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Dottie training·7 min read

Getting started with Dottie: launch your first agent

A practical setup path: create your agent, add knowledge, set qualification rules, and go live on website chat — without a developer.

  • Dottie
  • onboarding
  • chat agent
Illustration of a laptop, phone, and AI agent headset for voice and chat

At a glance

Skim the essentials, then dig into the steps.

  • Create an agentName it, set tone, and define what “success” means.
  • Add knowledgeHours, services, FAQs, and policies the agent can cite.
  • Qualification rulesDecide which questions matter and when to hand off.
  • Go live on chatEmbed the widget, test as a stranger, then iterate.

Dottie is an agent builder: you configure voice and chat agents that answer from your knowledge, qualify leads, book appointments, and hand off to humans. This guide covers the shortest path from empty workspace to a live website agent.

1

Step 1

Create your workspace and first agent

  • Join early access / sign in and create your organisation if prompted
  • Create an agent with a clear name (e.g. “Front desk — main site”)
  • Set a short persona: who you are, tone (friendly, professional), and languages you support
  • Define what success looks like: book a call, capture a lead, answer FAQs, or triage emergencies
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Step 2

Teach the agent your business (knowledge)

Upload the documents you already use: services and pricing notes, opening hours, service areas, FAQs, cancellation policy, and “how we work” one-pagers. Prefer clear headings and short sections over one giant PDF dump.

On plans with knowledge sync, confirm documents are indexed before you rely on them in live chat. Starter setups can still use FAQs in agent config.

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Step 3

Qualification and handover rules

  • List the 3–5 questions that decide if a lead is worth your time (area, job type, timeline, budget band)
  • Decide when to escalate: angry customer, medical/legal edge cases, or “speak to a human”
  • Set notification paths so your team sees handovers quickly
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Step 4

Connect tools you actually use

Start minimal: website chat first. Then add calendar booking if you take appointments, CRM/webhook if you already run HubSpot/Pipedrive/n8n, and voice when you are ready for phone coverage. You do not need every integration on day one.

5

Step 5

Go live on the website

  • Embed the chat widget or use the hosted form link from the dashboard
  • Test as a stranger: ask about hours, a service you offer, and something you do not do
  • Check that answers cite your real policies and that lead capture works
  • Train staff on where conversations and leads appear
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Step 6

Iterate after the first week

Read transcripts. Add missing FAQs to the knowledge base. Tighten qualification where tyre-kickers slip through. Expand to voice or extra agents only once chat quality feels solid.

For deeper knowledge hygiene, see the companion guide on knowledge base best practices. For marketing channels that feed the agent (Maps, SEO, site conversion), explore the Marketing tips track in Business Academy.

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Build agents that answer from your knowledge, qualify leads, and book meetings — on voice.

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Getting started with Dottie: launch your first agent | Dottie Business Academy