A keyword-based Webchat bot helps businesses automate customer conversations by responding instantly when visitors enter specific words or phrases. With BotSailor, you can create a wordpress chatbot workflow that connects with your website visitors and provides automated replies through a chat widget .
To create a keyword-based Webchat bot in BotSailor, open Chatbot Manager, select your connected Website Chat bot, and go to Automation → Keyword Replies → Create. Set the trigger keywords in the Start Bot Flow section, choose a matching method, add a text response, and save the complete flow.
This process allows you to build a chatbot for wordpress websites without coding. Once configured, visitors can interact with your website using the BotSailor chat widget , and the automated system can handle greetings, common questions, service requests, and customer support messages.
Finally, open your website, refresh the page, and enter one of the keywords in the chat widget to confirm that the automated reply works.
BotSailor’s Flow Builder is a visual, no-code tool that can create automated conversations for Website Chat, Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. It works as a flexible wordpress chatbot solution for businesses that want to improve customer communication across different platforms.
What Is a Keyword Reply in BotSailor Webchat?
A keyword reply is an automated response that is activated when a website visitor types a specific word or phrase into your chat widget.
For example, you can configure the following keywords:
hello, hi, start
When a visitor types one of those keywords, the Webchat bot can immediately respond with:
Hello there! How can I help you today?
Keyword replies are useful for answering common questions, welcoming visitors, sharing pricing details, providing contact information, or directing customers to the correct service.
For WordPress websites, this type of automation works as a practical chatbot wordpress setup because businesses can create instant replies without manually responding to every visitor message.
BotSailor allows standard customer questions to be handled through customized keyword replies inside the website chat widget. This makes it easier to create a professional chatbot for wordpress experience where visitors receive quick assistance directly from the website.
Prerequisites
Before creating the keyword-based reply, make sure you have:
- An active BotSailor account.
- A Website Chat bot connected to BotSailor.
- The BotSailor Webchat widget installed and active on your website.
- One or more trigger keywords.
- A reply message that the bot will send.
- Access to the website where you will test the bot.
The connected chatbot must be selected before you create the reply flow. BotSailor’s general workflow is to select the connected bot, open the bot-reply area, configure the keyword and message components, save the flow, and test it.
If you are using WordPress, the installed Webchat widget works as a wordpress chatbot that allows visitors to communicate directly through your website interface. A properly configured chat widget ensures that visitors can access automated support from any page where the widget appears.
How to Create a Keyword-Based Webchat Bot in BotSailor
Step 1: Open the Chatbot Manager
Log in to your BotSailor dashboard.
From the left-hand menu, open the Chatbot Manager section. This section displays the bots and messaging accounts connected to your BotSailor account.
Make sure you are working in the correct workspace before proceeding.
The Chatbot Manager is the starting point for creating and managing your automated customer communication system. Whether you are building a chatbot for wordpress , Telegram automation, or another messaging workflow, selecting the correct bot is essential before configuring replies.
Step 2: Select Your Connected Webchat Bot
Under Bots/Accounts, find and select the Website Chat bot that you want to configure.
In your example, the connected Webchat bot is named Chatboost and is connected to the website shown beneath the bot name. You should also verify that the bot status is marked Active.
Selecting the correct bot is essential because the keyword reply will be created only for that specific Website Chat account.
For websites using WordPress, this connected bot functions as a wordpress chatbot that communicates with visitors through the installed chat widget . Choosing the correct Website Chat bot ensures that your automated replies appear on the intended website.
Step 3: Open Keyword Replies and Create a New Flow
After selecting the Webchat bot:
- Open the Automation tab.
- Select Keyword Replies.
- Click the Create button on the right side.
The Flow Builder will open so that you can configure the trigger and response.
BotSailor’s official workflow similarly directs users to select the connected bot, open the bot-reply area, and click Create to access the Flow Builder.
The Flow Builder allows businesses to create a structured chatbot for wordpress workflow where keywords automatically start predefined conversations. This eliminates the need for manual responses and improves visitor engagement through automated chat interactions.
Step 4: Configure the Trigger Keywords
The new flow will contain a Start Bot Flow block. Open or double-click this block to display the Configure Reference panel.
