You’ve got a Facebook Page, a few hundred followers, and… an empty inbox. Not to worry — you can change that with a Facebook Messenger chatbot or automation tool.
With the right tool (*cough* Manychat *cough*), Messenger stops being a dead-end and becomes a place to grow your audience, build real connections, and make sales on autopilot.
If you’re just getting started, you’re in the right spot. This guide will walk you through the basics of building your first Messenger bot with Manychat. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to turn simple chats into meaningful conversations.
Why Use a Messenger Bot?
A Facebook Messenger bot is an automation tool that enables businesses and creators to interact directly with people inside Messenger.
Instead of manually answering every message, you can use an automation platform like Manychat to automate replies, keep followers engaged, and move them closer to a purchase, sign-up, or booking.
There are a few reasons why automating Messenger chats is worthwhile in 2025, including:
- Messenger has higher engagement rates than email: Open rates for Messenger conversations regularly crush email (70% to 88% open rates vs. 5% to 10% for email). Messages get seen faster, answered quicker, and actually spark conversations — not just sit in an inbox.
- Users expect fast responses: A HubSpot survey revealed that 66% of consumers expect a response within five minutes. Using a Messenger bot allows you to meet that expectation by instantly answering FAQs, booking appointments, or sending product recommendations.
- Believe it or not, a lot of people still use Messenger: It’s the third most popular messaging app worldwide, behind WhatsApp and WeChat; 25.96 million downloads every month keep it in the global top charts. Plus, it’s especially popular in Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, the UK, and Mexico — markets where people rely on chats to shop, ask questions, and connect with businesses.
The gist: Messenger marketing remains worthwhile, especially if your Page has a substantial number of followers.
The benefits of botting
Creators and businesses use bots to accomplish various tasks, from capturing email addresses to keeping the comments rolling in.
Capture more leads (without clunky forms)
You can use your bot to collect emails, phone numbers, or other contact info directly in Messenger. It’s the easiest way to grow your subscriber list and keep the conversation going.
Turn chats into cha-ching
Messenger bots can share product links, send discount codes, and enable customers to make purchases directly within the app. Ideal for e-commerce businesses, restaurants, and salons seeking to streamline bookings and orders.
Respond to FAQs in seconds
Never leave people on read again. With FAQ automation, your bot can instantly answer common questions (“What are your hours?” “Do you ship to Mexico?”), while handing complex issues to a live agent when needed.
Drive conversions with ads
When someone clicks or comments on one of your Facebook ads, an automation tool like Manychat can automatically start a conversation in Messenger. And not just a “hi there” — it can qualify a lead, answer FAQs, or even complete a sale, all without you manually replying.
You know you need this ➡️ How to Create Facebook Ads That Sell
Automate Messenger with Manychat
Ready to roll out a robot assistant? 🤖 Let’s walk through how to get Manychat working for you.
FYI: Manychat isn’t really a Facebook Messenger Bot — it’s a lot more than that. Manychat is an automation tool that can be used with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Telegram. We’re also an official partner of both Meta and TikTok.
1. Connect your Facebook Page to Manychat
To get started, you’ll need a Facebook Business Page and a Manychat account (don’t worry — you can run plenty of automations for free).
Once you’ve got those set up:
- Log in to Manychat and click Get Started.
- Select the Facebook Page you want to connect.
- Hit Connect, and you’re in.
Get lost? We’ve got you ➡️ How to connect Facebook to Manychat
2. Create a Welcome Message
When someone initially reaches out, your Welcome Message is the very first thing they’ll see, so be sure to make it shine.
To set up your Welcome Message in Manychat, navigate to Settings and select Messenger.
From there, you can either create a new automation or link to an existing one.
If you choose to create a new automation, you’ll get redirected to the Flow Builder, where you can build a custom automation; if you choose to use an existing automation, a pop-up window will appear where you can select the desired automation.
When drafting your Welcome Message:
- Keep it short, friendly, and in your brand’s voice. Emojis are great if they fit your vibe.
- Let people know what your bot can (and can’t) do.
- Offer clear next steps — quick reply buttons are ideal, so users don’t have to guess.
3. Build a Main Menu
Manychat’s Main Menu feature gives users quick access to your most important options — sort of like a navigation bar for your Messenger bot.
Instead of hunting through old messages, people can tap the hamburger icon in the chat and instantly find what they need.
To set it up:
- Go to Settings → Messenger → Main Menu in your Manychat account.
- Click + Menu Item to add an option (like Shop Now, Book a Table, or Get Support).
- Link each item to an automation, message, or your website.
- Hit Update Menu and toggle it on to go live.
🚨FYI: On the Free plan, you can add up to three items. Pro accounts can add up to 20 items.
4. Set up a few Keyword-specific flows
Keywords are one of the easiest ways to make your Facebook Messenger bot more useful (and worth the initial setup effort). Instead of answering the same questions over and over, you can teach your bot to recognize certain words or phrases and respond automatically.
Here’s how it works: When someone messages your Page with a keyword — say “hours,” “menu,” or “discount” — Manychat will instantly reply with relevant information, a link, or a full-blown flow.
