For apps and software companies, properly onboarding new users is crucial. Your goal is to help them find success on your platform as soon as possible so that they’ll become a long-term, satisfied customer. Having a human agent run personal onboarding sessions with each new users and checking in with them frequently would be ideal. But of course, that would take major resources that most companies can’t reasonably provide.

Instead, some software companies are turning toward chatbots to manage and improve their user onboarding process. Whether the user has just signed up or is logging in for the first time in a while, a chatbot can help guide them toward success with your app.

## Why chatbots make excellent tools for user onboarding

Chatbots—especially those integrated with Facebook Messenger—are useful for lots of different sales and marketing tasks. They can generate leads, recommend products, answer FAQs, and more. The characteristics that make chatbots so helpful in these use cases are the same ones that make them helpful in the customer onboarding process.

The main one is that chatbots are available any time, 24/7. They don’t need time off like human agents do, which means they’re ready to help your customers at any time of day or night, in any time zone. That means they can onboard new users or engage returning users whenever, helping retain customers for your business while you sleep.

In addition to their constant availability, here are a few other reasons chatbots are fantastic tools for customer onboarding:

### Chatbots can offer personalized experiences

Messenger chatbots can pull data from the user’s Facebook profile, or from past conversations with them (if applicable). They can also gather information about the user by asking them questions within the bot, or importing information from your CRM or multi-step forms. From there, your bot can use these details (stored in the form of user attributes) in conversation with the user, so the whole experience is personalized to them and their needs.

For example, the chatbot could have the customer’s name, their signup date, last login date, etc. all at hand. When it incorporates this information into the conversation, the customer knows that the advice they’re receiving is specific to them. They’ll feel listened to and will enjoy a better user experience, since they’ll be more likely to get assistance that’s relevant to their situation.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08/xs_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08/sm_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08/md_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08/lg_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08/xl_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08.webp 940w" width="940" height="788" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08/original_onboarding_chatbot_0_d11d1f5c08.webp" alt=""><figcaption>Here's a simple example of how a chatbot can incorporate personal details into the conversation, like the user's name.</figcaption></figure>

### Chatbots are easy to customize for your brand

Your chatbot, like any other marketing channel or tool, should be an extension of your brand. That means you should write copy for it that matches [your brand voice](https://chatfuel.com/blog/craft-a-brand-voice-that-converts/). You can [give it a name](https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-names/) and a personality that will resonate with your users. And of course, you can equip it with all the information they need for a smooth onboarding process, including answers to all the common questions new users have when interacting with your product.

Here’s how to set up your chatbot to answer common FAQs about your app or platform.

<figure><img><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Chatbots can save you time

Each member of your customer success team is only one human. There will be times when they’re simply too busy to respond to new-user questions immediately, or even within the same day. This is where chatbots can step in and assist.

A Messenger chatbot can manage an unlimited number of user conversations at once. They can provide all the basic onboarding information and answer up to [80% of routine questions](https://www.invespcro.com/blog/chatbots-customer-service/), taking all that work off the plate of your human customer service team. That way, you can have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of new users being onboarded by your chatbot at once. The bot can send only the ones with complex inquiries through to a live chat session with your human support team, so they’re not overwhelmed or wasting time answering repetitive inquiries.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579/xs_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579/sm_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579/md_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579/lg_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579/xl_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579.webp 980w" width="980" height="509" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579/original_onboarding_chatbot_1_2ba217c579.webp" alt=""><figcaption>Setting up live chat for your chatbot takes just two clicks in Chatfuel! <a href="https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/849315-live-chat">Here are the full instructions.</a></figcaption></figure>

### Chatbots are easy and pleasant to interact with

Create an onboarding experience your users will actually enjoy! Because chatbots are still a bit of a novelty for many consumers, interacting with them can be a unique and fun experience. Plus, they’re easy to use. As long as you have your chatbot give clear instructions, even inexperienced and non-tech users will go through its onboarding process easily. And the easier your chatbot is to use, the more successful the onboarding process will be, which leads to higher customer satisfaction and lower customer churn.

## How to onboard new users with a chatbot

If we’ve talked you into considering chatbots to onboard new users into your app or software, let’s get into the next step: the how-to. Your onboarding chatbot will need to be customized closely for your specific platform or tool. But the basics are the same for any business. Just follow these three steps.

### 1\. Map out your onboarding process

First, you need to list out the key steps of your onboarding process. What needs to happen first, next, and last? What are the crucial pieces of information new users need to know? Which common questions need to be addressed right away? If you’ve already got an onboarding process on another channel (like email), you can use that framework to guide you here.

### 2\. Create your list of initial questions

Asking a few questions is arguably the best way to start a customer onboarding experience for your software or app.

First, the bot can store the user’s answers to these questions as user attributes. You can then use them for research and customer analysis. These questions might allow free-form user input (using the Save User Input plugin) or offer multiple-choice options (using quick replies). Some examples include:

1.  What are your goals for using \[name of tool or app\]?

2.  What industry do you work in?

3.  How big is your company?

4.  How did you hear about us?


Second, the chatbot can use the customer’s answers to the questions to customize and guide the onboarding experience it provides them. For example, your Messenger chatbot could ask new users:

1.  Is this your first time using a tool like ours? (Yes/No)

2.  Would you prefer to start with X or Y?

3.  Do you want to learn how to do X, Y or Z?


After all, brand-new users won’t always know exactly what to expect from your service or what they can do, so it’s a good idea to put together questions that can guide them. Figuring out these questions should be relatively easy for you. You’re the one running your business, so you know exactly what you want customers to get out of your app or software.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e/xs_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e/sm_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e/md_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e/lg_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e/xl_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e.webp 940w" width="940" height="788" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e/original_onboarding_chatbot_2_a76dfccf6e.webp" alt=""><figcaption>A chatbot can start the onboarding conversation by asking a series of questions.</figcaption></figure>

Once you’ve created the list of questions you want your Messenger chatbot to ask, you can set them up in Chatfuel’s Flow Builder easily. Just type the question into a text box and drag and drop the arrow to connect it to the next one.

