Manychat: The Best Chatbot Platform for Marketing in 2023

What is Manychat?

Manychat is a popular chatbot platform that enables businesses to create chatbots on various platforms, including Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and SMS. It is used by businesses in over 190 countries, with 1 billion conversations powered by Manychat every year. Manychat offers automated chatbot flows, segmentation and targeting, and numerous integrations with CRMs, e-commerce platforms, and email marketing software. It is user-friendly, affordable, and can help businesses streamline their marketing and customer service operations.  

Pros of Manychat

Manychat is a leading chatbot platform that offers businesses a range of benefits for marketing on Facebook Messenger. One of the standout features of ManyChat is its flexibility, which allows you to create different flows and track each flow’s conversion rates to see what’s working and what’s not. This allows you to make changes on the fly and optimize your chatbot’s performance. Additionally, ManyChat’s chatbot preview feature lets you see exactly what your customers will see when interacting with your bot, making it easy to design a seamless and engaging experience. The editor is also user-friendly and allows you to customize messages with personal data, send messages, create submenus, and much more. With ManyChat, you can build your subscriber base quickly and easily, send ads and broadcasts, and integrate with other platforms like Shopify and Google Sheets. The platform’s advanced features and ease of use make it a top choice for businesses looking to streamline their marketing efforts and boost their conversion rates. Overall, ManyChat is a reliable and effective tool for any business looking to take advantage of the power of Facebook Messenger.  

Cons of Manychat

While Manychat is a great chatbot platform for marketing, there are some cons to consider when using it in 2023. One of the main drawbacks is the limited integrations, which means that it may not be compatible with all the tools and software you use for marketing. Additionally, Manychat lacks natural language processing, which can make it difficult to understand complex or nuanced conversations. Another potential limitation is poor customer support, which can be frustrating if you encounter technical issues or have questions that need immediate answers. Finally, while Manychat is generally user-friendly, the workflow can take some getting used to, and the free version has limited functionality, which may require upgrading to the Pro plan. Overall, while Manychat has many benefits, it’s important to consider these limitations before deciding to use it as your chatbot platform for marketing.  

Benefits of Using Manychat for Marketing

 

1. A customizable bot builder

Manychat’s customizable bot builder offers a variety of features that benefit marketers by allowing them to create personalized and engaging chatbots without needing any coding experience. The Basic Builder and Flow Builder options make it easy to structure and build conversations, while the visual interface allows for the customization of text, content type, buttons, and bot elements like images, cards, videos, and files. This level of customization can improve user engagement by providing a more interactive and personalized experience for the user. Additionally, Manychat’s multichannel chatbot campaigns allow marketers to reach their audience on multiple platforms such as Facebook Messenger, SMS, email, and website. With the ability to integrate with other tools like Shopify, Stripe, and Zapier, Manychat’s bot builder system is both comprehensive and affordable, making it an excellent option for smaller businesses.  

2. Integrations with other software tools

Manychat offers a wide range of integrations with other software tools to improve marketing campaigns. With Manychat, you can connect to thousands of tools you already use for your business, including Shopify, Google Sheets, MailChimp, Klaviyo, HubSpot, and Zapier. These integrations allow you to create multiple chatbots with ease using a variety of tools such as drag-and-drop builders and messaging types like cards, images, and text. For example, with the Facebook Messenger integration, you can create a chatbot that sends out messages to your Messenger subscribers when you publish a new blog post. Or, you can use the Shopify integration to automatically send purchase confirmation emails. You can even integrate with Stripe, ActiveCampaign, and over 1,500 other apps via Zapier.  

3. Ability to create personalized conversations

  Personalization is a crucial aspect of marketing that can significantly improve customer engagement and loyalty. By tailoring conversations to individual customers, brands can create a more personalized experience that resonates with their audience. Manychat’s ability to create personalized conversations is a game-changer for marketers who want to connect with their customers in a more meaningful way. By using Manychat, brands can send automated messages to customers, keeping them updated on new products, sales, and more. Additionally, they can use Manychat to answer customer questions and provide support. This personalized approach can help brands build stronger relationships with their customers and increase customer loyalty. For example, a clothing brand can use Manychat to send personalized messages to customers based on their previous purchases. They can offer personalized recommendations and promotions that are tailored to each customer’s preferences. This approach can help the brand stand out from its competitors and increase customer satisfaction.  

