If you've ever wished your website could answer the same questions over and over — "what are your hours," "do you do walk-ins," "how much does it cost" — a chatbot does exactly that, automatically, 24/7. The good news: adding one doesn't require a developer, a budget for custom software, or any code beyond a single line you copy and paste.
Here's the short version, then the details for each platform.
The 3-step version
- Sign up for a chatbot service and tell it about your business — services, hours, pricing, common questions.
- Copy the embed code it generates. It looks like one line:
<script src="https://botdesk.studio/widget.js" data-key="YOUR_API_KEY"></script> - Paste it into your website — usually in a "footer code," "custom code," or "header/footer scripts" section in your site's settings.
That's it. The chat widget appears in the corner of your site and starts answering visitor questions immediately.
Where to paste the code, by platform
Every website builder calls this something slightly different. Here's where to look:
- WordPress — a "header and footer scripts" plugin, or your theme's custom code area. Full WordPress guide →
- Wix — Settings → Custom Code, set to load on all pages. Full Wix guide →
- Squarespace — Settings → Advanced → Code Injection → Footer. Full Squarespace guide →
- Shopify — Online Store → Themes → Edit Code →
theme.liquid, just before</body>. Full Shopify guide → - Webflow — Project Settings → Custom Code → Footer Code (paste before
</body>). This applies site-wide. You can also add it to a specific page under Page Settings → Custom Code. - Any other platform — if your platform has a "custom code," "header/footer scripts," or "embed HTML" setting, paste the snippet there. If you can add it to your site's global template, it'll appear on every page automatically.
What happens after you add it
Once the code is live, a chat bubble appears in the bottom corner of your site. When a visitor clicks it, the chatbot can answer questions based on the information you gave it during setup — things like your hours, services, pricing, location, and policies. If it doesn't know an answer, a well-configured bot will tell the visitor to call or message your business directly, rather than guessing.
Many businesses also connect the chatbot to their booking system or a contact form, so it can capture a name, phone number, and reason for contact even outside business hours — turning what would have been a missed call into a lead waiting in your inbox the next morning.
Common questions
Do I need to know how to code?
No. You're copying one line of code into a settings field — the same way you'd add a Google Analytics tag or a Facebook pixel.
How long does setup actually take?
For most businesses, 5 minutes or less: sign up, fill in business details, copy the snippet, paste it in.
Will it slow down my site?
A properly built widget loads asynchronously in the background, so it shouldn't noticeably affect your page speed or Core Web Vitals.