How it works
Once connected, your chatbot integrates seamlessly with Slack:Direct messages
Responds to private DMs for one-on-one support
Channel mentions
Answers when mentioned in any channel
Context awareness
Maintains conversation history across messages
Dashboard sync
All conversations sync to your SiteGPT dashboard
Prerequisites
A Slack workspace where you can install and manage apps
Workspace admin or owner permissions to create custom apps
A trained SiteGPT chatbot ready to deploy
Setup
1
Open the Slack integration in SiteGPT
Navigate to Integrations in your SiteGPT dashboard, locate the Slack card, and click Get Started. A modal titled “Connecting Slack to SiteGPT” will appear.
2
Copy the Slack app manifest
Inside the integration modal, you’ll see a Manifest section containing JSON configuration. Click the copy icon to copy the entire manifest to your clipboard.
This manifest defines your Slack app’s features including bot user, OAuth scopes, and event subscriptions.
3
Create a Slack app from the manifest
Visit api.slack.com/apps and click Create New App → From an app manifest.Select your Slack workspace, paste the JSON manifest, and click Next → Create.
Slack automatically configures all required permissions and settings from the manifest.
4
Install the app and get the Bot User OAuth token
On the app’s Basic Information page, click Install to Workspace → Allow.Navigate to OAuth & Permissions in the left menu and copy the Bot User OAuth Token (starts with 
xoxb-).Store this token securely—you’ll need it to connect SiteGPT.
5
Find your Slack channel ID
Get the channel ID using either method:
- From URL
- From channel details
Open the channel in Slack’s web client. The URL contains 
/archives/C... where the string after /archives/ is your channel ID.6
Connect in SiteGPT
Return to the SiteGPT integration modal and enter:
- Bot User OAuth Token (from step 4)
- Channel ID (from step 5)
7
Test your integration
Open your Slack channel and send a test message. Your SiteGPT bot should respond with a welcome message and answer questions from your knowledge base.
Responses appear in threads with source citations for transparency.
Using your chatbot in Slack
- Direct messages
- Channel mentions
- Adding to channels
Users can send private DMs to your chatbot:
- Find your chatbot in the Slack sidebar under Apps
- Click to open a direct message
- Type your question and press Enter
- Get instant AI-powered answers
Perfect for sensitive questions or personal support requests.
How the bot behaves
Your bot automatically:- Responds in threads to keep channels organized
- Includes source citations for transparency
- Maintains conversation history within threads
- Works in any channel where it’s invited (use /invite @YourBotName)
- Only accesses messages where it’s mentioned or DM’d
The Channel ID in SiteGPT settings determines the primary channel for system notifications.
Managing the integration
- Monitor performance
- Update your bot
- Disconnect
Track your Slack bot’s performance in the SiteGPT dashboard:Navigate to Chat History to:
- Review conversation transcripts
- Analyze response accuracy
- Identify knowledge gaps
- Export conversation data
- Track usage metrics
Use conversation insights to improve your chatbot’s training data.
Advanced features
Human escalation
Human escalation
Enable seamless handoff to human agents:
- Configure human support in SiteGPT
- Users can request human assistance during conversations
- Escalated conversations appear in your SiteGPT dashboard
- Respond via email or your preferred support channel
Combine with Zapier to create support tickets automatically.
Lead collection
Lead collection
Capture leads directly in Slack conversations:
- Enable lead collection in SiteGPT
- Configure trigger keywords (e.g., “pricing”, “demo”, “consultation”)
- Bot collects contact information when users show interest
- Leads sync to your SiteGPT dashboard
Webhooks
Webhooks
Receive real-time notifications for Slack conversations:Set up webhooks to:
- Log conversations to your database
- Trigger custom workflows
- Send notifications to other systems
- Analyze chatbot performance
Required OAuth scopes
Required OAuth scopes
The app manifest includes these OAuth scopes:Bot scopes:
- app_mentions:read- Read mentions
- channels:read- View public channels
- chat:write- Send messages
- incoming-webhook- Post messages to channels
- im:history- Read direct messages
- channels:history- Read channel messages
- groups:history- Read private channel messages
Troubleshooting
Bot not responding
Bot not responding
If your chatbot isn’t responding in Slack:Check bot invitation:
- Ensure the bot is invited to the channel (/invite @YourBotName)
- Verify you’re using the correct Channel ID in SiteGPT
- Confirm the integration shows as connected in SiteGPT
- Check that the Bot User OAuth Token is still valid
- Ensure your chatbot has trained content
- Verify the webhook URL in your Slack app manifest is correct
- Check for any error messages in the Slack API console
Try disconnecting and reconnecting the integration if issues persist.
Permission errors during installation
Permission errors during installation
You need workspace owner or admin privileges to install custom Slack apps.Solutions:
- Request admin access from your workspace owner
- Ask an admin to install the app for you
- Use a different workspace where you have admin rights
Delayed or missing responses
Delayed or missing responses
If responses are slow or don’t appear:
- Wait 5-10 seconds—the bot may still be processing
- Check your SiteGPT dashboard for any service issues
- Verify your chatbot has sufficient training data to answer the question
- Test with a simple question to confirm the connection works
Responses appear in threads, so check the thread view if you don’t see a reply in the main channel.
Bot responds in wrong channel
Bot responds in wrong channel
The Channel ID in SiteGPT determines where system notifications are sent, but the bot responds wherever it’s mentioned or DM’d.To change the primary notification channel:
- Get the new channel ID
- Update it in the SiteGPT integration settings
- Click Connect to save changes
Best practices
Set clear expectations
Set clear expectations
Help users understand what your bot can do:
- Add a welcome message explaining the bot’s capabilities
- Pin a message in channels describing how to use the bot
- Include example questions in your Slack app home
- Set up conversation starters for common queries
“Hi! I’m the SiteGPT support bot. Ask me anything about our products, pricing, or documentation. Mention me with @BotName or send me a DM!”
Monitor and improve
Monitor and improve
Regularly review conversations to enhance performance:
- Check Chat History weekly for common questions
- Add frequently asked questions to your training data
- Identify topics where the bot struggles
- Update chatbot instructions based on user feedback
Export conversation data to analyze trends and identify knowledge gaps.
Strategic channel placement
Strategic channel placement
Add your bot to channels where it provides the most value:
- #support - Primary customer support channel
- #general - Company-wide announcements and questions
- #sales - Lead qualification and product questions
- #onboarding - New employee questions
Enable human escalation
Enable human escalation
Provide a safety net for complex questions:
- Enable human support in SiteGPT
- Configure escalation triggers (keywords, low confidence, user request)
- Set up email notifications for your support team
- Use Zapier to create support tickets automatically
Maintain security
Maintain security
Protect your Slack integration:
- Store the Bot User OAuth Token securely (use environment variables)
- Regularly review OAuth scopes and remove unused permissions
- Monitor the Slack API console for suspicious activity
- Rotate tokens periodically for enhanced security
- Only grant workspace access to trusted team members