch dynamic data from another server for use in your bot.</p>
<p>Imagine an API, like a phone line, a way for two separate entities to communicate directly. Your bot picks up the phone, calls whatever server it needs data from, and asks for it. The server answers and gives the bot the data they need in JSON format.</p>
<p>In Chatfuel, the API for JSON takes the form of a plugin. Here’s a simple breakdown of how the free JSON API plugin works in a bot flow:</p>
<ol>
<li>A user is chatting with your bot.</li>
<li>The user gets to the point in the flow where you’ve placed the JSON API plugin.</li>
<li>This plugin triggers your bot to use the API to ‘call’ the external server you specified when you set up the plugin. So it can receive the data it needs (in JSON format).</li>
<li>The bot brings that JSON-formatted data back to Chatfuel.</li>
<li>Chatfuel renders the data for the Messenger interface so the user can see or use it for some practical application in the flow.</li>
</ol>
<p>Though it sounds time-consuming, all five steps happen more or less instantly. Note that coding knowledge is required to use the JSON API.</p>
<h2><strong>Why use the JSON API in your bot?</strong></h2>
<p>Simply put: because it allows you to build better bots. Let’s say, for instance, that you have a Facebook chatbot that tells users the current price of 100 different stocks. This functionality is only possible to set up with the JSON API. You’d have to create 100 different blocks in your bot, one for each stock.</p>
<p>Next, you’d have to look up and manually enter each price. Plus, you’d have to manually change the price in your bot when any stock changes, even by a dollar. Since stock prices fluctuate constantly, your chatbot would be outdated.</p>
<p>But with the JSON API, your bot could fetch information from a server that has up-to-date stock prices at all times. That way, any time a user asks your bot for the price of a particular stock, they’ll be getting fresh data on the spot.</p>
<p><strong>With JSON API, your Messenger bots:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Save your time.</strong> It allows them to do even more on autopilot and with less manual work from you.</li>
<li><strong>Are more helpful to users.</strong> They can provide more relevant information to users than a chatbot that only deals with static data.</li>
<li><strong>Provide a more personalized experience.</strong> An everyday use for the JSON API is to fetch the current day or time in a certain time zone (like the user’s). That means it’s possible to personalize any user’s chatbot experience making it extra relevant and memorable.</li>
</ul>
<p>To put JSON in even more concrete terms, let’s look at its key use cases for Facebook Messenger and Instagram.</p>
<h2><strong>Top use cases for the JSON API</strong></h2>
<p>So you’re building a chatbot for your or your customer’s business. If you want to equip it to do any of the following tasks, use the JSON API. Let’s break it down by use cases for eCommerce, sales and marketing, advertising, and others.</p>
<h3><strong>eCommerce</strong></h3>
<p>Once you integrate your eCommerce store with your Chatfuel bot, you can do things like:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Display your store’s real-time inventory</strong>. Using a <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/whisky-brand-triples-conversion-rates-with-gift-recommendation-chatbot">product-recommendation chatbot</a> for your eCommerce store? Imagine the user’s frustration if they went to your site to buy the suggested item and found it was out of stock. A prime JSON API example would be to use the API plugin to link directly to your inventory database. That way, the bot will only show available items.</li>
<li>‍<strong>Show up-to-date product images.</strong> If you have a large inventory of products, manually uploading all the different photos for each to your bot would be seriously time-consuming. But, as another JSON API example, you could link your Facebook bot to your photo database. That way, whenever a user asks to view a specific product, the chatbot will show the latest photos from the database. This use case works great for displaying user-generated content that’s constantly changing and being updated, too.</li>
<li>‍<strong>Enforce a limited-time offer</strong>. Imagine you’re running a short-term sale for your store. The JSON API can track the time, so your bot will stop offering the promotion once it has expired. You won’t have to manually delete those blocks in the bot when time is up, but customers won’t be able to redeem offers when they’re no longer valid.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Sales and marketing</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Add bot user information to your CRM or EMS</strong>. Messenger chatbots make <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/marketing-agency-uses-messenger-bots-to-deliver-high-quality-leads-for-clients">excellent tools for lead generation</a>. So another answer to the question ‘what is JSON used for? ’ would be: sending that lead information directly to your third-party database. If you’re gathering email addresses, you can use the JSON API to send them right to your email marketing solution. If you’re gathering complete lead information for future follow-up, you can use the JSON API to send those details right to your CRM.</li>
<li><strong>Display new content from your site in your bot.</strong> Add JSON API to your chatbot to display the most recent posts from your blog or make the latest news articles available for them to browse. So that your bot can instantly fetch new content from your website and display it to users. Set up a WordPress JSON API if your content is hosted there, for example.</li>
<li><strong>Let users schedule appointments</strong>. You can use the JSON API to fetch information about your availability. Users can only book times that fall within your parameters. For example, you can set your available hours and days, make a mandatory buffer so appointments can’t be scheduled at short notice, and more. Then, of course, you can also use the API to link to your calendar so the user can actually schedule the appointment.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Advertising</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Use JSON API to connect your chatbot with your ads.</strong> That way, you get even better results: generate more leads, collect and export their data, encourage them to purchase, and more. The reason is simple — your chatbot instantly communicates with people who click on your ads and shows interest in your brand and products.</p>
<p>In Chatfuel, you can connect your chatbot to your Instagram or Facebook ads in a few clicks. Check out the video below.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0;"><iframe src="https://www.loom.com/embed/30fdab52f92a4790b79d9e4ca933fde1" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe></div>
<h3>‍<strong>Other use cases</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Share score updates for live sporting events</strong>. The Golden State Warriors, a Chatfuel customer, did this for their fan chatbot. As a prime JSON API example, their bot fetches real-time scores for games in progress. That means users can view the most up-to-date news about the game at any time via the Facebook Messenger chatbot.</li>
<li><strong>Display up-to-date stats for coronavirus infections</strong>. Messenger bots have been used for this purpose since the COVID-19 pandemic began. They can connect to real-time information sources using the JSON API to display current infection rates for different cities or countries.</li>
<li><strong>Offer current weather information</strong>. Weather, API, JSON: three words on this topic that commonly go together. Suppose you want your Facebook bot to give up-to-date information about current weather and the latest forecasts. In that case, you can use a free weather API for JSON. Use the plugin in Chatfuel to link your bot to a weather database, so it can always return the most recent information to users.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>How to set up the JSON API in your chatbot</strong></h2>
<p>The instructions for setting up the JSON API in your Messenger chatbot vary widely based on what you’ll be using it for. Remember, this is a developer plugin that requires coding knowledge. We recommend visiting our <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/735122-json-api">Help Center</a> or watching the webinar below to get started.</p>
<figure><div><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5_zuJPPY7PA" title="JSON API: Integrating Third-Party Apps with Chatfuel"></iframe></div></figure>
<h2><strong>Use the JSON API to take your chatbot to the next level</strong></h2>
<p>Marketing automation takes on a new meaning when the JSON API is involved. This Chatfuel plugin gives developers the power to connect chatbots to outside data sources, making for a more valuable and automated experience for your business and customers.</p>
<p>It’s time to start building a bot for your business. <a href="https://chatfuel.com">Sign up</a> for your free Chatfuel account to get started with the first 50 conversations on us.</p>

Wondering how to use the JSON API in your chatbot? Look no further for instructions and JSON API examples.

