How to Collect User Data through Chatbot for Lead Generation?

By Aayushi | Last Updated on July 2nd, 2024 2:32 pm

Lead generation is the main goal of every business owner, every professional and every service provider. It is the process of increasing the number of leads or potential customers for a business so they can eventually be converted into actual customers to strengthen the customer base of a company and improve its reach and market share. Nowadays, tools like lead generation chatbots can be built using software like Appy Pie's Chatbot Builder which speed up and smoothen the whole process. But, how do they do it, what process is followed and why is it important for businesses to generate leads? Let’s find out.

Build Your AI Chatbot

What is a Lead Generation Chatbot?
Why are Chatbots for Lead Generation Important?
How to Collect User Data for Automated Lead Generation Using a Chatbot?
Conclusion

What is a Lead Generation Chatbot?

Powered by artificial intelligence, natural language processing and machine learning capabilities, a lead generation chatbot interacts with potential customers on a website, obtains their contact details and tries to spark their interest in the products and services offered by the company to convert them into customers of those products and services.

As a part of the process, a chatbot for lead generation provides website visitors with information about the business which is likely to get them interested in its products or services and instill a readiness in them to make a purchase.

They simulate natural conversations with website visitors to obtain their contact information to help the sales and marketing team to take it forward from there. Making use of a chatbot for lead generation is receiving growing importance recently and is proving to be a success.

Why are Chatbots for Lead Generation Important?

Chatbots have become an integral part of any business’s lead generation strategy. Here’s why:

Increased Engagement

Often, potential leads are lost in the middle of the lead generation process because of reduced engagement and loss of interest in the products or services a company offers. A chatbot for lead generation helps avoid this and keep potential customers engaged in the process by proactively engaging in conversations with them, using elements like games, quizzes and surveys to interact and capture their interest to further encourage them to buy from the brand. This saves the company from loss of leads and a chance to increase its customer base.

Cost-Effectiveness

Cutting operational costs proves to be a game changer for businesses. A chatbot for lead generation automates the initial stages of lead generation and helps the business save costs of employing a large customer service team along with their training and development costs. Thus, incorporating a lead management chatbot is extremely cost-friendly.

High Conversion Rate

The likelihood of conversion of website visitors into leads and ultimately into customers increases with the use of a chatbot for lead generation as it provides personalized responses instantly without the customer having to wait for a long time. Customer needs and questions are addressed in real-time which improves user experience and chances of them buying from the company increase.

Scalability and Efficiency

Lead generation chatbots can handle multiple conversations with users simultaneously allowing businesses to attend to a large number of customers at once with efficiency. This leads to scaled up growth of the company and no customer is left unattended or improperly attended. Each and every customer is given equal importance which improves user satisfaction and improves the company’s image in their minds, which sometimes also leads to the benefit of good word of mouth.

Data Collection and Personalization

To improve marketing strategies and streamline sales processes, it’s of utmost importance to gather valuable data on customer needs, preferences, behavior patterns and their dislikes so that a tailored way of interacting with them can be used in the future. These lead chatbots provide personalized responses which align with user interests and improve the overall user experience at large.

How to Collect User Data for Automated Lead Generation Using a Chatbot?

The data of website visitors collected by a chatbot for lead generation is leveraged by a company’s sales and marketing team to further contact them and try to convince them of showing interest in the company’s products and services. Here are 8 steps through which you can create a chatbot and collect user data for automated lead generation:

Create/Sign-in to your Appy Pie Account

Create an account or sign into your existing account on Appy Pie’s Chatbot Builder, the best chatbot for lead generation. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Create Bot” button and give your chatbot a unique name of your choice.

Select a Chatbot

Choose the “Inquiry Bot” from the list of available chatbot options to create a lead generation bot. Inquiry Bot is the best option for efficient information retrieval for the users. Once selected, click on “Start Customization” to create your own personalized chatbot for lead generation.

Click on Edit Bot Flow

Now, click on ‘Edit Bot Flow” option to reach the bot’s interface where you can edit its conversation flow and make other customizations.

Customize and Edit the Conversation Flow

Now, you will reach the visual editor screen. Edit the bot’s conversation flow according to business requirements. Create a greeting message, information retrieval messages as well as a feedback receipt and ending message to develop a smooth back and forth flow of dialogues. Use elements like buttons to provide users with convenience in providing information like name, location, and contact details and save their time of typing everything out.

Add Handoff Node

At this step, add the handoff node in the AI bot’s editor so as to actually receive the user data at some location. Handoffs can be made either on email, or any other device location or data storing tools like Google Drive.

Install Handoff

Next step is to install the handoff, which is a feature that allows the chatbot to seamlessly transfer the conversation to a human agent or an email whenever needed to handle potential leads with effectiveness and convert them into customers. At this stage, select the handoff type and the location where the handoff is to be made, be it an email conversation or a conversation with a live agent. Whenever a customer needs human assistance in the middle of any conversation to further obtain more information about the company, its products and services, or to resolve any related query, the chatbot initiates the smooth handoff to the location opted for and helps in easy gathering of user input to successfully generate leads.

Installing the handoff is the most important step of the whole process of collecting user data and using it for lead generation. The data entered by the user such as phone number, email ID, location and preferences is the actual driving point for lead generation as this information is used to reach out to leads and spark their interest in the company’s products and services.

Design the Bot’s Widget

Click on “Design Customization” to design the lead generation bot’s widget, background, avatar, color scheme, header and personalize it according to your requirements.

Setup and Embed Chatbot

After editing the conversation flow and designing the bot’s widget, click on the “Setup” button to embed the chatbot’s widget into your website. Copy the widget code provided and paste it into the HTML code of each page of your website where you want it to appear.

Also Read: How to Build a Lead Generation Chatbot?

Conclusion

In summary, using a chatbot for lead generation is a great way to collect user data quickly and effectively, turn potential leads into actual customers and grow the customer base significantly. They automate repetitive tasks, ensure a seamless transition between automated and human support, optimize conversion rates and drastically improve customer satisfaction and experience!

Aayushi