> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.boostgpt.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Best Practices

> Tips for deploying an effective chat widget

## Widget Setup

> [accordion] Write compelling greeting messages
>
> Greeting messages appear above the bubble before the user opens the chat. Make them:
>
> * **Specific**: "Questions about our pricing plans?" beats "Need help?"
> * **Action-oriented**: Tell users what you can help with
> * **Brief**: 1-2 sentences max per greeting card
> * **Varied**: Use 2-3 different greetings to avoid repetition
>
> Configure greetings in **Branding → Content → Message Greetings**.

> [accordion] Choose the right auto-open timing
>
> Auto-open shows the chat frame automatically after a delay:
>
> * **Don't auto-open on landing pages** — let users explore first
> * **Auto-open on support/help pages** — users are already looking for help
> * **5-10 seconds** is a good default delay
> * **Disable for mobile** — screen space is limited, let users choose to open

> [accordion] Match your brand
>
> The widget inherits your AI teammate's branding:
>
> * **Accent color**: Set in Branding → Design. Use your primary brand color.
> * **Avatar**: Upload a recognizable icon or team photo
> * **Bubble icon**: Choose from 16 icons or use your avatar
> * **Position**: Bottom-right works for most sites. Use bottom-left if you have a conflicting element.

## Messaging

> [accordion] Be specific, not generic
>
> ❌ "Need help?"
> ✅ "Having trouble with payment? I can help!"
>
> ❌ "Click here for support"
> ✅ "Stuck on this step? I can walk you through it."

> [accordion] Match your brand voice
>
> If your brand is:
>
> * Professional: "Need assistance with checkout?"
> * Friendly: "Hey! Can I help with that?"
> * Technical: "Encountering an issue? Let's debug together."

> [accordion] Invite, don't pressure
>
> ✅ "Questions about pricing? I'm here."
> ❌ "Don't leave! We need you!"
>
> ✅ "Happy to walk you through setup."
> ❌ "Sign up now or miss out!"

## Training your AI teammate

> [accordion] Include relevant knowledge
>
> Your AI teammate should know:
>
> * Product features and pricing
> * Common issues and solutions
> * Policies (shipping, returns, refunds)
> * Technical documentation

> [accordion] Write clear AI teammate instructions
>
> Instructions should:
>
> * Define your AI teammate's role and tone
> * State what it should and shouldn't answer
> * Explain when to hand off to a human

> [accordion] Test with real scenarios
>
> Before deploying, test:
>
> * Common user questions
> * Edge cases
> * Error scenarios
> * Various context combinations

## Analytics & Optimization

> [accordion] Track key metrics
>
> | Metric | What It Tells You |
> | - | - |
> | Widget Opens | How often users engage with the chat |
> | Messages per Conversation | How much back-and-forth each session needs |
> | Resolution Rate | How often chat resolves the issue |
> | Conversion Lift | Impact on desired outcomes |

> [accordion] A/B test variations
>
> Test variations of:
>
> * Greeting messages
> * Conversation starters
> * Auto-open vs manual open
> * Open style (normal vs dock)

> [accordion] Iterate based on data
>
> * Low opens: Greetings aren't compelling, or the bubble is easy to miss
> * High opens, low resolution: AI teammate needs better training
> * Long conversations: Add the missing answers to your knowledge base

## Common Mistakes

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Don't do these:**

1. **Auto-opening on landing pages** - Let users explore first
2. **Generic greetings** - "Need help?" is forgettable
3. **Blocking the page** - Never prevent users from continuing
4. **Untrained AI teammate** - Answer quality depends on your knowledge base
5. **Ignoring mobile** - Test on all devices
6. **No analytics** - You can't improve what you don't measure

## Checklist

Before launching, verify:

**Widget:**

* [ ] Accent color matches your brand
* [ ] Greeting messages are specific and helpful
* [ ] Auto-open timing is appropriate (or disabled)
* [ ] SSO configured for authenticated users
* [ ] Works on mobile devices
* [ ] Position doesn't conflict with other page elements

**AI teammate:**

* [ ] Trained on relevant product and support content
* [ ] Instructions define tone and escalation rules
* [ ] Tested against common questions and edge cases
* [ ] Legal/privacy requirements are met

## Next Steps

> [card] [Quickstart](https://docs.boostgpt.co/site/chat/overview.md)
>
> Set up your first widget

> [card] [Use Case Guides](https://docs.boostgpt.co/site/chat/support-guide.md)
>
> Real-world implementations


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.