Use the JSON API to build incredibly powerful chatbots

Bojana Vojnović

<p>Can your chatbot juggle? 🤹‍♀️ If you built it with Chatfuel, it can! Your bot can juggle an almost infinite number of tasks for you, completely on autopilot. It can schedule events, organize lead information, create email contacts, and more, all on its own. All you, the builder, have to do is get your Chatfuel bot set up with Zapier automation software—a quick process that doesn’t require a single line of code.</p>
<p>If you’re not familiar with Zapier, think of it kind of like a translator. It makes it so that different software apps can speak to each other so they can work together, like Chatfuel and Mailchimp, Chatfuel and Calendly, or Chatfuel and any of thousands of other apps and services. You can set it up so that a certain action in Chatfuel triggers a certain action in App X (or vice versa). The integration of two apps is called a Zap.</p>
<p>Just think of the possibilities! Give up the tedious, manual tasks and let marketing automation handle the rest. Trust your no-code chatbot to automatically juggle however many tasks you need to <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/top-9-reasons-your-business-needs-a-chatbot">take your business to the next level</a>.</p>
<p>To get you started, we’ll give a bit more context about Zaps to give you a better understanding of how the two free marketing automation platforms Chatfuel and Zapier can work together. Then we’ll share a list of our most popular Zap templates (they’re free and easy to use!) for you to take advantage of. Finally, we’ll explain how to create your own custom Zap, in case you prefer to do it that way.</p>
<h2>Understanding Chatfuel Zaps</h2>
<p>Before we dig into our Zap templates, it might be helpful for you to understand a bit more about how Chatfuel Zaps work. Basically, there are two ways Zapier can help your chatbot communicate with third-party services:</p>
<p>by <strong>importing</strong> data from them. You can set up a Zap to retrieve data from one of those services so your Messenger bot can use it. For example, your bot could send reengage messages, update attributes, or manage subscription settings based on how a user behaves in another app.</p>
<p>by <strong>exporting</strong> data to them. You can set up a Zap that sends data from your chatbot to a third-party service. It tells the app or service to take an action (like adding an email contact or booking an appointment) based on how a user behaves in your bot.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb5849deac33_Screen-Shot-2020-09-01-at-4.48.46-PM-1.png" alt="chatfuel zapier" height="924" width="1844" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAJUlEQVR4nAEaAOX/APTz8WdyfJCRkf39+QDKysmWmJsACyREUmfV5g4lnvDrEAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p>Before we move on, here’s one more bit of lingo you should know that’ll help you in the setup process. In the marketing automation platform Zapier, you’ll have trigger apps and action apps. An event in the <strong>trigger app</strong> causes an event to occur in the <strong>action app</strong>. So let’s say you’re exporting data from Chatfuel to Airtable, for example. Chatfuel is the trigger app (where the process begins), and Airtable is the action app (where the resulting action happens).</p>
<h2>Free Zap templates for you to use</h2>
<p>Now you’re ready to pick a Zap and get started! We’ve built plenty of no-code templates for Zapier integrations already. They’re free for you to use. You just need a Zapier account, a Chatfuel account, and an account with the third-party service you want to integrate. Then you’re ready to get started with your automated marketing solution. 🙌</p>
<p>Below, you’ll find a description of what each Zap template does and a link to it. Click the link to open the template in your browser. Zapier will then take you through a few steps to customize it. You’ll need to link your Chatfuel account, select the correct bot, and run a test to make sure everything’s working. Set up one, two, or dozens of Zaps to get your chatbot juggling tedious tasks for you, all on autopilot! Welcome to the power of automation software.</p>
<h3>Zaps for event scheduling 🗓️</h3>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb0fc4deac2a_Screen-Shot-2020-09-01-at-5.06.35-PM.png" alt="Zaps for event scheduling" height="768" width="1792" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAI0lEQVR4nGP49vUTr5SqpYPnl8+fGI4cPhwdn5yQlHb27FkAr+YNu9s2M50AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p><strong>Let users schedule, cancel, and get reminders for events.</strong> Whether it’s a call, a webinar, an in-person appointment, or something else, these Zaps let the user schedule it themselves through your chatbot. They can cancel the event too, if they change their mind. Any new or canceled events will reflect on your calendar. You can also set up automatic reminders via chatbot that will appear before the event.</p>
<p>👉 <strong>Use this Zap for Calendly</strong></p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/google-calendar/134825/schedule-chatfuel-events-in-google-calendar"><strong>Use this Zap for Google Calendar</strong></a></p>
<h3>Zaps for sending email and SMS to bot users 💬</h3>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb3713deac24_Screen-Shot-2020-09-01-at-4.57.26-PM.png" alt="chatfuel mailchimp" height="856" width="1806" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAI0lEQVR4nGP48vkTA7+kgor61y9fGM6ePZebX1RWUXP27DkAqtMN0vKDLZUAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p><strong>Send SMS messages to chatbot us</strong>ers. You’re already growing a loyal user base for your Facebook chatbot in Chatfuel, so why stop there? <a href="https://youtu.be/fnjvvHS5LK4">This integration uses Twilio</a> to send an automated SMS or MMS message to a Chatfuel user who shared <a href="https://youtu.be/50iBVq6y6LY">their phone number</a>. For example: Ask a user for their phone number in Chatfuel, then text a coupon code to their phone.</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/twilio/87480/send-sms-messages-to-chatfuel-subscribers-exported-to-zapier"><strong>Use this Twilio Zap</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Add chatbot users as email subscribers.</strong> Ready for an easier way to get your customers into your chatbot user list? Just set up this marketing automation tool, and when a customer gets to an Export via Zapier trigger in Chatfuel, a new email contact will be generated for them. No more wasted time manually adding subscribers yourself!</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/mailchimp/67548/add-mailchimp-subscribers-for-new-chatfuel-export-via-zapier-trigger-events"><strong>Use this Zap for Mailchimp</strong></a></p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/veeqo/134812/create-veeqo-customers-from-new-chatfuel-contacts"><strong>Use this Zap for Intercom</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Unsubscribe users from a Mailchimp list based on their actions in your bot.</strong> Automatically unsubscribe the email addresses from a Mailchimp list using this integration. When active, it removes contacts from your mailing list each time the Export via Zapier plugin is triggered in Chatfuel.</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/mailchimp/70027/unsubscribe-people-from-mailchimp-when-a-export-via-zapier-plugin-triggers-on-chatfuel"><strong>Use this Mailchimp Zap</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Add chatbot users as email/SMS subscribers.</strong> Acquire leads from your Facebook bot flow and send them to your email/SMS client, so you can add them to your email or SMS marketing campaigns.</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/convertkit/127381/add-subscribers-to-convertkit-sequences-for-newly-updated-subscriber-attributes-in-chatfuel"><strong>Use this Zap for ConvertKit</strong></a></p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/activecampaign/integrations/chatfuel/127202/create-activecampaign-contacts-for-newly-updated-subscriber-attributes-in-chatfuel"><strong>Use this Zap for ActiveCampaign</strong></a></p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/klaviyo/123901/add-klaviyo-subscribers-for-newly-updated-chatfuel-subscriber-attributes"><strong>Use this Zap for Klaviyo</strong></a></p>
