How to start a WhatsApp chat without saving a contact (8 easy methods)

Starting a business often involves reaching out to customers (which can be time-consuming during promotions) or customers reaching out to you. 

Each message sent requires selecting a contact, typing out the message, and then sending it - a repetitive process if manually. 

WhatsApp is a handy tool for such communications, both personally and professionally. In this guide, we'll simplify a common hurdle: How to send a message on WhatsApp without saving a number, and will show you 8 different ways you can do it.

Why send WhatsApp messages without saving the contact?

We all know that sometimes, the need to add a contact number to send a message can make us give up on sending it. However, WhatsApp without contact simplifies the process.

As we said above, two business scenarios involve chatting in WhatsApp without saving a number: business to a client and client to a business. Let’s explore some struggles of both scenarios when we thought about WhatsApp without saving contact:

For your company: As your chat volume grows, managing inbound leads manually becomes nearly impossible. AI agents let you skip saving contacts and do much more. You can deploy specialized AI agents to instantly engage new inbound leads, guide sales conversations, and qualify them 24/7—all without any manual effort.

For your clients: Nobody wants to waste their time, and the need to add your WhatsApp contact can mean losing a sale. The client might be interested in your product, but if he can’t chat on WhatsApp without saving a number, he might give up on the purchase.

Both situations have the same thing in common: they can make you decrease your sales profits. That's why we’ll teach you and your clients how to send someone a message without adding contact.

Keep in mind, the other person can still see your phone number even if they haven't saved your contact information.

8 Easy Methods of Starting a WhatsApp Chat Without Adding a Contact Number

Want to send a quick message on WhatsApp without the hassle of saving a new contact? A few simple tricks let you connect instantly without adding numbers to your address book. Check out the steps below to start messaging more efficiently.

1. Start a new chat on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is now allowing users to start chats with unsaved numbers. Available for both iOS and Android, this feature requires the latest version of WhatsApp.

• Go to the Chats tab and tap the New Chat or + icon at the top right.

• Enter the full phone number, including the country code (e.g., +11234567890), in the search bar.

• WhatsApp will show the contact associated with the number, even if it’s not saved in your contacts and you’ve never chatted with them before.

• Tap the contact’s name to open the chat window and start messaging without saving the contact.
  

2. Create a customized WhatsApp Link or WhatsApp QR code

A great way to connect with potential customers without making them save your number is to use WhatsApp's official entry points. You can generate a direct click-to-chat link or a QR code to create an easy way for them to reach you. With just one tap or scan, customers can start a conversation, skipping the need to manually add your number to their contacts.

Following the official guidance from WhatsApp ensures these tools work correctly on any device. Here’s how you can use them to improve your customer's experience:

• The Click-to-Chat Link (wa.me): This is the perfect tool for your online presence. Create a universal link by adding your full phone number (in international format) to the end of the URL https://wa.me/. For example: https://wa.me/15551234567. You can then embed this link in your Instagram bio, email signatures, or website buttons. To make it even easier for customers, you can also add a pre-filled message so they don’t have to type the first greeting.

• The WhatsApp QR Code: QR codes are ideal for bridging the gap between your physical and online presence. The WhatsApp Business App lets you generate a unique QR code directly from your settings. Print this code on your product packaging, business cards, or storefront window. A potential customer can scan it with their phone's camera and instantly start a chat with you.

Generate a WhatsApp Link or QR Code With SleekFlow

You can create WhatsApp links (wa.me) or QR codes with SleekFlow’s WhatsApp link generator to share with your clients. Both of them allow people to message your business without needing to save your phone number.

Here's how to create and use it:

WhatsApp link:

• Access the WhatsApp link generator tool from SleekFlow.

• Enter your phone number, including the country code.

• Add a pre-filled message you'd like to appear in the chat window when someone initiates a conversation.

• Click on "Generate Link".

You'll have your personalized wa.me link ready to be shared, and your clients can send you WhatsApp messages without saving your contact information. Copy this link and paste it on your website, social media profiles (like Instagram and Facebook), newsletters, email marketing, or any other platforms where your customers can easily find it.

WhatsApp QR code

• Access the WhatsApp link generator tool again from SleekFlow.

• Follow all the steps above to generate a WhatsApp link.

• Click on "Generate Link".

• With your WhatsApp link, a QR code will show up, and you can download it.

