Have you chatted with a robot lately?
Well, if you interacted with a company or brand on Facebook recently, then there’s a good chance that you did just that.
There are over 300,000 active bots on Facebook Messenger that send upwards of eight-billion messages every month.
If you’re a little lost as to what a Messenger bot is and aren’t sure how having one can help your business, allow us to explain.
Here is everything you need to know about Messenger or “chat” bots on Facebook, and how they can help you take your business to the next level.
A Real Chatter-Bot: What Are Messenger Bots?
In essence, a Facebook chatbot is a low-level customer service representative.
What sets chatbots apart is that they’re fully automated and capable of helping customers find what they want 24/7, 365 days a year.
Messenger bots can help answer basic questions, direct customers to product pages, and can even book appointments. And, they can do all this instantaneously, without keeping your customers waiting.
So, how do these nifty little chatbots do all this? It all depends on the Messenger bot program you use.
Some chatbots run off of basic if-then programming. You enter a few set responses that go out whenever the program receives a particular trigger word or phrase.
More advanced chatbots combine this format with the latest in artificial intelligence. This mix creates an even more seamless experience for your customers.
How Bots Help Businesses
So now that you know what bots are and how they work, it’s time to talk about what they can do to help you grow your company.
53% of Facebook users say that they would prefer to do business with a company they can message directly. And, with a chatbot, your customers will be able to message your company directly whenever they want.
On top of that, using a Messenger bot can help you cut costs in a big way. Studies show that by 2022, chatbots will help business owners cut costs by a whopping $8-billion.
While saving a little cash is nothing to sniff at, the main reason your business should start using a chatbot is to improve your customer retention.
When your customers feel like your listening or like you’re making yourself available to help them, they’re more likely to stick around.
Adding Bots to Your Business Plan
You know what bots can do for you, how do you go about adding one to your company’s Facebook page?
There are dozens of programs that can help you set up a Messenger bot yourself. That said, if you set up your chatbot yourself, there’s no way to guarantee you’ll be able to take full advantage of the technology.
By bringing on an expert to help you set up and manage your Messenger bot, you’ll be able to make sure everything runs the way it should.
Bots on Facebook: The Future of Customer Service
E-commerce sales are skyrocketing—and there’s no sign of them slowing down anytime soon.
This online shopping boom has made it imperative that businesses do everything they can to improve their online service. And using Messenger bots on Facebook is a fantastic way to give your company the boost it needs to remain competitive.
Ready to step up your online presence with chatbots? We can help.
Contact us for more information about our services, or to get started today.
