WhatsApp Broadcast and Bulk Message Guide for Businesses

I keep a tidy inbox. Whenever a marketing email arrives, I delete it without a second thought. Because of people like me, email open rates struggled to reach 30% in 2022, with conversion rates even lower.

Marketers have been seeking more effective ways to deliver messages and engage customers, and WhatsApp Business emerges as a prime solution with its impressive 99% message opening rate. With WhatsApp Broadcast, you can reach multiple customers with a single tap.

What Is WhatsApp Broadcast?

WhatsApp Broadcast functions like marketing emails but with superior results and certain limitations. Messages sent to multiple recipients are termed bulk messages. Broadcasting lets you share texts, multimedia, attachments, locations, links, and more with many customers at once by simply tapping "send."

Unlike group messages, WhatsApp Broadcasts are private. Bulk messages appear as individual chats, and recipients don’t see each other’s contact information.

Both WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API support sending bulk messages. Recipients in a broadcast list don’t see who else got the message. Each recipient gets the message as a standard message and can reply to it, with responses appearing in your Chats screen as regular messages.
Replies from recipients are not sent to others in the bulk message list, making it different from regular WhatsApp group messages.

In our previous articles on WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API, we detailed their differences. In short, the app is for small businesses and works on mobile devices, while the API is an integrated solution for larger companies, impacting the broadcasting process and limitations.

What Are Bulk Message Limitations?

For small businesses where owners know many of their customers personally, the WhatsApp Business App is useful despite its restrictions. The limitations include:

• You can create unlimited broadcast groups but send bulk messages to a maximum of 256 recipients per group. Storage limits on your phone may apply.
• Group members must add you to their contacts to receive messages.
• You can use up to four connected devices and one phone on the WhatsApp Business App, which might be insufficient if your teams share the account.
• WhatsApp Business App does not integrate with CRM tools or chatbots. You can still manage responses with a customer support tool like Chat Breezes, but you’ll need the API for CRM integration or 24/7 support with chatbots.

WhatsApp Business API is free from these limitations. You can initiate conversations without being added to customers' contact lists, broadcast to unlimited users, automate notifications, have multiple administrators, and benefit from analytics and reports.

Another question might arise: Can you send bulk messages on WhatsApp Business without adding contacts? Yes, but unofficial tools like WASender and WAPlus allow this and may risk your account being banned. It’s safer to stick with WhatsApp Business API and official third-party providers.

How to Set up WhatsApp Broadcast

For WhatsApp Business App, sending bulk messages is straightforward. Open the app, go to Chats, tap the menu button (three dots), and select "New Broadcast." Name your list and add customer numbers. Once saved, you're ready to send bulk messages. You can modify the list anytime.

WhatsApp Business API offers a different approach. Integrated into your system, it’s programmed to meet your needs with predetermined messaging templates approved by WhatsApp. Upload contacts via a CSV file, categorize them with tags, and broadcast messages without creating lists for each campaign.

Benefits of Using WhatsApp Broadcast for Businesses

The primary benefit of WhatsApp Broadcast is its effectiveness. You can send notifications, announcements, promotions, and more with high confidence that your messages will be opened.

WhatsApp Business boasts a 99% message opening rate, outshining email, SMS, and IVR. It helps businesses offer instant messaging in customer support.

Another benefit is WhatsApp's strict anti-spam measures. Spamming customers with trivial messages risks suspension or banning. Therefore, messages should be informative and engaging.

Best Practices for WhatsApp Bulk Messaging

To make the most of WhatsApp for advertising, follow these best practices:

1. Keep messages short and clear : Deliver updates or promotions succinctly.

2. Create an engaging format : Use headers, different fonts, emojis, links, and multimedia.

3. Make messages actionable : Include call-to-action prompts like "Click to see new products."

4. Engage with customers in real-time : Be prepared to respond to simultaneous customer inquiries.

Manage Your WhatsApp Business Broadcasts With Chat Breezes

Chat Breezes is an advanced multi-channel help desk for social media-focused teams. It allows you to manage your WhatsApp Business account alongside other social media profiles on a single dashboard.

Chat Breezes enables multiple users to access all WhatsApp chats in a single inbox. You can create and save canned responses for common inquiries, track chats and keywords, and organize messages according to sentiment for clearer communication performance. Actionable reports help track team performance.

Setting up Chat Breezes takes only two minutes. Connect your social profiles, and start receiving and responding to messages seamlessly. You’ll soon be broadcasting and interacting with customers individually without leaving your inbox.

By utilizing WhatsApp Broadcast and bulk messaging effectively, businesses can enhance customer engagement, streamline communication, and achieve higher message open rates.