How to Configure Proactive Chat Invitations
This guide shows you how to create and manage chat invitations in Velaro.
Invitations are proactive messages that appear on your website to encourage a visitor to start a chat. You control the design, placement, and conditions for when each invitation displays. Invitations can appear as a bubble, inline element, or pop-over, depending on how you want to present them.
Invitations rely on two layers of logic:
1. Workflow Rules (System-Level Logic)
Workflow Rules are created in the Rule Builder. They define the broader, site-level conditions under which invitations are allowed to run. These rules often include routing logic, page conditions, or checks such as “Invite has been sent is false.”
For more information, see the Workflow Rule Builder article.
2. Invitation Rules (Invitation-Level Logic)
Invitation Rules are configured inside each individual invitation. Once Workflow Rules allow invitations to run, these rules determine when that specific invitation should appear. Examples include time on page, agent availability, or display timing.
In short:
Workflow Rules decide when the system should allow invitations to run.
Invitation Rules decide when this specific invitation should appear.
You can create and manage invitations in:
Account Setup → Design → Invitations
Invitations fire based on the order shown in the list. Items at the top fire first. Drag an item by the handle next to its name to adjust the priority order.
Invitation Settings
These settings determine how your invitation behaves. You’ll configure them inside the invitation editor.
| Setting | Description |
| Invitation Name | The name displayed in your list of invitations. |
| Description | A description of the invitation, for internal use, to provide more detail. |
| Manual Invitation | Unchecked (default): Invitation is automatic and follows the rules you configure inside the invitation’s Rule Builder. Checked: Invitation becomes manual and must be sent by an agent from Visitor Monitoring (list or map view). When checked, the Rule Builder is disabled. This is an Enterprise feature. |
| Create rules to display | The Rule Builder interface inside the invitation. These rules control when this specific invitation appears. Common rules: • Chat is Available = True - The invitation only appears when the agents are online • Time on Page = X seconds - Chose to delay the launch so it isn't instantaneous with the page load |
| Style of invitation | Select one of the display formats: • Inline Chat: Appears in the inline chat position, replacing the chat launcher. • Inline Image • Pop-over: Invitations can appear anywhere on the screen and can be set up to float across the screen |
| Content Type: Inline Chat | Launches the chat window when triggered. |
| Content Type: Inline Image | Uses an uploaded image instead of the chat window. |
| Message | Text shown to the visitor inside the inline chat window when it opens. |
| Max Fires | The number of times this invitation may load in a visitor’s session. |
| Upload a custom image | Image displayed in place of the chat launcher. |
| Seconds to Display | Duration (in seconds) that the image stays visible. |
| Redirect Visitor to group | Routes the visitor to a different group when they accept the invitation. Useful when the page normally routes elsewhere. |
| Allow during chat | Allows the invitation to appear even if a chat is already active. |
| Floats onto screen | Moves the image across the screen from one position to another. |
| HTML Editor | Allows you to modify the HTML for Pop-over invitations, including layout and the position of the close (X) button. Recommended starting template: html<br><div id="velaro-invitation-name"><br> <div id="velaro-content"><br> </div><br><br> {Chat}<br> <img src="REPLACE WITH IMAGE URL" />{EndChat} {Close}<br><br> <p style="position: absolute; top:0px; left:250px;"><br> <img src="REPLACE WITH URL FOR X OR CLOSE" />{EndClose}<br> </p><br></div><br> |
| CSS Editor | Allows you to style Pop-over invitations using CSS. |
Invitation Types
Inline Invitations
Inline invitations appear in the same location as your inline chat launcher. They replace the launcher with either the chat window or a custom image, depending on the option you choose.
You have two options for inline invitations:
- Use the chat window as the invitation and add a message to it.
- Upload your own invitation image.
Sample Inline Invitation:
Bubble Invitations
Bubble invitations replace the inline chat launcher with a small icon and short message. They offer a lightweight, unobtrusive way to prompt the visitor to start a chat.
The image used for the bubble matches the minimized inline chat launcher image configured in:
Design → Chat Designer → Launcher
Sample Bubble Invitation:
Pop-Over Invitations
Pop-over invitations can be used to show an invitation anywhere on the page, or to float an invitation across the page. This style does require some HTML and offers the ability to use CSS styling.
Summary
Invitations let you present proactive chat prompts in different formats such as Inline, Bubble, and Pop-Over to help you guide visitors into a conversation at the right moment. You control the content, appearance, and behavior of each invitation through the settings in the invitation editor.
Related Articles → Workflow Rule Builder
Visitor Monitoring → Sending Manual Invitations
Chat Designer → Launcher Module