Facebook is the world's largest social media network, with over 2 billion monthly active users who post more than 3 trillion pieces of content every month.
But what about all those people using other apps like Instagram or WhatsApp, which have their own unique features but don't let us interact directly with our friends? You might be wondering how these networks monetize themselves, especially when they're owned by a global company whose primary focus is advertising. The answer lies in something called "bot".
A messenger bot (also known as an automated program) works exactly the same way as any app on your phone -- it receives commands from a user via text message or voice command, then performs some task based on its programming logic. Bots allow developers to create software applications without coding them manually, letting programmers build complex systems that would otherwise take months for one person to accomplish.
Messenger bots have been around since 2015, but only recently has this technology garnered widespread attention thanks to the rise of chatbots. These programs use artificial intelligence to mimic natural conversation, allowing businesses to automate repetitive tasks while providing consumers with immediate answers.
Here are just some of the things you can now ask bots in Facebook Messenger.
To get started connecting your own bot, head to the Connect tab inside Facebook Messenger and search for a specific service. From there, select Get Started and follow the steps to add your new bot. Once added, your bot will appear under My Bots in the sidebar menu. Clicking on it will bring up additional information about it, including pricing details, FAQs, and even where you can find customer support if needed.
If you need help setting up your bot, here are some tips for getting set up in less than 30 minutes. If you want a step-by-step walkthrough, check out the following video below:
Once you've connected your first bot, try asking it anything! Some common questions include "When was [your name] born?" or "Where did I leave my keys last time we went camping together?"
You'll also see suggestions pop up whenever someone asks a question related to the services you've added. For example, if you asked Google Assistant "Who won Game 7?", it'd give you results from NBA teams' seasons that year. This feature helps teach your bot useful facts so it doesn't sound dumb when responding to others.
Asking a friend for recommendations on restaurants or shopping at Target could lead to personalized ads. So keep in mind whether you really want to share certain data with companies and avoid giving away personal info like email addresses unless absolutely necessary.
It's important to note that not all bots offer free trials. In fact, many charge fees for premium access to different functions within the platform. Check out the list above to see if your desired bot offers a trial period. To know more about each particular option, read reviews written by experts or customers before signing up.
In addition to finding popular bots, you can browse through categories such as Finance & Money, Travel & Local, Entertainment & Lifestyle, Health & Fitness, and more. Or simply type in keywords into the top bar to look for relevant options.
Yes! There are several ways to start making extra cash on your favorite messaging platforms. Below are three of the most popular methods. But remember, earning money off of Messenger isn't limited to these examples alone — feel free to explore alternatives and come up with your own ideas.
1. Sign Up As A Tester
Testers provide feedback on product development projects, helping improve products until they meet consumer expectations. Companies often rely heavily on tester feedback to ensure a high quality experience. Similarly, Facebook uses testers to test new versions of Messenger and evaluate potential updates. It takes part in regular beta testing sessions and invites interested individuals to participate in smaller tests.
Anyone who wants to become a tester must fill out a form detailing their job requirements along with a short questionnaire. Afterward, Facebook sends testers invitations to join official beta tests. Participants receive compensation ranging between $50-$100 per session.
2. Take Surveys On Reddit
Reddit is one of the best websites online. With millions of subreddits dedicated to nearly everything imaginable, there's always room for discussion. And surveys aren't typically excluded from those discussions. Simply visit r/surveys and search for survey panels that match your interests. Then sign up with whichever website suits your needs best. Most major panel providers require participants to be 18 years old or older, speak English fluently, and reside in North America or Western Europe. Survey payouts vary depending on the provider, duration, number of completed surveys, etc., but generally range anywhere from $3-$20 per hour.
3. Start Your Own Website
Blogging sites such as Tumblr and Blogger are great for sharing thoughts and opinions with family and friends. However, sometimes you may wish to express yourself publicly beyond close relationships. That's why starting your own site is another excellent opportunity to earn extra income. Sites like WordPress, Weebly, Wix, SquareSpace, and Medium all let you easily design professional blogs for minimal costs.
After creating a blog, you can promote affiliate links and advertisements alongside posts, increasing ad revenue and potentially turning blogging into a full-time gig. Remember to consider hosting charges and other expenses though, because running a blog requires more upkeep than maintaining a simple page.
