Email Capture Configuration

Introduction

The WPiko Chatbot plugin offers an email capture feature that allows you to collect user email addresses before they start a chat session. This can be valuable for follow-ups, marketing purposes, or to provide a more personalized chat experience.

Enabling Email Capture

To enable or disable the email capture feature:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin panel.
2. Navigate to the WPiko Chatbot menu in the sidebar.
3. Click on the “Chatbot Menu” tab.
4. Look for the “Enable Email Capture” option.
5. Check the box to enable email capture, or uncheck it to disable the feature.
6. Click “Save Chatbot Menu Settings” at the bottom of the page to apply your changes.

How Email Capture Works

When enabled, the email capture feature functions as follows:

1. Before a user can start chatting, they will see an overlay with an email input field.
2. The overlay will display the message: “Please enter your email to start chatting”
3. Users must enter a valid email address to proceed.
4. Once an email is submitted, the chat interface becomes accessible.

User Experience Considerations

• For returning users, the plugin will remember their email (stored in browser’s local storage), so they won’t need to enter it again.
• Logged-in WordPress users will skip the email capture step, as their email is already known.

Accessing Captured Emails

Captured email addresses are stored with the conversation data and can be accessed in two ways:

1. Viewing individual conversations: Email addresses are displayed in the “User Email” column of the conversation list.
2. Bulk download: Use the “Download Emails” button at the bottom of the Conversations page to export all unique email addresses as a CSV file.

Privacy and Legal Considerations

When implementing email capture, keep the following in mind:

• Ensure your website has a clear privacy policy explaining how you collect and use email addresses.
• Comply with relevant data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) in your jurisdiction.
• Consider adding a checkbox for users to consent to your terms and privacy policy.
• Provide an option for users to request removal of their email from your system.

Best Practices

• Use captured emails responsibly. Avoid sending unsolicited messages.
• Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive or bouncing addresses.
• Consider integrating captured emails with your CRM or email marketing platform for better user management.
• Test the email capture feature regularly to ensure it’s functioning correctly across different devices and browsers.

Customization Options

While the plugin doesn’t offer built-in customization for the email capture overlay, you can use custom CSS to modify its appearance:

1. Go to the “Custom CSS” tab in the WPiko Chatbot settings.
2. Add CSS rules targeting the #email-capture-overlay and its child elements to customize the look and feel.

Example:

#email-capture-overlay {
    background-color: #d8e8df;
}

#email-capture-overlay h3 {
    color: #333;
    font-size: 18px;
}

#email-capture-overlay button {
    background-color: #00C7FC;
    color: #ffffff;
}

By configuring the email capture feature effectively, you can enhance your ability to connect with users while respecting their privacy and providing a smooth chatbot experience.