<h3>Zaps for lead generation, handling, and follow-up 🙋🏽‍♀️</h3>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb395cdeac2b_Screen-Shot-2020-09-01-at-5.09.03-PM.png" alt="chatfuel salesforce" height="836" width="1790" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAI0lEQVR4nGP49vUTk6i8hav365cvGM6ePVtWUVPX2HL27DkAsjoOVMUpsHMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p><strong>Create records in your CRM from leads you acquired via chatbot.</strong> Use your <a href="https://youtu.be/TjxhyddugaA">Messenger bot for lead generation</a>. Then use this Zap to automatically send lead information to your CRM for easy follow-up later.</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/salesforce/127395/create-records-in-salesforce-from-new-leads-in-chatfuel"><strong>Use this Zap for SalesForce</strong></a></p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/closeio/127389/create-new-opportunities-in-close-from-new-chatfuel-subscriber-attributes"><strong>Use this Zap for Close</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Sen</strong>d phone numbers of qualified leads to your RingCentral calling list. Set up <a href="https://youtu.be/oAxDdHVHIdQ">a lead generation flow</a> in your Chatfuel bot that applies user attributes to those who make it through the process. Then, use this marketing automation tool to send only these qualified leads to your RingCentral calling list.</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/ringcentral/127406/generate-ringout-call-in-ringcentral-when-new-leads-are-generated-in-chatfuel"><strong>Use this RingCentral Zap</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Get Slack notifications for new leads.</strong> If your team primarily uses Slack to communicate, they likely won’t check and respond to user messages in Messenger as quickly. Use this Zap to integrate the two messaging platforms so your team can get Slack alerts whenever a new lead is qualified in your chatbot.</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/slack/87500/send-slack-message-for-new-chatfuel-leads"><strong>Use this Slack Zap</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Get email notifications for new leads.</strong> Sometimes you’re right in the middle of another task when a new lead comes through your Facebook chatbot. To make sure you don’t forget about it, use this Gmail Zap. It’ll export new bot messages out of Chatfuel as Gmail emails, so you’ll have a reminder to follow up waiting in your inbox.</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/chatfuel/integrations/gmail/156969/send-gmail-emails-for-new-exports-of-chatfuel-messages"><strong>Use this Gmail Zap</strong></a></p>
<h3>Zaps for data handling 📊</h3>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bbb69edeac2d_Screen-Shot-2020-09-01-at-5.10.30-PM.png" alt="chatfuel airtable" height="838" width="1786" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAI0lEQVR4nGN4/fKFoLy6d0Dgi+fPGc6ePVtWUVNeWX/27FkAs68OXRKZGRIAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p><strong>Send data from your bot to an organized table.</strong> Sometimes you need to push info from your chatbot interactions to a database tool for organizing. If your Facebook Messenger chatbot is gathering a lot of data from users (like in a survey, for example), try this Zap to help organize it. This Zap will create new records in Airtable when you have new triggers of the Export via Zapier plugin in Chatfuel. No more copying and pasting important information manually!</p>
<p>👉 <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/airtable/integrations/chatfuel/161845/create-airtable-records-for-new-exports-via-zapier-plugin-in-chatfuel"><strong>Use this Airtable Zap</strong></a></p>
<p><em>You can view all Chatfuel-Zapier integrations on our page.</em></p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb5849deac33_Screen-Shot-2020-09-01-at-4.48.46-PM-1.png" alt="chatfuel zapier" height="924" width="1844" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAJUlEQVR4nAEaAOX/APTz8WdyfJCRkf39+QDKysmWmJsACyREUmfV5g4lnvDrEAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<h2>Creating your own Zap</h2>
<p>If you prefer to create your own custom Zap instead of using one of our templates, get started with the basic instructions below. Your first step is to decide if you want to create an import or export integration. If you want a Zap that exports data from Chatfuel and triggers an action in a third-party app, follow the Export Zap instructions. For the reverse, follow the Import Zap instructions.</p>
<h3>Setting up an Export Zap</h3>
<p>Use an Export Zap if you want to trigger an action in a third-party app when one of your users takes a certain action within the Messenger bot. This video tutorial demonstrates the basic process. ⬇️</p>
<figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpZ96ix5g3s?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.chatfuel.com" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>
<p>The exact instructions will vary depending on which app you’re integrating with Chatfuel via Zapier. But the basic guidelines are as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>In the <em>Automation</em>--><em>Blocks</em> tab, <strong>Add the Export via Zapier</strong> plugin from the <em>Add Element</em> menu to your Chatfuel bot. Insert it at the bottom of a block, after whatever user action it’s based on will have taken place (like at the end of a lead-gathering flow, for example).</li>
</ol>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb777edeac2c_image.png" alt="" height="131" width="614" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAABCAIAAAB2XpiaAAAACXBIWXMAAAsSAAALEgHS3X78AAAAFklEQVR4nGNgEFX99unTi5cvnz19DgAsPgiBfaaYGAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p>2. In another window, create or log into your <a href="http://zapier.com">Zapier account</a>.</p>
<p>3. Click the <strong>Make a Zap</strong> button.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb1a46deac1d_image-1.png" alt="" height="157" width="290" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsSAAALEgHS3X78AAAAI0lEQVR4nGN4//Llm8uXv3758uv3bwY2FhZ+Xl4WFhYpKSkA2qMLsk3JZSEAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p>4. Type Chatfuel into the search box. It will be your trigger app. You’ll be prompted to log in to your Chatfuel account and select the Facebook chatbot you want to use.</p>
<p>5. Choose a trigger event—the action the user will take in your bot that will trigger an event in the third-party app. (You’ll need to select the Export via Zapier plugin you added in step one.)</p>
<p>6. Next, choose a third-party app as your action app. Log into your account with that third-party service when prompted. Agree to its use of test data if needed.</p>
<p>7. Choose an action event—what will happen in the third-party app after the user takes the specified action in Chatfuel.</p>
<p>8. Activate the Zap, and test it to make sure it’s working properly.</p>
<h3>Setting up an Import Zap</h3>
<p>The same basic instructions above apply to setting up an Import Zap. The main difference is that you’ll choose the third-party service as your trigger app, and Chatfuel as your action app. You’ll also want to add the Import via Zapier plugin to Chatfuel, rather than the Export via Zapier plugin. You can learn more in the video tutorial below. ⬇️</p>
<figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kGZzop6MHKQ?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.chatfuel.com" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>
<p>And if something’s not working quite right with one of your Zapier plugins, consider these tips:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Activate your Zaps.</strong> Previewing them in test mode won’t show user attribute values. To get the full experience of how your Zap will work, make sure to properly activate it.</li>
<li><strong>Expect some latency.</strong> Depending on your Zapier plan, data transfer might not be instantaneous.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Up your game with marketing automation</h2>
<p>If you’re ready to scale your business, marketing automation tools should become your new best friends. One of the key functions of Chatfuel is to help you grow on autopilot, so incorporating Zapier will only supercharge this process.</p>
<p>If you’re ready to get started with chatbot marketing and automation, <a href="https://dashboard.chatfuel.com"><strong>sign up for a free Chatfuel account</strong></a> today. Get familiar with the platform and validate your concept, then <a href="https://chatfuel.com/pricing">upgrade to Pro</a> to reach more users and enjoy extra perks (like priority support and no user limits). Happy automating! 🤖</p>

The secret to taking your business to the next level: marketing automation. Here's how to do it with Chatfuel + Zapier automation software.

