Robot — Plan Your AI Chatbot
Before you build an AI chatbot, it helps to have your information ready. The bot answers based on what you give it, so a little preparation makes the difference between a bot that's accurate and one that guesses. Work through these areas first.
Business fundamentals
Compile the key facts visitors are likely to ask about:
- Company name
- Services you offer
- Location
- Hours
- Pricing
- Contact information
Communication style
Decide how your bot should sound. Should it be formal and professional, or casual and friendly? A useful prompt: think about how your best customer service rep talks to people, and aim for that voice.
Customer questions
Write down 10–15 questions customers ask most often, each with a clear answer — things like pricing questions or how to book.
Safety boundaries
Decide what your bot should not do. For example, it shouldn't:
- Make up information it doesn't have
- Talk about competitors
- Handle sensitive topics like billing without handing off to a person
Choosing your knowledge source
You'll pick one of two ways to give your bot its knowledge:
- Direct Prompt (up to 250k characters) — best for smaller knowledge bases, with faster responses.
- Knowledge Base (up to 500k characters) — better for large volumes of information; it pulls the most relevant content for each question.
For most small businesses, Direct Prompt is the easiest place to start.
Next steps
Finish your planning checklist, then head into the AI Knowledge Studio to start building your bot.
Need more help?
If you've worked through this and still need a hand, contact support — we'll dig in with you.