Before You Start with WhatsApp

Before getting started to programmatically send messages to your customers and to engage them more, you need to complete a few steps which are:

• Insider Tag
• WhatsApp Business Account
• Pre-approved message template
• WhatsApp Opt-in

Insider Tag

You need to integrate Insider Tag into your website as the first step of your WhatsApp integration.

WhatsApp Business Account

Simplifying the process and having all the steps such as connecting WhatsApp Business Manager accounts, creating WhatsApp Business Accounts, and verifying phone numbers in a single flow, embedded signup reduces the time you spend to create a WhatsApp Business account. For further details, you can read Create your WhatsApp Business Account article.

Pre-approved Message Template

According to Facebook’s WhatsApp usage policies, brands can initiate a conversion with their customers only via message templates. These templates cannot contain any promotional or ad content but variables that can be replaced with user-specific information.

Message template application is also handled by Insider on behalf of you. All you need to provide is a template name and the template type. We also recommend you provide the content that you want to use in the messages for the application. 

WhatsApp Opt-in

Before starting to reach out your customers on WhatsApp, you need to get their consent on being communicated through this channel.

WhatsApp has its own requirements and policies that need businesses to get this consent from their users for the exact purpose. For instance, if you will send order updates, you need to get their consent accordingly.

Insider provides an easy opt-in placement to get users' opt-in on desktop and mobile web suite. This opt-in template should be placed separately on your desktop and mobile websites once your application for WhatsApp Business account and message template is approved. Refer to WhatsApp Opt-in for further information.