A Marketing Automation Love Story: Chatfuel + Zapier

<h2>The Brand</h2>
<p>What’s the one ultra-valuable resource that all insurance brokers and real estate agents depend on? High-intent, high-quality leads, and ideally at an affordable price. Tacobot is a US-based chatbot agency that helps small, local businesses of these types get exactly that.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb4710dead50_Insurance agency case study Tacobot.png" loading="lazy" alt="" height="1458" width="1651" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAAECAIAAAAmkwkpAAAACXBIWXMAABCcAAAQnAEmzTo0AAAAP0lEQVR4nAE0AMv/ABcWFoiIh+/w8Obn6ABcXFpwb27BwcGOkJIAbm5uiYiIt7e3kJKXAMHBwdzd3t3e4d7e38yeHoNa5O2YAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<h2>The Problem</h2>
<p>Every insurance company or real estate business needs a regular influx of leads. Major national brands can afford billboards, TV commercials, direct mail, and other pricey strategies to get them. So how can a local company with a fraction of the sales and marketing budget generate leads?</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Tacobot-106871984030519">Tacobot</a> co-founder CJ Hutsenpiller, most turn to lead vendors. These are groups that scrape lead information from <a href="#">web-traffic sources</a> and sell the data to businesses. “The problem with that, ” he explains, “is that the leads are low intent, high priced, and often sold to multiple agencies at once.”</p>
<p>Hutsenpiller always kept a lookout for marketing solutions to this problem. One afternoon, he was watching a Facebook <a href="https://youtu.be/wiErqy5qMaU">video ad</a> where the host was selling a book. She told viewers to comment to receive a free sample of the first chapter. “I commented, ” he says, “half-expecting to never hear anything. But to my surprise, their bot immediately started communicating with me. I knew right away that I could use this in the insurance space.” As he puts it, <strong>he stumbled on chatbots as a new service for his clients</strong> by “complete dumb luck!”</p>
<h2>The Solution</h2>
<p>Tacobot offers cheaper way to get higher quality leads than the vendors Hutsenpiller described. His agency provides <strong>pre-built lead-generation chatbots</strong> for clients. “In order to be successful in generating business in the insurance field, you must do more to win a client’s trust, ” he says. “There’s something to be said for the power of being able to have a conversation with a prospect—and that’s what bots allow our clients to do. Immediately when a user enters the funnel, the bot can start building a relationship with them using conversation.”</p>
<p>Tacobot’s carefully designed chatbots help clients start these meaningful conversations with prospects. The chatbot marketing agency’s clients can pay for subscription-based access to a bot “skill, ” as Hutsenpiller calls them. They can choose one or more of the following skills, or functions:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Quoting tool for life insurance 👤</strong> This bot skill generates life-insurance quotes for prospects right in Facebook Messenger. If the user wants to purchase the policy, one click will take them to a pre-filled web application.</li>
<li><strong>Quoting tool for home/auto insurance 🚗</strong> The user simply has to answer a few questions. Then the bot pulls information from third-party sources. It combines it with the user’s responses and generates a quote.</li>
<li><strong>Rent calculator 🧮</strong> This bot skill is designed for mortgage and real estate professionals. First, it captures how much the user currently pays in rent. Then, it converts it to an estimate of a mortgage payment that amount could sustain. Finally, it’ll show matching house listings in the user’s area.</li>
<li><strong>Home-value calculator</strong> 🏠 Real estate businesses can also select this chatbot skill. It’ll give prospective home sellers an estimate on the value of their property.</li>
</ul>
<p>And of course, the chatbots will capture user information for each of the leads that it chats with. That way, the businesses can pursue them personally.</p>
<p>Tacobot also has <a href="https://www.messenger.com/t/106871984030519">their own chatbot</a>. It lets clients preview different skills so they can see how each one works. The client can then purchase the skill (s) of their choice right within the bot (see screenshot below). From there, Tacobot chatbot development agency will customize the bot for the client’s business. Then they launch it, and teach the clients how to access it in Chatfuel. Tacobot also runs a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/728962607577492">Facebook support group</a>. They use it to answer questions, and to share strategies to help clients <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/facebook-ads">push traffic to their bots</a>.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bbf0bddeab2b_Marketing-Agency-Uses-Messenger-Bots-to-Win-High-Intent--Low-Cost-Leads-for-Clients---4.png" alt="Messenger bot to help sell their chatbot services to clients" height="788" width="940" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAIAAAA7ljmRAAAACXBIWXMAAAsSAAALEgHS3X78AAAAMklEQVR4nAEnANj/AJaXmIOHiwYHByMjJACdnp10eHnCw8Tw8fIAlJWUc3R0ysvL4+LiUZQUUe+p6s4AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>Tacobot takes advantage of the free Pro bot that comes with their <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/3882031-chatfuel-for-agencies-and-creators#:~:text=We%20also%20offer%20an%20Enterprise%20plan" target="_blank">Premium Agency plan</a>. They use their own Messenger bot to help sell their chatbot services to clients.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The Recipe</h2>
<p>The Tacobot team relies on these Chatfuel features the most to build effective bots for their clients:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/735122-json-api"><strong>JSON API</strong></a>. Once a chatbot <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjxhyddugaA&feature=youtu.be">gathers a lead’s information</a>, it has to make it available to the client. From there, the client can pursue the leads personally. Tacobot’s smaller clients use the Notify Admin Via Email or <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/2708726-export-data-from-chatfuel-to-google-sheets">Send to Google Sheets</a> for this. But for larger or more advanced clients, Tacobot <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/json-api-examples">uses JSON</a> to send the details to the client’s CRM directly and automatically. Hutsenpiller says they’ve <a href="https://www.jotform.com/what-is-crm">integrated with CRMs</a> like Salesforce, BoomTown, JotForm, Mailchimp, and Agency Elephant this way.</li>