Another benefit of having your own domain is increased privacy. While third parties track traffic to your hosted pages, your own site keeps tabs on visitor activity instead. Plus, you can decide to host videos or images on your site rather than uploading them elsewhere. Hosted sites limit your control over appearance, layout, and functionality.
Keep in mind that building your very own website can take weeks, months, or longer. Consider outsourcing this project if you plan to run multiple domains. Otherwise, expect to spend hours learning HTML skills, tweaking code, and designing layouts.
Remember, too, that you can choose to advertise non-affiliate products and services on your site as well. Many bloggers sell items like books, handmade crafts, jewelry, furniture, artwork, etc. via Amazon’s Fulfillment Service, which provides sellers with tools to ship inventory and collect payments.
There are countless opportunities to make extra money online. Whether you prefer writing articles and selling ebooks, taking paid surveys, or launching a business, you'll definitely discover something that fits your lifestyle and budget.
You might have seen the new "Earn Money" section in your News Feed lately, which includes ads from companies that use Facebook's Messenger Platform.
This is how they pay people like you to answer their questions or complete tasks via a messaging app called Messenger Bots. You don't need any special skills for this — you just need to be 18 years old and an active user of either Facebook or Messenger. The more often you participate in these activities, the higher chance there is of earning extra cash.
But what exactly is the difference between this feature, and other forms of advertising on Facebook? How did it come about, and why would anyone want to opt into it? We spoke to experts at one of its biggest advertisers, Uber, who shared some insight about how the program works.
Messenger bots are automated applications created using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques such as machine learning and natural language processing. They're basically computer programs designed to carry out specific functions based on commands. For example, if someone sends you a message asking when your next ride will arrive, then your favorite rideshare company could create a bot that answers that question automatically.
According to Uber, most messenger bots currently live primarily within three main areas: education, entertainment, and finance. In December 2017, Uber partnered up with educational platform Edmodo to bring college students jobs through a bot named Harry. The bot was only available for two months until February 2018 but earned over $1 million from users during its time online. That same month, another bot called Einstein helped parents manage student loans payments. It also generated around $2 million worth of revenue in its short period of operation.
In March 2019, Uber announced plans to launch a financial services bot called Finnegan. This bot will offer customers various tools including investing advice, bill payment, budgeting, and insurance coverage. According to Uber, Finnegan will cost consumers less than 1 percent per transaction compared to traditional bank fees. When asked whether he thinks people should start paying monthly bills directly through Facebook instead of calling customer service lines, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said: “I think we’ll see them switch. But not yet." He added that it takes too long for customers to receive responses, especially regarding financial matters.
Uber isn't alone here. Other major tech giants have launched similar initiatives. Google has had AdWords All Ads since 2016, while Amazon introduced Alexa Skills Kit back in 2014. To date, both platforms have offered job listings, news updates, movie recommendations, shopping deals, and more. And according to Facebook, third-party apps using its API now generate around 100 billion interactions each day.
So far so good...but how does all of this connect to Messenger bot earnings? Let's find out.
Here comes the part where things get tricky. As mentioned earlier, Messenger bots aren't actual humans. So technically speaking, no human interaction is necessary to complete certain tasks. However, Facebook says that having real conversations with bots helps improve engagement rates and thus increases ad impressions.
If you've ever interacted with a friend's dog through Instagram Stories, then you know how difficult it can sometimes be to distinguish between a person and something else entirely. If you were to ask that friend for help with anything related to his pup, she may end up ignoring you because her focus is elsewhere. By contrast, interacting with a virtual pet version of herself feels familiar and comfortable. That's why many AI researchers believe that conversational agents are the future of computing.
However, Facebook still needs people to send messages to those bots in order to keep them running 24/7 without crashing. Therefore, the company pays people to take calls or text messages from bots in exchange for monetary compensation. There are several different types of incentives, depending on the task being completed. Some include receiving discounts, gift cards, and free products. Others involve getting paid to talk to bots.
As noted above, Uber uses a bot named Harry to respond to simple student questions. Another popular option is signing up for surveys. Usually, survey sites require you to fill out personal information, but in return, they'll give you points that translate into cold hard cash. Depending on the site, these rewards usually range anywhere from $3-$20 per hour.
