How to Write WhatsApp Bulk Messages that aren’t Spammy

• To avoid being flagged as spam, businesses must thoroughly understand and adhere to WhatsApp’s policies on bulk messaging. Consequences also include warnings, restrictions, and account suspension.
• Craft messages to be clear, concise, and value added. Personalization, a friendly tone, multimedia elements, and strategic scheduling all contribute to effective messages.
• Create segmented lists for personalized communication and prioritize opt-in messages to ensure that messages are welcomed and appreciated.
• For informed decisions and target optimizations, regularly monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as open rates, opt-in rates, and dropout analytics to gain insights into user behavior and preference.
• Leverage WhatsApp Analytics for a deeper understanding of user interactions, enabling businesses to refine messaging strategies and enhance the overall effectiveness of bulk messaging campaigns.
• Explore and implement advanced features like interactive messages, custom message flows, and multimedia messages to create impactful and personalized communication strategies.

From its origins as a personal messaging app, WhatsApp has evolved into an indispensable platform for all businesses globally. Boasting a user base impressively exceeding 2 billion monthly active users worldwide, the potential for businesses to engage with their customers is unparalleled.

While WhatsApp provides an immediate and direct channel for communication, the challenge for businesses lies in leveraging this without being perceived as intrusive or spammy. Striking the balance between reaching a wide audience and avoiding being classified as spam involves strategic planning to ensure that bulk messages are seen and positively received by the audience.

Customers nowadays are overwhelmed with numerous messages containing a deal of information. Crafting messages that are not only informative but also engaging and non-intrusive is crucial. Along with this, building meaningful connections with the audience through thoughtful and personalized communication is key to standing out and ensuring engagement.

Understanding WhatsApp Policies

Before sending out a bulk messaging campaign, businesses must first create WhatsApp Bulk Messaging Templates. When creating these templates, it is important to understand what could be classified as spam according to WhatsApp’s policies. WhatsApp’s policies on bulk messaging are designed to maintain the quality and integrity of the platform’s user experience and protect users from unsolicited messages or spam.

Understanding the policies on bulk messaging is a fundamental step in ensuring an effective communication strategy that promotes positive interactions. Some important points to note for businesses creating WhatsApp Bulk Messaging Templates are:

• Avoid messages with threatening or abusive content
• Avoid duplicate templates
• Avoid SMS language – This includes abbreviated language and slang
• Avoid too many emojis
• Do not ask for private information
• Avoid prohibited services
• Avoid generic templates
• Avoid exceeding the number of allowed template messages – A template can be edited once per day, up to 10 times per month. You may create only 100 message templates per hour

To learn more about creating WhatsApp Bulk Messaging Templates, read our guide!

Consequences of Violating WhatsApp’s Policies

Violating WhatsApp’s guidelines proves to be quite the consequence, ranging from warning to even the suspension of business accounts. Businesses must be aware of these consequences to maintain access to this vital communication channel. WhatsApp Business accounts violating policies may receive warnings, resulting in message restrictions that include:

• 1-3 days block on sending messages and adding contacts
• 5-7 days block on various activities
• Permanent disablement from WhatsApp Business Platform for persistent violations
• Immediate disablement for severe violations (e.g., sale of illegal drugs)

If a business was found to violate WhatsApp’s policies and guidelines, appeals can be made within 90 days (about 3 months) of receiving a warning. Adhering to WhatsApp’s terms of service is an ongoing commitment. Regularly review and adapt messaging practices to ensure alignment with the platform’s policies to safeguard from unintended violations.

Crafting Bulk Messages

Now that what could make messages classify as spam has been explored, let’s delve into the practical aspects of crafting messages that resonate with customers. Stand out in inboxes with the following points:

1. Clarity and Conciseness

Keep messages clear and concise. Avoid unnecessary details and get straight to the point. Communicate information efficiently to ensure that the audience quickly grasps the essence of the message.


