Summary
Good news! Just like WhatsApp and Instagram, you can now create a chatbot for your Facebook account to handle automated replies and streamline user or team assignments. This guide will walk you through creating your first chatbot on Facebook Messenger using WATI's dashboard.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Steps to Create Your First Facebook Messenger Chatbot
Log in to your WATI Dashboard Go to your WATI dashboard and navigate to the Automation section.
Access Chatbots In the Automation menu, click on Chatbots.
Add a New Chatbot Click the Add Chatbot button to start creating your bot.
Select Facebook Messenger In the next screen, click the Facebook Messenger menu button (this is where you can set up your Messenger chatbot). Then, start adding the nodes (functions) that are available for Messenger chatbots.
If your Facebook account is not yet connected, check out this article for help.
Messenger vs. WhatsApp Chatbot Compatibility
If you see the Messenger icon next to a chatbot's name, it means the bot is compatible with Facebook Messenger. If not, the bot can only be used on WhatsApp.
While editing your chatbot, a separate tab will display only the Messenger-compatible functions. Any nodes that are not compatible with Messenger will appear greyed out.
Building Your Chatbot
Creating the chatbot is simple. You just need to:
Drag and Drop Nodes Drag the available nodes from the left panel and connect them in the flow. This is how you build the chatbot's functionality.
Save and Test Once you're done building your chatbot, make sure to save it. Then, start testing it to ensure everything works as expected.
Setting Up Trigger Rules for Messenger Chatbots
To trigger the chatbot for Facebook Messenger, you'll need to create a Keyword Rule. This will help start the chatbot when the set keyword is mentioned. For more details, check out this guide.
Available Chatbot Features for Facebook Messenger
Here’s a list of chatbot nodes and functions available based on your WATI plan:
Growth Plan Features:
Send a Message
Ask a Question
Set a Condition
Pro & Business Plan Features:
Set Tags
Assign Team
Assign User
Update Chat Status
Time Delay
Webhook
Google Spreadsheet Integration
Limitations for Messenger Chatbots
Some functions may not be supported on Facebook Messenger. This is due to differences in the types of messages that are supported on Messenger and WhatsApp.
For example, template messages, catalog messages, and WhatsApp Flows are not compatible with Messenger.
Additionally, the Trigger Chatbot node is disabled for Messenger as it may not be compatible with your next chatbot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Getting Started
How do I create my first Facebook Messenger chatbot with WATI? → To create your first Facebook Messenger chatbot, log in to your WATI dashboard, go to the Automation section, click on Chatbots, and then click the Add Chatbot button. From there, select the Messenger options and start adding the available nodes (functions) for your chatbot.
What should I do if my Facebook account is not connected to WATI? → If your Facebook account isn't connected, follow the steps outlined in this article to link it with WATI.
Chatbot Compatibility
How do I know if my chatbot is compatible with Facebook Messenger? → If you see a Messenger icon next to the chatbot's name, it means the bot is compatible with Messenger. If the icon is absent, the bot can only be used on WhatsApp.
What happens if a node is not compatible with Facebook Messenger? → Nodes that aren't compatible with Messenger will appear greyed out in the editing section. This happens because some chatbot functions are not supported by Messenger due to differences in messaging systems.
Building the Chatbot
How do I create the flow of my chatbot? → Creating the flow is simple, just drag and drop nodes from the left panel and connect them to design the chatbot's behavior. Once you're done, don't forget to save your chatbot!
How do I test my chatbot after building it? → After saving your chatbot, you can test it to ensure everything is working. Simply trigger the chatbot using the set keywords and see how it responds.
Setting Triggers
How do I trigger the chatbot for Facebook Messenger? → To trigger the chatbot, you'll need to create a Keyword Rule that starts the chatbot when a specific keyword is detected. Check out this guide for more details on setting up keyword triggers.
Features and Plans
What features are available in the Growth Plan? → The Growth Plan includes the following chatbot features:
Send a Message
Ask a Question
Set a Condition
What additional features are available in the Pro & Business Plans? → The Pro & Business Plans offer these extra features:
Set Tags
Assign Team
Assign User
Update Chat Status
Time Delay
Webhook
Google Spreadsheet Integration
Limitations and Restrictions
Are there any limitations for Messenger chatbots? → Yes, some functions are not supported on Facebook Messenger due to differences in supported message types.
For example, template messages, catalog messages, and WhatsApp Flows are not compatible with Messenger.
Additionally, the Trigger Chatbot node is disabled for Messenger as it may not be compatible with all Messenger chatbots.
Why is the "Trigger Chatbot" node disabled for Facebook Messenger? → The Trigger Chatbot node is disabled for Messenger because it may not work correctly with the specific structure of Messenger bots. Instead, you can use a Keyword Rule to trigger your chatbot.