**Why ChatBots are Important:**

Prior to the internet, marketing was all pushed on consumers.

However, the best marketing attracts the consumer to the business.

Unlike commercials, direct mail, and billboards, ChatBots allow for that personalized relationship to be built with the consumer at the consumer’s pace.

When a customer engages with your company via a ChatBot, and it's their decision to engage with you, they come in with a different mindset...

Instead of businesses pushing their stuff on their clients, they can actually attract the ones that see the value that the business provides.

Never before has there been a platform where the consumer has as much say in the marketing that they receive.
Historically, the best commercials have been the ones that are relevant and relatable to the customer... It’s the same with any other form of marketing, including new methods like chatbots.

If it is relevant to you and you want it, then it it something that you'll value more than something that is pushed on you.

**What they are:**

ChatBots are the "amazingly smart and geeky child of e-mail and text marketing.”

Imagine a combo of the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of e-mail marketing with the engagement and awareness/open rates of text marketing and you’ll begin to grasp the potential.

**Let me tell you what it WILL NOT DO:**

Go out and spam people with messages for you.

Like or comment automatically on other people’s pages (that’s spam).

Go to different platforms like LInkedIn or Instagram and engage with people there.

Cost You a Single Dollar to get started!

**Now let me tell you what a Bot CAN do:**

Automatically follow-up/send messages, videos, audios, links, content, etc.

Segment people based on their interests, demographics, or just about any other way your business deems necessary

Schedule appointments, process payments, prompt phone calls, and so much more with other app integrations

Do all of this for FREE!

**How to get started:**

There are a two choices you have...

Code Your Own Bot: This is complicated af... However, just like websites, it allows a lot more flexibility and customization... It’s just not always necessary.

Build on a platform: The platform that I recommend the most to get started is Manychat.

It is one of the easiest and most intuitive software platforms I’ve EVER experienced. The basic plan is FREE and you can get yours set up in less than 5 minutes.

Need something more complex? Use ChatFuel... This platform is a bit more complex but has WAY more features. With a bit of playing around, it’s relatively easy to setup (especially if you first practice on Manychat).

Looking to have some help setting one up? Excelsior 3 put together a pretty badass walkthrough: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua5yebRaniU

Just imagine if your business could text your customers and potential clients just like you guys were friends.

The relationship and connection between the two would be that much closer and the sales will come that much quicker.
It’s not going to be a fad.

In fact, every business (the smart ones at least) will recognize the value in being able to communicate with their audience in this way.

Let me know if you have questions!