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We’ll look at how to Create and Use Facebook Messenger Chatbots in this article. Most brands don’t have the resources to offer 24/7 online customer service and sales support on Facebook Messenger, let alone on their websites. Chatbots don’t have to sleep, which is a good thing (or eat lunch). Facebook Messenger bots can answer customer questions, track packages, recommend products, and even close a sale at any time of the day or night.
Facebook is the social media site that people all over the world use the most. If you already have a shop on Facebook, you’ve taken the right step to join an online marketplace that is growing all the time. If you don’t think about adding a Facebook Messenger chatbot to your team, you’ll miss out on good sales opportunities.
Ways to Create and Use Facebook Messenger Chatbots
Sign up for a Chatfuel account
Visit Chatfuel.com and click the “Get Started for Free” button on the front page. You will be asked to sign in to your Facebook account and give Chatfuel permission to access your public profile and email address.
Link your Facebook page
As soon as your Facebook login is confirmed, you will be taken to the dashboard of your Chatfuel account. To add your Facebook page, click “Connect.” Chatfuel will show a message saying “Welcome” to show that the page has been linked correctly.
Create a Messenger greeting
The next step is to make a welcome message that your customers will see when they start a chatbot session on Messenger. This message is very important because it tells users what to do and what to expect.
- Go back to your Facebook page and click Settings -> Messaging
- Set the Show a Messenger Greeting switch to Yes
- Click Change
- Enter your welcome message into the box, and click Save
Create a welcome message
Your user will see a “welcome message” when a chatbot session starts. Here, you can use the customer’s name to greet them and give them more tips on how to get the most out of their chatbot session.
- In your Chatfuel dashboard, click Welcome Message
- Add your desired copy to the box—for example, “Hi {{first name}}, how can I help you?”
Create a default reply
When a user asks a question, the Facebook Messenger chatbot doesn’t always know how to answer it. When this happens, you’ll need a default reply to tell them what to do next (email support, reword their question, call your helpdesk, etc.).
- In your Chatfuel dashboard, click the Default Answer button.
- Change the placeholder text to something more friendly (“Sorry, I’m still learning the ropes. Please try again!”)
Add a Message button to your Facebook page
Unfortunately, the “Message” button doesn’t appear on your Facebook page by itself. You have to add it. This is how:
- Go back to Facebook and click Add a Button
- In the popup window, select Contact You and Send Message
- When asked where the button should send people, select Messenger
- The Send Message button is now displayed on your page—try clicking it to launch your Facebook Messenger chatbot.
Unleash the AI
The real power of chatbots comes from the fact that they use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fully understand what your customers are asking. Chatfuel trains the AI system with keywords, so you will need to give your chatbot some to work with. You can also go to the official Facebook support site to know more information about this.
- From the Chatfuel dashboard, select Set Up AI -> Add AI Rule
- Enter a keyword that you expect your customers to use like ‘Shipping’ in the If User Says Something Similar To box
- In the accompanying Bot Replies with Text box, enter a useful reply like “All orders over $10 qualify for free shipping. You can find out more about our shipping policies here,” along with a link to your shipping info page.
- Keep repeating this process for as many keywords as you like. Because these changes are made in real time, you can test chatbot responses as you go.
FAQ
Does Facebook Messenger have a chatbot?
Facebook Messenger bots live inside Facebook Messenger and can talk to some of the 1.3 billion people who use Facebook Messenger every month. Chatbots are like online helpers. They can be taught to answer questions, do tasks, and understand questions.
How do I test my chatbot on Facebook Messenger?
Choose the Messenger channel for the Facebook page with which you want to test the chatbot. Or, if you haven’t already, use this guide to set up a Messenger channel. Once you’re in the Messenger channel, go to Linked bot and choose the chatbot you want to test from the dropdown.
How to Create a Facebook Messenger chatbot for free without coding?
There are many places where you can build chatbots, but Chatfuel is the one we recommend. Chatfuel is a platform that lets you make a chatbot for Facebook Messenger without having to write any code. Set up a new account on Chatfuel.com to get started.