Complete the following fields:
Enter the keywords
In the keyword field, enter the words that should activate the bot.
Example:
hello, hi, start
Separate multiple keywords with commas.
Choose the matching method
Select one of the available matching options.
Exact keyword match:
The bot responds only when the visitor’s entire message exactly matches one of the configured keywords.
For example:
“hi” will trigger the bot, but “hi there” may not trigger an exact-match flow.
String match:
This option is more flexible and can trigger the flow when the configured word appears inside a longer message.
BotSailor explains that an exact match activates the flow only when the visitor’s complete message is identical to one of the entered keywords.
For this tutorial, select Exact keyword match.
Using keyword-based triggers is one of the easiest ways to create a smart wordpress chatbot because visitors can receive instant answers by entering simple phrases.
Add a title
Enter a descriptive internal title for the flow.
Example:
Testing 1
The title helps you identify the keyword reply later from the Keyword Replies list.
The other fields—such as labels, lists, team assignments, webhooks, and Google Sheets—are optional for this basic setup. Leave them empty unless your automation requires them.
Click Save at the bottom of the configuration panel.
Step 5: Compose the Automated Text Reply
Return to the Flow Builder and click Compose Next Message from the Start Bot Flow block.
Select the Text message component.
A Configure Text Message panel will appear. Enter the message that visitors should receive when they type one of the configured keywords.
Example:
Hello there! How can I help you today?
Text components are suitable for greetings, confirmations, support answers, updates, and frequently asked questions.
For WordPress websites, this automated response works as the core communication feature of a wordpress chatbot, allowing businesses to answer visitor questions immediately through their website.
You can use this type of chatbot for wordpress automation to welcome new visitors, share product information, explain services, or guide customers toward the correct page without requiring a human agent for every basic query.
You may also configure the following optional settings:
Typing on display:
Shows a typing indicator before the reply appears.
Smart Delay in Reply:
Delays the response by a specified number of seconds, minutes, or hours.
For a simple welcome reply, you may keep the delay at zero.
Click Save in the text-message configuration panel.
Step 6: Check the Connection Between the Flow Blocks
Confirm that the Start Bot Flow block is connected to the Text block.
The flow should appear as:
Start Bot Flow → Text Reply
This connection tells BotSailor what action to perform after a visitor enters a matching keyword.
In your example:
“hello,” “hi,” or “start” → “Hello there! How can I help you today?”
A connected flow ensures that your chatbot wordpress automation follows the correct sequence and delivers the expected response through the website chat widget .
If the blocks are not connected, drag the connector from the Start Bot Flow block to the Text message block.
Step 7: Save the Complete Bot Flow
Saving the text message is not always the final action. You must also save the complete Flow Builder configuration.
Click the main Save button in the upper-right corner of the Flow Builder.
Before leaving the page, confirm that:
- The correct Webchat bot is selected.
- The trigger keywords appear in the Start Bot Flow block.
- The Text block contains the correct reply.
- The Start and Text blocks are connected.
- The entire flow has been saved.
BotSailor’s official guidance also requires saving the complete flow after configuring its triggers and message components.
For a WordPress website, this saved automation becomes an active wordpress chatbot flow. Once published, visitors interacting with the website chat widget will receive the configured automated response.
Step 8: Open Your Website and Refresh the Page
Go to the website where the BotSailor chat widget is installed.
Refresh the page so that the latest bot configuration is loaded. If the chat widget was already open, close and reopen it after refreshing the website.
Make sure the correct Website Chat widget appears on the page.
A properly installed chat widget allows visitors to communicate with your automated assistant directly from your website.
For WordPress users, this setup works as a complete chatbot for wordpress solution because the BotSailor widget can be displayed on website pages and handle automated conversations without additional coding.
Step 9: Test the Keyword-Based Reply
Open the website chat widget and enter one of the configured keywords.
For example:
hi
Send the message.
Because “hi” was added as an exact-match trigger keyword, the bot should respond with:
Hello there! How can I help you today?
If the response appears correctly, your keyword-based Webchat bot is working.
