Adding and Editing Clients

What you'll learn

• How to add a new client from the Clients page
• How to create a client inline when starting a conversation
• How to edit an existing client's information
• How automatic client creation works from messaging channels

You can add clients to your database in several ways: manually from the client list, inline when creating a conversation, or let AutoTalk create them automatically when someone messages you through a connected channel.

Adding a client from the Clients page

1. Click Clients in the sidebar menu.
2. Click the "Add new clients" button at the top of the page.
3. Fill in the client details:
   • Name — The client's full name
   • Phone number — Their primary phone number, including the international country code (for example, +55 for Brazil)
   • Email — Their email address (optional)
4. Add any additional information such as tags, categories, or custom attributes.
5. Save the client record.

The new client appears in your Clients list immediately and is ready to be assigned to events or conversations.

Creating a client inline from a conversation

When you are about to start a new conversation and the person is not yet in your database:

1. Open the conversation creation dialog.
2. Click the + button to add a new client.
3. Enter the client's basic details (name, phone number).
4. The client is created and automatically selected for the new conversation.

This inline method is faster when you need to message someone right away without leaving the conversation flow to visit the Clients page separately.

Editing an existing client

1. Go to Clients in the sidebar.
2. Find the client you want to edit. Use the Filter button or scroll through the list.
3. Click on the client's name or row to open their profile.
4. Update any fields: name, phone number, email, tags, custom attributes, or notes.
5. Save your changes.

All changes take effect immediately. Updated information is reflected across the platform -- in the calendar, in conversations, and in any reports that reference the client.

Automatic client creation from messaging channels

When a message arrives from a new contact through a connected channel (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, etc.), AutoTalk automatically creates a client record using:

• The contact's display name from the messaging platform
• Their phone number (for WhatsApp and SMS) or social profile ID (for Instagram, Facebook, etc.)

These auto-created profiles contain only the basic information that the messaging platform provides. You can enrich them later by adding additional details such as email, tags, and custom attributes.

Bulk updates

If you need to update multiple clients at once (for example, adding a tag to a group of clients or changing a shared attribute), use the Bulk Update button at the top of the Clients page. Select the clients you want to update, choose the field to change, and apply the update to all selected records at once.

tip

When adding phone numbers, always include the international country code. AutoTalk uses these codes to route messages correctly through WhatsApp and SMS. For example, a Brazilian number should be entered as +55 followed by the area code and number.

Contact Information Fields

Each client profile in AutoTalk stores detailed contact information. These fields are used for messaging, notifications, appointment reminders, and general communication across all connected channels.

Standard contact fields

Field	Description	Example
Name	The client's display name as shown throughout AutoTalk	Maria Silva
Phone number	Primary phone number with international country code	+55 11 98765-4321
Email	Email address for notifications and direct communication	maria@example.com
Address	Physical address including street, city, state, and postal code	Rua Example 123, Sao Paulo, SP

Phone numbers and messaging channels

Phone numbers are a critical piece of client data because they are the primary identifier for WhatsApp and SMS communication. When entering a phone number:

• Always include the international country code -- For example, +55 for Brazil, +1 for the United States, +351 for Portugal.
• AutoTalk uses the country code to route messages through the correct channel.
• If a client contacts you through WhatsApp, their phone number is automatically captured and stored with the correct country code.
• A single client can have multiple phone numbers associated with their profile if they use different numbers on different channels.

A client's contact information links directly to their messaging channels:

• WhatsApp -- Matched by phone number. When a client sends a WhatsApp message, AutoTalk identifies them by their phone number and connects the conversation to the correct client record.
• Instagram and Facebook -- Matched by social profile ID. The client's social account is linked to their AutoTalk profile automatically when they first message you.
• SMS -- Matched by phone number, similar to WhatsApp.
• Email -- If configured, used for sending appointment confirmations, reminders, and follow-up messages.

Automatic contact information from messaging platforms

When a client contacts you through a connected channel for the first time, AutoTalk pulls available information from the platform:

• Display name from the messaging service becomes the client's name
• Phone number is captured from WhatsApp or SMS
• Profile picture may be imported where available

You can manually update or enrich this information at any time. If you correct a client's name and do not want it overwritten the next time the messaging platform sends an update, enable the Disable name update option on the client's profile.

tip

Keep contact information accurate and up to date. Incorrect phone numbers mean messages will not reach your client, and outdated email addresses result in missed appointment reminders. Take a moment to verify contact details whenever you interact with a client, especially if they were auto-created from a messaging channel.

Next steps

• Clients overview -- Learn more about client management