</ul>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bbfcdadeab4a_s_241729DC75347BB40AF8249DA4AB84EE9B074520F04DDD3B346A73A08958BAFA_1586222445084_image.png" alt="JSON API allows your bot to pull and display data" height="1362" width="1380" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAAECAIAAAAmkwkpAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAOklEQVR4nGNwdXOrq2/o7O7et28fQ2FhcVh0fHF5jaSKNkNBQeGihQt6+/plVHUYbt2+PQEMtm7ZBAA/ghexbSvpAgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>The JSON API allows your bot to pull and display data from an external source, or to send data to an external source.</figcaption></figure>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/908868-sequences"><strong>Sequences</strong></a>. This Chatfuel feature lets you schedule follow-up messages from your bot. Sequences are a key component in each of the four bot skills. Let’s say a user starts going through the flow for the rent calculator, or another skill Tacobot chatbots offer. But, halfway through, they get distracted and abandon the process. Tacobot ensures the user will later receive a sequence of messages that remind them to come back and finish the flow. (These messages are sent within the 24-hour window outlined in Facebook’s Messenger policies.)</li>
</ul>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb0daddeab46_Marketing-Agency-Uses-Messenger-Bots-to-Win-High-Intent--Low-Cost-Leads-for-Clients-2-1.png" alt="Tacobot chatbots are equipped with Sequences" height="788" width="940" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAIAAAA7ljmRAAAACXBIWXMAAAsSAAALEgHS3X78AAAAKklEQVR4nGN4DwYPwYBBVVmlva1t3dq1e3bvZqioqDp69OjJEydOnjgBAAXXGYVXNPoNAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>Tacobot chatbots are equipped with Sequences to follow up with users who don’t finish the bot’s questionnaire.</figcaption></figure>
<ul>
<li><strong>Attributes</strong>. User attributes are like tags. They identify a certain preference or characteristic of a bot user. You can create as many custom attributes as you want based on what’s useful for your business. Tacobot clients using the home-insurance quoting skill could have their bot save every user’s zip code as an attribute, for example. The bots can do this automatically via the Save User Input plugin. That way, the client can sort leads by area to assign them to different agents, or to <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/1575719-how-to-create-facebook-and-instagram-ads">create retargeting ads</a>. They’ll be able to easily sort their leads into segments based on this (or any other attribute) in the <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/1575151-people-tab"><em>People</em> tab</a>.</li>
</ul>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb2dbadeab3f_Marketing-Agency-Uses-Messenger-Bots-to-Win-High-Intent--Low-Cost-Leads-for-Clients-3.png" alt="save user attributes in Chatfuel chatbots" height="301" width="607" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsSAAALEgHS3X78AAAAJUlEQVR4nAEaAOX/AC8vLsjIyN/f3t/f3gAfHyDIyMjOzc3NzMu8LQ+fYKywqQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>The Save User Input plugin is one way to save user attributes in Chatfuel.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The Results</h2>
<p>“The insurance space as a whole is behind when it comes to anything technology-related—especially digital marketing strategies, ” Hutsenpiller tells us. That’s likely why Tacobot’s chatbots have become the tool of choice for local insurance and real estate businesses in 41 US states. Prospective clients take notice when they hear how Tacobot uses the accessible, affordable technology of Messenger bots to achieve such impressive results.</p>
<p>Tacobot’s clients come from all over the country and from a few different industries. As a result, metrics for their bots vary. But Hutsenpiller says that clients who follow his team’s guidance can expect metrics like these:</p>
<ul>
<li>$2-5 per high-quality insurance lead</li>
<li>Less than $10 per high-intent real estate lead</li>
<li>$0.10 per conversation</li>
</ul>
<p>For insurance clients, that’s “drastically cheaper than what they can get with a lead vendor, ” he explains. “Real estate and mortgage are a little harder because of Facebook’s new special ad-category targeting rules, ” he tells us, “but we still generate those for less than $10 each.” Plus, the Chatfuel interface is easy for both the Tacobot team and its clients to use.</p>
<p>“I’ve built bots on both major platforms, ” explains Hutsenpiller, “and I find the structure of Chatfuel to be much easier to use. I also have always gotten great support from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/chatfuel">Chatfuel Community on Facebook</a>, and from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_z5c5UnMJ0waRJ8Bx1cFg">the videos by Andrew Demeter</a>—who is an amazing asset to the company.”</p>
<h2>Your agency can “lead” clients to success with Messenger bots</h2>
<p>If your marketing agency doesn’t yet offer chatbots as a service, now’s the time to consider it. In these difficult times, meaningful conversations are more important than ever. <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/3882031-chatfuel-for-agencies-and-creators#:~:text=We%20also%20offer%20an%20Enterprise%20plan">Request a demo</a> for our robust Premium Agency plan today. Then you can start using Messenger bots to help your clients have authentic interactions with their audiences.</p>
<p><em>See how else Chatfuel agency partners are using chatbots to achieve incredible results for their clients. Or, learn <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-contest-students">how they’re giving back</a> to the community. If you’re building bots for healthcare clients that need to share important information about COVID-19, find resources here.</em></p>

