Bots on Messenger Have Officially Been Announced
This is the news we've all been waiting for; Facebook have officially announced their bot store for Messenger and are joining the likes of Kik, Line ad Telegram in opening them to the public. Messenger's bot store will focus on businesses, which already puts them a little ahead of others, but what should we expect?
Essentially Facebook's bot services will work the same as most other bots. For instance you could contact CNN's bot and receive a daily digest of news on topics you would be interested in. There's also a flower buying service where you just send them a friend's name and they'll send them flowers. Of course some of these services are US only but of course Facebook is a worldwide service and you have to expect that they have some early agreements with companies all over the world. We don't have much information about what they'll offer outside of the US but I think we'll know what exactly is going on pretty soon.
These bots are being trained with conversational language so users can speak with the bots like they would another user. For some of these bots it will not be necessary as they'll just need to search things or a menu will pop up. However this could make customer service a lot easier as you won't need to ring a number and go through all the hassle of finding the right person. It could also make finding items easier due to some bots being able to provide you with options related to search terms - similar to what the H&M bot can do on Kik - however even if you don't search something then users will still be able to receive structured messages which may contain images, links and call to action buttons. They may give you the option to swipe through a product carousel or click through to buy things as well. It's worth noting that when you buy something through the bot, it won't be directly through Messenger. You'll be taken to a third party source to pay with your card unlike when you buy something on Facebook.
Developers are already getting the chance to build their own bots and companies are being encouraged to utilise them. Facebook are also offering sponsored adverts that would allow them to send adverts to users who had conversed with the bots. This could be very annoying but it means that Facebook would be making more money.
These bots should be accessible now and, let's face it, they're definitely going to become one of the biggest things Facebook has released this year.
 |
| TechCrunch |
These bots are being trained with conversational language so users can speak with the bots like they would another user. For some of these bots it will not be necessary as they'll just need to search things or a menu will pop up. However this could make customer service a lot easier as you won't need to ring a number and go through all the hassle of finding the right person. It could also make finding items easier due to some bots being able to provide you with options related to search terms - similar to what the H&M bot can do on Kik - however even if you don't search something then users will still be able to receive structured messages which may contain images, links and call to action buttons. They may give you the option to swipe through a product carousel or click through to buy things as well. It's worth noting that when you buy something through the bot, it won't be directly through Messenger. You'll be taken to a third party source to pay with your card unlike when you buy something on Facebook.
Developers are already getting the chance to build their own bots and companies are being encouraged to utilise them. Facebook are also offering sponsored adverts that would allow them to send adverts to users who had conversed with the bots. This could be very annoying but it means that Facebook would be making more money.
These bots should be accessible now and, let's face it, they're definitely going to become one of the biggest things Facebook has released this year.
Rosina is a Songbird rookie with a degree in Creative Writing. She's trying to focus on her novel on the side but is hoping that Content Writing will turn out to be a good career choice in the mean time! Follow her @Songbird_Rosina
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
Bots on Messenger Have Officially Been Announced
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.