### 3\. Test and monitor your chatbot

Before you launch your chatbot for all new users, you should test it. Have a few colleagues go through the flow to make sure it includes everything it should. Then, have a few beta testers try it out too. Choose people who have never used your software or app before, so you can get a real sense of whether the chatbot provides clear, useful instructions for new users. Take all their feedback into account and make the necessary adjustments.

And once you launch your chatbot, keep an eye on its stats and make changes as needed over time. You can use Chatfuel’s built-in stats to help you track how many users are going through the bot, and where they get stuck or drop off, if applicable. You can also have your chatbot ask users to rate their onboarding experience at the end of it (and even leave comments). Then, you should regularly make changes and updates to your bot based on all of this data.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d/xs_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d/sm_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d/md_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d/lg_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d/xl_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d.webp 584w" width="584" height="248" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d/original_onboarding_chatbot_3_b83d00bc8d.webp" alt=""><figcaption>Chatfuel shows basic stats for each card in your chatbot's flow, so you can easily monitor performance and make adjustments based on user behavior.</figcaption></figure>

## Tips for building an excellent onboarding chatbot

Keep these tips in mind to create an outstanding onboarding process via bot, so you can engage and retain even more new users.

### Use images, GIFs, and video in your chatbot

When it comes to using a new app or piece of software, you’ll find that most users are visual learners. That means you should make use of images, GIFs, and video in your chatbot, so users can see its instructions and advice in action. Plus, media like this helps keep users engaged till the end of your onboarding sequence.

### Write copy for an eighth-grade reading level

Readability is important for any type of sales, marketing, or support collateral—but it’s especially important in onboarding. The way you write copy for your onboarding chatbot can be the difference between users staying engaged and going on to be life-long customers of yours, and users dropping off and abandoning your tool altogether.

Around [80% of adults](https://readable.com/blog/the-flesch-reading-ease-and-flesch-kincaid-grade-level) can read at an eighth-grade level, minimum. So it’s wise to keep your chatbot’s copy around this level for maximum readability. Use short, simple sentences. Avoid jargon and industry-specific acronyms (or define them clearly, if you do use them). You can even put your chatbot copy through a tool like the Hemingway App to test its readability and get suggestions improvement.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb/xs_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb/sm_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb/md_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb/lg_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb/xl_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb.webp 1928w" width="1928" height="1098" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb/original_onboarding_chatbot_4_d253f273eb.webp" alt=""><figcaption>Tools like the Hemingway App can help you make sure your chatbot's copy is readable and accessible to your entire audience.</figcaption></figure>

### Make it easy for users to chat with a human instead

Not being able to find the answer to a specific question about your app or software is frustrating for users. If they have an issue or inquiry about your platform that the chatbot doesn’t address, let them use live chat to connect to one of your human agents right away. The longer you keep them waiting or make them search for the solution themselves, the less likely you are to retain them as a customer. Set up your chatbot to handle as many questions as possible, but keep some human agents on deck to jump in and help as needed.

## Try a chatbot as your new onboarding method

Any app or software company knows that onboarding is one of the most crucial steps in the customer lifecycle. When you use a Facebook Messenger chatbot for onboarding, you can offer a unique, interactive, and trackable way to onboard users. Your chatbot can offer all the information new users need and can answer most of their questions. As a result, you’ll save time and resources and will retain more customers in the long-term.

To build an onboarding chatbot for your software or app, [sign up for a free Chatfuel account](https://dashboard.chatfuel.com) today. There’s no coding or previous knowledge required to use our platform; just use our visual builder to drag and drop text and other elements into your bot’s flow.

The onboarding process is crucial for any app or software. Here's how to use a Messenger chatbot to onboard new users. For apps and software companies,.

Chatbot Onboarding: Engage New Users Effectively

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.

## Challenges that business faces

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:

-   **Not enough high-quality leads**. 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.

-   **Too many leads**. Wrong targeted ads and giveaways can bring many leads. But, if resources are limited, companies can spend too much time on leads that [turn out to be unqualified](https://chatfuel.com/blog/cut-operational-costs-with-messenger-bot) or miss their chance with high-intent prospects.

-   **Personalizing experience for new users**. 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.


Automation can solve these challenges. It is more accessible than ever to businesses of all sizes. You can use an online platform as a [no-code tool](https://chatfuel.com/?utm_landing=blog-posts%2Flead-generation-on-autopilot) to create different types of automated systems. [80% of marketers](https://startupbonsai.com/lead-generation-statistics/) say they’ve found that automation like chatbots generates more leads and conversions than other methods.

## How chatbots expand your lead generation sales funnel

Messages from [chatbots have 80% open rates](https://chatfuel.com/blog/future-of-chatbots-based-on-data), 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.