Facebook itself offers opportunities to earn money through completing small tasks. Since June 2015, Facebook users in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Columbia, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Trinidad & Tobago can sign up to become a Mystery Shopper. These shoppers can then collect data about local businesses in exchange for a few bucks per assignment.
Just recently, Facebook expanded this program to India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Egypt, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen, Cyprus, Malta, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla, Turks & Caicos Islands, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Jamaica, Aruba, Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Marshall Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Belize, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Niue Island Group, Sierra Leone, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritania, Micronesia, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Somalia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Swaziland, Chad, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gambia, Senegal, São Tomé & Príncipe, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Djibouti, Comoros, Kiribati, North Korea, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Syria, Timor Leste, East Timor, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Antarctica, French Polynesia, Wallis & Futuna, France, Mayotte, Réunion Island, French Guyana, Suriname, Guyane, Bhutan, Myanmar [Burma], Nepal, Kirghizstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Macedonia, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Your favorite social media app may have a new way for you to generate some extra cash, but what exactly is this method called "chatbot"? And how do they actually make money?
Let's explore the basics of making an income through your Facebook account or messenger apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, etc...
A bot (an abbreviation for application program) is computer software that performs automated tasks based on instructions given by its creator. Bots help people complete repetitive processes with ease. For example, if someone wanted to send a message to multiple friends at once in Facebook messaging apps, a bot would be easier than doing so manually. This is why we call them "bots."
Facebook has developed their own version of chatbots known as "Facebook Chat Bots" which allows users to use commands such as "send photos," "show me my profile picture" or even more complex language. A user must first enable these features before using them.
These bots come pre-programmed with certain functions and then allow users to access data from within different applications. They're basically just programs running on servers. They receive input via text messages, voice calls, or other methods, depending on the type of device used. Some companies also integrate payment options into their services allowing users to pay directly inside chats.
But unlike regular websites, Facebook doesn't get any cut out of commissions when users buy products or services from third parties because it already owns most major consumer businesses including Instagram, Whatsapp, Oculus VR, Portal, Home Depot, eBay, Apple Pay, Uber Technologies Inc., Spotify, Medium, Dropbox, Lyft among others. It makes money from advertising revenue.
The best part about chatbots is that anyone can create one without having coding experience. That means there are many talented developers creating excellent tools for all kinds of purposes ranging from education to entertainment. There are over 200 million active monthly users across social media platforms, meaning there will always be demand for skilled coders who know how to build them.
Building a good product requires building trust between customers and creators. If you want to learn how to start programming your own bot here are some tips.
1. Build a great idea. The easiest step towards success is coming up with something valuable. In order to succeed, your project should solve real problems faced by a large number of people. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—you only need to find solutions to problems that haven't been solved yet.
2. Research the market. Think of ideas that might not seem too interesting to others at first sight, but could grow exponentially due to their simplicity. Remember that it takes time to build a successful business and you shouldn't rush things ahead. Once you've found a problem worth solving, research similar projects online. Get inspired by competitors' achievements and try to improve upon them.
3. Find inspiration. Don’t stop learning and exploring until you discover something unique. Keep researching related topics to see what else you can contribute to society. Also, read articles written by experts and follow influencers in your field.
4. Create a strong brand identity. Branding is essential for any kind of business whether big or small. Creating a consistent image around your company helps potential clients recognize your service right away. Your logo design should reflect your branding. Be sure to choose colors and images that appeal to your target audience.
5. Test your creation early. Even though developing a chatbot isn't rocket science, it still needs testing. Try to run your bot in public places where you think people might encounter issues while interacting with it. Ask strangers questions and see how they react.
6. Refine your code. Now that you've got everything set, it's time to polish your creation and refine its functionality. Make minor adjustments to achieve better results. When you reach perfection, test again. You'll never know unless you give it a shot!
7. Launch your bot. After completing all necessary steps, it's finally time for launch day. Take advantage of every opportunity available to promote your product. Share links to your website where interested individuals can signup to gain access to your bot.
8. Set goals for growth. Setting targets and milestones gives you focus and direction. To accomplish bigger goals, break down larger objectives into smaller ones. Establish clear milestones along the way so you can measure progress against those markers.
