Why build a chatbot?

Chatbots handle FAQs, capture leads, qualify prospects, and provide instant support — all without hiring extra staff. A fast chatbot gives your website or social profiles a 24/7 front line that converts visitors into customers or subscribers.

Tools you’ll use (no code required)

Quick overview: Build a chatbot in 10 minutes

1. Pick a platform (ManyChat or Chatfuel are fastest for beginners).
2. Create your free account and select a template or blank bot.
3. Add basic flows: greeting, FAQs, lead capture, and human handoff.
4. Test the bot inside the platform.
5. Embed the widget on your website or connect to Instagram/WhatsApp.

Tip: Use a simple script. If you try to build a huge bot on day one, you’ll waste time. Start with 3-5 common user journeys.

Step-by-step: ManyChat (5–10 minutes)

ManyChat is ideal if you want cross-platform messaging (Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp) and an intuitive visual builder.

1. Sign up: Visit ManyChat.com and create a free account. Connect your Facebook page or Instagram business account when prompted.
2. Create a new flow: In the dashboard, go to Automation > Flows and click Create Flow. Choose a template like “Welcome Message” or start from scratch.
3. Design your greetings: Add a welcome message that asks a simple question — e.g., “Hi! How can I help you today? Shop / Support / Contact” — and add buttons or quick replies.
4. Add FAQ blocks: For common questions, create short answer blocks. ManyChat’s visual builder makes linking flows easy: drag connectors between blocks.
5. Lead capture: Use an input block to collect email or phone numbers. Connect it to Audience so the contact is saved.
6. Human handoff: Add a final step that passes complex queries to a human, sends an email to your team, or opens a ticket via Zapier.
7. Publish and test: Use the live chat preview and test on Instagram/Facebook. When happy, publish and set the default response to your new flow.

ManyChat integrates with email providers and CRMs. Use Zapier if you want to push leads to Google Sheets or your CRM automatically.

Step-by-step: Chatfuel (5–10 minutes)

Chatfuel is another beginner-friendly option, especially for Facebook Messenger bots and quick FAQ/chat experiences.

1. Sign up: Go to Chatfuel.com and create an account. Connect your Facebook page.
2. Use a template: Choose a Messenger template (e.g., FAQ or Lead Generation) for the fastest setup.
3. Edit blocks: Chatfuel uses Blocks — edit the welcome message, add quick replies, and create separate blocks for each FAQ item.
4. Set up user input: Add the User Input plugin to ask for email or phone numbers and store the data in attributes.
5. Automate actions: Use JSON API or integrate with Zapier to send collected leads to Google Sheets, Mailchimp, or Slack.
6. Test and launch: Use the test chat window and then publish the bot live on your Facebook page.

Chatfuel is excellent if you prefer Messenger-first bots with structured flows and quick deployment.

Make it smarter: Use Chatbase or GPT integration

If you want more natural, context-aware answers, train a ChatGPT-style bot on your content using Chatbase or connect to an LLM via API.

1. Upload your website URL, PDFs, or docs to Chatbase.
2. Chatbase will index your content and create a bot that answers based on that knowledge.
3. Use Chatbase’s share link or embed code, or connect it to ManyChat/Chatfuel via API for advanced responses.

This is perfect for knowledge bases, product FAQs, and support articles — the bot will answer using your exact content.

Embed on your site and go live

Most platforms provide an embed code or a small widget script. Copy the embed code from ManyChat, Chatfuel, or Chatbase and paste it into your website’s HTML or a custom HTML block in WordPress. For Instagram and WhatsApp bots, follow ManyChat’s guide to connect your business account.

<!-- Example: paste this in your website footer or custom HTML block -->
<script src="https://widgets.manychat.com/XXXXX.js" async></script>

Replace the example script with the one your chosen platform gives you.

Testing checklist

• ✅ Test all user paths (greeting, FAQ, lead capture)
• ✅ Confirm collected leads are stored and forwarded correctly
• ✅ Test mobile and desktop appearance
• ✅ Set up notifications for human handoff

Quick templates (copy & paste)

Hi 👋 — welcome! How can I help you today?
1. Shop
2. Support
3. Talk to a human

Great — I can help with that. What’s the best email to reach you?

Q: What are your hours?
A: We respond 9am–5pm Mon–Fri. For urgent queries use the contact form.

Tips for success

• Start small: 3–5 paths that solve the most common visitor needs.
• Use human handoff for complex issues — never let the bot be the only option.
• Track performance: measure replies, leads captured, and conversion rate.
• Iterate weekly: add new answers and refine flows based on user behaviour.