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.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9/xs_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9/sm_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9/md_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9/lg_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9/xl_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9.webp 2080w" width="2080" height="1168" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9/original_lead_generation_on_autopilot_0_95204ca0c9.webp" alt="How chatbots expand your lead generation sales funnel"><figcaption>Users see interactive buttons in your Messenger bot.</figcaption></figure>

## How does a chatbot work

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.

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.

### Example:

1.  Users open a chat with your Messenger chatbot by clicking your Facebook ad or browsing [your website](https://chatfuel.com/blog/add-a-messenger-chatbot-to-your-website).

2.  The bot offers basic information about your business: their names, emails, or phone numbers.

3.  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.


Depending on your needs, you can set your bot to take the next step: help users to [schedule an appointment](https://youtu.be/9jGuWa1sgAw), gather their contact details and send them to your CRM, [pass the conversation over](https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/849315-live-chat?utm_landing=blog-posts%2Flead-generation-on-autopilot) 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.

## Chatbot lead generation examples

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.

### 1\. Nissan dealership, Israel

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.

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.

#### Results

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 [Nissan case study](https://chatfuel.com/blog/nissan-sells-cars-using-messenger-bot).

### 2\. Real estate and insurance lead generation: Tacobot

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.

### Results

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 [Tacobot case study](https://chatfuel.com/blog/marketing-agency-uses-messenger-bots-to-deliver-high-quality-leads-for-clients).

## Put your business lead generation on autopilot

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.

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. [Sign up](https://dashboard.chatfuel.com/sign-in?utm_landing=blog-posts%2Fhellofresh-reduces-support-wait-times-with-chatfuel-messenger-bot&lng=en) today to get started.

This article will show how expand your lead generation sales funnel and how it can benefit your business. Automating lead generation means allowing the company.

How to automate your business lead generation funnel

Wondering how to increase customer loyalty so you can grow your business? Guest expert Joren Wouters shares how to build a loyalty chatbot.

Build a Customer Loyalty Chatbot for Retention

Today’s e-commerce market has to take the social aspect into consideration. That means leveraging social media as a tool. You’re probably already maintaining a social media presence and running social media ads. In this article, we will make a case for why you should also have an actual store on social media. We’re talking about Facebook Shops.

## What is Facebook Shops?

[Facebook Shops](https://about.fb.com/news/2020/05/introducing-facebook-shops/) is a part of the Facebook platform. It’s a shopping interface that a business can set up and link to their business pages. It can be a single online store for both Facebook and Instagram. Brands choose the products and customize their shop with a cover image and accent colors. This means any seller can bring their business online and connect with customers wherever and whenever it’s convenient for them.

People who are already socializing with friends and keeping up with businesses on Facebook will be able to find your shop easily. Your business page will have a link, and you can run ads that lead to it, too. Some businesses can even offer a native buying experience, so users can enjoy shopping on Facebook and then check out without leaving the site or app. Users can also bookmark favorite items and message the business directly through Messenger if they have questions.

## Top reasons to sell on Facebook marketplace

#### 1\. Global audience

Facebook has 2.7 billion monthly active users worldwide. If your business has a presence on this platform, you’ve access to a vast audience. Statistics show that people want to connect with brands on social media. [78% of US consumers](https://www.kleinerperkins.com/perspectives/internet-trends-report-2018/) say they’ve discovered products on Facebook. And there’s now a dedicated marketplace tab on Facebook. Users can browse products by category or search for a specific shop. They’ll also be able to access your shop through the prominent View on Website button on your business’s Facebook page. This sets the stage for your business to benefit from the shopping development on Facebook.

#### 2\. No monthly fee

Even though there are no initiation or monthly fees, some payments associated with being a merchant on this platform occur. [Facebook takes 5%](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/223030991929920?id=533228987210412) of all orders processed with their in-app checkout option (or $0.40 on items cost $8 or less). These fees include taxes and payment processing costs. Merchants don’t need to worry about manually paying for their Facebook shop since Facebook automatically deducts the fees.

#### 3\. Easy to save time and sell more

In an e-commerce shop, a Messenger chatbot plays the role of a sales associate. Set up a chatbot and equip it to answer common questions about your Facebook Shop’s products. It will automatically respond to every customer inquiry and give them information in a seamless, back-and-forth style. That means prospective buyers will no longer fall through the cracks because you were too busy manually responding to messages. And after answering the user’s question, your chatbot can even cross-sell and upsell additional products related to the one the customer showed interest in.

## How to set up a Facebook marketplace automation

Setting up a Facebook Shop is simple to do but can be a game-changer for the success of your new or well-established brand. As long as you’re an admin of your page in Business Manager and have permissions to manage the page and its catalog, you can set up a Facebook Shop in minutes. If you already have an e-commerce store set up on Shopify, you can create a Shopify Facebook store. That way, you’ll be able to continue selling on your original site and attract business from Facebook. Follow [Shopify’s instructions for linking](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-sales-channels/facebook-instagram-by-meta/facebook-shop).

