How to Create a Chatbot in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
A chatbot in 2026 is a tool for automating sales, support, and marketing that works in messengers and on a company’s website. The Mavibot.ai chatbot builder lets you create a chatbot with no code, launch it across multiple channels, and connect it to CRM and campaigns.
Below is a simple step-by-step scenario showing how to build a chatbot in Mavibot: from the first block to testing, buttons, branches, loops, and timers.
What is the Mavibot chatbot builder
In Mavibot, a business chatbot is assembled from blocks and connections in a visual chatbot builder interface.
- A block is a set of commands and settings that defines which message to send, what action to perform, and where to route the client next.
- Connections are arrows that move the user from one block to another and can contain conditions such as button clicks, text input, successful payment, and other triggers.
- There are system blocks (Start, Trigger, Fallback) as well as regular Chat blocks with messages that are used to build chatbot flows.
Step 1. Create the start block and trigger
Every Mavibot chatbot begins with a start block, which is the entry point that launches the chatbot flow in messengers.
- On the empty canvas of the chatbot builder, double-click to create the first block; by default, a white Chat block is created.
- Assign this block the Start type; this block has the highest priority and fires first when the launch condition is met.
- Specify a trigger word, for example “Hello” or “Start”, and set a greeting text such as “Hi. How can I help you?”.
- If you need the Start block to react to any message, leave the #{none} construction as is; this is useful when you want to send an action without a text reply.
This is how you configure the initial step that launches a business chatbot at the user’s first contact.
Step 2. Build a chain of blocks and connections
To make the Mavibot chatbot builder work like a funnel, you need to create a sequence of blocks and connections between them.
- Open the advanced settings of the start block and click “Create a block below”; a new block will be created and a connection between them will appear automatically.
- In the connection settings you can set conditions, the transition format, and adjust the path of the arrow so the chatbot scheme remains clear.
- Keep in mind that a user cannot be in two blocks at the same time: at any given moment the chatbot processes only one active flow, and parallel events are launched via Trigger and Fallback blocks.
This is how you create a logical chain that the client follows when interacting with the chatbot in messengers.
Step 3. Configure buttons and transitions
Buttons in a chatbot help control the flow without manual text input, which is crucial for user convenience and conversion.
- Open the Start block or any Chat block and go to the Buttons tab.
- Click “+ Add Button” and specify the button text, such as “GO”, “Choose a plan”, or “Book now”.
- In the display mode field, select Auto so Mavibot automatically adapts button display for Telegram, WhatsApp, and other messengers.
- Save the block settings.
- Select the connection leading to the next block and, in its settings, choose the button that should trigger this transition.
- Set the match type to Exact match so the transition only occurs when the selected button is pressed.
This way you can configure a scenario in which the chatbot responds precisely to the options selected by the user.
Step 4. Add branches and conditions to the flow
To avoid having the same chatbot flow for everyone, use conditional branches; this is important for audience segmentation and changing the flow depending on the answer.
- Create two new blocks below the Chat block with a question such as “Does this option work for you?”.
- On the first connection, set the “Yes” trigger; on the second, set the “No” trigger.
- In the target Chat blocks, configure different replies and actions: for “Yes”, you can move the user further down the sales funnel, and for “No”, offer another option or ask additional questions.
Branching by conditions allows the Mavibot chatbot builder to create personalized flows for different audience segments.
Step 5. Add loops and timers
Loops and timers help avoid losing a user if they do not respond or write outside the flow..
- Loop:
- In the settings of the question block, enable the “Create a loop” option; a connection will appear that returns the user to the same block.
- A connection with a specific trigger has higher priority than a connection without a trigger: if the user writes “Yes” or “No”, the conditional transition fires; if they write any other reply, the loop is triggered and the question is repeated.
- Timer:
- Create a separate reminder block and connect it to the question.
- In the connection settings, turn on Delay before response and set a pause, for example 5 or 10 minutes.
- Check the “Cancel if left the block” option so the reminder is not sent to those who have already moved on.
- Connect the reminder block back to the original question block.
This structure helps build a stable business chatbot that does not hang and correctly processes different user behavior scenarios.
Step 6. Test the chatbot before launch
Before connecting real messengers, it is important to test the chatbot in Mavibot’s test mode.
- Click Test chatbot in the bottom-left corner of the builder; a testing window with three areas will open.
- On the left is a list of blocks with their types and content.
- In the center is a test chat for talking to the chatbot.
- On the right is a test client card with data, tags, lists, and variables.
- In test mode you can:
- Launch the flow from the beginning by entering the start block trigger;
- Send individual blocks using the Send block button to check parts of the flow.
This lets you ensure that the chatbot builder is configured correctly, conditions work as expected, and the chatbot follows the intended logic.
Step 7. Structure a large funnel and connect messengers
When a business chatbot becomes more complex, it is convenient to divide it into lists inside the Mavibot builder.
- At the bottom of the workspace you can create a new list and move part of the blocks there; when blocks are moved, Mavibot creates technical blocks that preserve working links between lists.
- For the user, this is still one chatbot in the messenger, even if the flow is split across several lists.
After configuring the logic, you need to connect messengers:
- Open the Messengers section in the main Mavibot.ai menu and connect Telegram, WhatsApp, and other available channels.
- Detailed connection instructions are available in the Messengers section of the Mavibot documentation, with step-by-step authorization details and specifics for each platform.
Why use the Mavibot chatbot builder
The Mavibot.ai chatbot builder lets you create a no-code chatbot and launch it in messengers and on a website with minimal technical knowledge.
- The visual editor for blocks, triggers, buttons, loops, and timers helps build a flow quickly.
- The chatbot integrates with CRM, lists, and tags inside Mavibot for audience segmentation and analytics.
- In one system you get a business chatbot, campaigns, a website, and an online store, which simplifies building a unified sales funnel.
This approach allows a company in 2026 to quickly create a chatbot, test the flow, and launch a stable business chatbot on the Mavibot platform.