You can share your QR code on online platforms like social media, websites, and email signatures and on offline materials like business cards, flyers, catalogs, menus, banners, and any other printed materials you distribute. Your clients can scan the QR code and easily send you a message on WhatsApp without saving your number.

Goodbye to complex coding and say hi to simplicity

Click here to generate your FREE personalized WhatsApp links and QR code effortlessly

Get your free link here

3. Use a “click-to-WhatsApp” button

You can use a “click-to-WhatsApp” button on your website or Facebook to enable clients to message you on WhatsApp without saving your contact.

For your website, follow these steps:

• Open the WhatsApp button generator tool.

• Fill in all the options to customize your button, like the button name, size, and position.

• Then, fill in all the options to customize your widget, like your brand name, WhatsApp number, the welcome message that will appear when a contact sends you a message, and button call-to-action.

• Copy the code on your website.

Now, your website will have a click-to-WhatsApp button, and your clients can contact your WhatsApp number without saving.

For Facebook, follow these steps:

• Click-to-WhatsApp ads can be created in the Ads Manager of your Facebook account.

• Go to your Ads Manager account and then click on Ad Creation.

• Choose your goal (there are five: awareness, traffic, engagement, leads, app promotion, and sales).

• Follow the step-by-step instructions in the Business Manager, create your ad, link your WhatsApp account, and publish the desired ad on your Facebook account.

With the click-to-WhatsApp ad, you can advertise your promotions on Facebook and make it easier for your customers to contact you.

How Mudah.my attracted new leads by placing a WhatsApp button next to its product listings

Online marketplace Mudah.my needed a better way for potential buyers to connect with sellers on its platform.

Traditional methods like web forms were creating friction. It was often a chore for users to ask questions or show interest, especially for big-ticket items like cars. This delay slowed down the conversion of browsing into actual, qualified leads.

To solve this, the platform added a "Click to WhatsApp" button right next to each product listing. This feature lets users instantly start a chat with the seller through the familiar messaging app.

This small change delivered big results:

• A flood of high-quality leads, generating 250 new leads weekly from serious buyers.

• Better customer engagement, with a 3x higher reply rate because users were more comfortable starting conversations to ask for details or book a viewing.

• A smoother, more accessible user experience, reflected in a 70% read rate as communication barriers disappeared.

4. Click on phone number in WhatsApp Groups

Another method to send WhatsApp messages without saving a phone number is through a group chat on WhatsApp.

• Open the WhatsApp group chat where the person you want to text is also a member.

• Scroll through the list of members until you find the desired number, then tap to open it.

• A pop-up window will appear; tap on the "Message" option within this window.

• Once you do this, a chat window with that person will open, allowing you to message them directly without saving their phone number.

5. Use the Message Yourself feature

For one-off or infrequent communications where saving the number isn't necessary, you can copy the number into your own WhatsApp chat window. This is a simple way to WhatsApp without saving contact. 

• Open WhatsApp, tap on the search icon, and type "You" in the search.

• In the chat with yourself, paste the unsaved number and send a message to yourself.

• The number will turn blue. Tap it, select "Chat with," and a new chat window will open

6. Using the shortcuts app on iOS

For iOS users, the Apple Shortcuts app offers a convenient way to send WhatsApp messages without saving a contact number. By installing a specific shortcut, you can easily send messages to new contacts without adding them to your address book.

1. Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone, then tap Add Shortcut to browse for available shortcuts.

2. Search for the WhatsApp Unsaved Number shortcut and install it.

3. After installation, tap on the shortcut, and a prompt will appear asking you to Choose the recipient.

4. In the Choose recipient field, input the phone number, including the country code (e.g., 11234567890 for the United States).

5. Once you enter the number, a WhatsApp chat window with that contact will open, allowing you to send your message immediately.

7. Sending direct messages on WhatsApp with Google Assistant

Android users can easily send WhatsApp messages without saving contacts by using Google Assistant. Here’s how:

1. Activate Google Assistant by swiping up from the bottom corner of your screen or pressing and holding the home button.

2. Say, "Send a WhatsApp to +(country code)(phone number)." Make sure to include the country code, so Google Assistant can identify the number.

3. For example, if you want to message the number 1234567890 in the United States, say, "Send a WhatsApp to +11234567890."

