5 Simple Rules to Create Addictive Chatbots: You Won’t Know the 6th

While there are thousands of companies using a chatbot only a dozen of them are successful. Creating a bot is easy but creating a successful bot is not. A bot primarily fails because it is unable to cater the needs of end user. The problem arises when we forget that 100% of our users are humans. As humans, we expect our problem to be solved in the simplest and easiest way. Design and features are all just complementary.

As of Feb 28, 2017 Facebook Messenger's Bot failed to cater to 70% of users’ requests. Now they themselves are focusing to narrow the bots to smaller niches to increase user satisfaction. Satisfaction and addiction is derived from value alone and that comes with strategy. To bring success to your botting efforts we have compiled 5 Rules that you can follow to create addictive chatbots for your users .  

5 Simple Rules to Create Addictive Chatbots:

Over the past few months, the interest we are getting into chatbots is staggering. Having built quite a few chatbots for startups and enterprises, we have listed down 5 simple tips to help you build an addictive chatbot.

1. Let it be Just a Bot:

Someone would use a chatbot these days to mainly attain two goals

1. Simple & Direct - a bot would offer a solution to a person’s query almost immediately
2. Conversational - when multiple variable inputs are needed from the user to give them a response and an app might not be the best way about it

So when you think of your chatbot’s use cases, make sure you keep these scenarios in mind- your chatbot will require multiple inputs in a conversation and/or can solve problems in a simpler way than an app would. They do not provide a rich GUI experience like apps would and have to be presented in a simple conversational form to be used well. Remember, there might not be an app for every problem, but there can be a bot!

2. Machine Learning isn’t for everything:

When leveraging Machine Learning in a chatbot, it would work great in a field which is well defined. For instance, ML can be a value add to a chatbot dealing with Law research, eCommerce, Hiring etc.

But when it comes to an area which has no quantitative measure, ML and AI would fail - for instance negotiation skills, creative problem solving, the finer aspects of people management and so on.

So when deciding the use cases for your chatbots, do keep in mind the end goal of the chatbot and whether it would be the right path to go ahead.

3. Quick market test and fast iterations:

Before you go all out, you need to verify your idea. The best way to do this is get a first iteration to the market quick and gather feedback. The product doesn’t need to be perfect, but it can help you figure out

1. If your bot is solving a real problem
2. How usable it is and if the workflow needs any changing

Like Reid Hoffman said, "If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you launched too late."

Use a tool like Chatfuel or ChattyPeople to get your bot up and running in less than an hour, without any coding. Get out there in the market and test the concept. Once you know the product, use a tool to get up and running across multiple platforms. Some bot platforms that can help you do that are gupshup.io, smooch and botkit. With minimal coding, these tools can help you get on multiple platforms - Twitter, Twilio, Slack, FB Messenger etc.

Your goal should be to get to the market fast, gather feedback and iterate to release a product people love. The solution has to be in the hands of people at the time when they have a need. And once you solve the problem enough number of times, your product becomes the go-to product for that problem.

4. Easy to find and use:

This goes for any product really, not just chatbots. People generally look for a product to solve a need or problem they have (unless they choose to ignore it). If they are looking for a solution, and your bot solves their problem, it should be easy to find and easy to use.

Once a person gets access to your product, they will continue using it only if it solves a real problem for them and if it is easy to find and use a solution with the bot.

5. User investment:

The more time and energy a user has invested in a product, the more difficult it is to leave the platform and switch to a newer platform. Think of an active Facebook user - how difficult would it be for them to get off the platform and look for a newer social networking site - they have so many pictures, memories, friends on the platform - they have invested their time into the platform.

Try making a bot which will keep users invested. The more invested they are, the less likely they are to switch to another product.

BONUS RULE - Create a Mind Blowing Addiction

6. Get their Attention and Keep it:

Routines are boring. When your bot solves the user’s problem, it gets their attention. But if it keeps solving the problem in the exact same way, it can lead to a new problem - boredom from routine. Introduce variability in your bot. Make sure that while it does solve the problem in a reliable manner, there is something exciting that the user looks forward to or that holds their attention.

The best ways to do this would be to:

1. Use comedy - Comebacks are a great way to break the routine and keep the user experience fresh
2. Emotional connect - People like to know how knowledgeable they are. Giving them that positive regard in the bot is sure to foster a strong connect.

As you have seen creating a chatbot requires a lot of planning and clarity. Being certain about the problem you are going to solve is the only way to cater your users’ queries. If you are facing any difficulty in making good chatbots than need not worry. We at NewGenApps specialize in making sense out of complex algorithms and developing intelligent solutions. We have created chatbots catering to the needs of 6 different industries, all focus solving their core issues. If you want a bot that creates an impact for your business then feel free to contact us.