Persistent buttons are now back for users in the EEA (European Economic Area) region. This means that we can now have buttons on desktop that persist and don't disappear, allowing users to click through to different parts of the chatbot flow or external links.

This is a significant rollback of the restrictions that were put in place in December 2020. Having persistent buttons is crucial for creating engaging and interactive chatbot experiences, so this change is very welcome news for chat marketers in the affected areas.

Some key points about the return of persistent buttons:

• They started rolling out on February 3rd, so the functionality should be restored for most users in the EEA by now.
• Persistent buttons allow you to create card-style layouts with clickable buttons, rather than relying solely on quick replies.
• This gives you more flexibility in how you structure your chatbot flows and guide users through your content and offers.
• Make sure to leverage this restored functionality to optimize your chatbot experiences and improve user engagement.

Overall, the return of persistent buttons is a major win for chat marketing in the EEA region. It's a sign that Facebook is rolling back some of the restrictive changes, which should make it easier for businesses to utilize messenger bots effectively again.

The key points covered in this section are:

• Persistent buttons are coming back on February 3rd. This means we can now have buttons on desktop that link to different parts of the flow or outside the bot.

• Sending and receiving images, media, and PDFs will be restored in the first quarter. This is important for delivering lead magnets and offers through the bot.

• Persistent menus (the 3-line menu at the bottom) are also being rolled back in the first quarter. This allows users to always access key actions like help, unsubscribe, etc.

• The chat plugin "guest mode" upgrade is being restored, allowing users to log in and provide their information rather than just being anonymous guests.

• Send to Messenger buttons on websites and blogs will also be functional again in the first quarter rollback.

The overall theme is that many of the core functionality and features that were removed due to the EEA restrictions are now being restored, which will be a huge relief for chat marketers in the affected regions. The rollout may happen at different times, but the first quarter should see a significant improvement in capabilities.

First quarter rollbacks:

• Persistent buttons are back as of February 3rd
• Sending and receiving images/media (including PDFs) will be restored
• Persistent menus are coming back
• Chat plugin guest mode upgrades will be available

Second quarter rollbacks (Q2 - April to June):

• Message analytics and statistics will be accurately presented in the flow builder
• Growth tool automations will trigger the right automation instead of just opening the broad chat
• One-time notifications (OTNs) will function normally again
• Typing indicators will return
• Live chat persona (agent faces/names) will be visible

These rollbacks are being gradually implemented, so the exact timing may vary. However, we can expect to see most of these features restored by the end of Q2 2023.

The return of these key functionalities is exciting news for chat marketers in the EEA region. It will allow us to rebuild effective messenger experiences for our subscribers and customers. While we don't have an exact timeline, the progress is promising, and we should see a lot of these rollbacks in the next few months.

As we wrap up, I want to reiterate how exciting these rollbacks are for those of us in the EEA affected areas. After facing so many restrictions, it's great to see Facebook and Messenger bringing back crucial features like persistent buttons, image/media sharing, and one-time notifications.

The rollouts will happen gradually over the next two quarters, so keep an eye out for updates. In the meantime, make sure to test out the functionality as it becomes available to you.

I'm particularly pumped about the return of send-to-Messenger buttons and growth tool automations. These will make it so much easier to drive people into our bots and nurture them effectively.

Remember, if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to chat about chat marketing strategies and compliance. And don't forget to check out the links in the show notes for more resources.

Here's to rekindling the love for Messenger marketing! Wishing you all the best as you navigate these changes.