2. Personalization

Personalize messages by not just addressing customers by their names, but also tailoring content based on their preferences or past interactions. Doing this enhances the likelihood of messages being opened and appreciated by customers.


3. Adding Value

Every message should bring forth value to the audience. Whether it be informative content or exclusive offers, messages should contribute to the recipient’s experience. Adding substance to messages not only engages the audience but positions the brand as a reliable source of information.


4. Friendly and Conversational Tone

The tone of messages plays a pivotal role in shaping brand perception. Messages can be viewed as more approachable when a friendly and conversational tone is maintained.


5. Multimedia Utilization

Multimedia elements are powerful tools for capturing attention. Incorporate images, videos, GIFs, and even documents to make your messages visually appealing while still being informational.


6. Strategic Scheduling

Timing is crucial for message visibility. Understanding the active hours of the audience allows businesses to schedule messages when they are most likely to be seen, optimizing visibility and engagement.



Building an Audience for Bulk Messaging

When delving into bulk messaging, it is pertinent for businesses to meticulously define their target audience. Understanding demographics, preferences, and customer behaviors lays the groundwork for crafting messages that resonate with its intended recipients.

Create Segmented Lists for Personalized Communication

Whether the audience for a business is big or small, it is important to recognize that there is diversity within that audience. Businesses should leverage segmentation to categorize recipients based on various criteria. This approach enables more personalized and relevant messaging. When messages reach the right customer, it is not seen as generic or spammy.

The Importance of Opt-In Messages

Obtaining explicit consent before sending bulk messages is a pre-requisite for WhatsApp Bulk Messages. It not only adheres to WhatsApp’s guidelines but also ensures that messages being received are welcomed and appreciated.

How to Craft an Effective Opt-In Message

The key elements to ensure the success of an opt-in message include the following:


1. Message Type Clarity

The foundation of a successful opt-in message lies in its clarity. The nature of the messages the audience will be expecting to receive must be clearly defined. Whether it’s updates, promotions, or exclusive content, it is crucial to make sure the audience knows what to anticipate when they opt in. A lack of clarity and transparency may lead to confusion or even worse, prompt users to opt-out die to unexpected content.

2. Business Identification

Businesses must ensure to identify themselves by prominently featuring their business name in the opt-in message. This establishes credibility and lets recipients know exactly who is reaching out to them. A recognizable business name adds a personal touch to the interaction, fostering trust and increasing the likelihood of a positive response.

3. Channel Specification

Avoid ambiguity by specifying the exact platform or channel through which the audience will receive messages – in this case, WhatsApp. This sets expectations and eliminates any room for confusion about where messages from the business will appear. Clarity in channel specification is a small detail that can make a significant difference in user experience.

4. Voluntary Opt-In

Businesses must respect their audience’s autonomy by ensuring that opting in is a voluntary choice. Businesses should empower customers with the freedom to choose whether they want to receive messages or not. A voluntary op-in not only aligns with WhatsApp’s guidelines but also encourages a more engaged and receptive audience. When users feel in control of their choices, they are more likely to value and respond positively to messages.

Crafting an opt-in message that encompasses these key elements is the first step for businesses in fostering meaningful and lasting relationships with their audience on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp Bulk Messaging Features

Beyond crafting compelling messages, businesses can leverage the full potential of WhatsApp Bulk Messaging through its rich features. Businesses can amplify their bulk messaging strategies by harnessing a range of interactive features that not only captivate the audience but also drive immediate actions.

Some key features that elevate WhatsApp Bulk Messaging campaigns are:

1. Interactive Messages
CTA Buttons

One of the WhatsApp Business Platform (API)’s notable features are the integration of Call-to-Action (CTA) buttons. CTA Buttons serve as effective prompts for users to take swift actions, fostering immediate engagement. Be it for encouraging event sign-ups, granting access to exclusive reports, or for limited-time promotions, CTA Buttons empowers clients to engage promptly, enriching the interactive experience.

