How to create a bot in Viber

Viber may not be the most popular messenger in Russia, but it would also be unwise to forget about its users. In this article, we will look at how to create a bot in Viber and how to set up its behavior logic.

Step 0: Come up with the bot’s logic

(sorry for the joke with step 0, but this is really something you need to think about BEFORE you even start doing anything)

To begin with, draw out—on paper or in any tool convenient for you—how and what the bot should do in response to various user actions.

Try to think in terms of “what does the user do” — “what does the bot show in response” — what text, images, videos, buttons?

Buttons, in particular, are very helpful for managing user behavior and offering them a choice of possible actions. Ranging from “rate how much you liked it…” (if it’s a feedback bot) to “what are you interested in: repairs, balcony glazing, etc.”

Another important point is to think through how people will actually get to the bot? Where will you show the link to it, or a QR code for accessing it (for example, at your reception desk)?

If people aren’t coming to the bot, if it’s unclear how to access it at all, then there’s no point in doing anything else)

Step 1: Creating a bot in Viber

• Go to the Viber website: Visit the official Viber partners website.
• Account Registration: If you don’t have a Viber account yet, you’ll need to go through the standard registration process by entering your contact details, such as your email address and phone number.
• Creating the bot: Click Create Bot Account, and you can start creating your bot.
• Bot setup: You will be prompted to come up with a bot name, upload its avatar, write a description, and choose a category (this doesn’t affect anything). Note — WE DID NOT FIND a way to change the bot’s avatar after you upload it. So be very careful about which avatar you upload, otherwise you’ll have to create the bot again.
• Getting the Token: After successfully creating the bot, you will receive the bot token. This key is secret and should be kept in a safe place (whoever knows it can control your bot).

Step 2: Setting the bot’s logic

There are two main ways to create a bot in Viber and define its logic:

• Using a bot builder or bot management platform. These tools offer ready-made solutions and templates, which simplify the process of creating a bot. For example, Chotam.ru — an excellent bot builder for Viber and other messengers, where you can set up the bot’s logic once and use it in different messengers you need for communicating with clients.
• Programming the bot yourself. This method requires certain programming skills and is much more difficult compared to using a bot builder.

The bot’s logic in Viber can be set in a bot builder or bot management platform. This includes defining the rules by which the bot will interact with users. If you decide to program the bot yourself, the process of setting the logic will be much more complicated and will require deeper programming knowledge.

Step 3: Testing and launch

After you create a bot in Viber, it’s important to test it to make sure all functions work correctly. Then the bot can be launched and start serving users.

How to create a bot in Viber is a question that interests many. However, note that Viber is not the most popular platform; you might want to start with creating a bot in Telegram (which is much more popular in Russia).

Thanks to the availability of various tools, such as bot builders and bot management platforms, this process can be relatively simple. However, programming a bot yourself is a more complex option and requires certain skills. The choice of method depends on your goals and your level of programming knowledge.