If you’re starting your e-commerce store from scratch on Facebook, follow these instructions to set up a Facebook shop:

**Step 1.** Start at Facebook’s [Create Your Shop page](https://www.facebook.com/micro_site/url/?click_from_context_menu=true&country=US&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcommerce_manager%2Fonboarding_landing&event_type=click&last_nav_impression_id=0SUqiKhNw3znG8uzM&max_percent_page_viewed=100&max_viewport_height_px=713&max_viewport_width_px=1343&orig_http_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&orig_request_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbusiness%2Fhelp%2F268860861184453&primary_cmsid=268860861184453&primary_content_locale=en_US&region=noam&scrolled=true&session_id=10OlnbYqweCi1WIpp&site=fb4b&extra_data%5Bview_type%5D=v3_initial_view&extra_data%5Bsite_section%5D=help&extra_data%5Bplacement%5D=%2Fbusiness%2Fhelp%2F268860861184453) and click **Next.**

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551/xs_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551/sm_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551/md_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551/lg_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551/xl_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551.webp 2080w" width="2080" height="1168" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551/original_facebook_shops_0_79966b5551.webp" alt="How to set up a Facebook shop automation"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Step 2.** Choose a checkout method. We recommend the *Checkout with Messaging* option, so you can enable tools like Chatfuel to help you sell more. Then click Next.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226/xs_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226/sm_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226/md_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226/lg_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226/xl_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226.webp 2080w" width="2080" height="1168" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226/original_facebook_shops_1_5e2200f226.webp" alt="How to set up a Facebook shop automation"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1.  Select your business from the list or start a new one. Click Next.

2.  Select existing products in the Add Products section, or add a new catalog. Click Finish Setup.

3.  Create a collection of up to 30 products.

4.  Customize the colors and other visual settings of your shop.

5.  Publish your shop and wait for approval from Facebook.

6.  Set up a Messenger chatbot to increase your sales and improve customer service.


## Facebook marketplace and chatbots

Facebook Shops lets you access a vast, engaged audience. They load faster than a mobile website, and you can make your shoppers' lives easier by enabling in-app checkout. Thanks to the prominent tab and buttons, shops efficiently market with Facebook ads, making organic discovery easy.

Integrating a Messenger chatbot helps Facebook Shops grow faster with conversational marketing. Setting up a chatbot for e-commerce to do all of the above on Facebook is easy. With Chatfuel, no coding experience is required. [Sign up](http://dashboard.chatfuel.com) for your free account today to get a chatbot for e-commerce up and running in minutes.

Top reasons to sell on Facebook marketplace and how to set up a Facebook shop automation with chatbot. Today’s e-commerce market has to take the social aspect.

How to automate your Facebook marketplace

When you’ve been building chatbots for clients for a while, it can sometimes seem as if you speak a different language than the rest of the world. But if this is your business, or an industry you’re trying to get into, explaining the benefits of this technology simply and concisely to prospects is a very important skill. From our extensive experience, here are the most important principles a chatbot marketing agency should stick to during the *Why you need a chatbot* conversation with a prospective client. Follow them so you can help prospects easily understand what this technology—and your services—can do for them so you can close the deal.

## 1\. Focus on the problems a chatbot can solve

A person who has never used a Messenger bot before will most likely get confused if you start pitching an automated robot that will talk to their customers. At worst, it sounds scary! And at best, you’ll sound like a crazy tech person who wants to sell the next shiny thing on the internet.

Instead, approach the conversation from the perspective of what their business is struggling with at the moment. What’s a problem they face every day that a chatbot can easily take care of? To give you inspiration, here are a few of the most common ones.

### I get too many messages on Facebook asking the same things

Many business owners (especially the smaller [ecommerce stores](https://chatfuel.com/blog/9-reasons-your-ecommerce-business-needs-a-chatbot)) have this problem. Every day, they get bombarded with dozens or even hundreds of questions about the same things: contact details, shipping information, payment options, etc. Fortunately, as you know, these and other [frequently asked questions can be automated](https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-for-customer-service) using a Messenger chatbot. (You can even set up a bot to answer these questions before the user asks them, thanks to Ice Breakers.)

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea/xs_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea/sm_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea/md_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea/lg_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea/xl_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea.webp 1920w" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea/original_pitch_chatbots_to_new_clients_0_9aadccb5ea.webp" alt="bot building"><figcaption>Ice Breakers are FAQ options that you can set to appear for users as soon as they arrive at a bot.</figcaption></figure>

### I can’t respond to prospects fast enough

In the age of social media, speed is the name of the game. [43% of consumers](https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/news-briefs/43-of-consumers-expect-24-7-customer-service-from-e-tailers) expect that online businesses will be responsive and provide service 24/7. So if *you* don’t respond fast enough, your lead will become someone else’s customer.

Fortunately, chatbots don’t need lunch breaks and rarely go on vacation. That’s why a chatbot is the perfect “employee” to help fulfill your customers' high expectations and increase those conversion rates. While bots aren’t meant to replace human employees entirely, they can handle the repetitive inquiries around the clock so your client’s human employees can focus on more complex tasks.

### I’m losing sales because I forget to follow up with leads

For some products and services, leads simply need more touch points from the business to get them to purchase. This is especially true for high-ticket items and complex services. Unless your prospective client has a team of highly trained salespeople and a great tech stack, it’s likely they’re not following up with each lead at the right time.

A Facebook Messenger chatbot can make that process easier and more efficient by reengaging the leads on its own, automatically. For a business, that means fewer forgotten tasks, less frustration, and more sales.

As a Messenger chatbot agency focusing on this objective, you’ll want to look into:

-   [Chatfuel’s Re-engage tab](https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/955973-re-engage-tab)

-   Sequences

-   [One-Time Notifications](https://youtu.be/vTwdLHar6pI)

-   [Sponsored messages](https://chatfuel.com/blog/sponsored-messages-guide-to-reengaging-chatbot-subscribers)


These are all great tools for building chatbots that can successfully reengage a client’s leads and get them to make a purchase.