Testing is an important step after creating any wordpress chatbot because it confirms that the trigger, message flow, and website integration are working correctly.
The same testing process applies whether you are creating a basic website assistant, customer support automation, or a more advanced chatbot for wordpress workflow.
BotSailor recommends testing the chatbot after saving the conversation flow to verify that the configured trigger starts the intended response.
How to Verify That the Bot Is Working
Your setup is successful when all the following conditions are met:
- The correct Website Chat bot is active.
- The keyword reply appears in the Keyword Replies list.
- The Start Bot Flow block displays the correct keywords.
- The Text block displays the correct response.
- Both blocks are properly connected.
- The complete flow has been saved.
- Entering an exact keyword produces the intended response.
- The reply appears in the correct website chat widget.
You should also test every keyword separately.
For example, test:
- hello
- hi
- start
to confirm that all three activate the flow.
A complete testing process ensures that your wordpress chatbot is correctly configured and that visitors receive the expected response through the website chat widget.
Businesses using WordPress can use this verification process to confirm that their chatbot for wordpress is functioning properly before making it available to all website visitors.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
The bot does not respond
Confirm that you selected the correct Webchat bot and that its status is active.
Then verify that:
- The Text component was saved.
- The complete Flow Builder was saved.
- The Start Bot Flow and Text blocks are connected.
- The correct Website Chat widget is installed.
A disconnected flow or inactive bot can prevent your wordpress chatbot from sending automated replies.
The keyword is not triggering the flow
Check the spelling of the keyword.
With Exact keyword match, the visitor’s entire message must match the configured keyword.
For example:
A flow configured for:
hi
may not respond to:
hi there
If you want more flexible conversations, consider using String Match instead.
Correct keyword configuration is important for any chatbot for wordpress setup because even a small spelling difference can prevent the automated response from starting.
The old reply still appears
Refresh the website and reopen the chat widget.
You may also need to:
- Clear the browser cache.
- Test the website in a private browsing window.
- Confirm that the latest flow version is saved.
Sometimes cached settings prevent the updated chat widget from displaying the newest chatbot response.
The message block is not working
Make sure the Start Bot Flow block is connected to the Text block.
A disconnected message component will not run after the keyword is entered.
The correct flow structure should be:
Start Bot Flow → Text Reply
This connection controls how your wordpress chatbot processes visitor messages and delivers automated responses.
More than one reply appears
Check whether the same keyword has been used in multiple active flows.
For example:
Keyword:
hello
should not be connected to multiple competing automation flows unless intentionally designed.
BotSailor recommends using clear and unique triggers so different flows do not compete with each other.
Proper keyword management helps maintain a smooth chatbot wordpress experience and prevents confusing conversations inside the website chat widget.
The bot responds only to one keyword
Check that multiple keywords have been entered correctly and separated by commas.
Example:
hello, hi, start
Then:
1. Save the trigger configuration.
2. Save the text message.
3. Save the complete flow again.
After saving, test each keyword separately from your website chat widget.
The chat widget does not appear
Confirm that:
- The Website Chat installation code has been added to the website.
- The connected bot is active.
- The correct website account is connected.
- The widget is placed correctly on the website.
For WordPress websites, the installed widget acts as the front-end interface of your chatbot for wordpress system. Without the active chat widget, visitors cannot start conversations with the bot.
Next Steps
After confirming that the basic keyword reply works, you can improve the flow by adding:
- Images or promotional banners
- Buttons linked to service or pricing pages
- Quick replies
- User-input fields
- Contact-information collection
- Conditions and personalized responses
- A no-match reply for unrecognized messages
- Human-agent handoff
BotSailor’s Flow Builder supports text, images, media, user-input components, conditions, and other interactive elements without requiring code.
These features allow businesses to expand a simple keyword automation into a complete wordpress chatbot system that can handle customer support, lead collection, product inquiries, and website engagement.
A more advanced chatbot for wordpress can also collect visitor information, guide users through different service options, and connect customers with human representatives when needed.
For businesses that want communication beyond website automation, BotSailor workflows can also be connected with platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram. In some cases, companies may combine website automation with an sms chatbot strategy to reach customers through additional communication channels.
