How to Send WhatsApp Broadcast Messages
WhatsApp broadcasts let you send a single message to thousands of opted-in customers at once. Each receiving it as a private 1-on-1 message, not a group chat. With 98% open rates, broadcast messages dramatically outperform email and SMS for promotions, updates, and re-engagement campaigns.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Build and segment your contact list
Import your contacts into your BSP platform and organize them into segments based on behavior, purchase history, or demographics. Targeted broadcasts get 3-5x higher engagement than mass blasts. Make sure every contact has given explicit opt-in consent for WhatsApp messages, broadcasting to non-opted-in users risks account suspension.
- 2
Select or create an approved template
Choose a pre-approved Marketing template for your broadcast. If you don't have one that fits, create a new template and submit it for approval (allow 1-24 hours). Personalize the template with variables for the recipient's name, order details, or any segment-specific content to make each message feel individual.
- 3
Configure broadcast settings
Set your broadcast timing. Uavoid sending outside business hours in the recipient's timezone. Choose your sending speed (gradual sending protects your quality rating) and set up a response handler for replies. Many customers will respond to broadcasts, so make sure you have agents or a chatbot ready to handle incoming messages.
- 4
Test with a small group first
Before sending to your full list, test the broadcast with 50-100 internal team members or loyal customers. Check that variables populate correctly, links work, images render properly, and the message looks good across different devices and WhatsApp versions. Fix any issues before scaling up.
- 5
Send and analyze results
Launch your broadcast and monitor delivery rates, read rates, and reply rates in real-time. Track which links get clicked and which segments perform best. Use these insights to optimize future campaigns, doubling down on high-performing segments and refining messaging for underperforming ones.
Pro Tips
- Segment your audience and send different messages to different groups. A single broadcast to your entire list almost always underperforms targeted campaigns.
- Schedule broadcasts for Tuesday through Thursday, mid-morning (10-11 AM local time) for the highest open and response rates.
- Keep broadcasts to 2-4 per month per customer. Over-messaging is the fastest way to get blocked and damage your quality rating.
- Always include a clear call-to-action: reply with a keyword, tap a button, or click a link. Messages without CTAs get 60% fewer responses.
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