Tacobot is a chatbot marketing agency that helps small, local businesses get high-intent, high-quality leads at an affordable price.

Marketing Agency Uses Messenger Bots to Deliver High-Quality Leads for Clients

Find out how any medical practice or health-related business can benefit from a Facebook Messenger bot.

How to Save Time and Improve the Patient Experience With a Healthcare Chatbot

Platforms

<p>Users not only chat with family and friends via messengers. They also contact brands to learn more about products and services, make purchases, and book appointments. As a result, businesses use messengers to tell about their brands and products, offer customer support, collect clients’ feedback and sell more. According to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/news/insights/more-than-a-message-the-evolution-of-conversation">a Facebook study</a>, 53% of consumers are more likely to shop with a business they can message. With the Facebook Messenger automation, you can create a consistent, helpful, constantly available presence on multiple channels.</p>
<p>A chatbot fills the gaps and appears in places where your target audience spends time: in Facebook feeds, on Instagram, or your website. Users enjoy your brand’s constant availability by interacting with the familiar interface on various channels. This article will explore why the brand’s website should be the first place you embed automation. We will compare the Website Messenger bot and a traditional website chat window. And we will show you how to set up a Messenger bot on your website in a few clicks.</p>
<h2>How a Messenger bot looks on your website</h2>
<p>There are <a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/4625/facebook-messenger/#topicHeader__wrapper">2.9 billion</a> Facebook Messenger active users, ranked by the number of users in 2022. They are familiar with its interface and know how it works. Instead of creating a chat window on your website, you let your clients use Messenger to reach out to you. After adding, a Messenger logo appears on your website. Then, users click it and open a conversation with your bot. That way, users engage with your chatbot directly on your website and have a long-form interactive conversation. With Chatfuel, you use Messenger automation for different purposes, depending on your industry and needs.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/624ad52f6459d0d29ac1e754_Example_website_chat.png" loading="lazy" alt="Free chat on your website by Messenger " height="1168" width="2080" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAIklEQVR4nGNgEDc1Sm28//Evg1MCA4OGF0NEefaU1QwqzgBsUggmeIVd9gAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>Messenger window on a website</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Who should add a chatbot to their websites</h2>
<p>A Messenger chatbot has two prominent use cases: automating FAQs and product recommendations. You can set up multiple conversational scenarios on different pages of your website. That way, each conversation with your chatbot will be more relevant to a user. For example, clients take a quiz on your product page, get a personalized recommendation, and buy your product. And on your page for wholesalers, clients enter a different business-to-business conversation.</p>
<p>You can make all interactions with every person who visits your website meaningful. Share information, answer questions, recommend products, and guide visitors through a conversion. Whatever works<a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/top-9-reasons-your-business-needs-a-chatbot">for your business.</a> Here are some use cases of how our clients from different industries used Messenger automation:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/messenger-chatbot-for-salon-or-beauty-business">Beauty salons</a> — for appointments. ️</li>
<li><a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/9-reasons-your-nonprofit-needs-a-chatbot">Nonprofits</a> — for fundraising.</li>
<li><a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/9-reasons-your-ecommerce-business-needs-a-chatbot">Shopify merchants</a> — to sell products.</li>
<li><a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/personal-chatbots">Influencers</a> — to communicate with their fans.</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to set up a free Messenger bot on your website</h2>
<p>A Messenger chatbot on your website is a point where users start a conversation with your bot. In Chatfuel, we call them Entry Points. To add a Messenger bot to your website, you’ll need to set up a Customer Chat Entry Point:</p>
<ol>
<li>Go to Automation → Flows and create a Customer Chat Entry Point.</li>
<li>Click next to the Messenger symbol to open a settings panel.</li>
<li>Click Copy Code.</li>
<li>Paste the copied code into your website.</li>
</ol>
<p>Ensure to toggle the switch on to activate the Entry Point and insert the code right after the opening <body> tag on each page where you want the plugin to appear. Plugin — is an extension that adds new functions to a host program. For example, you add a Customer Chat Plugin to your website by pasting the copied code into your website. Now your customers can interact with your business anytime they see a familiar Messenger logo. See the detailed tutorial on adding a Messenger chatbot <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/5573653-add-a-chatbot-to-your-website">here</a>.</p>
<h2>How a website chatbot works</h2>
<p>Visitors see a Messenger window on your website, inviting them to engage. If they decide to begin the chat, they continue with their Facebook account or as a guest:</p>
<figure><img alt="Messenger chat interface on website" src="/cms/static/blog/624ad5d77c8c09dfdc8d5152_1ef6544b24cc95490dd4732902f298d0118f26710d17b968357205029750ecdfc176f575599ce4eefc5c35cab4e74bf57745f56b2eb4194ba5a55bd2523b8b755bd702c0f221bcbeecec75be0e65b56fbc47a9899dc870a3be7246e9fc52cb422d12f719.png" height="1168" width="2080" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAIklEQVR4nGNgEDI9cPXNlVf/GUTNGRiETF2ye+wyOhmETAGCswjKrn0/0gAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>Messenger interface after visitors begin the chat</figcaption></figure>
<h3>With Facebook account</h3>
<p>When users choose this option, they let your bot use their Facebook profile data. For example, name and timezone so that your automation personalizes the chat using <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/5573554-attributes">attributes</a>. In addition, the chat’s history is saved in users' Messenger, and they can continue the conversation later via Messenger. For example, users decide to do it after leaving your website. In that case, all their previous interactions with the bot on your website will be accessible.</p>
<h3>As a guest</h3>
<p>When users choose <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/240561253946465">a Guest mode</a>, a temporary guest account is created. Your bot doesn’t get their Facebook account information. You can’t message guest users after they end a chat with your bot or after 24 hours from creation, depending on which came first. The conversation remains in your inbox until you delete it.</p>
<p>We recommend creating different flows for guests and logged-in users. For example, you only have one flow, personalized with attributes. However, since your bot doesn’t have access to a guest user’s profile data, it can’t fill in values for the attributes. The result could be an incomplete or even confusing experience for that user. With the Customer Chat Entry Point, you can create two different flows for logged-in and guest-mode users.</p>
<h2>Website Messenger bot VS. Traditional website chat window</h2>
<p>Both aim to inform or assist visitors and move them along the funnel. But a Messenger chat window has several unique advantages:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>A channel for future communication.</strong> Once a logged-in user responds to your website Messenger bot, you’ll be able to reach them via bot again in the future. Gather their contacts with the Chatfuel plugins and Export data <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/2708726-export-data-from-chatfuel-to-google-sheets">from the chatbot to Google Sheets</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Seamless conversations.</strong> A traditional website chat starts from scratch every time, even if the same user comes back to your website. With a Messenger bot, the conversation has context. Users logged into Facebook see the previous messages exchanged with your bot. Also, they can chat with your bot via Messenger even after leaving your website.</li>
<li><strong>Access to profile information.</strong> Once users continue the conversation with your bot with Facebook, you can access their profile information in the <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/1575151-people-tab">People tab</a> in Chatfuel. Use this data to segment users with attributes, and <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/sponsored-messages-guide-to-reengaging-chatbot-subscribers">retarget them</a> accordingly later.</li>
<li><strong>Improved user experience.</strong> Users recognize the familiar interface of Messenger and enjoy that same rich media experience.</li>
<li><strong>Full chatbot functionality.</strong> Any functionality you build into your bot is available on your website, including the ability to <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/849315-live-chat">hand over the conversation</a> to a live agent to close the deal.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Get more value from your website traffic</h2>
<p>Embedding a chatbot window on your website is a game-changer. Earn many more conversions using a bot to guide your website visitors down the funnel instead of leaving them to browse and learn about your brand on their own. <a href="https://dashboard.chatfuel.com">Sign up</a> to get started with Chatfuel today.</p>

Earn many more conversions using a bot to guide your website visitors down the funnel. This article about how to add a bot to your website