4. Ability to create targeted campaigns

Manychat’s ability to create targeted campaigns can greatly benefit businesses by allowing them to reach their desired audience with personalized conversations in Instagram Direct Messages and Facebook Messenger. To create a targeted campaign, businesses can use ManyChat’s Growth Tool options to engage with their targeted segments via SMS, Messenger, Email, and Website. The process of creating a targeted campaign is straightforward and similar to building a bot. By targeting the right audience, businesses can increase their conversion rates and ultimately grow their revenue.  

5. Ability to test different bot templates to find the most effective one

Manychat’s A/B testing feature for bot templates is a powerful tool that can greatly benefit marketers. This feature allows users to split the traffic inside a chatbot flow into up to 6 different variations, making it easy to optimize your chatbot flows by performing A/B tests. For example, a marketer could test different templates for a lead generation bot to see which one performs better in terms of user engagement and conversion rates.  

6. Ability to track and analyze the results of your campaigns

Manychat offers marketers a comprehensive set of analytics tools to track and analyze the results of their chatbot campaigns. The platform provides insights into user behavior, including open rates, click-throughs, and conversions, as well as flow analytics that allow marketers to track message delivery, opens, and clicks for each block in their flows. Manychat’s Insights dashboard provides an overview of contacts per channel and their evolution over time, while the platform’s conversion event tracking enables marketers to determine how many users reached specific conversion events.  

7. Ability to engage with a large number of audiences

  Manychat’s chatbot platform is an excellent tool for businesses looking to engage with a large number of audiences in their marketing efforts. The platform’s intuitive UI allows businesses to create and manage chatbots with ease. This automation saves time by handling tasks such as sending messages and answering FAQs. The platform’s Filter and Segments features optimize the contact list’s performance for management and allow businesses to send automated messages targeted at specific audiences. For instance, businesses can use the Filter feature to search for any contact based on the tool that each contact opted in or filter the list based on specific criteria.  

8. Ability to create bots that can aid customer service

Manychat is a popular chatbot builder that can help businesses automate their customer service and improve customer engagement. With Manychat, businesses can create custom chatbots that can handle customer queries and automate simple tasks, such as scheduling appointments and answering basic questions. This saves valuable time for customer support teams and allows them to focus on more complex issues.  

9. Ability to create bots that can send out automated messages

Manychat is a powerful tool that allows marketers to create chatbots that can send out automated messages to customers. This feature is particularly beneficial for keeping customers updated on new products, sales, and promotions. Additionally, Manychat allows marketers to answer customer questions and provide support. With Manychat, you can create multiple chatbots with ease using a variety of tools such as drag-and-drop builders and messaging types like cards, images, text, and attachment files.  

10. Ability to integrate payment processors and CRM systems

Manychat’s direct integration with payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, as well as popular CRM systems like Shopify and HubSpot, provides significant benefits for marketers. By allowing customers to make payments directly within the chatbot, the sales process is streamlined and simplified, improving the customer experience. Additionally, the integration with CRM systems enables businesses to gather valuable customer information and nurture potential leads toward a sale. This seamless integration with multiple tools and platforms makes Manychat a powerful tool for marketers looking to automate and optimize their sales processes.  

How to Set up and Use a Chatbot on Manychat

 

Step 1: Choose your chatbot platform

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up and use a chatbot on Manychat:

1. Sign up for a free account on Manychat and connect it to your Facebook page.
2. Choose a chatbot template or create a custom one from scratch.
3. Set up automated responses and custom flows to guide users through the conversation.
4. Integrate Manychat with other platforms such as Zapier, Shopify, and Google Sheets to streamline your marketing processes.
5. Use Manychat’s analytics to track the performance of your chatbot and make adjustments as needed.

Manychat also offers multiple bot templates that are designed for various industries, making it easy to create an ideal chatbot for your business. With the free plan, you can enjoy all the features of Manychat, including user analytics and a variety of templates.  

Step 2: Install the correct chatbot software development kit (SDK)

Installing the correct chatbot SDK on Manychat is crucial to ensure the optimal performance of your chatbot. The right SDK will enable your chatbot to perform its functions seamlessly and accurately. To install the correct SDK, follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Manychat account and select the chatbot you want to install the SDK on.
2. Click on the “Settings” button located at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down to the “Advanced” section and click on “Custom Fields”.
4. Click on the “Add Custom Field” button and select “SDK”.
5. Choose the correct SDK for your chatbot platform. For example, if you are building a Facebook Messenger chatbot, select the Facebook Messenger SDK.
6. Copy the SDK code and paste it into your chatbot’s code.
7. Save the changes and test your chatbot to ensure that it is functioning correctly.