4. Google Assistant will prompt you to dictate your message – just say what you want to send.

5. Once you’ve spoken your message, Google Assistant will handle the rest and send it via WhatsApp. 

8. Use the Truecaller App

When it comes to sending WhatsApp messages without saving a contact, here’s how you can do it with Truecaller, essentially allowing you to WhatsApp without contact:

• Firstly, ensure you have Truecaller installed on your phone.

• Open Truecaller and use its search feature to look up the number you wish to message.

• When the number is displayed, you'll often find various options to interact with it. Among these options is a WhatsApp icon.

• Tapping on this icon will redirect you to WhatsApp, opening a chat window with the unsaved number ready for you to start messaging.

When you need to message anyone at scale: Agentic AI Workflows via WhatsApp

For businesses looking to scale customer engagement, the best solution is to combine the WhatsApp Business API with an omnichannel AI platform.

This approach allows you to:

• Manage high-volume messages: Go beyond simple broadcast campaigns by deploying autonomous AI agents to drive conversions.

• Leverage intelligent AI: When an unsaved contact gets in touch, these AI agents can analyze the conversation, score the lead, and then pass highly qualified prospects to your human agents.

• Gain useful insights: The AI will also provide short chat summaries and other helpful insights for your team.

Stay Compliant With WhatsApp's Business Policies

While messaging customers without saving their numbers is great for scaling your business, you need to follow the rules. Meta has strict commerce and messaging policies for the WhatsApp Business API to keep the platform secure and free of spam. If you ignore these rules, you risk getting your account restricted or even permanently banned.

To keep your account in good standing and your communication flowing, build these compliance steps into your daily workflow:

1. Mandatory Active Opt-Ins: You can't just buy a list of phone numbers and start blasting out promos. Before you send that first message, the user has to agree to hear from your business on WhatsApp. This requires an active opt-in, like a checkbox they tick on your site, and you must be clear about what kind of messages they're signing up for.

2. 24-Hour Service Window: When a customer messages you first, a 24-hour customer service window opens up. During this time, your team or chatbots can reply freely. But once that window closes, you can't send standard messages anymore.

3. Utilizing Approved Message Templates: To message a customer outside that 24-hour window, you have to use a specific Message Template. For things like shipping updates or marketing broadcasts, these highly structured templates are your only option. Before you can use them, you must submit them to Meta for approval to make sure they follow all commerce policies and don't come across as spam.

4. Providing a Clear Opt-Out: Just as a customer can easily opt-in, they need a simple way to opt out. Always give users a clear way to stop receiving messages, like replying with "STOP," and make sure your system honors that request immediately. This will help prevent customers from reporting your account.

BateriHub handled massive volumes of urgent messages from unsaved contacts

BateriHub, a roadside assistance provider, faced a flood of urgent messages from non-customers needing immediate help with car breakdowns and dead batteries.

This constant influx of messages created a major operational headache. With a fragmented communication system, response times lagged, leading to lost business and unhappy customers who needed help right away.

To solve this, BateriHub implemented an omnichannel AI platform to streamline its communications. The team centralized all messaging channels into a single inbox and deployed an AI Smart Reply for 24/7 engagement. They also automated lead qualification to filter spam and integrated their product catalog into an AI knowledge base for instant, accurate technical advice.

This strategic shift completely transformed BateriHub's service and efficiency, leading to remarkable improvements:

Why go with SleekFlow to supercharge your WhatsApp strategy?

SleekFlow turns your WhatsApp API into a tool for increasing revenue. It uses AgentFlow to create a smooth workflow between AI and your human experts.

Here’s how SleekFlow can help your brand make sales automatically:

• AgentFlow AI Agents: You can build specialized AI teams with your own custom knowledge. These teams can guide potential customers, suggest products, and schedule meetings around the clock.

• Smarter Segmentation and Targeted Broadcasts: Group your audience based on where they are in the customer lifecycle. This allows you to send focused broadcast campaigns at just the right time.

• Smooth Lead Handoffs and Inbox Co-Pilot: AgentFlow intelligently sends high-priority leads to your sales team with all the necessary background information. Your team can then use the Inbox Co-Pilot to create well-toned responses with a single click.

• In-Chat AI Payments: Make buying easier for your customers. Let AI agents create and send payment links directly in the chat.

Unified CRM Integration: Bring together chats from all channels and keep track of customer purchase history, behavior, and intentions. Use this data to improve your workflows and AI performance.

SleekFlow is fantastic. The service is both effective and efficient. They always respond promptly to my messages.

Sher Mei

User Success Manager at Mudah.my

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