So, what can Manychat automate with Keywords? Pretty much anything, but here are some of the most popular use cases:
- FAQs: Set up trigger words like “hours,” “location,” or “shipping” to provide helpful information right when users want it.
- Promos and discounts: When users DM you words like “discount,” “coupon,” or “promo,” you can offer them a reason to click ‘add to cart.’
- Resources and links: Drive followers to your website or Linktree by connecting flows to words like “menu,” “catalog,” or “pricing.”
Setting up Keywords in Manychat
- Go to Automation → + New Automation.
- Click + New Trigger → User sends a message. In the left-side panel, click Detect specific words in a message.
- Add the word or phrase you want Manychat to recognize.
- Link it to an existing automation, or create a new one in Flow Builder.
- Save, preview, publish, and toggle it on.
How to Get People to Interact With Your Facebook Messenger Bot
Your bot will only work if people actually start conversations with it.
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to turn clicks, comments, and real-world moments into Messenger chats — if you know what you’re doing.
Click-to-Messenger Ads
Click-to-Messenger ads are the #1 way to generate new leads on Messenger. Instead of sending clicks to a landing page, your ads will start a conversation instantly. From there, your bot can qualify leads, offer discounts, or guide people through the buying process.
Comment-to-DM automations
When someone comments on one of your Facebook posts, you can turn that engagement into a private conversation. To do this, just use the Facebook Comments trigger.
Heads-up: Reaching out to a commenter via Messenger won’t automatically opt users into your Facebook channel or open the 24-hour messaging window. This will only happen if the user responds or clicks one of your quick-reply buttons.
BTW, the 24-hour rule is known to cause headaches. Here’s our quick explainer on how it works: Meta’s 24 Hour Rule for DM Automation | Manychat for Instagram.
Check out Manychat Basics: Automating Facebook Comments for a more in-depth look at the Facebook Comments trigger and its use cases.
Links and QR codes
Odds are, Facebook isn’t the only marketing channel you’re using. So, if you want to drive people to Messenger from other platforms, you can share a link that launches a chat with your Page on your website, Instagram, or in emails.
🚨FYI: Messenger links are different from group chat links. Make sure you’re sharing the former.
To create a shareable link that starts a Messenger chat with your Page:
- Make sure you have a username for your Facebook Page
- Copy and paste or type your Page username after “https://m.me/”
(For example, ours would be https://m.me/manychat.)
- Share this link anywhere you’d like, but keep in mind that it works best for users who have the Messenger app installed on their phone and are already logged in.
For offline businesses, you can also print QR codes on flyers, receipts, or packaging to drive people straight into Messenger.
💡Tip: If you’ve got a few advanced flows, you can generate a Messenger Ref URL in Manychat that triggers a specific automation (like a discount flow, quiz, or booking form). You can also turn this link into a QR code, allowing someone to be taken directly into the flow you want.
Go Forth and Build That Bot
You’ve got the blueprint, now it’s time to bring your Facebook Messenger bot to life. Whether you just want to set up a simple welcome message or answer FAQs without lifting a finger, every automation you publish is sure to save you time and help create a more impactful follower experience.
Ready for advanced flows? Try Manychat Pro for access to features like expanded menus, tags for better segmentation, and AI tools that make your bot smarter with every conversation.
✋ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I get more people to actually start a chat with my bot?
Clear entry points (ads, links, QR codes, comments) are what bring people in. Without traffic, your bot will sit idle and sad. And on that note, your creative needs to be good; make sure it can stop the scroll. Aim to entertain or educate, and include a CTA or compelling offer.
2. What’s Meta’s 24-hour messaging rule, and how does it affect me?
Messenger bots can only send automated messages within 24 hours of a user’s last interaction. Additionally, you’ll need re-engagement strategies, such as ads or Sponsored Messages.
3. Can I use Messenger automation to grow my email list or sell beyond chat?
You can with Manychat. Manychat can collect emails and phone numbers, and it syncs with email marketing platforms and e-commerce tools (like Hotmart). Using these integrations is key to scaling beyond Messenger.
4. What’s the difference between a Free vs. Pro account, and when should I upgrade?
Manychat’s Free plan gives you the essentials: You can connect one Facebook Page, build simple flows, send a Welcome Message, set up a Main Menu with up to three items, and use a handful of keyword triggers. For a creator just testing the waters, this is more than enough to automate FAQs, run a basic giveaway, or capture a few emails.
The Pro plan unlocks real power:
- Up to 20 Main Menu items (instead of three)
- More keyword triggers (great for handling FAQs, promos, and engagement)
- Tags and custom fields for better audience segmentation
- Advanced growth tools like Comment-to-Messenger automation and unlimited Ref URLs
- AI features that make your bot smarter with instant answers
You’ll know it’s time to upgrade to Pro once you’re moving past simple FAQs and want to use Messenger to actually drive results. Pro is especially valuable for users who want to promote products, sell digital courses, or book services, since you’ll need more menu options, keyword triggers, and segmentation tools to handle the volume.
As your inbox fills up, the ability to tag and segment followers — buyers versus freebie seekers, for example — makes managing conversations much easier. In short, Pro is the step up for creators who are serious about scaling Messenger from a support tool into a full sales and list-building channel.