<figure><img><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### I can’t manage to respond to all the comments on my business’s Facebook posts

If the client’s business has an engaged online community and gets lots of comments on their Facebook page posts, that’s a huge opportunity! Humans can often overlook some of the comments and leave them without a response. But—you guessed it—a Messenger chatbot won’t miss any.  It can be set to respond as soon as a person comments on a post (or after a delay, if you prefer). The [Comments Autoreply functionality](https://chatfuel.com/blog/how-to-turn-facebook-post-commenters-into-customers) can be used for contests and giveaways, but also to provide more information about the client’s business and their products or services.

<figure><img><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## 2\. Showcase results

Once you’ve established what kind of a problem the business is struggling with, let them know that this is something that can be resolved with a chatbot (instead of with expensive software or by hiring extra people).

If your chatbot development agency already has successful past projects, add these to a portfolio that’s easy to share with your new prospects. Focus on exactly what your prospective client needs, and tell them how you’ve done it successfully for other clients before.

If they’re interested in spending less time responding to messages, for example, tell them how you’ve automated responses for other businesses in the past. In this case, don’t focus on the number of users this other chatbot had, or how many reengage messages you had it send. Instead, highlight the metrics that matter to them: the hours the bot saved your previous client and the lightning-fast response times it helped them achieve.

But what if you’re just getting started in the chat bot marketing industry, and you don’t have any results to back you? In this case, feel free to use our library of case studies to show what bots have achieved for other businesses.

### Popular case studies you might find useful

-   Whisky brand [triples conversion rates](https://chatfuel.com/blog/whisky-brand-triples-conversion-rates-with-gift-recommendation-chatbot) with gift-recommendation bot.

-   HelloFresh [cuts response times by 76%](https://chatfuel.com/blog/hellofresh-reduces-support-wait-times-with-chatfuel-messenger-bot) with a chatbot.

-   Baby-furniture brand [generates 80% of sales](https://chatfuel.com/blog/decen-baby-brand-generates-80-of-total-sales-with-messenger-bot) on autopilot with a chatbot.

-   Call center [cuts monthly costs by $25,000](https://chatfuel.com/blog/cut-operational-costs-with-messenger-bot) with a lead qualification chatbot.


It would also be useful to build out a simple flow to demo what a Facebook chatbot could look like for your prospect. Then, you can [share the flow](https://youtu.be/QcNZXxdNMR8) so they can interact with it themselves to understand the experience their audience will get to enjoy.

*There are many actionable examples of how to do this in Chatfuel Academy, our four-week online course for agencies. More on this in the last section.*

## 3\. Avoid “tech speak”

Especially during the first conversation, try not to use complex [chatbot terms](https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/4364177-chatfuel-glossary-of-terms-plugins) that your prospect won’t understand (like API, Entry Point, attributes, analytics terms, etc.). Even throwing in just a few without explanation can make the prospect confused and lead them to believe this technology is too complex or advanced for their needs.

Some of our agencies have found that it can be useful to call the chatbot a “virtual assistant” instead. They explain that it’s like an additional team member that can answer questions and send follow-up messages when necessary. That’s just one example of a different phrase you could use to explain the solution to your prospect; it may be helpful to experiment with a few different terms and see what they respond to best.

*Reengaging*, *Comment Acquisition*, and *Flow Builder* are also terms you should stay away from. Instead, get to the crux of what these features do—break it down to the basics. Explain that your chatbot agency can design and build a conversation that will guide their audience through their products/services, respond to questions, and upsell to interested users. Even if you’re explaining a complex concept, break it down into what’s visible to the business owner and explain how it will impact their day-to-day.

<figure><img><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## 4\. Set clear expectations

If you’ve been building chatbots for clients for a while, this is a no-brainer for you. These types of projects require positioning yourself and your chatbot agency as the experts and guiding your client through the process. But if you’re just starting out, there are a few peculiarities you should keep in mind.

For example, in the discovery stage, you need to be on the same page with your client about how long it will take to create their chatbot and how much it will cost. You’ll also want to be very clear about how involved the client needs to be in the process. Do they need to provide you with more information or visual content you’ll be using in the Messenger bot? How much control will you give them when it comes to the content of the chatbot itself?

Finally, don’t forget that a chatbot isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of tool. Maybe it needs customer support agents standing by [to respond to the more complex questions](https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/849315-live-chat). Maybe it needs sales managers to take over with the qualified leads. It definitely will need regular performance reviews) and flow adjustments. Who will be in charge of the ongoing maintenance in that case? Will you be charging a monthly maintenance fee, or will the client be bringing you in periodically?

Chatfuel Academy has a whole module dedicated to these technical details to help you ensure a smooth chatbot sales process. Our expert instructors cover:

-   the best ways to demo the bot to your client

-   the safest ways to hand off the chatbot once it’s ready to be launched

-   why and how a chatbot development agency should use the white-labeled dashboard


## Set your chatbot agency up for success

In summary, here’s what to do to dramatically increase the odds that you’ll close the deal with your new prospect:

1.  Focus on how the chatbot is going to make their days better and their business more successful

2.  Prove it by showcasing results you’ve already achieved for other clients

3.  Keep your explanations simple and easy to understand

4.  Make sure you’re on the same page throughout the project


Ready to try it for your business? Get a free account today, and enjoy the difference.