Choosing the right SDK is important because it determines how your chatbot will interact with users and the platform it is built on. The wrong SDK can lead to compatibility issues and decreased performance, resulting in a negative user experience. By following these simple steps, you can install the correct SDK and ensure that your chatbot is functioning optimally.  

Step 3: Add a Command Button

Adding a command button to your chatbot on Manychat can greatly enhance the user experience by providing them with quick and easy access to specific functions. To add a command button, first, select “Growth Tools” from the left-hand menu and click “+New Growth Tool.” Then, choose “Facebook Ads JSON” from the “Choose Widget Type” menu. Give your chatbot a name and hit “Save.” Click “Edit” next to the Opt-In Message field and select “Go To Flow Builder.” Click on the starting step and select “Add Button.” Type in the title of your button and select what action will occur when it is pressed. You can add multiple buttons if desired. Customizing the message that appears when a button is pressed is as simple as clicking on the message box at the end of the arrow coming from the button. By adding command buttons to your chatbot, you can streamline the user experience and make it more intuitive.  

Step 4: Configure the bot settings

To configure the bot settings on Manychat, first, navigate to the “Settings” section, which includes 21 tabs for customization. To set up a default reply, go to the “Automation” tab, select “Default Reply,” and input your desired message. For the welcome message, go to the “General” tab, select “Greeting Text,” and type your message in the box provided. You can also preview the message before saving it. To enable quick replies, go to the “Automation” tab, select “Quick Replies,” and add your desired options. Custom fields can be created under the “Custom Fields” tab, where you can store contact information. These settings can be customized to fit different marketing goals, such as using quick replies for product recommendations or creating custom fields to personalize messages. Remember to save changes after making adjustments.  

Step 5: Create a conversation flow

To create a conversation flow for your chatbot on Manychat, start by clicking on the Automation section and then the Flows Manager tab. Here, you can create a new flow, switch between flow views, and manage and organize your flows. It’s important to have a well-structured conversation flow as it helps nurture relationships and leads to more conversions. When designing an effective conversation flow, consider the user’s journey and make sure it’s intuitive and easy to follow. Use keywords to automate conversations and sequences to subscribe contacts to a chain of messages separated by delays. Additionally, create custom rules that trigger specific actions when something happens, such as sending a birthday message or reminding subscribers about an upcoming promotion or event. With Manychat’s Flow Builder, you can view your user interface and make sure your chatbot’s content is organized and manageable. Here’s an example of a conversation flow:  

Step 6: Set up triggers and analytics

Triggers are an essential feature of ManyChat that allows businesses to automate conversations with their customers. Setting up triggers is easy. First, click on the “Automation” section and select “Triggers.” From there, you can create a new trigger by clicking on the “+ New Trigger” button. You can set up the trigger by selecting the keyword, message, or action that will activate it. Triggers are essential in engaging users because they allow you to start conversations with customers and guide them toward specific actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. Analytics is also crucial in measuring the performance of your chatbot. To set up analytics on ManyChat, go to the “Settings” tab and select “Analytics.” From there, you can choose which data to track, such as the number of people who clicked on a link or the number of people who completed a specific action. Analytics allows you to monitor the performance of your chatbot and make data-driven decisions to improve its effectiveness. By following these simple steps, you can set up triggers and analytics on ManyChat to create a more engaging and effective chatbot for your business.  

Best Practices for Using Chatbots on Manychat

 

1. Add Images and Videos to Your Messages

To add images and videos to your chatbot messages on Manychat, follow these steps:

1. Click on “Content” in the left-hand menu and select “Images & Video.”
2. Click “Upload New File” and select the image or video you want to add. The recommended formats for images are PNG and JPEG, and for videos, MP4 and MOV.
3. Once uploaded, you can select the image or video from the Media Library and add it to your chatbot message by using the “Image” or “Video” element in your flow.

To optimize the size and quality of your images and videos, make sure they are compressed and have a resolution of 72 DPI. For videos, keep the length under 30 seconds and the file size under 25 MB to ensure faster loading times. Using images and videos in your chatbot messages can enhance the user experience and drive engagement. Use them to showcase your products or services, provide visual instructions, or add personality to your messages. However, be careful not to overload your messages with too many visuals, as this can slow down loading times and distract from the main message.  

