Floating Initial Messages

​

Overview

Chatbase allows you to display floating messages that appear above the chat widget icon when users first visit your website. These messages create an eye-catching and engaging way to welcome visitors and encourage them to interact with your chatbot.

Note: Floating initial messages are shown only once per session. If a user refreshes the page or navigates to another page during the same session, the messages won’t appear again to avoid creating an intrusive experience.

Note: These settings will override any initial message configurations made in your Chatbase dashboard.

​

Configuration

You can configure floating initial messages by adding the chatbaseConfig object before the Chatbase script:

window.chatbaseConfig = {
  showFloatingInitialMessages: true,  // Controls whether initial messages appear in a floating window
  floatingInitialMessagesDelay: 2     // Delay in seconds before showing floating initial messages
}

​

Configuration Parameters

• showFloatingInitialMessages (boolean) - When set to true, initial messages will appear in a floating window. Default is false.
• floatingInitialMessagesDelay (number) - The delay in seconds before showing floating initial messages. Default is 2.

​

Example Implementation

Here’s a complete example showing how to combine floating initial messages with custom messages:

// Configure floating initial messages
window.chatbaseConfig = {
  showFloatingInitialMessages: true,
  floatingInitialMessagesDelay: 2
};

​

Best Practices

1. Timing

   • Use an appropriate delay to ensure the page has loaded
   • Consider user experience when setting the delay time

2. Message Content

   • Keep floating messages concise and attention-grabbing
   • Use clear calls-to-action in your messages

3. User Experience

   • Don’t overwhelm users with too many floating messages
   • Ensure messages are dismissible

​

Troubleshooting

If floating initial messages aren’t appearing:

1. Check Configuration

   • Verify that showFloatingInitialMessages is set to true
   • Ensure the configuration is set before the Chatbase script loads

2. Timing Issues

   • If messages appear too early or late, adjust the floatingInitialMessagesDelay
   • Make sure the page has fully loaded before messages should appear

3. Console Errors

   • Check your browser’s console for any error messages
   • Verify that the Chatbase script has loaded correctly