Greetings
Prompting
There are 3 main goals you want to accomplish with your greeting:
- Welcome the user
- Set expectations
- Let the user take control
It’s easiest to understand this through examples.
Example 1 - Number Genie
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie1-do.png?authuser=4)
Do.
Welcome the user. Greet the user briefly, e.g., with a simple “Welcome” or “Hi”.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie1-dont.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
Don’t just jump right in. Say hello.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie1.1-dont.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
Users will perceive your Action’s persona as rude if you start by telling them what to do.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie2-do.png?authuser=4)
Do.
Set expectations. Build on real-world knowledge by tapping into users’ existing
mental model for how guessing games are played. “I’m thinking of a number…” does this
quickly and efficiently. No further explanation is needed.
Saying “first guess” sets the user’s expectations that this will be a back-and-forth
conversation that allows the user to continue refining their guess.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie2-dont.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
Don’t repeat your Action’s name—either the user or the Assistant has already said
“Number Genie” as part of the invocation.
Avoid explanations, especially of familiar concepts like how to play a guessing game.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie2.1-dont.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
Don’t overwhelm the user with lots of details upfront. They’ll discover how the game works as they start to play.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie3-do.png?authuser=4)
Do.
Let the user take control. Ask questions to let the user know it’s their turn to speak. Users should find it easy to respond to this narrow-focus question, by saying “a number from 1 to 100”.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie3-dont.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
If you don’t ask a question, users aren’t likely to respond. This will cause a No Input error.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-numbergenie3.1-dont.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
Don’t tell users what they can say. Instead, phrase your question in a way that encourages responses your Action can handle.
Example 2 - Google I/O 18
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-google-io-do.png?authuser=4)
Do.
Since the name “Google I/O 18” doesn’t really give a sense of what this Action can do, the persona needs to provide the mental model. The Action is described as a “launchpad” and the “Keeper of I/O-Specific Knowledge” is meant to evoke a game master and guide.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-google-io-dont1.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
Don’t make your users guess what your app can do. Without giving a few examples, this question has too wide a focus and is likely to put users on the spot and cause a “deer in the headlights” moment.
![](https://developers.google.cn/static/assistant/conversation-design/images/greetings-google-io-dont2.png?authuser=4)
Don't.
Don’t offer more than 3 options at a time. If your Action has more than 3, randomize which are offered or consider offering the 2 most popular options along with a third “more options” category.
Tapering
First time user
Speaker | User utterance/Spoken prompt |
---|---|
User | Hey Google, talk to Google I/O 18 |
Google Assistant | Alright, here's Google I/O 18. <earcon> |
I/O 18 | Welcome to your launchpad for all things Google I/O. As the Keeper of I/O-Specific Knowledge, consider me your guide. I can help you plan for I/O by telling you about when it's happening or how to watch remotely. I can also search for talks. So, what do you want to know? |
Repeat user
Speaker | User utterance/Spoken prompt |
---|---|
User | Hey Google, talk to Google I/O 18 |
Google Assistant | Alright, here's Google I/O 18. <earcon> |
I/O 18 | Welcome back. I can tell you more about I/O. For example, you might like to know about the keynotes, codelabs, or app reviews. I can also help you find sessions or office hours. So, what do you want to know? |
Repeat user
Speaker | User utterance/Spoken prompt |
---|---|
User | Hey Google, talk to Google I/O 18 |
Google Assistant | Alright, here's Google I/O 18. <earcon> |
I/O 18 | Hi again. I have all kinds of info on I/O, from codelabs and sandboxes to the keynotes and sessions. So, tell me what you want to know about. |