2. Use Logic to Create Interactive Conversations

Manychat provides a powerful tool to create interactive conversations with customers that can be personalized based on their inputs. To use logic to create such conversations, start with the Conditions element. With this element, you can use logic inside your chatbot flows and create personalized conversations for your contacts. For example, you can create a condition that checks if the user has previously interacted with your chatbot and provide them with a personalized greeting. To set up a condition, drag the Conditions element into your flow and select the condition you want to use. Then, add the actions you want to take based on the user’s response. For example, if the user selects “yes,” you can direct them to a specific flow or message, while if they select “no,” you can provide a different response. It is important to anticipate user responses and create a seamless conversation flow. This can be achieved by setting up multiple conditions and responses based on user input, ensuring that the chatbot responds appropriately to each user’s needs.  

3. Use Social Proof to Increase Confidence

Using social proof in chatbot interactions on ManyChat is a powerful way to increase confidence in your brand and messaging. Social proof can take many forms, such as customer reviews, testimonials, and endorsements from influencers or industry experts. Incorporating social proof into your chatbot messaging can help to establish trust and credibility with your audience, leading to increased engagement and conversions. For example, you can include customer reviews or ratings of your products or services within your chatbot messaging to showcase positive experiences and build confidence in your brand.  

4. Integrate Your Chatbot With Other Platforms

  Integrating your chatbot on Manychat with other platforms is easy and can significantly increase your reach and engagement. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to integrate your chatbot with popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter:

1. Log in to your Manychat account and select the chatbot you want to integrate with other platforms.
2. Click on “Growth Tools” and select the platform you want to integrate with.
3. Follow the prompts to connect your account and authorize Manychat to access your data.
4. Customize your chatbot’s messages and interactions for each platform to maximize effectiveness. For example, you can use images and videos on Instagram and Twitter to make your chatbot more engaging.
5. Test your chatbot on each platform to ensure it’s working properly.

 

5. Use Custom Themes and Elements to Create a Consistent Experience

To create a consistent experience while using chatbots on Manychat, you can use custom themes and elements. Start by choosing a color scheme, fonts, and graphics that align with your brand identity. This will help your chatbot stand out and build brand recognition. Use custom elements such as buttons, images, and videos to enhance the user experience. Make sure to maintain consistency across all chatbot interactions to build trust with your customers. Use the same color scheme, fonts, and graphics throughout all interactions to create a cohesive brand experience. Remember to test your chatbot and adjust as needed to ensure the best experience for your customers. With the help of custom themes and elements, you can create a chatbot that aligns with your brand and provides a seamless experience for your customers.  

6. Utilize Messenger Bots for Sales

To effectively use Messenger bots for sales on ManyChat, start by warming up your audience with engaging content before directing them to product pages. Personalize conversations by collecting data and qualifying leads with a series of questions. Remember to strike a balance between automation and human interaction to keep the conversation natural. Use Facebook advertising methods like the click-to-chat button to drive users to your bot. Create compelling sales messages by highlighting the benefits of your products and services. Successful sales bot campaigns include interactive chat, instant support, and personalized conversations delivered through Instagram Direct Messages and Facebook Messenger. By using ManyChat’s AI-powered chatbots, you can automate responses, handle multiple channels, and broadcast promotional messages while still providing human-like interactions.  

7. Try Out Manychat Inbox Pro

  Manychat Inbox Pro is an advanced live chat tool that can help streamline your chatbot management efforts. With features such as agent chat analytics, groups of live chat agents, and auto-assignment rules, you can easily hand over conversations from your chatbot to your customer support agents. Additionally, the iOS and Android apps allow you to respond to user inquiries on the go. One of the key benefits of ManyChat Inbox Pro is its direct integrations with popular platforms such as Zapier, Google Sheets, Mailchimp, and HubSpot. This allows you to easily store or retrieve data from sheets, send messages to your email list, and integrate with your CRM. To utilize ManyChat Inbox Pro efficiently, start by setting up your chatbot and integrating it with the platform. Create auto-assignment rules to ensure that conversations are routed to the appropriate agent. Use the agent chat analytics to track response times and identify areas for improvement. And don’t forget to take advantage of the mobile apps for on-the-go chat management.  

