If you’re running a website and want more leads, sales, or sign-ups, you’ve probably looked at live chat tools. Tidio’s triggers seem like magic on paper—pop a chat at the perfect moment, start a conversation, and watch conversions jump. But here’s the reality: most sites either pester visitors with pointless pop-ups or miss real opportunities by setting triggers and forgetting them.
If you want to use Tidio triggers to actually increase conversion rates (not annoy people or waste your time), this is for you. We’ll break down what works, what doesn’t, and how to set things up without overcomplicating it.
Step 1: Understand What Tidio Triggers Really Do
A “trigger” in Tidio is basically an automated rule that starts a chat or sends a message based on what someone does on your site. The idea: catch people when they’re most likely to need help—or buy.
Common trigger actions: - Someone lands on a specific page - They scroll a certain amount - They’re about to leave (exit intent) - They spend X seconds on a page - They visit for the second time
But here’s the truth: Not every action deserves a popup. If you fire off a chat on every single visit, you’ll just annoy visitors and train them to ignore you. The real trick is to pick moments where help or a nudge genuinely increases the odds of converting.
Step 2: Decide What “Conversion” Means for You
Before you touch a single setting, get clear about what a conversion is for your site. Is it: - Completing a purchase? - Signing up for a newsletter? - Booking a call or demo? - Downloading a resource?
You can’t optimize what you haven’t defined. Different goals call for different trigger strategies.
Pro tip: If you have multiple goals, start with just one. It’s easier to measure if your tweaks make a difference.
Step 3: Map Out Where Visitors Get Stuck
This isn’t about fancy analytics—just poke around your site and think like a skeptical visitor.
- Where do people bail without buying or signing up?
- Which pages do they linger on but don’t act?
- Does your checkout or sign-up form have confusing parts?
- Are there products or services that get lots of views but not many conversions?
Why bother? Triggers are most effective when they show up at friction points. The less random, the better.
Step 4: Start Simple With Just One or Two Triggers
Yes, Tidio lets you create all sorts of complicated workflows. Resist the urge. Start with one or two well-placed triggers and see what happens.
The only triggers worth setting (at first):
- Exit Intent on Key Pages
- What it does: Pops up a chat when someone’s about to leave—usually by moving their mouse toward the browser bar.
- Where to use: Checkout pages, pricing pages, contact forms.
-
Why it works: Catches people right before they vanish, often when they have an unspoken question or concern.
-
Time on Page for High-Intent Visitors
- What it does: Sends a message if someone spends, say, 30-60 seconds on a product or service page.
- Where to use: Product detail pages, demo booking pages.
- Why it works: If someone’s hanging around, they’re probably interested but undecided.
What to skip (at first): - Triggers on your homepage (too generic) - Triggers on every page (overkill) - “Welcome!” messages for every new visitor (nobody cares)
Step 5: Craft Messages That Don’t Sound Like Robots
The default Tidio trigger messages are bland and easy to ignore. (“Hi! Can I help you with anything?”) You can do better.
How to write a trigger message that actually gets a response:
- Be specific: Reference the page or product (“Need help picking the right plan?”)
- Offer help, not a sales pitch: (“Any questions before you check out? I’m here.”)
- Keep it short: Two sentences, max.
- Sound human: Use contractions, add a first name if possible.
Examples:
- On a pricing page:
“Confused about the options? I can help you pick the right plan.”
- On a checkout page:
“Stuck at checkout? I’m here if you need help or have a question.”
- On a product page:
“Not sure if this fits your needs? Ask me anything—happy to help.”
What doesn’t work: - Generic greetings (“Hello there!”) - Pushy offers (“Buy now and get 10% off!” the second someone lands) - Overly formal language
Step 6: Set Up Your First Trigger in Tidio
Here’s how to set up a basic exit-intent trigger:
- Log in to Tidio and head to the Automations section.
- Click “Add new automation.”
- Pick the “Visitor is leaving the page” template.
- Choose your target page(s):
- For checkout, set the URL to match your checkout page.
- For pricing, use the pricing page URL.
- Edit the message:
- Use your own words (see above).
- Decide what happens next:
- Start a chat, offer a callback, send a form, or just display a message.
- Save and activate.
For a time-on-page trigger, the steps are nearly the same—just choose “Visitor spends X seconds on a page” as your trigger.
Step 7: Avoid Common Trigger Mistakes
Most sites overdo it and end up with pop-up fatigue (for visitors and themselves). Here’s what to watch out for:
- Too many triggers: One or two is plenty to start. More just means more noise.
- Firing too soon: Don’t trigger chats the instant someone lands—give them time to look around.
- Generic messages: If it sounds automated, people will ignore it.
- No follow-up: If someone replies, make sure you (or your team) actually respond.
- Not testing: Check your own site as a visitor. Are the triggers helpful, or just in the way?
Step 8: Measure What Happens (and Don’t Trust Vanity Stats)
Tidio will show you trigger stats—impressions, opens, responses. That’s fine, but don’t get distracted by high chat counts. The real question is: do conversions go up?
Track: - Number of chats started from triggers - Number of conversions (purchases, sign-ups, etc.) after a chat - Drop-off rates on key pages (before vs. after triggers)
Pro tip: If your conversion rate doesn’t budge, or your chat responses are mostly “No thanks” or silence, change your trigger message or timing. Don’t be afraid to turn off triggers that don’t move the needle.
Step 9: Iterate, Don’t Automate Everything
Once you’ve got a couple of triggers working—and proving they help—then (and only then) try adding more. Maybe a targeted trigger for repeat visitors, or a message for folks who visit your FAQ page more than once.
But resist the urge to automate every possible interaction. More automation usually means more noise, not more sales.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple and Stay Human
Tidio triggers can help you catch people at just the right moment—but only if you keep it simple, watch what works, and sound like a real person. Don’t throw a dozen pop-ups at your visitors and hope for the best. Start small, stay skeptical, and tweak as you go. That’s how you actually move the needle on conversions—without driving yourself (or your visitors) nuts.