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Guides · 4 min read

How to add a chatbot to your website

Step-by-step instructions for adding a chat assistant to a WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Framer, Weebly or Square Online website, with no developer needed.

Most website chatbots, Ernie included, go onto your website the same way: you paste one short piece of code into a spot that every page shares. Your website builder then adds the chat button to every page for you.

You don’t need a developer for this. If you can find your website’s settings, you can do it in a few minutes. Here’s where that spot is on each of the common website builders, and what to check if the button doesn’t show up.

Before you start

  • Have your code ready. Your chatbot gives you a short snippet to copy. In Ernie it’s on the Install page, with a copy button.
  • Check your plan. Some builders only allow added code on paid plans. Each section below says which.
  • Know where you’ll check it. Builders usually only run added code on your published website, not in their editor. Have a private browser window ready to look at the live site.

WordPress

On WordPress.com, adding code needs a paid plan (Personal or above). Self-hosted WordPress works on any plan.

  1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin, search for WPCode, then install and activate it.
  2. Go to Code Snippets → Header & Footer.
  3. Paste your code into the Footer box, then save.
  4. Open your website in a private window and look for the chat button in the bottom-right corner.

Shopify

You need a Shopify plan above Starter. If you’re still trialling a paid theme, buy it first.

  1. In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store.
  2. Next to your current theme, click ⋯ and choose Edit code.
  3. Under Layout, open theme.liquid.
  4. Paste your code just before </body>, then click Save.

A theme update, or switching themes, removes the code. If the chat button ever disappears, paste it in again.

Wix

Your Wix website needs to be published with a connected domain.

  1. In your website’s dashboard, go to Settings → Development & integrations → Custom Code.
  2. Click Add Custom Code and paste your code.
  3. Name it, choose All pages, and load the code only once per visit.
  4. Place it in Body – end, then click Apply.
  5. Publish your changes and check the live website.

Squarespace

You need the Core, Plus or Advanced plan.

  1. Go to Website → Pages, scroll to Utilities, and choose Website Tools → Code Injection.
  2. Paste your code into Footer, then click Save.
  3. Publish your changes and check the live website.

Webflow

You need a paid Site plan or a paid Workspace.

  1. Open Site settings → Custom code.
  2. Paste your code into Footer code, then click Save changes.
  3. Publish your changes and check the live website.

Framer

  1. Open Project settings → Custom Code and click Add Script.
  2. Paste your code, place it at End of <body>, and set it to run Once.
  3. Save, publish, and check the live website.

Weebly and Square Online

  • Weebly: go to Settings → SEO, paste your code into Footer Code, then click Save.
  • Square Online: go to Settings → Tracking Tools, click Add new code, paste your code, place it at End of body, then save.

Publish your changes and check the live website.

Anything else

Paste the code once into the template every page shares, just before </body>. If your website uses Google Tag Manager, you can create a Custom HTML tag with the code instead, trigger it on All Pages, and publish the container.

If the chat button doesn’t appear

Publish first, then check your live website in a private window. Most builders only run added code on the published site, not in their editor.

  • Did you publish? This is the most common reason.
  • Are you on the right plan? Some builders quietly ignore added code on free plans.
  • Do you use a speed or caching plugin? Clear its cache. If the button only appears after you scroll or click, the plugin is delaying scripts; exclude the chatbot’s script from that setting.
  • Does your website have strict security settings? A Content-Security-Policy has to allow the chatbot. Pass the instructions to whoever set it up.

Not sure a chatbot is worth it?

You can see what Ernie would say on your own website before you add anything: try it with your website address. It reads your homepage and answers the way it would for your customers. If you like it, the 14-day free trial starts when Ernie goes live, not when you sign up.