Pitching your chatbot marketing agency's services to a client who doesn't know about bots? Here are four tips to help you close the deal.

How to Pitch Chatbot Services to New Clients

You’re probably already familiar with the [most common uses for chatbots](https://chatfuel.com/blog/top-9-reasons-your-business-needs-a-chatbot/). They can help businesses do things like:

-   Answer FAQs instantly, 24/7

-   Generate and qualify leads

-   Recommend products

-   Move shoppers down the funnel


But what many business owners and marketers don’t know is that chatbots can help with other areas of your business too. They can help improve SEO, skyrocket digital ad performance, boost customer retention, and lots more. So whether your business already has a chatbot or you’re considering building one, scroll to learn about several extra perks they can bring to your brand.

## 1\. Chatbots can decrease your website’s bounce rate for SEO

**Bounce rate** is the percentage of a website’s visitors who only visit a single page on the site before leaving. While these statistics don’t count toward your search rankings per se, websites that appear higher on Google do [tend to have lower bounce rates](https://backlinko.com/search-engine-ranking).

Website abandonment is a real issue, especially for online merchants. In fact, the average ecommerce site experiences \[bounce rates [of around 42%](https://www.similarweb.com/corp/blog/bounce-rate/#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20you%20should%20expect,average%20between%2045%25%2D65%25.\)). Why? Because typically, websites with high bounce rates have user experience (UX) issues. Their pages often aren’t intuitively designed, which makes it difficult for visitors to navigate. And if people have to spend too much time trying to find what they want, they’ll simply go elsewhere.

Chatbots can help decrease bounce rates by offering navigation help from the get-go. You can [add a chatbot to your website](https://chatfuel.com/blog/add-a-messenger-chatbot-to-your-website) and set it up to ask questions that get straight to the heart of a customer’s issue. From there, it can point them in the right direction—whether that’s to an information page, a product page, or even [to a live agent.](https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/849315-live-chat)

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4.webp 2650w" width="2650" height="1394" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_0_fea3344df4.webp" alt=""><figcaption>Leeds-Beckett University offers a chatbot on their homepage to help visitors navigate the site.</figcaption></figure>

As Nicolina Savelli, Wily Global’s Content and Social Media Marketer, explains: *“\[Chatbots\] dramatically decreased our bounce rate to 2%. \[…\] The option forced users to browse longer and ask questions, rather than bouncing off the page.”*

## 2\. Chatbots can increase session duration for SEO

**Session duration** is the amount of time that people spend on your website before returning to the SERP (search engine results page). Google uses session duration to help rank your website. Longer website sessions, for example, show the algorithm that your website’s information is relevant to the search that led the visitor to it.

[39% of B2B marketers](https://drift.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-State-of-Conversational-Marketing.pdf) already say that conversational marketing techniques like chatbots will increase the time visitors spend on your website. It’s similar to how Messenger bots decrease bounce rate: they can help customers find the information they’re looking for more easily (and maybe some extra information they didn’t know they needed).

Visitors can ask for help on specific problems and chatbots will provide personalized answers that guide users to the correct information. Or, if the visitor isn’t looking to solve a specific problem, chatbots can help increase their session duration by asking them a few questions and recommending relevant content.

## 3\. Chatbots can improve your customer service ratings

For local businesses, reviews are the [third most important ranking factor](https://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors/) if you want to make the cut for [Google’s Local Pack](https://www.rankranger.com/seo-glossary/local-pack). And even if your business isn’t geared toward local services, reviews still feature as [a top Google ranking factor](https://backlinko.com/google-ranking-factors) since they boost your site’s reputation.

Improving the customer experience is one way to get positive reviews on sites like TrustPilot and Yelp as well as on your Facebook page—and the keys to a great customer experience are **personalization** and **speed**. [88% of marketers](https://www.evergage.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Evergage-2018-Trends-in-Personalization-Survey.pdf) agree that customers have come to expect personalized service. And if it’s not available immediately, they’re likely to abandon your brand for the competition.

Messenger chatbots can improve your customer service in both of these areas. First, thanks to user attributes, bots can personalize the conversation with everything from the user’s name and time zone to preferences they’ve shared in past chats. And, of course, chatbots are available to answer questions instantly, 24 hours a day. [Studies show](https://www.intercom.com/blog/the-state-of-chatbots) that they can boost customer satisfaction by a quarter and speed up response times by 300%.

Look at the HelloFresh chatbot, for example. Their “Freddie FreshBot” [automatically messages customers who leave comments](https://chatfuel.com/blog/how-to-turn-facebook-post-commenters-into-customers) on HelloFresh’s Facebook posts. From there, the bot can answer questions, share coupon codes, and suggest recipes.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136.webp 1600w" width="1600" height="1046" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_1_1862743136.webp" alt=""><figcaption>The HelloFresh chatbot has improved the brand's customer service.</figcaption></figure>

The result? HelloFresh’s [response times are down 76%](https://chatfuel.com/blog/hellofresh-reduces-support-wait-times-with-chatfuel-messenger-bot), which leads to lots of satisfied customers, as you can see from the [24,000 five-star reviews](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/hellofresh.com) HelloFresh now has.

## 4\. Chatbot data can inform your content marketing strategy

Content marketing is one of the most powerful ways to improve your search rankings. By identifying important questions that your target audience may have and answering them through great content, you demonstrate the authority and expertise of your brand. By optimizing this content with keywords related to these issues, you push your site up search engine rankings.