9. Monetize your creation. Making your bot interactive will encourage further development. However, if you plan to monetize it later, consider selling premium accounts instead. While free chatbots won't attract much attention, paid versions can prove to be extremely profitable.
10. Support your bot. As soon as possible after launching, take care of supporting your bot. Provide detailed answers to customer inquiries and answer common concerns. People rely heavily on search engines to look up information. So keep your page updated regularly with quality content.
11. Analyze performance. Regularly check your metrics and analyze trends. See where you stand compared to competitions. Adjust algorithms accordingly.
12. Rebuild. Sometimes, bugs arise in our creations despite our best efforts. Fixing errors often becomes quite challenging, especially if they affect core functionalities. Consider hiring a programmer to fix technical issues.
13. Update. Keeping your bot fresh and relevant is crucial for maintaining user interest. Add new material to pages frequently to avoid boredom. Additionally, update your algorithm whenever possible to ensure optimal security and reliability.
14. Monitor competition. It's important to stay informed about current events in your industry. Stay tuned to news updates, trending hashtags, new releases, product launches, etc. Monitoring competitors' activities gives you leverage to offer competitive prices and increase sales.
15. Grow. Developing relationships with partners and affiliates goes hand in hand with growing your business. Learn how to sell effectively and maximize profits. Always remember to treat both sides fairly and ethically.
16. Scale. Growth is inevitable in almost all industries. Whether you want to expand globally or locally, scaling is key to long term success. Increase funding as needed to hire additional employees, open offices, upgrade technology, add new markets, develop partnerships, host meetups, etc.
17. Reinvent. Reinvention comes naturally when you evolve with changing times. Innovate your approach continuously to stay relevant. Use emerging technologies to shape future developments.
Yes, you heard correctly. But you'd probably expect a catch somewhere. Well, yes, there usually is an occasional fee involved. Most popular apps charge a transaction fee per sale, sometimes included in the price you paid for the subscription. Other services require fees for each individual interaction.
For instance, let's say you bought the basic Netflix subscription package for $9.99/month ($0.99 per hour). Whenever you watch a movie, you'll get charged 10 cents, regardless of how much time you spend watching it.
If you were to download a mobile game, you'd likely pay a few dollars for in-game purchases. Or maybe you downloaded a streaming TV series, you'd pay another couple bucks per episode. Basically, no matter what you purchased, you could end up paying money eventually.
However, there are legitimate reasons behind charging transactions fees. For starters, publishers must cover costs associated with storing and processing payments made outside of subscriptions. Plus, they need enough funds to compensate artists properly.
Most importantly, however, is keeping consumers safe. Since chatbots communicate sensitive personal details, privacy regulations dictate strict policies regarding sharing financial information. These rules mandate that apps comply with Know-Your-Customer (KYC), Anti Money Laundering (AML), and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) requirements.
In addition, Facebook itself charges a platform fee for providing APIs to support third party developers. Developers typically include these fees in the final purchase price of their products, so you wouldn't have to worry about getting hit unnecessarily.
Finally, Facebook offers plenty of opportunities to connect advertisers with targeted audiences. By incorporating affiliate marketing, marketers can direct traffic toward specific products or services. Advertisers simply share ad revenues with participants.
It's worth noting that some countries prohibit chatbot usage altogether. For example, Germany regulates chatbots under copyright law, stipulating that authors retain full rights to intellectual property created by bots. Therefore, operating a virtual assistant in Germany requires obtaining proper licensing agreements.
Chatbot refers to artificially intelligent conversational agents designed to carry out simple actions automatically. Unlike traditional computers, they talk back to humans rather than following strictly defined logic.
Although the concept sounds futuristic, artificial intelligence existed since the 1950s. AI assistants date back to 1957 when IBM debuted its electronic brains capable of answering mathematical queries. The earliest examples relied solely on manual responses, but advancements led to sophisticated systems capable of advanced reasoning skills.
While modern chatbots tend to mimic human conversations, older generations relied on keywords like “hello” and “goodbye” to interact with machines. More recent models employ natural language parsing techniques that understand context clues and respond appropriately.
Some experts believe that the next generation of digital assistants will resemble human personalities and act independently. Eventually, we may witness a shift away from desktop applications and move toward fully integrated smart home appliances.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.