What Is a Bot and Why Do They Matter?

Fun fact alert! Do you know how you thought bots were some newfangled, futuristic invention? Well, think again!

Bots have been around since the days of bell bottoms and flower power. Yes, you heard me right, 1964, to be exact.

That's when an MIT professor named Joseph Weizenbaum decided to build a little chat bot called ELIZA, able to mimic human conversation. I know, mind-blowing, right?

So, next time you're talking to a bot, remember that they've been around longer than your parents (or grandparents) have!

More and more people are turning to bots, and that trend will only grow. But what is a bot? Bots are kind of a big deal.

They are now so pervasive that it's hard to go through a day without having an interaction with one. But many people are still unclear on what bots are, confusing them with robots, drones, and whatever else.

Let's examine bots and why they matter below.

What Is a Bot?

A bot, an abbreviation for 'robot,' is a software program that acts as an assistant for users or other programs. They can mimic human behavior on the internet.

A company or an individual can use a bot to do a repetitive job that a person would have to do otherwise. That is, they can operate without being told to by a person. Bots can do these tasks much faster than people can.

Tasks run by bots can range from simple tasks, like fetching information from a website to complex ones, like conducting online searches.

Okay, let's get real for a second and consider it. Sometimes it feels like bots are taking over the internet and our lives. It's like that robot uprising we always feared from all those sci-fi movies is finally happening!

All catastrophe scenarios aside, you can't scroll through social media without coming across a bot. Whether it's in a generated post or chatting with customer service.

So don't worry, they're not here to take over the world (at least not yet), bots are here to make our lives easier!

Types of Internet Bots

Bots, bots, everywhere! These little computer programs seem to take over the internet and our lives. So let's take a closer look at the various forms of internet bots to determine if they're as frightening as we believe before we start building bunkers and stockpiling canned goods.

Web Crawlers

First up, we have the web crawlers. These are the bots that search engines like Google use to index internet sites and collect information about the pages they visit. They are like the librarians of the internet, except they organize websites instead of books.

Without these little guys, we'd be lost in meaningless search results and cute cat videos. So, kudos to you, web crawlers, for keeping the internet somewhat organized.

Social Media Bots

Next, we have social media bots. These bots, often called opinion bots, influence how people interact on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many more.

For example, they can automatically post content and answer messages and comments. This can save time and money for businesses because they can schedule posts ahead of time and respond to customers right away.

The Chat bot

Then we have the chat bots that interact with users in a conversational manner, typically through messaging apps or websites. Virtual assistants like Alexa from Amazon, Siri from Apple, and Google Assistant are all recently developed chat bots.

They use natural language processing and machine learning to understand and respond to user input. They're like the Internet's version of your very own virtual assistant, always there to help you with your queries and complaints.

For example, one of the most common bots in customer service is where businesses respond to customer inquiries and provide assistance. This can be done through chat bots, which use natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to customer questions and requests.

Spam Bots

Next, we have the spam bots. These bots send spam messages, often through email or social media. They're like the Internet's version of a telemarketer, but they spam your mailbox instead of blowing up your phone.

They can also be used to spread malware or phishing scams. But hey, at least they're keeping our spam filters on their toes!

Gaming Bots

Let's not forget about the game bots. These are the bots that play games, such as chess or Go. They can be used for entertainment or for training other artificial intelligence systems.

They're like the Internet's version of a video game buddy, but they beat you at your own game. Some of them are so good that they can even beat humans!

Monitoring Bots

Then we have the monitoring bots. These bots monitor websites, social media, and other online platforms for specific organic keywords and information. They can be used for:

• Market research
• Competitor analysis
• Even political campaigning

These monitoring bots are like the Internet's version of a private investigator. However, they follow keywords rather than following and investigating people.

Shopping Bots

Bots can also be used for e-commerce. They can be used for:

• Price comparison
• Tracking prices and inventory
• Providing personalized recommendations to customers

This can improve the customer experience and increase sales for businesses. Your shopping assistant is always there to help you find the best deals and products!

In addition to the above specific use cases, you can use bots for various other tasks. For example, data collection and analysis, scheduling appointments, and even knowledge bots. Bots can do it all, and they do it well.

Why Are Bots Important to Your Small Business?

Chatbots are quickly becoming an integral part of small business success. Automated bots help free up resources and can provide customers with round-the-clock support - this means more time for businesses to focus on strategic planning or developing new ideas.

Bots also provide immediate responses, meaning customers don't have to wait for hours or days to get a response from customer service. This ensures better customer service and satisfaction, increasing the likelihood of recurring purchases, greater brand loyalty, and overall improved customer experience.

More than just providing support, chatbots can collect data and feedback from customers which provides valuable insights into what is working and what needs improvement. This allows small businesses to quickly identify problem areas and make changes in order to create a better user experience that stands out from competitors. 

Bots Are Here to Make Our Lives Easier!

We hope you now have a better understanding of what is a bot!

One of the main reasons why bots matter is because they can significantly improve efficiency and automation. They can take on repetitive tasks, freeing human workers to focus on more complex and creative tasks. This can lead to reduced costs for businesses and improved customer service.

Bots are here to make our lives easier and more efficient, and they're doing a pretty good job. So, let's move forward and welcome our new robot comrades.

Do you need your website to work for you? First, focus on your business, and let us keep your website running. Then, contact us for an appointment!

What Is a Bot and Why Do They Matter? Summary

• Bots have been around since 1964 when professor Joseph Weizenbaum created ELIZA.

• Bots are computer programs that act as assistants for people or other programs without being directed by a person.

• Bots can complete both simple and complex tasks, anything from fetching information from a website to conducting online searches.

• There are various types of internet bots, including web crawlers, social media bots, chat bots, spam bots, gaming bots, monitoring bots and shopping bots.