While keyword research can certainly help you find out what your customers are searching for, it’s sometimes easier to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. That’s where chatbots come in, because they can directly learn more about what users need and are looking for through a friendly back-and-forth conversation or quiz. Right now, only [22% of organizations](https://www.intercom.com/blog/the-state-of-chatbots) are using chatbots to collect data. That means 78% are missing a huge opportunity to better inform their content marketing strategies.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce.webp 940w" width="940" height="788" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_2_33404982ce.webp" alt=""><figcaption>A food blogger could use a chatbot to find out what people are most interested in, and then optimize her blog accordingly.</figcaption></figure>

By collecting chatbot data, you’ll be able to discover the most commonly asked questions and biggest challenges that your customers face. These takeaways can guide your content strategy so that you have a clearer idea of the types of articles, guides, product videos, etc. that your customers will find useful. In turn, you’ll end up ranking higher for key search terms that are relevant to solving problems within your specific target audience.

## 5\. Chatbot data can improve your social media ad performance and ROI

We’ve already discussed how chatbots are great tools for getting to know your customers better. The good news is that this customer data can also help improve the performance of your social media ads. The more you learn about your audience, the more precisely you can target them.

Take Beauty Player, a Taiwan-based ecommerce shop for skincare products. At first, their ads were expensive and underperforming. But then [they launched a chatbot](https://chatfuel.com/blog/beauty-startup-sells-more-with-messenger-bot/) and started gathering data about their users that way. They used that data to create custom and Lookalike audiences for their Facebook ads. The result? The brand reduced their cost per conversion by more than half — from $8.30 to $4.06 —and got a 10x return on ad spend.

<figure><img><figcaption>Learn how to instantly send data about your chatbot users to Facebook Ads Manager to create Lookalike audiences.</figcaption></figure>

## 6\. Chatbots can encourage social sharing

Your social media strategy should strive to increase brand awareness by encouraging your audience to share your content for you. Known as the “snowball effect,” you’ll gain more traction when your fans share your posts since your content will then seen by their audiences too. It’s one of the most effective ways to build brand awareness quickly.

To get this effect started, [build a chatbot](https://youtu.be/D4n6VLQHE5U) that serves a useful purpose to your target audience. Then, encourage them to share the link to the Facebook bot with their friends, who are typically like-minded individuals.

The Taiwanese political party, Can’t Stop This Party, used this technique to great success. Founded by young people, the party wanted to urge other young voters to take part in the election. [They created a Messenger chatbot](https://youtu.be/D4n6VLQHE5U) that educates voters on the issues and reminds them to head to the polls on election day. The helpful, engaging, and interactive bot was a huge success with its initial user base, so those people shared it. As a result, more than 40,000 youth turned out to vote in the elections! That’s the power of social sharing.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f.webp 2080w" width="2080" height="1168" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_3_279d60832f.webp" alt=""><figcaption>The chatbot that Can't Stop This Party created to encourage young people to vote was a success, because its initial users shared it with their friends.</figcaption></figure>

## 7\. Chatbots can boost customer retention

Acquiring new customers can get expensive, since it’s common knowledge that you need [eight touch points](https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/the-ultimate-guide-to-prospecting-how-many-touchpoints-when-and-what-type#:~:text=With%20this%20in%20mind%2C%20eight,might%20be%20right%20for%20another.\)) with a prospect before you’ll get the sale. Of course, customer acquisition needs to be a part of every business’s strategy. But retention should be too, since it’s cheaper and more efficient to focus on recapturing past customers who have already proven they liked your product or service.

Netting return customers relies on a range of factors, including how well you know them, how personalized your services are, and how slick your sales process is.

-   Let’s consider **personalization** first. Nowadays, [most consumers](https://www.redpointglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/RedPoint-Gaps-in-CX-White-Paper_3.20.19.pdf) expect businesses to personalize their services. That’s why most brands are now using personalization techniques in their customer retention strategies. And, as we’ve discussed, chatbots are ideal for this. In using more personalized customer service interactions like bots, [over half of business leaders](https://info.ada.support/hubfs/Ada%20Content%20Assets/Ada_Forrester%20Opportunity%20Snapshot.pdf?utm_campaign=Forrester%20Ops%20Report&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=72058063&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_8dT3oFjo4tn0ZHnVAyoxnnQtGBh32IKMbpzmJKYgR-9vP9tI1a8ZL9PFhhl_AHLgxJd_xFFHeUoC_phoeoD6Rfn2FDA&utm_content=72058063&utm_source=hs_automation) have found that they’ve ended up with more loyal customers.

-   Secondly, consider the **user** **experience** of your sales process. Is it easy to buy (and buy again) from your brand? Consider that [a third of retailers](http://f9e7d91e313f8622e557-24a29c251add4cb0f3d45e39c18c202f.r83.cf1.rackcdn.com/RTP_RT208_SURV_CustomerAcquisitionRetention_July_2019_Final.pdf) say it’s hard to retain customers due to their long sales cycles. What’s the correlation? It’s simple: Customers don’t want to buy from companies who make it difficult to purchase their products. The process needs to be fast, smooth, and efficient for the shopper.