8. Leverage the Power of Chatbot Automation

Manychat offers a powerful platform for leveraging the benefits of chatbot automation. By automating chatbot conversations, businesses can provide 24/7 customer service, automate repetitive tasks, and generate leads and revenue. Effective use cases include guiding users toward solving problems, answering common customer queries, and providing personalized recommendations. To set up effective chatbot flows, businesses should ensure that their chatbot’s default response is customized and engaging. They should also design conversation paths that are easy to follow and incorporate personalization by using the customer’s name and past behavior. Additionally, businesses should monitor their analytics to better understand their customers’ actions and react accordingly. By following these best practices, businesses can fully leverage the power of chatbot automation on Manychat to improve customer experience and save time and money.  

9. Create Informative Chatbots to Generate Interest

  Creating an informative chatbot on Manychat can be a valuable tool to generate interest in your business. To structure your chatbot flow, start with a welcome message that introduces your brand and sets the tone for the conversation. Use engaging language to keep the user interested and active in the chat. Provide valuable information that is relevant to the user’s needs and interests. Use the chatbot to answer frequently asked questions and offer solutions to common problems. Keep the chatbot flow organized and easy to navigate, allowing users to quickly find the information they need. Don’t forget to include a call-to-action at the end of the conversation, directing users to your website or social media pages. With these tips, you can create a successful chatbot on Manychat that provides value to your users and generates interest in your brand.  

10. Use Manychat Growth Tools to Scale Your Bots

To scale your chatbot on Manychat, you can use various growth tools available on the platform. These tools include website widgets, Ref URLs, QR codes, landing pages, click-to-message ads, and Facebook comments. By using these tools, you can generate leads and increase your chatbot audience. For example, you can use Ref URLs on your social profiles, emails, and Facebook posts to drive traffic to your chatbot. You can also use QR codes on printed ads or product packages to attract offline traffic. Moreover, you can create landing pages for your chatbot and enable One-Time Notification to keep your audience engaged. To track the success of your growth tools, it’s essential to set specific goals and metrics such as impressions, opt-ins, and conversion rates.  

Conclusion

  In conclusion, Manychat has proven to be the best chatbot platform for marketing in 2023. Its user-friendly interface, advanced features, and powerful automation capabilities make it an invaluable tool for businesses looking to enhance their marketing strategies and engage with their audience effectively. By harnessing the power of chatbots, businesses can streamline their customer interactions, drive conversions, and ultimately boost their overall success. If you’re ready to take your business to new heights, we highly recommend partnering with Ubique Digital Solutions, a leading expert in chatbot implementation and optimization. Their expertise and dedication to delivering tailored solutions will ensure that you maximize the benefits of Manychat and achieve your business objectives. Don’t miss out on this opportunity— contact us now!  

FAQ

Q: What features does ManyChat offer?

The chatbot preview feature allows you to see what the customer will see when interacting with your bot, giving you the ability to design bots with the customer in mind. ManyChat’s editor is user-friendly and full-featured, making it easy to customize messages with personal data. ManyChat’s flows feature allows you to create different workflows and customer journeys, making it easy to manage different conversational paths for different situations.

Q: What are some of the cons of using ManyChat?

ManyChat is a powerful and user-friendly platform for building chatbots, but it has some potential downsides to consider. The workflow can be challenging to navigate at first, and there is a learning curve to become accustomed to the interface. While the free version offers everything needed to build chatbots, some features are only available with the Pro plan, such as the Notify Admins functionality. Additionally, ManyChat has limited integrations and no natural language processing. Poor customer support is also a common complaint among users.

Q: What kind of analytics does ManyChat provide?

ManyChat provides a comprehensive set of analytics tools to help monitor the performance of your chatbot. The Insights dashboard allows you to see the number of contacts you have per channel, how these contacts have evolved, and the conversion events inside your chatbot flows. You can also install the ManyChat Pixel on your website to track the conversions of people coming from your chatbot. Flow analytics allow you to track the delivery, open, and click rates for each message block in your flows, helping you improve your chatbot funnels.

Q: What kind of customer support does ManyChat offer?

ManyChat offers several types of customer support to its users. Firstly, users can access the ManyChat documentation, which covers a wide range of topics and can help with troubleshooting issues. Secondly, users can submit a ticket directly to ManyChat to speak to their support team. Thirdly, users can join the ManyChat community to interact with fellow users, ask questions, and even get ideas and inspiration.