What Does Your Facebook Messenger Bot Have?
What exactly is a Facebook Messenger bot?” At its most basic level, such bots provide a means for companies to automate several low-level client support functions. Instead of constantly waiting on hold with a customer service representative to talk to a live service agent, clients can easily chat with a bot to quickly answer basic inquiry questions, or complete the initial stages of an RMA request. All of this without the hassle of having to wait for a real person to help.
However, as the need for customer service has grown and companies have begun to automate more of their business processes, bots have also been used to perform other tasks, not directly related to customer service. In this case, one may speak of bot assistants. These assistants are commonly used by small businesses and companies, whose staff can comfortably handle the job, but who would benefit most from automation? Many business owners find that having a bot perform some or all of the work allows them to focus more on the other aspects of running the business. After all, assistants can perform tasks that may otherwise be taken up by a human being, or which may otherwise require training or additional expertise.
There are two main types of bot software that are currently in wide use. One of these is the Facebook Messenger Bot, which is primarily used to manage the conversations that take place between friends on the social networking site. In theory, a bot can be set up to manage any number of conversations, from simple conversation threads to larger groups of people. Most such bot services are focused on the Facebook messaging system. In addition, some bot services are capable of interacting with the popular Gmail service, as well as with the Twitter service. The Friend Bot is particularly useful for businesses that have an established presence on the social networks, as it allows them to easily manage their online reputation.
The second major category of bot is the so-called desktop bot, designed to perform a variety of tasks, including tasks traditionally performed by customer service representatives or live associates. Desktop bot programs are primarily used by businesses that have an on-site presence, rather than an off-site one. However, there is a growing trend towards apps that are available across multiple platforms. For example, many messenger bots also have corresponding apps for the iPhone and Android devices.
In addition to managing conversations, some bot services provide a feature known as the message button. When the user activates the message button, a bot assistant will send a message to the user automatically every time a message is sent to them. This can include sending a news alert or customised text or picture messages, and can be integrated with other Facebook functions, including the News Feed and the tagging system used by fans. The message button also has the ability to notify the user of any changes made to the chatbot by either transferring them to the correct user, or informing them directly.
In order to get the most from the Facebook Messenger Bot, one must remember a number of fundamental points. The first point is to make sure your bot has an account with Facebook. This is determined by running a basic compatibility test in Facebook’s official test lab. You should also check that your bot has an officially supported language selection. If you encounter a problem during a chatfuel session, for example, you may want to contact support to find out if a translator can be hired to translate the chatbot session into your language.
Another important point is that the bot should be able to connect to the social media services that you use. The default settings should allow it to connect to the Friend Feed, Chatspams, and Polls. The best approach is to test different features of the Facebook Messenger Bot, and then gauge your open rates on each. Facebook has stated that the majority of its users use their current profile to open and share messages; therefore, it makes sense that a bot should be able to connect to this social media platform.
Finally, the bot should have an easy-to-use interface, with sufficient support resources, and be integrated with chatbacks so that it displays customer service info where customers can see it. Chatbacks are like “notification bars” that display information on the bot’s activities. For example, a chatback would show the last message the bot sent, as well as any chats that have been posted since the last activity (if there were any). This customer service information should be available to all of your customers, and can be accessed through the bot’s dashboard. Facebook has stated that they plan to add more tools and functionality to the Facebook Messenger Bot over time; therefore, it makes sense for your bot to also have these additional functions available as well. While Facebook’s chatbacks are still in development, chatbacks give you a simple yet effective way to connect with your customers on Facebook.