Auto-engage
Proactively pop up the chat widget on the right page at the right moment.
Auto-engage is the rule system that lets Huey introduce itself before a visitor has to ask. Configured well, it lifts conversation rate without nagging shoppers.
Find it at Support → Auto Engage.
How it works
Each rule combines:
- A page pattern — which URLs the rule fires on (e.g.
/products/*) - A trigger — when the prompt appears (e.g. "after 8 seconds on page", "when adding to cart")
- A phrase — the message Huey opens with (e.g. "Looking for a specific size? I can help.")
When the trigger fires, the chat bubble pulses and a small teaser bubble shows the phrase. Visitors who tap it open the widget with the conversation already started.
Enabling auto-engage
Toggle the feature
Settings → Widgets → switch on Auto-engage. This is the master kill switch.
Add at least one phrase
Support → Auto Engage → + Add phrase. You'll define which path it applies to and what Huey says.
Test in incognito
Open the matching page. The teaser should appear after the trigger condition.
Path matching
Two modes:
- Exact — the path has to match exactly, e.g.
/products/the-collection-snowboard-hydrogen - Prefix — anything starting with the prefix matches, e.g.
/products/matches every product page
Wildcards in the middle aren't supported yet — use prefix or exact.
Suggested patterns
| Use case | Path pattern | Trigger | Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sizing help on a product | /products/ (prefix) | 8s on page | "Need help with sizing? I can guide you." |
| Cart abandon save | /cart | 15s | "On the fence? Free shipping over $75." |
| Returns FAQ | /policies/refund-policy (exact) | 5s | "Have a question about returns? I can help." |
| Out-of-stock recovery | /products/sold-out | immediate | "This is out, but we have similar boards in stock." |
What to avoid
- One phrase for the whole site. Visitors on
/aboutgetting the same prompt as/cartfeels generic and ignored. - Too short a delay. Fewer than 3 seconds reads as desperate. 5–10 seconds is the sweet spot for product pages, longer for content pages.
- Multiple phrases on one page. If two rules match the same path, only one fires (most-specific wins). Don't try to A/B by stacking rules — use the analyst to test sequentially.
Disabling per visit
Visitors who close the teaser don't see it again that session. The widget remembers via a cookie; clearing it resets.
Measuring impact
Insights → Auto-engage breaks down:
- Impressions (teasers shown)
- Engagement rate (teasers tapped)
- Conversation outcomes (resolved by AI / handed off / converted to order)
Use the data to refine phrases that aren't pulling.
What Huey says when the visitor engages
When a shopper taps the teaser, Huey doesn't just dump them into the standard greeting — it picks up the conversation as if responding to the phrase. So the conversation already has context. Make your phrases lead naturally to a useful question ("Need help with sizing?" → Huey will dive into your sizing chart and ask what they're looking at).