Quick Reply Buttons

Quick Reply Buttons are a valuable solution for seamless and time efficient interactions. Businesses can implement these buttons to streamline responses, allowing customers to access specific information or seek customer support with minimal effort. By providing quick reply options tailored to a variety of needs, Quick Reply Buttons allows for enhanced responsiveness.

List Messages

Businesses can enhance user choices with List Messages. This versatile feature allows businesses to present an array of options. Offering a convenient and user-centric experience, this can be used for cases such as choosing from a list of upcoming events, selecting services based on preferences, or exploring the business’ products. This feature simplifies decision-making for clients, resulting in better engagement.

2. Custom Message Flows

Custom Message Flows revolutionize the way businesses interact with their audience on WhatsApp. Compared to a traditional method like Surveys, this feature enables businesses to automate data collection, create personalized onboarding sequences, and establish unique communication paths based on individual customers interactions. This feature allows for a highly tailored and dynamic customer journey, contributing to more engaging and personalized experiences.

3. Multimedia Messages

WhatsApp has rich multimedia capabilities that enable businesses to go beyond messages that are text-only. Businesses can convey information through charts, videos, images, GIFs, and documents directly within the WhatsApp platform through multimedia messages. This approach enhances customers’ comprehension and makes what could be complex data or information more accessible and engaging. Businesses can create elevated and impactful messages by incorporating visuals and interactive elements, ensuring a richer and more immersive user experience.

Embracing these advanced features for WhatsApp Bulk Messaging opens new possibilities for businesses aiming to create impactful and personalized communication strategies. From immediate engagement to tailored unique experiences, and rich content, these features empower businesses to stay at the forefront of effective digital communication on the WhatsApp platform.

Monitoring and Analyzing Performance

WhatsApp Analytics offers more than the fundamental metrics like open rates and click –through rates, businesses that leverage WhatsApp for marketing can benefit from diving deeper into specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For valuable insights into the effectiveness of WhatsApp Marketing Campaigns, identifying and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).

1. Open Rates

Open rates, a common metric across various messaging platforms, remain a pivotal key performance indicator for WhatsApp. WhatsApp’s open rates tend to be notably high, giving emphasis to the platform’s efficiency in capturing users’ attention. This key performance indicator measures the percentage of users who have opened the initial WhatsApp message out of those who received it. Monitoring open rates provides businesses with a quick snapshot of the immediate impact and visibility of their messages.

2. Opt-In Rates

Opt-in rates are another essential key performance indicator. This reflects the percentage of users who willingly subscribe to receive messages from a business on WhatsApp. A higher opt-in rate shows that a user base is more engaged and receptive. Businesses should strive to cultivate opt-in strategies that respect user consent while also delivering compelling content that encourages users to willingly opt in.

3. WhatsApp Dropout Analytics

Understanding which point of the conversation users disengage is a critical aspect of optimizing messaging flows. WhatsApp Dropout Analytics enables businesses to track points in the conversation where users stop engaging. This information empowers businesses to refine message flows, rephrase content that may be causing disinterest, and identify contacts for retargeting efforts.

By incorporating these advanced key performance indicators (KPIs) into monitoring and analysis, businesses can gain a comprehensive understanding of user behavior and preferences specific to WhatsApp. This deeper level of insight allows for informed decisions and targeted optimizations, ultimately enhancing the overall effectiveness of WhatsApp Bulk Messaging campaigns.

Interested in learning more about WhatsApp Analytics for improved marketing and messaging performance? Read our guide now!

Leveraging WhatsApp Bulk Messaging involves a strategic blend of adherence to policies, thoughtful message crafting, audience segmentation, opt-in practices, utilizing advanced features, and performance monitoring. In essence, successful and effective WhatsApp Bulk Messaging is a dynamic and nuanced process that requires a continuous commitment to best practices, user experience, and innovation. By navigating these elements, businesses can harness the full potential of WhatsApp as a powerful and trusted communication channel, forging lasting connections with their audience.

Want to try harnessing the potential of WhatsApp and its features for your business? Book a commitment-free demo without charge now!