Add a free Messenger bot to your website in 4 steps

<h2>The Brand</h2>
<p>Photobooth Deluxe is a German company founded by Jürgen Mayr. This entrepreneur began his career as a wedding photographer, but decided he wanted to do things a bit differently than others in the industry.</p>
<p>Years ago, Mayr began to notice the rise in popularity of photo booths for weddings in Asia and the US. He got a friend to build him a prototype, and in 2013, he started building his own. From then on, many of his fellow wedding photographers who saw them wanted one for their own businesses.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb8667deaad4_Group-200.png" alt="" height="1123" width="2000" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAI0lEQVR4nGOIjEma0tL+5evX48ePM/Dx8tnb2q1avSY7KwsApv0MDRFf9D4AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p>Since then, Mayr has built and sold 500 photo-booth systems across Europe—but that’s not the key source of his income today. Instead, it’s supplies (the specialized ink and paper for the photo booths) that he sells regularly to past clients. The Messenger bot he built now handles all these transactions—and he won first prize in Chatfuel’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/chatfuel/permalink/671349200060490">2019 Ecommerce Bot Competition</a> for it!</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb9bb2deaacd_s_E94EDFE1957187F517D4D300CB15AA0D29801DDC594C3127C861988DB02FE829_1578528032351_jurgen2.jpeg" alt="" height="1080" width="1920" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAI0lEQVR4nGNgUGmY8OF/3pX/DCoNDAy63emn/6ef/s+g2w0Al6IL22U/LRsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"><figcaption>Jürgen Mayr, founder and CEO of Photobooth Deluxe, won first prize in Chatfuel's Ecommerce Chatbot Competition in 2019.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The Problem</h2>
<p>Pre-chatbot, the procedure for reordering these supplies wasn’t easy for Mayr or his clients. Taking down their information via phone and email to send to the drop-shipper was tedious, and took 10–20 minutes each time. Plus, orders could only be processed when Mayr was available. If he were on vacation or at an event, for example, the orders wouldn’t be shipped until days later when he had time to submit them.</p>
<p>95% of his clients are on Facebook. So when he heard about chatbots, he knew he had to see if one could help him streamline the process. “The goal, ” Mayr explains, “was to enable my clients to order supply materials without my physical presence.”</p>
<h2>The Solution</h2>
<p>Mayr held the common misconception that you need coding knowledge to build a Messenger chatbot, so he turned to a freelancer for help. But when the end result didn’t turn out well, he decided to take the project on himself. One Friday morning, he set out to build a chatbot with Chatfuel by Sunday night. “If I can get it done in time, great. If not, I’ll treat it as a good experience and know that chatbots aren’t for me, ” Mayr says.</p>
<p>He started with a sea of sticky notes on his wall to help him plan the bot’s flow. It’s a great illustration of his advice for other bot builders, which is that planning is crucial. 90% of the work—<a href="https://youtu.be/HX-zA-DkPaU">mapping out a logical flow</a>—happens before you even log into Chatfuel. And then once you do: “Do something, and test it, tweak it, and test it again!” says Mayr.</p>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bbfceddeaad0_s_69FD23A4E00C4123535B3918306363A3896757D94D8A603F7DAFA44C713BC98E_1578445925350_d3cf0223-f202-46ff-a7fa-f9591929784c-original.jpeg" alt="" height="2000" width="3000" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAIAAAA7ljmRAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAMklEQVR4nAEnANj/ALOPY//4g8WvdRcAAAC2lVr/7X/ZrWeymGsAm35/6sqcxKuLRjckmDsUVcbhSsAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<p><a href="https://m.me/photoboothdeluxe?fbclid=IwAR34-hj67Lw-jkpdMvWXJFhVFNLC6HkLjZ-aUM7cEbuqor6RO25GZ7xs1EE">The bot he built</a> and fine-tuned then does exactly what he wanted it to. It gathers all the order, shipping, and payment information from first-time clients, and notifies the drop-shipper to ship. For repeat customers, all past information is saved, and the reorder process takes just two taps.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“So if I’m on vacation for two weeks, for example, my clients can still order, they can still get their materials/supplies. When I come back home, all I have to do is write the invoices, ” says Mayr. 🏝️</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>The Recipe</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>“Don’t build a bot a bot to serve you as a vendor; build a bot to serve your clients” — Jürgen Mayr, <a href="https://www.photobooth-deluxe.de/en">Photobooth Deluxe</a> founder</p>
</blockquote>
<p>These are a few of the features and plugins Mayr used to build his super-effective Messenger chatbot:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>User attributes.</strong> Mayr uses this Chatfuel feature to keep track of how much each of his clients have spent with him in total. He set an attribute to populate with the total amount, which updates automatically each time an order is placed. Using attributes also gives him the option to <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/1575719-how-to-create-facebook-and-instagram-ads">create custom and Lookalike Audiences</a> for <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/sponsored-messages-guide-to-reengaging-chatbot-subscribers">sponsored messages</a> and other Facebook ads, so he can target his most valuable customers (or find prospects similar to them). <em>You can now use Segment Sync to send subscriber data for these audiences to Facebook in one click.</em></li>
</ul>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb92abdeaac6_s_E94EDFE1957187F517D4D300CB15AA0D29801DDC594C3127C861988DB02FE829_1578529813492_image.png" alt="" height="748" width="1384" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAI0lEQVR4nGPw8PC4cuXKpo0bb1y/zmBjZfn//39hAf7YmBgAtmMM4uXDczwAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<ul>
<li><strong>Notify Admin via Email plugin.</strong> Each time a client orders through Mayr’s chatbot, it instantly sends an email to him for his records. It also sends one to his drop-shipper, so they can package and ship the order right away.</li>
</ul>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb1440deaada_s_69FD23A4E00C4123535B3918306363A3896757D94D8A603F7DAFA44C713BC98E_1578447618597_send+email.png" alt="" height="804" width="1478" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAI0lEQVR4nGNwc/eIiYqrra09dOgQg7SEpL+3/7v37549ewYAhRMMWdktHpgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/sponsored-messages-guide-to-reengaging-chatbot-subscribers"><strong>Sponsored messages</strong></a>. After a customer places an order, Mayr’s bot asks if they’d like to receive a supply check-in notification in 30 days. Now that Facebook’s policies have changed, he plans to use sponsored messages to send these, which simply ask if the client needs to reorder. Mayr says his customers often forget to stock up on supplies otherwise, so these reminders are helpful for them and bring in more revenue for him. <em>You can now use our native ads integration to easily set up sponsored messages for your Facebook chatbot.</em></li>
</ul>
<figure><img src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb6c7edeaaee_Group-202.png" alt="" height="1123" width="2000" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABYlAAAWJQFJUiTwAAAAIklEQVR4nGP4//9/bl7etm3b/v//z/D//38jY+P4+HggBwDnLhEVeWd5AgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" placeholder="blur"></figure>
<ul>
<li><strong>Third-party API</strong>. The next update Mayr has planned for his bot involves an API from the shipping company he uses. He’s going to connect Chatfuel to it via Zapier or <a href="https://www.integromat.com/en/integrations/chatfuel">Integromat</a>. That way, the bot can automatically message customers with a tracking number, so they can keep tabs on their shipment. “Always keep the client well informed, and make it easy for him to order, ” advises Mayr.</li>
<li><a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/735122-json-api"><strong>JSON API</strong></a>. It occasionally happened that new-order emails would be missed by the drop-shipper, or would end up in their spam folders. To solve this issue, Mayr <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/json-api-examples">used the JSON API</a> to integrate <a href="https://www.twilio.com">Twilio</a>. His drop-shipping company now receives an SMS text triggered by the bot, so they know to look out for a new-order email.</li>
</ul>
<figure><iframe allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fnjvvHS5LK4"></iframe></figure>
<p>He also encourages other bot builders to seek feedback before launching. 🗣 “Maybe ask a couple of friends to test it. Ask them to be very, very critical with the bot. Ask if there were any steps where they didn’t know what to do, because that means you have to do better there.” And always design with the customer or end user in mind, he adds. “Don’t build a bot to serve you as a vendor; build a bot to serve your clients.”</p>
<h2>The Results</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>“The quality and ease of service is more important to [my clients] than getting the lowest price” –Jürgen Mayr, Photobooth Deluxe founder</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Since he implemented the bot, Mayr has <strong>automated over $100,000 in revenue</strong> with his Messenger chatbot. “It’s quite amazing, ” admits Mayr, “because it’s almost hands-free. I don’t have to do a lot. I have to write the invoice at the end; that’s it.” And he’s even working to automate that final step: He’s already asked his invoicing company to consider adding an API for their service.</p>
<p>Mayr also notes that he gets more sales because the ordering process via bot is so simple. Normally clients shop around to check prices with different vendors before ordering photo-booth supplies, he explains. “But I make it so easy for them to reorder, so it doesn’t matter if a certain item is a few euros more.” His clients order anyway, because “the quality and ease of service is more important to them than getting the lowest price.”</p>
<h2>Build a picture-perfect bot for your brand 📸</h2>
<p>“Chatfuel is amazing. It’s fun to work with, and you don’t have to have developer skills. You can do a lot just with a logical mind, ” says Mayr. He studied economics and tax law himself, which illustrates that building a Chatfuel Messenger bot without a coding background is completely possible. “If you really need a developer for some advanced functionality, ” he adds, “you can probably find someone in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/chatfuel">Chatfuel community</a>. You can do almost everything yourself though; the sky or your brain is the limit!”</p>
<figure><iframe allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9OrT7PgypPs"></iframe></figure>
<blockquote>
<p>“Chatfuel is amazing. It’s fun to work with, and you don’t have to have developer skills. You can do a lot just with a logical mind”  –Jürgen Mayr, Photobooth Deluxe founder</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dashboard.chatfuel.com">Sign up with Chatfuel</a> for free today—no coding skills, previous experience, or credit card required.*</li>
</ul>

Discover how this photo-booth entrepreneur used a Messenger chatbot to bring in revenue on autopilot.

