How to set up automated chatbots in Tidio for lead generation

So you want to set up an automated chatbot in Tidio to generate leads—good call. If you're tired of chasing cold emails or watching visitors leave your site without a trace, automating some lead capture can save you a ton of hassle. This guide is for anyone who wants real, usable leads (not just a pile of emails that go nowhere) and doesn't want to spend all day fiddling with chatbot logic.

Let's cut through the noise and walk through exactly how to set up a Tidio chatbot that actually gets you leads—and how to avoid the usual pitfalls.

Why Tidio, and What You Actually Need

First off, if you’re not familiar, Tidio is a popular live chat and chatbot tool for websites. It's easy enough for non-coders, but also has some depth if you want to get fancy. There are free and paid plans—if you want more than basic features (like unlimited automation triggers), you’ll need to pay. Fair warning.

When it comes to lead generation, Tidio bots can:

  • Greet visitors and ask for info automatically
  • Qualify leads (so you’re not bugged by spam)
  • Integrate with your email/CRM tools

But don’t expect magic. A chatbot won’t fix a bad offer or generic website. It just helps you capture and filter interest.

Step 1: Set Up Your Tidio Account

Let’s get the basics out of the way:

  1. Sign Up
    Go to Tidio and sign up. You can use Google, Facebook, or email. The free plan is fine for testing, but if you want more triggers or integrations, you’ll hit a paywall.

  2. Install Tidio on Your Website

  3. If you’re on WordPress, there’s a plugin.
  4. For Shopify, install from the app store.
  5. For everything else, you’ll copy-paste a JavaScript snippet into your site’s <head>.
  6. Don’t overthink this. Tidio’s install instructions are clear, and if you get stuck, their chat support is quick.

Pro tip: Test it on a staging site first if you have a lot of traffic. No sense embarrassing yourself with a bot that spits out errors.

Step 2: Map Out What You Want Your Bot to Do

Before you build anything, decide what "lead" means to you. Do you just want an email address? Or do you want to qualify people (name, company, budget, etc.)?

Avoid these rookie mistakes: - Asking for too much info up front. Nobody likes a nosy bot. - Making your first message sound robotic (“Greetings, dear visitor! How may I assist?”). - Bombarding users with pop-ups and bot messages at the same time.

Keep it simple.
Example:
- Greet the visitor. - Ask a quick, relevant question (“Want to get a free quote? Send us your email.”). - Offer something in return (discount, ebook, whatever).

Step 3: Build Your Lead Generation Chatbot

Here’s where you actually create your bot.

  1. Go to the Tidio Dashboard
    Click on “Chatbots” in the left menu.

  2. Choose a Template or Start from Scratch

  3. There’s a “Lead Generation” template. This is fine for most people—just customize the wording.

  4. If you want to build your own, click “Create from scratch.”

  5. Set the Trigger
    Decide when the bot should pop up. Best options:

  6. On page load: Shows to everyone (can be annoying if you overdo it).
  7. After X seconds: Gives visitors a moment before interrupting.
  8. On exit intent: Tries to catch people before they leave.

What works: After 5-10 seconds is usually a sweet spot. Exit intent is great, but sometimes fires late.

  1. Write the Conversation
  2. Start friendly, not pushy (“Hi there! Got a quick sec?”).
  3. Ask for the info you want (“What’s your email? We’ll send you a free resource.”)
  4. Add a fallback for people who don’t want to share (“No thanks” button, or let them close the chat).

Pro tip: Use the “Quick Replies” feature so visitors can tap a button instead of typing.

  1. Collect and Store the Data
  2. Use the “Ask for email” action in your bot flow.
  3. Make sure the bot notifies you or stores info in your CRM. Tidio can zap leads into tools like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or Google Sheets.

Warning: If you don’t connect your bot to something, you’ll just have a pile of emails in Tidio’s dashboard—easy to forget and miss.

Step 4: Set Up Notifications and Integrations

Now, make sure you actually see those leads.

  1. Email Notifications
  2. In Tidio’s settings, set up email alerts for new leads.

  3. This is dead simple but easy to overlook.

  4. CRM & Email Marketing Integrations

  5. Go to “Integrations” in Tidio.
  6. Pick your tool (Mailchimp, HubSpot, etc.).
  7. Connect your account—usually just takes a login and a click or two.

What’s worth your time: If you’re just starting, email notifications are enough. If you get more than a handful of leads a week, hook up your CRM.

  1. Use Tags and Segmentation
  2. Tidio lets you tag leads based on their answers.
  3. If you want to run different follow-ups for “hot” vs “cold” leads, this is your friend.

Don’t bother: With over-complicated lead scoring or segmenting—unless you already have a system for handling it.

Step 5: Test Your Bot (and Don’t Skip This)

Before you unleash your bot on real visitors:

  • Test every path in the conversation. Try entering fake info, or ignoring the bot.
  • Make sure notifications arrive where you expect (email, CRM, etc.).
  • Ask a friend to try it. If they get annoyed, so will your visitors.

Common screw-ups: - Typos or broken logic (bot asks for email, then does nothing) - No way to opt-out or close the chat easily - Too many messages before asking for info (nobody wants to read a novel)

Step 6: Go Live and Tweak

Once it works, turn it on for all visitors.

  • Monitor your results. Are you getting actual leads, or just emails from bots and fake addresses?
  • Adjust timing, triggers, and language if people ignore the bot or complain.
  • Don’t obsess over perfection. A decent bot live is better than a “perfect” one in draft forever.

What to Ignore (for Now)

  • AI “smart” bots: Unless you have a ton of traffic or a huge budget, stick to rule-based bots. The fancy AI stuff is often overkill for basic lead capture.
  • Over-personalization: You don’t need to know your visitor’s favorite color before you ask for their email.
  • Spammy tactics: Don’t offer “limited time” deals everywhere or make your bot pop up on every page. You’ll just annoy people.

Realistic Expectations: What Works, What Doesn’t

  • Chatbots work best as a supplement to good content and offers. If your site is confusing or your offer is weak, a bot won’t fix it.
  • The best bots feel like a shortcut, not an obstacle. Make it easy for people to say yes (or no).
  • You will get some junk leads. That’s just the internet. Use validation or follow-up emails to weed out obvious fakes.
  • Don’t set it and forget it. Check your bot every so often. Update your questions, test integrations, and keep it human.

Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overthink

Automated chatbots can save you time and help you capture leads you’d otherwise miss. But resist the urge to overcomplicate things. Start with a basic, friendly bot. See what actually works. Tweak your language, timing, and follow-up as you go.

Most “advanced” features are just distractions if you’re not getting the basics right. Get your first lead, then improve from there. That’s how you actually win with chatbots—one real conversation at a time.