> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sitegpt.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Instructions and personas

> Control how your chatbot behaves and sounds.

Two settings shape your chatbot's voice:

* **Instructions** tell the chatbot how to behave: what to emphasize, what to
  avoid, how to handle situations.
* **Personas** set the overall tone. Pick one of the built-in personas or let
  your instructions do the work.

## Write instructions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Chatbot Instructions">
    In your chatbot's sidebar under **Customizations**, open
    **Chatbot Instructions**, then **Add New Instructions**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Give it a title and the instructions">
    The **Title** is for your reference. The **Instructions** field is what
    the chatbot follows. Be concrete:

    ```text theme={null}
    You are the support assistant for Acme.
    Always answer in the language the visitor writes in.
    If a question is about billing amounts or refunds, do not guess.
    Point the visitor to the pricing page or offer to connect them
    to the team.
    Never mention competitors.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the Creativity Level">
    The **Creativity Level** slider controls how freely the chatbot phrases
    answers. Keep it low for support bots that must stick to the facts;
    raise it for marketing-style conversation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    The new instructions take effect on new conversations right away.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Instructions are for behavior, not knowledge. Facts belong in your
  [content](/docs/content/overview) or a [custom response](/docs/features/custom-responses).
  An instruction like "our support hours are 9 to 5" will work worse than
  putting those hours in a text snippet.
</Tip>

## Choose a persona

Open **Chatbot Persona** under **Customizations** and select one:

Default, Default (Classic), Neutral, Professional / Formal, Informative,
Engaging, Inspirational, Playful / Funny, Sales Expert, Consultant,
Problem Solver, and Urgent & Action-Oriented.

Built-in personas cannot be edited or deleted. If none fits, select
**Add New Persona** to write your own, or refine the closest built-in with
instructions; instructions always apply on top of the persona.

## Which to use when

| You want to...                                     | Use                                                              |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Change the overall tone                            | Persona                                                          |
| Enforce rules ("never discuss X", "always link Y") | Instructions                                                     |
| Change how factual questions are answered          | Instructions plus [custom responses](/docs/features/custom-responses) |
| Change the model or answer length behavior         | [Model & behavior settings](/docs/customize/model-and-behavior)       |