WhatsApp is the most preferred channel for businesses to connect and engage in efficient communication with users. Its benefits in instant messaging and quick replies enable companies to engage in real-time communication, facilitating quick decision-making and enhancing customer engagement. These features contribute to providing superior customer support, with the possibility of 24/7 service through automated messages responding to customer queries.
Furthermore, WhatsApp serves as an excellent marketing platform for businesses to broadcast offers, discounts, promotions, and updates directly to groups or in bulk, reaching users directly in their inbox. The platform supports various message formats, including texts, images, videos, catalogue documents, tracking links, and invoices. Messages from verified business accounts not only ensure authenticity but also bolster the credibility of the account, leading to increased customer engagement. The interactive chat flow between businesses and customers fosters strong relationships, better customer engagement, and effective communication.
Why Choose Bulk Messaging?
Bulk messaging has become of prime importance in business communication strategies for several compelling reasons. Firstly, it enables businesses to reach a large audience with minimal effort. Businesses are able to send notifications to customers at once, providing updates on important matters. Whether its promotional offers, product updates, or crucial announcements, bulk messaging ensures efficient communication to a vast audience simultaneously. Targeting becomes easier when there is no need to create multiple groups, and there are no contact limitations.
Additionally, bulk messaging proves to be a cost-effective solution, reducing expenses associated with traditional communication methods. Even for retargeting purposes, the costs are significantly lower compared to what companies typically spend on ads.
Best Practices for Effective Bulk Messaging
Creating engaging and relevant content is crucial for the success of bulk messaging campaigns. Striking the right balance between promotional and informational messages is key to maintaining user interest. Businesses should aim for personalized and valuable content that resonates with their audience. Regularly reviewing and updating message content ensures that messaging remains fresh and compelling. Always seek permission from customers before sending promotional messages to their feed.
WhatsApp Messaging Limits
Businesses use WhatsApp for marketing, webinars, campaigns, and promotional purposes. Some businesses have a limited customer base, while others have customers in bulk. However, sending template messages on a regular basis faces challenges due to certain limitations and WhatsApp policies. WhatsApp only allows sending messages in bulk to up to 256 contacts at once. Therefore, if a business needs to send 1000 messages, multiple broadcasting lists are required, which is obviously time-consuming. Additionally, messages are only received by those who have saved the contact.
However, there is a twist: if WhatsApp detects too many messages being sent from a single WhatsApp number, it may consider it suspicious or even as spamming. Consequently, WhatsApp may block or suspend the account.
Then how to send 1000 bulk messages to customers?
To prevent spamming or the risk of having your account blocked by WhatsApp, there is a designated solution provided specifically for businesses—the WhatsApp Business API. This API integration is facilitated by business service providers. It enables medium and large businesses to connect with their customers in a more personalized manner, offering 24/7 support. Importantly, it allows businesses to send up to 1000 messages in a single day, and this limit can gradually increase to unlimited messages based on the unique contacts and content of the messages.
As mentioned earlier, achieving the ability to send unlimited messages is feasible, but it involves following a specific path. The WhatsApp Business API outlines four levels of messaging limits that businesses must adhere to:
Levels for WhatsApp Messaging Limits:
I. Limits of 1000 WhatsApp messages per day for Grade 1
II. A maximum of 10,000 unique WhatsApp recipients are allowed per day in Grade 2
III. There is a limit of 100,000 unique WhatsApp message recipients per day in Grade 3
IV. Message recipients per day are unlimited in Grade 4
To elevate the WhatsApp messaging limit, businesses need to monitor the following criteria:
I. Message quality rating is medium or high
II. Phone number's status is connected
III. Total number of unique recipients across the past 7 days
To achieve this, businesses need to accumulate a substantial number of unique customers who have subscribed to their services. Customers must willingly agree to receive business messages, and the content of these messages should align with the customers' interests. This alignment encourages customers to show more interest in the brand's campaigns and makes them willing to receive all updates and notifications from the business. For instance, people often eagerly anticipate seasonal sales announcements and willingly subscribe to shopping channels for such updates.
The WhatsApp API empowers businesses to leverage WhatsApp fully, expanding their user base, connecting with more customers, and delivering optimal customer support.
Businesses need to be aware of specific instructions:
When engaging with customers through WhatsApp API. There are two ways to initiate conversations: business-initiated and customer-initiated conversations. In the case of business-initiated conversations, it is termed as business messaging sent in the form of templates, which is subject to charges by Meta. On the other hand, when conversations are user-initiated, it is referred to as interactive messaging. The first 1000 user-initiated messages are free per month, and charges apply when this limit is exceeded, based on the type of conversations, as determined by Meta.
When a user initiates a conversation, a 24-hour window opens, during which unlimited conversations between the user and the business can take place. Once the window is closed, the conversation also ends.
If a business aims to maximize its 1000-message limit, it can achieve this in a week or even less. For instance, if the business sends 300 messages every day to unique customers, by the 4th day, after sending messages to 1000 unique customers, the limit is extended to 10,000 unique users per day. This approach allows the business to maximize its user messaging limit effectively. However, increasing the WhatsApp messaging limit is not a simple task; it necessitates a consistent, data-driven approach, high-quality messaging content, and consideration of the nature of the offers. By following this method, businesses can enhance their messaging limit successfully.
Conclusion
To effectively communicate with a broad audience, businesses must strategically harness the potential of bulk messaging through WhatsApp Business API. Full utilization of bulk messaging becomes possible when businesses understand the evolution of business messaging, navigate the integration process, adhere to rules, and embrace best practices. Anticipated advancements in this field make it an intriguing and dynamic area for companies to explore and incorporate into their communication strategies.
