Guide
How to reduce missed leads with a website chatbot. Catch them before they leave.
Short answer: most missed leads never look missed. Someone lands on your site, has one question, can't find the answer fast, and leaves. You never hear from them, so it doesn't feel like a loss. A website chatbot catches those people by answering the question right away and, when it can't, taking their name and contact details and emailing them to you. Here's where leads leak, how a chatbot plugs the gaps, and how to set it up on Shopify, Wix or any other site.
By Chris Gilliland · · For any business of any size · Plans from $29/month (USD)
Where do website leads get lost?
A lead is lost the moment a ready-to-buy visitor gives up. That usually happens in one of a few places:
- The answer is buried. Your price, service area or return policy is on the site, but three clicks deep. People don't dig.
- The contact form feels like a black hole. Visitors don't know if anyone will reply, or when, so they don't bother filling it out.
- It's after hours. They're browsing at 9 p.m. or on Sunday. Nobody picks up the phone, so they try the next business.
- The question is small. "Do you ship to Canada?" "Do you do same-day?" It isn't worth a phone call, but it decides the sale.
- Nobody followed up. A message came in through a chat or form, but it sat in a shared inbox until it went cold.
None of these show up in a report. You just see visits without enquiries.
How does a chatbot reduce missed leads?
A chat box sits on every page and does two jobs: answer, and capture.
| Leak | What the chatbot does |
|---|---|
| Buried answer | Answers in seconds from your saved info: prices, hours, areas, policies |
| Form feels like a black hole | Replies right away, so people know someone's there |
| After hours | Keeps answering nights and weekends |
| Question it can't answer | Says the owner will confirm, takes name and contact, and emails you |
| Slow follow-up | Sends the question and contact straight to your email, not a dashboard you forget to check |
The key point: a good chatbot doesn't guess. If it doesn't know, it hands the lead to you instead of making something up. A wrong answer loses a lead just as fast as no answer. More on that in answering customer questions after hours.
Does it work on Shopify, Wix and other platforms?
Yes. ChatBouncer is one line of code, so it works almost anywhere you can add a script:
- Shopify: paste it into your theme, and it answers shipping, sizing and return questions before shoppers bounce. See the Shopify install guide.
- Wix: add it in custom code settings. Handy for service businesses where the site is the main front door. See the Wix guide.
- WordPress, Webflow, Squarespace and others: same idea, with a free plugin for WordPress. See all install guides.
The chat box only runs on the domains you allow, so nobody can copy it onto their own site.
How to set it up
- Create your account. Sign up and give it your website address. It reads your public pages and pulls in your hours, services, prices and FAQs.
- Check what it learned. Fix anything wrong and add what's missing. Your service area, lead times and "do you do X?" answers matter most.
- Add the questions that decide sales. Think about what people ask right before they buy or book. Write those answers in plain words.
- Set where leads go. Use the email address you actually read. That's where questions it can't answer, plus the visitor's contact details, will land.
- Test it like a customer. Ask a few easy questions and one it can't know. Make sure the hard one ends with "the owner will confirm" and a request for contact details.
- Paste one line of code and go live.
- Reply fast. The chatbot catches the lead. You still close it. A same-day reply makes a big difference.
Want to try it first? Paste your web address into the free preview on the homepage. No signup needed.
What can't a chatbot do?
It's worth being clear. ChatBouncer answers from the info you save and emails you leads. It isn't a CRM, it doesn't call people back, and it won't close the sale for you. It also won't fix a site nobody visits. If traffic is the problem, start with search and ads. If visits come in and enquiries don't, that's where a chatbot helps. Wondering if you still need your form? Read AI chat vs contact form.
What does it cost?
Starter is $29 a month (USD) for one website and 1,500 customer messages a month. Pro is $59 for up to 3 websites and 5,000 messages. Business is $119 for up to 10 websites and 15,000 messages. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial. See full pricing.
If one extra customer a month is worth more than $29, the math is simple. Online shop? See ChatBouncer for online stores.
Questions
Can a chatbot really reduce missed leads?
Yes, for visitors who leave because they couldn't get a quick answer. It answers from your saved info any time of day, and when it can't, it takes the visitor's contact details and emails you the question.
How do I get the leads?
By email. When the chat box can't answer, it tells the visitor the owner will confirm, asks for their name and contact details, and sends the question and details to your inbox.
Does it work on Shopify and Wix?
Yes. You paste one line of code into your Shopify theme or Wix custom code. It also works on WordPress, Webflow, Squarespace and almost any other site.
Will it make up answers to keep people chatting?
No. It answers only from the info you save. If it isn't sure, it says the owner will confirm instead of guessing.
Does it replace my contact form?
It doesn't have to. Many sites keep both. The chat box catches people who won't fill out a form, and sends you their details the same way.
What does it cost?
Plans start at $29 a month (USD), with a 14-day free trial. Building and previewing your chat box is free and doesn't need a card.
Something else? Email [email protected]. A real person answers.