How to build your first chatbot flow
A no-code flow that greets a customer, offers a menu, and books or answers automatically — triggered by a keyword, no developer needed.
- 1
Open the Flows tab
Go to Flows in your Talko AI portal.
- 2
Create a new flow
Type a name (for example "Enquiry menu") into the "Flow name" field and click "Create & open builder".
- 3
Set the trigger
Choose the keyword that starts the flow — a common choice is a greeting like "hi" or a menu word like "menu".
- 4
Add your steps
Build the conversation using the available blocks: Buttons/List for a menu, Ask & save to capture an answer (like a name or budget), WhatsApp form for structured data, Send template, Reminder, Business hours (route differently outside working hours), and Webhook for a custom integration. Steps run in the order you place them.
- 5
Set a fallback
If a customer asks something that isn't on the script, AI answers instantly using your knowledge base, then the menu picks back up where it left off — nobody gets stuck.
- 6
Turn it on
Flip the status toggle to Active. It stays editable any time from the Flows list.
Start with one simple flow: trigger "hi" → a welcome menu with two buttons ("Product info" / "Talk to a person") → the fallback handles anything else. Get that working end to end before building anything more elaborate.
Common questions
What happens if a customer's message doesn't match any step?
The fallback kicks in — AI answers from your knowledge base directly, then returns to wherever the flow left off, so the conversation doesn't dead-end.
Can a flow run outside business hours differently?
Yes — the Business hours block lets you route a conversation differently (for example, to an out-of-hours message) based on the time it arrives.
Do I need to write any code for this?
No — flows are built entirely from ready-made blocks in the builder. The Webhook block exists for teams who do want a custom integration, but it's optional.
Keep going
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