How to send bulk messages on WhatsApp

Businesses can choose from either a free or paid WhatsApp solution to send bulk WhatsApp messages: the free WhatsApp Business App and the paid WhatsApp Cloud API. 

WhatsApp Business is a free version of the popular app, designed for small businesses to communicate with their customers, and it has specific tools for this purpose. However, this version has limitations, that’s why it is recommended only for small businesses.

For medium and large companies that receive a high volume of messages per day, there’s a need for more advanced features. For this reason, WhatsApp introduced WhatsApp Cloud API: a special service that businesses can use to make WhatsApp work better for them, including efficient management of customer messages and automation of tasks.

What is WhatsApp mass message?

WhatsApp mass messages, also known as WhatsApp bulk messages, are marketing campaigns that businesses now use to send the same message to a big group of customers or clients.

Imagine you have something important to say, like sharing a big sale happening at your store or announcing a new product launch. Instead of sending the same message to each person individually, you can use WhatsApp bulk messages.

Sending bulk messages on WhatsApp allows you to send the same message to a lot of people all at once. It's like sending a single message that gets delivered to many people's phones at the same time.

WhatsApp mass message campaigns offer several benefits that make them an appealing avenue for businesses to engage with their audience. These include:

• Direct and personalized communication: WhatsApp allows businesses to engage with customers directly and on a personal level, fostering a sense of connection.

• High engagement rates: WhatsApp messages generally have a higher open rate of up to  98% and better response rates compared to traditional email marketing with only 21.3%.

• Rich media sharing: Businesses can share a variety of content formats, including images, videos, and documents. 

• Immediate communication: WhatsApp messages are delivered instantly, making them suitable for time-sensitive promotions or announcements.

• Opt-in model: Users must consent to receive messages, ensuring that businesses communicate with an interested audience that becomes high-quality leads.

Find out how to successfully request consent from your customers to prevent your account from getting blocked by uninterested customers.

Quick tips for sending WhatsApp bulk messages

Sending broadcast messages for your bulk WhatsApp marketing is an effective way to save costs and time. 

Here are some tips on how to send bulk messages on WhatsApp:

1. Segment your audience: Divide your audience into relevant segments based on demographics, interests, or past interactions. This helps you send more targeted and personalized messages.

2. Avoid spammy content: Craft messages that are valuable, relevant, and not overly promotional. Avoid using excessive emojis, excessive capitalization, or misleading information.

3. Obtain consent: Ensure you have the necessary permission from recipients to send them messages, especially if you're sending promotional content.

4. Timing matters: Send messages at appropriate times to increase the chances of engagement. Avoid sending messages during late hours or times when people are less likely to be active.

5. Monitor engagement: Keep an eye on how recipients are interacting with your messages. If you notice a low engagement rate, it might be a sign that your content needs improvement.

6. Provide opt-out option: Always give recipients the option to opt out of receiving future messages. This helps maintain a positive reputation and avoids frustrating users.

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7 Tips for create the right WhatsApp message templates

Here are some tips to create an engaging WhatsApp message templates that can capture attention and drive action:

1. Keep it concise and clear

WhatsApp messages have limited space, so make sure your message is to the point. Avoid long paragraphs and ensure your call-to-action (CTA) is visible.

Example: "Hey [Name], check out our latest offers! Click here to explore: [link]"

2. Use a friendly tone

WhatsApp is an informal platform, so use a conversational tone to make your messages feel more personal and approachable.

Example: "Hi [Name]! We’ve got something exciting for you. Tap here to see what’s new!"

3. Personalize with variables

Adding a personal touch, like the recipient’s name or purchase history, makes the message feel more relevant and increases engagement.

Example: "Hi [Name], we noticed you liked our [product]. Here’s a special discount just for you!"

4. Include a clear CTA

Always include a clear CTA, whether it’s to browse a product, sign up, or contact you. Make sure the CTA is easy to find.

Example: "Click here to get your discount now: [link]"

5. Segment your audience

Segment your audience based on their preferences, past interactions, or purchase history, and tailor your message templates accordingly.

