You know Facebook. It’s the social media giant that’s giving women the opportunity to put their businesses in front of 1.79 billion daily active users.

But did you know that even Facebook Messenger can be used as an automatic marketing and engagement tool for your business?

All you need is a Facebook chatbot. 

Over 10 billion messages are exchanged between people and businesses over Facebook messenger every month and 81% of those messages are product/service-related. 

Facebook Messenger has huge potential for your business. Introducing a messenger bot can help take the pressure off managing such a powerful tool.

Facebook Messenger has huge potential for your business, and introducing a messenger bot can help take the pressure off managing such a powerful tool. Click To Tweet

A messenger bot is a piece of automated messaging software that uses AI to engage with your customers via Facebook Messenger. It systemises communications with important prospects and customers whilst you eat, sleep and otherwise enjoy life.

If you’re already a Facebook Messenger user, you may have encountered a messenger bot whilst interacting with businesses. For example, if you’ve sent a message and gotten an automatic response. It most likely will have been from a Facebook chatbot. 

The Power of Messenger Bots

Some messenger bot messages are so expertly designed. You may even question whether the response comes from a chatbot or from a real person. And that immediate reply may then keep you from taking your question or comment to the competition…and that’s the power of the bot.

That immediate reply may then keep you from taking your question or comment to the competition…and that’s the power of the bot.

However, that’s only the beginning. A Facebook Messenger bot can have a full-blown conversation (and log and direct the results) on Facebook Messenger, and the scope of what you can accomplish is impressive.

For example, you can answer commonly asked questions, similar to a FAQ page, but with live interaction. Facebook Messenger chatbots can enhance your marketing by recommending products. Based on internet searches and past purchases, as well as answering questions about the company and its products/services. 

In fact, these bots can use artificial intelligence to not only “read” the fine details of language. But to “learn” from each interaction and become progressively more in-tune with each user’s needs.

The potential of Facebook messenger bots is so great. That when programmed correctly, bots can make users believe they’re engaging with another human.

The potential of Facebook messenger bots is so great, that when programmed correctly, bots can make users believe they’re engaging with another human. Click To Tweet

Much of this is due to the fact that people conversing with your brand will never have to download an app from Facebook. The chatbot simply “talks” to them without circumstance—just like one of your team members is responding to their message.

By now you’re probably wondering How can I build a Facebook messenger bot to help with marketing through Messenger?

How can I Build a Facebook Messenger Bot to Help with Marketing through Messenger?

You’ll need to install a third-party app like MobileMonkey, ManyChat, Microsoft Bot Framework, Botsify, Chatfuel, Amazon Lex, IBM Watson Conversation, or Pandorabots, which will help you establish a logical flow of language and information so questions can be answered and next steps can be determined. 

These chatbots can ask questions, answer questions and gather information in order to intelligently engage with specific Messenger users in the future. These apps can also tag words and phrases used in Messenger and broadcast information to users who have already interacted with your Facebook chatbot or subscribed to receive messages.

Engage More with These Five Facebook Messenger Bot Strategies

Here are 5 things to think about as you start to strategise for your first Facebook Messenger Bot:

Have a Clear and Goal-focussed Strategy

Your Facebook messenger chatbot should build your brand, just as every other communication does. Ask yourself what your purpose is for introducing a messaging bot. Do you want to provide better customer service? Do you want to answer common questions with a marketing objective? Or Do you want to encourage more people to talk about your brand? Or move them through your funnel? A clear purpose will help you build an effective chatbot that meets both your and your customers’ needs. 

What Type of Information does Your Messenger Bot Need to Know?

Give serious thought to the types of conversations your staff are having with customers now – on the phone, through Messenger and online. What are the most commonly asked questions? What are their reasons for making contact? 

If they want to know about your restaurant’s daily specials, then your Messenger bot can be programmed to answer that type of enquiry. If they want to book a hotel room, the chatbot can be programmed to ask a series of questions (with an if/then framework) and automatically book their stay. The possibilities are limitless, really.

What Common Enquiries Does Your Chatbot Need to Answer?

Know what words and phrases your customers are commonly using, so your messenger bot can be programmed to recognise common enquiries and efficiently answer questions and guide people to resolutions without you having to manually deal with every simple enquiry.

Your messenger bot can be programmed to recognise common enquiries and efficiently answer questions.

Introduce Buttons and Guided Responses

Consider using buttons, or Guided Responses when setting up your messenger bot. In Messenger, you may have seen script buttons with phrases like I Will Be There or What are Your Business Hours or I’d Like to Schedule an appointment. These can alleviate your potential customers’ angst about deciding what to ask or say and encourage them to interact further with your business, which can lead to an increase in sales.

Ensure Your Messenger Bot Uses Branded Language

Think about branded language. Your Facebook chatbot will be a representative for your business, and should therefore “sound” like your brand. Use language, emojis, GIFs, and images that support your corporate values and mission – and remember to use friendly, conversational language so that it’s not always immediately obvious that they’re talking to a chatbot.

Make Engaging Easier with Messenger Bots!

Build on your messenger chatbot strategy, taking note of people’s responses and feedback. 

If you do, it can become a valuable (and time-saving!) marketing and engagement tool for your business. You just have to be willing to test things out and get into your customers’ heads! 

And if you’ve had an experience with a bot or have a particular chatbot software that you love, let us know about it in the comments below!

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