--- title: "Conversation Setup - Auto-Respond Docs" description: "Choose how the first reply is generated - AI assistant or predefined messages - and whether a delay is added before sending" source: https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/ --- ![Conversation Setup documentation guide](https://auto-respond.com/assets/docs/messaging-settings-conversation-setup.svg "Conversation Setup Documentation") A visual guide to the Conversation Setup documentation, covering the setup, configuration, and workflow details explained on this page. Documentation illustration for Conversation Setup. # Conversation Setup The Conversation Setup tab controls the **first reply** every lead gets and, depending on the mode, may also control a full back-and-forth conversation before the follow-up sequence begins. ## Getting here In Auto-Respond, go to **Sources** → select a source → **Messaging Settings** → **Conversation Setup** tab. ## Two channels: primary and SMS Conversation Setup has two panels, each configured independently: - The **primary channel** panel - named after the source (e.g. **Yelp**, **Thumbtack**) - controls replies on the platform the lead came in on. Everything below (the mode toggle, AI Assistant, Predefined Messages, delay) applies to this channel. - The **SMS** panel - an optional two-way **text-message** conversation on a number Auto-Respond provides, with its own welcome, AI, and follow-ups, and a one-time registration. See [SMS Messaging](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/sms-messaging/). Each channel picks its own mode - the primary channel can run AI while SMS runs predefined, or any combination. ## The mode toggle At the top of the tab you’ll see two buttons: - **Predefined Messages** (default) - **AI Assistant** These two modes are mutually exclusive - pick one. Switching changes which configuration appears below. ### Predefined Messages You write a list of messages ahead of time. Each message has a set of trigger keywords; when a lead’s incoming message matches, that message is sent as the welcome. The last message in the list is a catch-all that covers anything that doesn’t match a specific keyword. Best when you want complete control over the exact wording customers see and your inquiries fall into predictable patterns. [Configure Predefined Messages →](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/predefined-messages/) ### AI Assistant An AI writes the welcome reply (and, optionally, continues the conversation for several messages). You give it a business description, pricing information, and what services you don’t offer - it uses those to respond in a way tailored to each lead’s specific question. Best when every lead’s question is a little different and you want the reply to actually address what they asked. [Configure AI Assistant →](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/ai-assistant/) ## Welcome Message Delay (available in both modes) Regardless of which mode you pick, you can add a small delay before the welcome message is sent. - **Label:** “Delay sending the welcome message” (checkbox), with a delay-length input that appears when the checkbox is on. - **Default:** off (welcome is sent instantly). - **When on:** the welcome is held for the specified number of minutes before being sent. Range: **1–30 minutes** (whole numbers only). - **When off:** the welcome is sent as soon as the lead’s inquiry is received. - **Use this when:** you want the reply to feel a little more human (“just saw your message”) rather than landing the instant the lead hits send. [Configure Welcome Message Delay →](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/delay/) ## Sub-pages ### [AI Assistant](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/ai-assistant/) [Every option on the AI Assistant configuration](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/ai-assistant/) ### [Predefined Messages](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/predefined-messages/) [Keyword-triggered messages and the catch-all](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/predefined-messages/) ### [Welcome Message Delay](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/delay/) [Hold the welcome for 1–30 minutes](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/delay/) ### [AI Knowledge Base](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/ai-knowledge-base/) [Upload reference files the AI can draw on](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/ai-knowledge-base/) ### [Appointment Scheduling](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/appointment-scheduling/) [Let the AI book appointments via Cal.com, FieldPulse, GoHighLevel, HousecallPro, Quickbase, or Open Schedule](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/appointment-scheduling/) ### [SMS Messaging](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/sms-messaging/) [Two-way text conversations with leads - own welcome, AI, follow-ups, and a one-time registration](https://auto-respond.com/docs/messaging-settings/conversation-setup/sms-messaging/) ℹ️ Switching mode doesn’t delete the other mode’s configuration - your Predefined Messages list stays saved if you try AI Assistant, and vice versa. *** Questions? Email . Last updated: April 21, 2026