Website Chatbot Overview
The website chatbot lets visitors to your website chat with your AI agent instantly. It appears as a small chat bubble that customers can click to start a conversation.
How the Chatbot Works
1. You add a code snippet → To your website
2. A chat bubble appears → In the corner of your site
3. Visitors click it → To open the chat window
4. They chat with your agent → Like messaging a friend
5. You review conversations → In your dashboard
What the Chatbot Can Do
Answer Questions Instantly
Visitors get immediate answers about:
- Your business hours
- Services and pricing
- Location and directions
- Policies and procedures
- Product information
Your agent pulls answers from your Knowledge Base.
Capture Leads 24/7
Even when you're sleeping, your chatbot:
- Collects visitor contact info
- Notes what they're interested in
- Saves them as contacts
- Notifies you of new leads
Book Appointments
Seamlessly schedule meetings by:
- Checking your availability
- Offering time slots
- Confirming bookings
- Sending calendar invites
Qualify Prospects
Gather important information:
- What service they need
- Their budget or timeline
- How urgent their request is
- Best way to reach them
Why Use a Chatbot?
Always Available
Unlike phone calls, chat works 24/7 without staffing. Your chatbot never takes a break.
Convenient for Visitors
Many people prefer typing to calling:
- They can chat at work
- No need to find a quiet spot
- Easy to reference the conversation later
- Can multitask while chatting
Capture More Leads
Visitors who won't call might chat:
- Lower barrier to contact
- Less commitment than a phone call
- Feels more casual and approachable
Reduce Your Workload
Your agent handles routine questions:
- Frees you for complex tasks
- Consistent answers every time
- No more repetitive emails
Getting Started
Step 1: Create a Web Deployment
Set up a chatbot for your website.
Step 2: Customize Appearance
Match the chatbot to your brand colors.
Step 3: Add to Your Website
Copy and paste the embed code.
Step 4: Test It Out
Visit your website and try the chat!
Use a private/incognito browser window to see exactly what first-time visitors see.
What Visitors See
The Chat Bubble
A floating button in the corner of your website (usually bottom-right). It's visible but not intrusive.
The Chat Window
When clicked, a chat window opens showing:
- Your agent's name and avatar
- A welcome message
- A text input to start typing
The Conversation
A natural back-and-forth:
- Their messages on one side
- Your agent's responses on the other
- Quick, helpful answers
Viewing Chat Conversations
All website chats appear in your Conversations section:
- Go to Conversations
- Filter by Chats Only channel
- Click any conversation to view the full transcript
Each conversation shows:
- What the visitor asked
- How your agent responded
- Contact info if collected
- When the chat happened
Chat vs. Voice Comparison
| Feature | Chat | Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Response type | Text | Spoken |
| Visitor location | Your website | Phone |
| Setup required | Embed code | Call forwarding |
| Conversation record | Text transcript | Transcript + recording |
| Customer preference | Typing | Talking |
Let customers choose their preferred way to reach you. Some prefer typing, others prefer talking.
Best Practices
Keep Your Knowledge Updated
Your chatbot responds instantly — make sure your knowledge base is complete so answers are accurate.
Wrong business hours or pricing creates frustrated visitors. Keep information current.
Review Conversations Regularly
Check chat transcripts weekly to:
- Spot unanswered questions
- Improve your knowledge base
- Follow up on leads
- Identify common issues
Make the Bubble Visible
- Use a color that stands out against your site
- Default position (bottom-right) works well
- Don't hide it behind other elements
- Test on mobile devices
Common Use Cases
Service Businesses
"Hi! I'm looking for a plumber for a leak"
Your agent books an appointment and captures their info.
Restaurants
"Do you have outdoor seating?"
Your agent answers and offers to take a reservation.
Professional Services
"What are your consultation fees?"
Your agent provides pricing and offers to schedule a call.
Retail
"Are you open on Sunday?"
Your agent shares hours and location details.
Common Questions
Will the chatbot slow down my website?
No. The chatbot loads asynchronously after your page loads, so it doesn't affect page speed or user experience.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes! The chatbot is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops.
Can I have different chatbots for different pages?
Yes! Create multiple Web Deployments with different settings and add the appropriate embed code to each section of your site.
Do I need technical skills to install it?
Basic familiarity with your website platform is helpful, but the installation is simple: just copy and paste a code snippet. Most website builders have easy ways to add custom code.
Next Steps
Need Help?
- Check our Troubleshooting Guide
- Email support@needtheo.com