That’s where chatbots come in again. Messenger bots have the power to ease friction in the buying process, making it easy for customers to buy again. Check out [the story of Photobooth Deluxe](https://chatfuel.com/blog/ecommerce-entrepreneur-uses-chatfuel-bot-to-automate-over-100-000-in-sales/), for example. Recognizing that 95% of its customers came through Facebook, the photobooth company switched out its slow, manual ordering method for a super-efficient Facebook chatbot which can handle the whole process. In doing this, the brand was able to automate over $100,000 of orders within a few months, all because their bot made the repeat-buying process easy for customers.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925/xs_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925/sm_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925/md_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925/lg_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925/xl_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925.webp 820w" width="820" height="1040" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925/original_hidden_benefits_of_chatbots_4_c393941925.webp" alt=""><figcaption>The photobooth company's chatbot reminds repeat customers when it's time to reorder printer supplies, and lets them complete the order in a few taps.</figcaption></figure>

## A chatbot is a multi-purpose tool for your business

As you can see, the function of a Chatfuel bot reaches far beyond simple customer service inquiries. Chatbots can now help to inform, shape, and amplify your SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and more to help you boost brand awareness and drive sales.

[Sign up for your free Chatfuel account](https://dashboard.chatfuel.com) to start building a Messenger chatbot for your business today.

Chatbots are known for answering questions and boosting sales, but they can also help with SEO, content marketing, ads, and more.

7 Hidden Benefits of Chatbots for Business

## The brand

Yash Bhansali and Vikram Kanodia met in high school. Now, they’ve founded a chatbot agency together called Talkative.AI. 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 customers 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.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213.webp 1618w" width="1618" height="1194" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_0_b023920213.webp" alt=""><figcaption>Essange is known for their beautiful desserts.</figcaption></figure>

## The problem

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, Instagram, and Facebook.” To stay in business, the bakery’s owner knew she needed to pivot—and fast.

## The solution

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 [FAQ automation](https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-for-customer-service), 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.

Here’s how the Bake at Home bot works:

1.  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.

2.  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.

3.  The AI bot acts as a virtual baking assistant, guiding the customer through each step of the baking process with instructions and GIFs.


<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906.webp 940w" width="940" height="788" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_1_e0d2c2c906.webp" alt=""><figcaption>The AI&nbsp;chatbot for the bakery guides customers through instructions for baking their dessert.</figcaption></figure>

“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.

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5.webp 940w" width="940" height="788" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_2_0f580235d5.webp" alt=""><figcaption>The bakery chatbot invites customers to share a photo of their creation on social media once they've finished it.</figcaption></figure>

Yash and Vikram explain that they wanted to use a chatbot for something more than a marketing channel or a [customer service experience](https://chatfuel.com/blog/chatbot-for-customer-service). “The client said, *Can we make the bot part of the business?* 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.

## The recipe

“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.”

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.”

Here are a few of the Chatfuel tools and features the Talkative team used to build this baking bot:

-   **Artificial intelligence (AI)**. “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 [set up AI rules](https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/828883-keywords), which are pre-set messages your bot will send  in response to certain text inputs from users. An AI chatbot can significantly improve the user experience, as it did for the Bake at Home Bot.

-   **Customer Chat Entry Point.** Yash and Vikram used this plugin so that the chatbot would pop up and offer help to anyone who visits the bakery’s website. [Adding a chatbot to a website](https://chatfuel.com/blog/add-a-messenger-chatbot-to-your-website) is an easy way for any brand to get new users.


<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65.webp 2588w" width="2588" height="1390" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_3_0cc4bc2a65.webp" alt=""><figcaption>The chatbot is ready to engage anyone who visits the bakery's website.</figcaption></figure>

-   **Facebook Ads Entry Points.** This feature lets you easily set up [sponsored messages](https://chatfuel.com/blog/sponsored-messages-guide-to-reengaging-chatbot-subscribers) and [click-to-Messenger ads](https://chatfuel.com/blog/create-click-to-messenger-ads-to-drive-traffic-to-your-bot) for your bot, and Yash and Vikram took advantage. “Sponsored messages and click-to-Messenger ads on Facebook [and Instagram](https://chatfuel.com/blog/use-instagram-ads-to-bring-users-to-your-dms-or-your-messenger-bot) were ‘baked’ into the branding and marketing strategy,” they tell us.


Vikram and Yash shared that they also made use of [gallery cards](https://docs.chatfuel.com/en/articles/925465-media-assets), images, GIFs, and sequences in the recipe tutorials. User attributes and [Zapier CRM integrations](https://chatfuel.com/blog/a-marketing-automation-love-story-chatfuel-zapier) helped them with personalization and retargeting. All these features combined helped improve the customer experience for the bakery bot’s users.

## The results

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.

“Our experience-oriented design **acquired 250% more users in a month** than the automated FAQs version was able to acquire in over a year,” shares Vikram. “User activity spiked to **50x Active Users** 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!”

<figure><img srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274/xs_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274.webp 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274/sm_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274.webp 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274/md_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274.webp 1280w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274/lg_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274.webp 1920w, https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274/xl_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274.webp 1600w" width="1600" height="707" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/chatfuel-cms-staging/pic/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274/original_ai_chatbot_helps_bakery_during_covid_4_e361b59274.webp" alt=""><figcaption>The virtual assistant version of the bakery's chatbot acquired 250% more users in a month than the FAQ&nbsp;version did in over a year.</figcaption></figure>

## A chatbot can get your business sweet results

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](https://dashboard.chatfuel.com) today.

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

Bakery Creates New Revenue with AI Chatbot in COVID

We talked to 8 Messenger experts to get their take on chatbot trends and the future of chatbots for marketing in 2021 and beyond.

8 experts predict the future of chatbots in 2021 and beyond

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