How to Build an Automated Lead Gen Funnel with Chatbots
How to Build an Automated Lead Gen Funnel with Chatbots
The old way of lead generation—static forms and “contact us” pages—is dying. Today, users expect instant answers. If you make them wait, you lose them.
Enter the Chatbot Lead Gen Funnel.
This strategy uses automation to engage visitors, qualify them, and capture their contact info—all while you sleep. Here is a step-by-step guide to building one.
Step 1: define Your “Magnet”
Why should someone talk to your bot? You need a hook.
- Discount Code: “Chat with us for 10% off.”
- Quiz: “Take a 30-second quiz to find your perfect product.”
- Free Guide: “Get our 2025 Marketing PDF instantly.”
Step 2: The Trigger
How does the conversation start?
- Instagram Button: A user taps “Send Message” on your profile.
- Comment Automation: A user comments “GUIDE” on your post (this is huge right now).
- Facebook Ad: A “Send Message” ad that opens a chat instead of a website.
Step 3: The Qualification Flow
Don’t just ask for an email immediately. Engage first.
Example Script:
- Bot: “Hey! 👋 Want to see if you qualify for our program?”
- User Button: “Yes, let’s go!”
- Bot: “Great! First question: Are you a business owner?”
- User Button: “Yes” / “No”
This simple interaction builds “micro-commitments,” making the user more likely to give their email later.
Step 4: The Capture
Now that they’ve engaged, ask for the detail.
- Bot: “Awesome. Where should I send the free guide?”
- User Input: user@example.com
- Bot: “Sent! Check your inbox in 1 min.”
Modern tools like Manychat can automatically sync this email to your CRM (like Mailchimp or HubSpot).
Step 5: The Follow-Up
The money is in the follow-up. Since you now have them in your Chatbot AND your Email list, you can double-tap:
- Instant Message: “Here is your download link.”
- 24 Hours Later: “Did you get a chance to read the guide? What did you think?”
Tools You Need
You don’t need to be a coder to build this. Visual builders make it drag-and-drop simple.
We Recommend: Manychat It allows you to build these exact flows for Instagram, Facebook, and SMS in minutes. It handles the keywords, the flow logic, and the email capture seamlessly.
- Want to see how to set it up?
- Need to know pricing?
👉 Read our full guide: Manychat Review 2025: Features & Setup
Conclusion
Automated funnels are the future of lead generation. They are faster, friendlier, and convert higher than static web forms. Start building your first flow today!
