If you’re tired of chasing low-quality leads or wasting time with forms nobody fills out, a chatbot might actually be worth your time. This guide is for marketers, founders, or anyone who just wants to qualify leads without hiring a developer or drowning in buzzwords. We’ll walk through building a lead qualification chatbot in Landbot, step by step, with zero hype and all the practical details you actually need.
Why a Lead Qualification Chatbot? (And Why Landbot?)
Let’s be real: most website forms are ignored. People want quick answers, not a 10-question survey. A chatbot—when done right—can save you time by filtering out tire-kickers and surfacing real prospects.
Landbot is one of the more approachable no-code chatbot builders. It’s not magic, but it does make it pretty easy to create chatbots that look good and actually work. If you can drag and drop, you can use Landbot. The catch? There are limits (more on that later), but it’s enough to get most people 90% of the way.
Step 1: Map Out Your Lead Qualification Flow
Don’t even open Landbot yet. This is the step most people skip, and they regret it later. Before you build anything, figure out:
- What makes someone a “qualified” lead for you? (Budget, company size, use case, etc.)
- What info do you actually need from someone before you’ll follow up?
- How much friction will your audience tolerate before they bail?
Pro tip: Draw your ideal conversation on paper or a whiteboard first. Keep it short—3 to 5 key questions max. Anything more, and people will ghost.
What works: Focusing on the must-have qualifiers. What doesn’t: Asking every possible question “just in case.”
Step 2: Set Up Your Landbot Account
Head over to Landbot and sign up if you haven’t already. The free plan is fine to start, but it slaps limits on volume and integrations. If you want to connect to your CRM or use advanced features, expect to pay.
Once you’re in:
- From the dashboard, click “Build a Chatbot.”
- Choose the “Website Chatbot” option. (You can do WhatsApp/Facebook, but for most, website is the way to start.)
Ignore: Fancy templates with a zillion features. You’ll move faster starting from scratch or a simple lead gen template.
Step 3: Build the Core Conversation
Now for the fun part—the builder. Landbot uses a visual flowchart-style editor. Here’s how to put your flow together:
a. Start with a Friendly Welcome
- Drag a “Message” block onto the canvas.
- Write a short, clear welcome. Example:
“Hi! I’m here to help you figure out if we’re a good fit. Mind if I ask a few quick questions?”
Don’t: Pretend the bot is a real person. People see through it.
b. Ask Qualifying Questions
For each key qualifier, add a “Question” block. Good options: - “What’s your company size?” - “What are you looking to achieve?” - “What’s your budget range?” (if you dare)
Use buttons or quick replies to make answers easy (multiple choice > open text).
Pro tip: Limit open-ended questions. They slow people down and hurt completion rates.
c. Capture Contact Details Last
- Only ask for email or phone after you’ve qualified them.
Example: “Great, you sound like a fit! Where can we send more info?”
People are more likely to give info if they see value first.
d. Add a Thank You and Next Steps
- End with a “Thank You” message and set expectations.
Example: “Thanks! We’ll get in touch within 1 business day.”
e. Route High-Value Leads (Optional)
If you want, you can branch the flow: - If answers qualify, show a “Book a Call” link or send to Calendly. - If not, offer a gentle “Sorry, we might not be the right fit” message.
What works: Keeping it simple.
What doesn’t: Trying to qualify every possible lead scenario in one chatbot.
Step 4: Set Up Data Collection
Qualifying leads is pointless if you don’t capture their info. Here’s how to do it right in Landbot:
- Every answer can be saved as a “variable” (like @email, @company_size).
- At the end of the flow, add an “Email Notification” block to send new leads to your inbox.
- Or, use the “Google Sheets” integration to add leads to a spreadsheet (good for small teams).
Want to sync with your CRM?
You’ll need a paid plan and some setup with webhooks or native integrations. It’s doable, but not 100% plug-and-play for every CRM. Zapier can help if you’re stuck.
Pro tip: Test your data export early. Nothing’s worse than missing a week of leads because of a typo.
Step 5: Test Your Chatbot (Don’t Skip This)
Testing isn’t glamorous, but it’s where you catch the stuff that makes bots annoying:
- Go through the flow yourself—on desktop and mobile.
- Watch for awkward phrasing, dead ends, or questions that feel invasive.
- Ask a friend or coworker to try it (ideally someone who’ll be blunt).
What to ignore: Don’t obsess over pixel-perfect design. Function beats form here.
Step 6: Embed the Bot on Your Site
Landbot gives you a widget code (like a chat bubble) or an iframe for embedding inline. Here’s the rundown:
- Widget: Easiest. Copy-paste the code into your site’s footer (or via a tag manager).
- Inline: Good for landing pages where you want the chatbot front and center.
Heads up: Some website builders (like Wix, Shopify) need a paid Landbot plan to embed. Check before you promise anything to your boss.
Step 7: Review and Improve (The Honest Way)
No one gets it right the first time. After a week or two:
- Check your completion rates. Are people dropping off at a certain question?
- Are you getting junk leads? Tighten your qualifiers.
- Too few leads? Loosen up. Maybe you’re scaring people off.
Don’t: Add more and more questions hoping to “fix” things. Usually, the opposite is better—shorter is sweeter.
What to Watch Out For
A few realities before you get too excited:
- Landbot’s free plan is limited. If you want integrations or higher volume, you’ll need to pay.
- Not every visitor wants to chat. Some people still prefer forms. Offer both if you can.
- Bots aren’t magic. They won’t fix a weak offer or bad traffic.
Summary: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
A good lead qualification chatbot is about clarity, not complexity. Don’t overthink it. Start simple, launch quickly, and tweak based on real feedback. The best bots are the ones that actually get used—by you and your leads. If you keep it honest and focus on the basics, you’ll end up with a tool that saves everyone time (and maybe even gets you better leads).