I'm going to assume that you've heard about Facebook Messenger Chatbots (if not, check this out). And, unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably aware that automating even the most basic marketing tasks can offer you a serious competitive advantage in any industry.
However, using a chatbot the wrong way or setting one up improperly can result in problems ranging from alienating prospects and customers to damaging your business' reputation. While many argue that chatbots will eventually replace websites and “kill” most apps, there's a chance that they'll knock out your marketing efforts first, unless you're careful.
So… let's have a look at five of the top mistakes you should always avoid when you implement a new chatbot for your business.
1: Failing to test your bot before activating it to go live
Before launching a chatbot to automate your marketing and customer service tasks, you need to make sure it can handle a real conversation without a hitch. Although not all messenger bots are 100% perfect (you'll probably end up making multiple revisions after you learn how people are using your bot), it always helps to test things out before your chatbot goes live and starts interacting with your leads and customers.
Don't allow a chatbot to ruin your relationship with your clients and tweak your conversation flow as best as you can before you send your virtual assistant on its way to talk to customers.
2: Preventing your subscribers from easily opting-out
Some of your subscribers may love your brand and they may choose to stay loyal. Others, on the other hand, may stop being interested in what you have to offer. If that happens, you should always give your followers the option to unsubscribe.
Having a list of subscribers who are no longer interested in your business won't help you drive up your sales. Instead, it may determine them to resent your brand if they keep receiving unwanted notifications from your bot.
3: Not respecting the rules around Facebook bot marketing
If you'd like to make the most out of messenger marketing, you should always respect the policies that Facebook has in place. In particular, it's important to know the messaging window you are allotted for sending promotional messages, as well as the types of broadcasts that are permitted (and the types that are not).
Not playing by the rules will eventually lead to your chatbot or your page getting slapped with a penalty.
4: Not knowing when to limit the number of sent messages
Another mistake you should always avoid when setting up your chatbot conversation flow is sending too much text to your subscribers. Whether you're launching a new drip campaign or would like to send out a series of chat blasts to promote a new product, you should always be careful not to overdo it.
Messenger marketing can be highly effective, but only if you're careful not to send too many updates that may be perceived as annoying.
5: Not hiring a pro to properly set up a chatbot for your business
Unless you have experience with setting up a chatbot, you should probably rely on a professional to do it for you. Not only can it be technically challenging, but it's also critical to understand the strategic approach to effective messenger marketing.
Although there are many options that make building a messenger bot a breeze, it's always best to allow someone with experience take care of your chatbot from start to finish.