Ecommerce Entrepreneur Uses Chatfuel Bot to Automate Over $100,000 in Sales

<p>According to the Great Resignation research, 65% of global hiring organizations have lost their preferred candidate because the recruitment process was too long. The main reason is pretty simple: HR managers are very busy. HR professionals spend a lot of time on:</p>
<ul>
<li>interviewing,</li>
<li>sorting out candidate applications,</li>
<li>responding to their repetitive questions,</li>
<li>finding slots for interviews and rescheduling,</li>
<li>sending follow-up messages.</li>
</ul>
<p>The good news is that managers can automate some of the routine processes and focus on interviewing and preparing offers for the most suitable candidates. For example, a Facebook Messenger automation can accept and sort applications and schedule interviews. You can even integrate your bot with Facebook Jobs to automatically follow up with applicants.</p>
<p>In this article, we’ll look at recruitment Messenger automation, share some tips on building one yourself and show some inspiring metrics from our clients.</p>
<h2><strong>Integrating with Facebook Jobs</strong></h2>
<p>Facebook has almost 2.5 billion monthly active users. Odds are your next great employee already spends time on the platform, so it makes sense to search for them there via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/pages/post-job">Facebook Jobs</a>. It lets you post jobs on your Business Bage, receives and review applications, and contact prospects via Messenger. Or, your Messenger automation can do it for you.</p>
<p>You can set up different automated responses to candidates. For example, confirm their application has been received or tell them about the following interview. Here’s how to set it up:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Turn on the automated response.</strong> Go to your Facebook Business Page → Messenger inbox → Automated Responses, then select Messenger. A section called <em>Communicate about your jobs</em> will appear there, and you’ll see the option to turn on an application received.</li>
<li><strong>Write a message your bot will send</strong>. Keep it brief but helpful and informative. Include details about timelines or next steps, so the candidate knows what to expect.</li>
<li><strong>Add a button</strong> (optional). You can include a button to go along with the message. It can link to a URL, like a page on your website where they can learn more about your company. A button can also redirect to a block in your bot, for example, FAQs or a quiz about the company.</li>
</ol>
<h2><strong>Chatbots streamline recruitment process</strong></h2>
<p>Facebook Messenger chatbots can simplify the recruitment process for both employees and job seekers. Here’s what chatbots can do:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Collect information from candidates.</strong> With Chatfuel’s Save User Input plugin, your chatbot can accept contact details, CVs, and other materials from applicants. You can store this data as user attributes in Chatfuel’s People tab for simple searching and sorting. Also, you can export this data to a Google Sheet for analysis or candidate ranking.</li>
<li><strong>Ask screening questions.</strong> Your bot can ask applicants any number of qualifying questions related to experience, skills, or location. You can even have your bot email an applicant’s information to an HR manager if they pass all the qualifying questions. Then, the manager can follow up with the most suitable candidates personally.</li>
<li><strong>Answer FAQs 24/7.</strong> HR managers no longer have to spend time answering common questions. Automation is excellent at responding to FAQs about the job or hiring process. Plus, bots are available 24/7.</li>
<li><strong>Schedule interviews.</strong> In Chatfuel, you can use Zapier templates to integrate your calendar or scheduling system with your bot. It allows users to sign up for an interview, reschedule or cancel it right in your bot. All changes will reflect on your calendar. You can also set up automated reminders, and your bot will notify users when their turn is coming up.</li>
</ul>
<p>Finally, a recruitment chatbot also creates a convenient experience for the applicants by answering their questions and providing an engaging and instant form of communication. So no matter how big or small your business or department, automation can help you stand out from other companies competing for the same talent.</p>
<h2><strong>Tips for optimizing your recruitment chatbot</strong></h2>
<p>Follow these best practices to maximize the efficiency of your HR bot:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Get creative.</strong> <a href="https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-names">Give it a name</a> and persona and make it friendly. Include GIFs and emojis if appropriate for a more engaging and welcoming experience.</li>
<li><strong>Create different conversational flows for different applicants.</strong> Maybe entry-level applicants have an extra task to do before making it to the interview process. Or perhaps senior-level applicants get a direct invitation interview sooner.</li>
<li><strong>Include FAQs.</strong> Collect the most common questions from applicants and equip your bot with answers to those. Include as much helpful information as possible, like the office address, notes on team culture, and details about perks and benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Be ready to step in.</strong> You may want to have time window each day when a human HR agent is available. With the <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/849315-live-chat">Live Chat plugin</a>, an agent can jump in to answer complex or personalized questions if the bot ever gets stuck.</li>
<li><strong>Connect your bot to Facebook ads.</strong> If you’re using Facebook ads to promote your job openings, connect your bot to engage immediately and even qualify anyone who clicks on one. That way, you can get more qualified candidates.</li>
</ul>
<figure><div><img alt=" Chatbot for Recruiting example" src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb8496dea9eb_s_942B87FCC124E33D09D0D0708E17E31EF9BB0EC2E8A0043309320C88AD86AFE7_1574733077693_image.png" height="1321" width="2705" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAAAI0lEQVR4nGN49+6dKIP09K4p////Z/jz+/fMaXPOHD8D5AAA0xURxhJb/zIAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></div><figcaption>Use images and other eye-catching elements to make your bot more engaging<br></figcaption></figure>
<p>Chatbots are great for recruitment but can be used once employees are hired. A Messenger bot can help with onboarding, training, and employee retention. Set yours up with FAQs about the employee handbook, for example. Or, equip it to send company-wide alerts and reminders about things like holidays and meetings.</p>
<h2><strong>Chatfuel bot builders share their experience on HR bots</strong></h2>
<p>Let’s look at a particular example of an HR chatbot in action. “We set it up for recruiters, so they can save time and streamline to the top leads faster, ” says the Social Media Advertising Manager of the marketing agency that built the bot. It’s geared towards those looking for truck driving jobs in the US. It answers FAQs about openings and the application process and can search for available positions instantly.</p>
<figure><div><img alt="How to Use a Facebook Messenger Chatbot for Recruiting and HR" src="/cms/static/blog/60afa6a88bd1bb27d6dea9ee_s_942B87FCC124E33D09D0D0708E17E31EF9BB0EC2E8A0043309320C88AD86AFE7_1574874331016_fixed.png" height="1082" width="2000" blurDataURL="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAACCAIAAADwyuo0AAAACXBIWXMAABCcAAAQnAEmzTo0AAAAI0lEQVR4nGNoaWkpKy199fp1bkklg42NrYSE5J69+1et3QAAoP4MRMe8H3AAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" placeholder="blur"></div><figcaption>This bot makes the recruitment process easier for both parties</figcaption></figure>
<p>The agency connected the bot to a Facebook ad campaign, and the results were explosive. It helped thousands of candidates find jobs. It also saved the company hundreds of hours in the recruitment process. Check out the numbers for the period from January 1st to March 25th:</p>
<ul>
<li>1,559 FAQs answered;</li>
<li>1,254 started an application after getting an answer to their FAQ;</li>
<li>81% conversion rate from FAQ to started application.</li>
</ul>
<p>This agency built an incredibly successful bot for its client. With the automated routine messaging, the team saved about 240 hours and spent this time interviewing the most successful candidates so that people got jobs much faster.</p>
<h2><strong>Streamline recruiting process with a chatbot</strong></h2>
<p>With Chatfuel, building automation is easy, regardless of your skillset or previous experience. Plus, you won’t need any coding knowledge or other special skills. So <a href="https://dashboard.chatfuel.com/sign-up">sign up</a> for your free Chatfuel account today to automate your routine and focus on what inspires you the most.</p>
<p>‍</p>

In this article, we’ll look at recruitment Messenger automation, share some tips on building one yourself and show some inspiring metrics