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Notifications

When an agent sends a message to a visitor who does not have the chat window open, Knock Knock App displays a notification to get their attention. Notifications ensure your visitors never miss an important message.

Admin Message Notification​

When one of your agents sends a message while the visitor's chat is closed or minimized, a notification bubble appears near the widget.

The notification bubble shows:

  • Agent photo — the profile picture of the agent who sent the message
  • Agent name — so the visitor knows who is reaching out
  • "Online now" status — a green indicator confirming the agent is currently available
  • Message preview — a snippet of the message the agent sent

This gives the visitor enough context to decide whether they want to engage right now.

tip

Notifications with a real agent photo and name feel personal and are much more likely to get a response than generic "You have a new message" alerts.

Quick Replies​

Below the notification bubble, the visitor sees quick reply buttons that let them respond instantly without opening the full chat:

  • "Yes, I have a question!" — opens the chat and signals the visitor wants to engage
  • "Just browsing, thanks" — dismisses the notification politely

Quick replies lower the barrier to responding. A single tap is easier than opening the chat and typing a message, so more visitors engage.

Auto-Dismiss​

If the visitor does not interact with the notification, it automatically disappears after 8 seconds. This keeps the experience unobtrusive — the notification is visible long enough to be noticed but does not linger indefinitely.

note

After a notification auto-dismisses, the visitor can still find the message by opening the widget. The notification is a prompt, not the only way to see the message.

Unread Message Badge​

When there are unread messages from your team, the widget displays an unread message badge — a small numbered indicator on the widget icon. This badge:

  • Shows the count of unread messages
  • Remains visible until the visitor opens the chat and views the messages
  • Works across all widget types — whether you use a bubble, bar, mini, or any other style

The badge is a subtle but effective way to let visitors know there is something waiting for them.

How Notifications Relate to Other Features​

Notifications are triggered when agents send messages proactively. This can happen when:

  • An agent sees a visitor on the site and sends a greeting (via the dashboard)
  • The AI transfers a conversation to a human agent who sends a follow-up
  • An agent responds to a visitor who previously left a message while the team was offline

In all cases, the visitor sees the same notification experience described above.

warning

Sending too many proactive messages can feel intrusive. Encourage your team to be thoughtful about when they reach out — a well-timed message is helpful, but too many can push visitors away.

  • Live Chat — the chat experience when a visitor responds to a notification
  • Auto Triggers — automatic engagement prompts (different from agent-initiated notifications)
  • Offline Mode — what happens when your team is not available
  • Widget Types — how the unread badge looks on different widget styles