Example: "Hello [Name], as a loyal customer, enjoy free shipping on your next purchase!"

Explore how market segmentation can benefit your business in our latest blog.

6. Provide Value

Offer tips, tutorials, or exclusive content to keep users engaged beyond just promotional offers.

Example: "Hey [Name], here’s a quick guide on how to make the most out of your new [product]! Read here: [link]"

How to send bulk messages: WhatsApp Business App vs. WhatsApp Cloud API

WhatsApp Business App vs. WhatsApp Cloud API

WhatsApp Business app

You can send WhatsApp bulk messages free of charge on the WhatsApp Business App. 

Here are the simple steps you can follow:

• Download and install the WhatsApp Business App on your device.

• Verify your business number. Ensure that it's different from your personal number.

• Create a broadcast list containing up to 256 contacts.

• Compose your message and manually customize it for each recipient.

Note: you can only send WhatsApp bulk messages to contacts who have saved your business phone number.

Head over to our guide on WhatsApp Broadcast Messages and discover how to make the most out of them.

Limitations of sending WhatsApp bulk messages on the free WhatsApp Business App

While the free option of bulk WhatsApp marketing messages is enticing, it comes with some limitations:

1. Only 256 contacts

You can only send bulk messages on WhatsAppto a maximum of 256 contacts at a time. If you have a larger customer base, this can be problematic, as you might need to send multiple broadcasts to reach everyone.

2. The risk of getting banned is higher

Sending bulk messages from the WhatsApp Business App, to a large number of contacts, could potentially trigger WhatsApp's anti-spam measures. 

If WhatsApp detects behaviour that appears to be spammy or suspicious, your business account might be flagged, leading to temporary or even permanent bans. This can disrupt your communication efforts and damage your business's reputation on the platform.

Also, if the users fail to recognize your WhatsApp Business number and mark your message as spam, or worse, block your account, you may also get banned by WhatsApp and lose your account forever.

Account banned? Find out how you can revive your WhatsApp Business account and prevent it from happening again.

3. Manual editing of message content is required

Mass messages are sent to multiple recipients, but they appear as individual chats on the recipients' phones. Hence, when you send broadcast messages through the WhatsApp Business App, you'll need to manually customize the message content for each broadcast, i.e. with the recipient's name or specific details. This process can take up a lot of time and might cause inconsistencies if you make errors while editing.

WhatsApp Cloud API

As we said before, WhatsApp Cloud API is a version of the app for medium and large companies. It offers advanced tools for WhatsApp mass messaging and Is the cloud-based edition of WhatsApp Business API 

How to get the WhatsApp Cloud API?

You can acquire the service through an official Business Service Provider (BSP), likeleekFlow!

Use SleekFlow as your WhatsApp bulk message sender software

Here are some key benefits:

• Unlimited broadcast messages

• Customize messages using variables such as names and dates, adding a more personalized touch to your communications.

• The ability for multiple team members to log into the same WhatsApp Business account, enabling concurrent customer interactions using the corporate WhatsApp number.

• Integration with CRMs and other business tools 

• Access detailed analytics and reporting to track message delivery, open rates, and response rates.

• Obtain hassle-free approval for pre-designed Template Messages while adhering to WhatsApp's guidelines.

• Implement chatbots to handle common queries and provide instant responses, reducing the workload on human agents.

• Official Business Account: Get a green badge verification for your business, adding credibility and trust.

• Create segmented broadcast lists to send targeted messages to specific groups of customers based on demographics, behaviour, or preferences.

WhatsApp bulk message sender service charges from WhatsApp BSPs

When businesses use the services of WhatsApp BSPs like SleekFlow to send bulk messages, there are corresponding costs involved. These charges cover the use of the BSP's technology, infrastructure, and resources that facilitate the sending of these messages at scale

Service fees: WhatsApp BSPs typically levy charges on businesses for utilising their services. These fees might be structured based on the volume of messages sent, the number of recipients, or other pertinent factors. Check out SleekFlow’s pricing packages on our website.

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