More and more businesses are turning to lead generation chatbots – AI chatbot software that generates qualified leads 24/7.
These sales chatbots carry out AI lead generation – sourcing leads, qualifying and scoring them, and notifying sales teams.
But how do these AI chatbots work? And more importantly, how can you make them work for you?
What’s a lead generation chatbot?
A lead generation chatbot is an AI-powered tool that engages potential customers, captures their information, and qualifies them as leads in real-time. Unlike static forms, it uses conversational AI to guide users through the early stages of an AI sales funnel.
Lead gen chatbots can:
- Ask tailored questions to identify potential customers
- Qualify intent
- Direct prospects to the right resources or sales reps
By offering an interactive experience, lead generation chatbots improve engagement, reduce bounce rates, and help with efficient lead collections. They operate 24/7, ensuring no lead slips through the cracks, and are typically integrated with your team’s CRM.
How does a lead generation chatbot work?
A lead generation chatbot works by leveraging natural language processing (NLP) to understand user input and respond conversationally.
It begins by greeting visitors, asking relevant questions to qualify their interest, and collecting details like name, email, or preferences. Using conversational AI, the chatbot adapts to user responses, providing a personalized experience that feels natural.
These chatbots can route qualified leads to a sales team, schedule follow-ups, or integrate directly with CRMs to streamline lead management.
9 Lead Generation Chatbot Use Cases
1. Qualify leads
The chatbot asks specific questions to learn about a visitor’s needs and goals, filtering out unqualified leads while focusing on those worth pursuing.
2. Lead scoring
As visitors interact, the chatbot tracks their answers and assigns a score, helping your sales team focus on the most promising prospects.
3. Segment leads
Information gathered by the chatbot is used to sort leads into categories, making it easier to deliver relevant messaging and offers later.
4. Collect contact information
A chatbot naturally collects names, emails, and phone numbers by engaging visitors in dialogue, removing the need for static forms.
5. Distribute lead magnets
When visitors request resources like eBooks or guides, the chatbot delivers them on the spot while collecting the necessary contact information.
6. Answer FAQs
With a built-in knowledge base, chatbots provide immediate answers to common questions.
7. Book meetings or demos
Chatbots can connect to your calendar, allowing visitors to pick a time that works for them without waiting for back-and-forth emails.
8. Recommend products
By analyzing visitor input or browsing behavior, the chatbot suggests products tailored to individual needs.
9. Send follow-up emails
Once a lead’s contact details are captured, the chatbot can integrate with your email system to send personalized follow-ups, keeping the conversation alive.
Integrating Lead Gen Chatbots with a CRM
Integrating a lead generation chatbot with a CRM helps streamline your sales process by automatically organizing and syncing lead data. It's a must for any enterprise chatbot.
Instead of manually entering contact details, lead scores, or preferences, the integration ensures your sales team has up-to-date information to act quickly and efficiently.
Setting up the integration typically involves connecting the chatbot to your CRM platform, mapping data fields, and enabling automation for tasks like follow-ups or lead segmentation.
The best chatbot platforms will offer pre-built integrations to CRMs like Hubspot, SalesForce, and Zendesk.
How to Build a Lead Generation Chatbot
If you’re looking to build a chatbot, the process will vary based on the scope of your solution.
But no matter how much technical expertise you have or how much money your team is willing to spend, the base process will remain similar.
1. Pick a chatbot platform
Look for a platform that supports advanced features like lead scoring, CRM integration, and multi-channel deployment.
And consider if it fits your technical needs — some platforms require coding, while others are no-code or low-code platforms.
2. Build your base
If you choose a plug-in solution, the base of the bot will already be built (but you’ll have limited ability to customize your end product).
If you use a platform that incorporates agentic AI, you can use features like an Autonomous Node to instantly create an AI agent.
And if you opt for a DIY solution, you’ll have to build your base from scratch.
3. Design your lead qualification
Start by identifying what makes a lead valuable to your business, ensuring your chatbot gathers relevant and actionable information.
Establish clear goals, determine the qualifying questions it will ask, and plan the next steps, such as follow-ups, routing leads to sales, or scheduling meetings.
And finally, select the most effective platforms for deployment, like your website or WhatsApp, to maximize engagement.
4. Integrate your chatbot
Your chatbot is only as useful as the quality of its integrations. To maximize its effectiveness, consider integrating it with:
- Your CRM
- Email marketing platforms (to automate follow-ups)
- Scheduling tools like Calendly
- Analytics platforms like Google Analytics
- Social media channels like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp
You can either connect your chatbot with your systems by building your own integration or by using a pre-built integration. (Not to brag, but we have a pretty extensive list of pre-built integrations.)
5. Deploy your lead gen bot
Once your chatbot is ready, it should be deployed on the channels where it will have the most impact, such as your website or messaging platforms like WhatsApp.
Thorough testing is necessary before you unleash your bot – and updates will continue even after deployment. Start by making your chatbot available to a small portion of users at first, then work your way up to full coverage.
Benefits of a Lead Generation Chatbot
Lower cost per lead
Chatbots automate lead capture and qualification, reducing the need for manual effort and lowering acquisition costs.
Scalability
With chatbots, businesses can handle an unlimited number of conversations simultaneously, ensuring every lead gets attention.
Data insights
Chatbots gather detailed information about visitor preferences and behaviors, giving businesses the data they need to refine their strategies.
Consistent visitor support
Unlike humans, chatbots are always available, providing reliable support and engagement at any hour.
Faster lead conversation
Real-time interactions mean leads get qualified and sent to sales teams or follow-up workflows almost instantly.
Cross-channel reach
Chatbots work across multiple platforms like websites, email, and WhatsApp, ensuring you can connect with leads wherever they are.
Deploy a Lead Gen Chatbot Next Month
Lead generation is being transformed with AI, from qualifying leads to booking meetings and nurturing prospects.
Botpress is a flexible, enterprise-grade AI platform designed for businesses looking to deploy lead generation chatbots tailored to their specific needs. With seamless integrations, advanced data security, and a scalable design, Botpress helps you capture and manage leads effortlessly.
Start building today. It’s free.
Or reach out to our sales team for more information.
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