
How to set up a Facebook inbox in Front
Overview
Front's Facebook inbox feature supports Facebook Pages, which are different from personal timelines. Once you create an inbox for your Facebook page, you will be able to manage direct messages, as well as posts and comments directly from Front.
Note: Due to a limitation on the Facebook API, replies are limited to 2000 characters.
If you don't have a Facebook Page yet, but want to create one, follow these instructions.
Instructions
Step 1
Click the gear icon on the top right of Front and into the Company or Personal settings tab, depending on which space you are working with. Admins can also access user settings by following these steps.
Step 2
Click on Inboxes on the left menu and Add an individual inbox or Add a team inbox, depending on which space you're in.
Step 3
Fill out the name and description of your inbox. Click Create.
Step 4
Choose Facebook from the channel menu.
Step 5
Click Connect to Facebook, and sign into Facebook if prompted.
Step 6
When you first link Front to Facebook, you'll be asked to choose which Facebook page(s) you'd like to give Front permission to access. If you are using Front to manage multiple Facebook pages across multiple Facebook channels, make sure you do not remove access to other pages you have previously authorized. Click Next and make sure all permissions are toggled on, then click Done.
Step 7
After completing the Facebook authorization flow, choose which Facebook page will be associated with the Front inbox you're creating, and whether to import just direct messages or direct messages and page comments.
Step 8
Select who on your team has access to this inbox, and click Create inbox.
How it works
Direct messages
- Once the channel is connected, any direct messages sent to your Page will be automatically imported to Front, but no historical messages will be imported
- Direct messages with the same person will thread into one conversation in Front
- Imported messages can include emojis, attachments, stickers, and gifs
- Replies can be sent from Front up to 7 days after receiving the message. Due to a limitation of Facebook's API, after 7 days the messages can no longer be replied to.
- Messages can be sent with emojis and attachments.
Posts and comments
- If you selected the option when setting up the channel, a message will automatically be imported into Front when a user creates a Post on your businesses' page, or a user creates a top-level comment on a post on your businesses' page
- If multiple top-level comments are made on a single Facebook post, a separate conversation will be created in Front for each top-level comment
- Replies from Front to these kind of messages will appear as comments in Facebook that @ mention the recipient
- Replies can include emojis, as well as image and video attachments
- "Liking" posts and comments isn't currently supported
Message Expiration after 7 days
Facebook channels connected to a page through Front may send a reply to a recipient if that person has sent a message within the last 7 days.
If you don't respond to the message within 7 days, the messages will still show in Front, but if you do attempt to send a reply to it in Front, you'll get a draft error. You can, however, still reply to them in Facebook directly.
To learn more, you can read an in-depth guide published by Facebook here.
FAQ
Can I start a Messenger conversation from Front?
No, you cannot initiate a Facebook Messenger conversation from Front, as Facebook Messenger itself does not allow you to. The customer must message you first and you will be able to reply from Front.
Can I use an auto-reply rule with the Facebook channel?
Yes, but only in reply to direct messages. Auto-replies will not succeed when in reply to posts and comments. For this reason, we recommend that when configuring an auto-reply rule, you filter for DMs by checking for a subject that contains the text "Facebook conversation with".
Pricing
This feature is available on all plans.
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Hello Please email us so we can look in to your account.
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Hello Team. I would like to know, if we can connect Facebook public post to FrontAPP (along with Facebook ads). As per now, our Tool is set to receive Twitter (DM and Public) and Facebook Messenger post.
Can you let me know if this is possible, and if there will be any different of the user right setting?
Regards,
Michele Ghielmetti
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My team has been using this feature for a few years and suddenly as of Monday this week, it does not work. New messages show up, but attempts to reply to any message from Facebook give the error "Front cannot access your Facebook page anymore." We have not changed any passwords on Facebook this week. How do I re-connect our Facebook page?
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Jason Dugdale I have been going back and forth for 4 days with Front's support team through the in-app chat; I am unable to get more than one step ahead per day and this is untenable—we are missing messages and are about to start a big sale this week so it is imperative that we be able to respond. Is there an email I can use to reach the support team more efficiently?
I was told that support staff is seeing the error "Got status: 404 (#803) Some of the aliases you requested do not exist..." At this point I have (as instructed) removed the channel for my Facebook page, but cannot figure out how to reconnect it or re-add the channel. Is there documentation on your site anywhere about how to do this? Is there a number I can call? This is very frustrating.
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Diego Fernandes Since we are posting on a public forum, for security purposes we're unable to release private information about customer's accounts. We want to ensure your private information is protected. We are always happy to reply with information that is helpful to general users but otherwise, we always move to email to assist with issues specific to a customer's Front account. If you do not have access to your own email, is it possible for one of the other Front admins on your account to email us on your behalf? This way we can pull up the correct account to assist with the issue you're experiencing and help provide a resolution. Thanks for your understanding!