> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chatref.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Suggested Messages

> Give visitors clickable starter prompts so they know what to ask, and control the greeting bubble timing.

Suggested messages are clickable chips that help a visitor start a conversation.
Instead of staring at an empty box, they tap a prompt like "Track my order" and
your bot replies right away. You set them up in **Settings → Messages**.

## How suggested messages work

* Each suggestion is a short, clickable **chip**.
* Tapping one sends that text to your bot as the visitor's first message.
* Turn on **In-Chat Suggestions** to also show the chips inside the open chat,
  not just on the greeting screen.

## Add suggested messages

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Messages">
    Go to your agent's dashboard and open **Settings → Messages**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a starter">
    Add a suggested message and type the chip text, e.g. "What are your hours?"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a few more">
    Repeat to add the prompts you want. Drag to reorder – the first chip shows
    first.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Show them inside the chat">
    Turn on **In-Chat Suggestions** if you want the chips to appear inside the
    open chat as well as on the greeting screen.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Write 3 – 5 clear starters in your visitors' own words, like "Track my order" or
  "Book a cleaning". This is guidance, not a hard limit – but a short, focused list
  is easier to act on than a long one.
</Tip>

## Greeting bubble timing

The greeting bubble is the little message that pops up near the launcher to
invite a chat. You control how long it stays:

| Option                           | What it does                                                                 | Default   |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------- |
| **Keep visible until dismissed** | The bubble stays until the visitor closes it.                                | Off       |
| **Hide after**                   | The bubble disappears on its own after a set time, from **2 to 60 seconds**. | 6 seconds |

Pick **Keep visible until dismissed** for a gentle, always-there nudge, or use
**Hide after** for a brief greeting that fades on its own.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quick Actions" icon="bolt" href="/widget/quick-actions">
    Add call, email, or link buttons to the chat header.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Widget Appearance" icon="paint-roller" href="/widget/appearance">
    Set colors, icon, position, and branding for the widget.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>