Configure Hints
Hints are the suggested questions shown when the chat opens, before a visitor types anything. They set the tone, show the assistant's strengths, and get the conversation started with one click.
What a Hint Contains
Each hint has two parts:
- Title — the label the visitor sees, typically phrased as a question ("How do I return an item?").
- Associated query — the actual query that runs when the visitor clicks the hint. Usually the same as the title, but you can make it longer or more specific behind the scenes.
Steps
- Open the assistant's Settings and the Hints tab.
- Choose Add hint.
- Enter a title — keep it short and natural, like a question a visitor would actually ask.
- Enter the associated query — the full question sent to the assistant when the hint is clicked. If the title is specific enough, copy it here; if it's short for display, write a more detailed version as the query.
- Repeat for each hint. Three to five hints is a good range — enough to show breadth, not so many that they overwhelm.
- Drag to reorder. Put the most common or most useful question first.
- Save.
Good Hint Examples
For a product support assistant:
- "How do I return an item?" → How do I return an item I purchased?
- "What are the shipping options?" → What shipping options do you offer and how long does delivery take?
- "How do I track my order?" → How can I track the status of my order?
For a documentation assistant:
- "How do I get started?" → What are the first steps to get started with the platform?
- "How does billing work?" → How does billing work and what plans are available?
- "What integrations are available?" → What third-party integrations does the platform support?
For a product catalog assistant:
- "What's new this season?" → Show me the latest products added this season.
- "Help me find a gift" → Help me find a gift under $50 for someone who likes cooking.
- "Compare your plans" → Compare the features and pricing of your plans.
Dynamic Hints per Page
When you embed the assistant on a website, each page can show its own hints instead of the global ones by adding a <meta> tag to the page's <head>. See Customize the Assistant per Page for the format and examples.
Tips
- Write hints as questions a real visitor would ask — not marketing slogans.
- If a hint doesn't get clicks (check analytics), swap it for a different question.
- Hints should cover different topics so visitors see the assistant's range.
Troubleshooting
- If hints don't appear, make sure you saved after adding them.
- If a hint gives a poor answer, improve the query behind it — make it more specific so the search finds better matches.