WhatsApp is a great program for business promotion and marketing. It streamlines and personalizes customer communications and has a high engagement rate among users.

WhatsApp is good for messaging customers individually. But if you really want to maximize your business's time and resources, consider sending bulk messages.

Bulk messaging helps you connect with customers on a larger scale. You can send an unlimited number of characters, photos, videos, and other media, customize messages for each user, and send private messages to multiple recipients at the same time.

So, what exactly goes into bulk messaging on WhatsApp? Where do you begin?

Let's find out.

WhatsApp helps business of all sizes kickstart their marketing and promotions | WhatsApp

What is a WhatsApp Bulk Message?

WhatsApp bulk messages are sent to many recipients at the same time.

Instead of individually contacting each customer — which takes hours of your time — you can:

• Add your recipients to a list
• Type up one message
• Send it to everyone with one click

Users receive your bulk message as a private message. (They can't see who else is on the recipient list).

Even better, there's no limit to the number of recipients of a bulk message. And with WhatsApp API, even those who haven't saved your WhatsApp number get notified.

WhatsApp Bulk Messaging for SMEs & Enterprises

WhatsApp bulk messaging was initially only available to consumers. But now, businesses use it for their outbound marketing initiatives.

Many businesses prefer WhatsApp over other communication channels because of its quickness and simplicity.

WhatsApp has a few bulk messaging options for different types of companies:

• Mid-sized businesses and enterprises with significantly larger customer bases can choose WhatsApp Business API
• The API enables bulk messages
• However, it requires you to use WhatsApp's message templates for mass messaging
• SMEs can use the WhatsApp Business app
• The app broadcasts to 256 customers

Share Product Details and Notifications with WhatsApp Bulk Messages

Your WhatsApp messages keep customers informed.

For example, you can send:

• High-quality pictures, audio files, texts, videos, and other documents (e.g., catalogs and brochures) to help users choose the right products
• Updates on order placement, shipment, delivery, cancellation, confirmations, and rejections

How Do You Send Bulk Messages on WhatsApp?

You can send bulk messages through WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Business API.

Sending Bulk Messages through WhatsApp Business

1. Open your WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business
2. Go to the Chat screen> Menu button> New List
3. Write the names of the contacts you want to send the message to, or press the + button to select them directly from your contact list
4. Click OK
5. Click Create

With the standard WhatsApp Business App, you can simultaneously message 256 contacts.

Note: Your contacts must save your number to view your message.

Maximum number of contacts for WhatsApp Business | Big Tech Question

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Sending Bulk Messages through WhatsApp Business API

WhatsApp Business API lets you send messages to customers who don't have your phone number saved.

Send broadcasts between 1,000 and 100,000 messages to any number of users in a rolling 24-hour timeframe.

Here's how:

1. Import contacts into your chosen WhatsApp API software
2. Create a message template and have it approved
3. Send a bulk message through WhatsApp broadcast
4. Choose a message template and customize placeholders
5. Customize interactive and media headers, or CTAs
6. Test your WhatsApp bulk message on yourself or your team first
7. Make sure it works before sending it out to customers
8. Schedule the broadcast or send it right away

Zoko Broadcast Messages | Zoko

Factors to Consider Before Sending Bulk Messages on WhatsApp

WhatsApp uses phone number tiers, status, and quality ratings to safeguard its users from spam and improve bulk communications.

Your specific bulk message capabilities depend on the following factors:

Phone Number Tiers

WhatsApp API establishes phone number tiers. This dictates how many recipients you can send bulk messages to.

So, if you're in a higher tier, you're allowed to communicate with more individuals in a rolling 24-hour period.

The result: You grow your audience and improve marketing/sales.

How Do You Upgrade Your Whatsapp Phone Number Tier?

To boost your phone number tier, send twice the number of messages permitted for your tier in seven days.

Here's an image to help you understand the process:

Increasing WhatsApp Tier System | Message Bird

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Phone Number Rating & Status

Customers give you a quality rating based on your messages over the last seven days.

Your quality rating falls into three categories:

• Green — High quality
• Yellow — Medium quality
• Red — Low quality

Why is this important?

Well, your quality rating determines your phone number's status. And your status dictates your sending capacity.

What Causes a Low Rating?

Your phone number's rating decreases any time it's reported or blocked. Being repeatedly reported/blocked gives you the lowest quality rating.

Your rating may also go down if you exceed your messaging limit.

What Happens if Your Quality Rating Is Low?

When your phone number reaches low quality (due to being reported/blocked), your status changes from "Connected" to "Flagged."

• While Flagged, you can't raise your phone number tier

You have seven days to improve your quality rating:

• If your rating improves to high or medium quality — your status returns to Connected, and your messaging limit tier remains unaffected
• If your rating doesn't improve — your status returns to Connected but with a limited messaging capacity

If your rating decreases because you surpassed your messaging limits, your status becomes "Restricted." Being Restricted limits your messaging capabilities:

• You can't send any messages in the first 24 hours
• You can't send WhatsApp bulk messages to newly created Unique Contacts
• You can only respond to conversations initiated by customers

How Do You Avoid Low Ratings?

Send only high-quality WhatsApp bulk messages to maintain a good quality rating. Providing great customer service via WhatsApp lets you continue to send messages freely.

WhatsApp Broadcast | Zoko

How Zoko Streamlines WhatsApp Bulk Messaging

Zoko — the central hub for all your WhatsApp communications — helps you broadcast messages to your customers in a seamless and trouble-free process.

Case Study: Born Primitive

Like many e-commerce businesses, Born Primitive understands the power of incentivizing visits to the website. The business started out using email promotions, but it wasn't getting the user engagement it desired.

Born Primitive switched to WhatsApp for marketing communications because of its simplicity, efficiency, and popularity among customers.

Born Primitive also began using Zoko’s broadcasting tool.

Zoko overcomes the messaging limitations associated with WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business (e.g., the inability to message customers who do not have the brand’s number saved on their phones).

Mallory H, Founder of Born Primitive

Messaging via Zoko delivered “almost instant” results for Born Primitive.

Unlike emails — which are often overlooked or sent to spam — Born Primitive’s WhatsApp messages typically achieve an impressive 95% opening rate.

Sending a broadcast via Zoko helped the business gain a 20% increase in web traffic.

Read the full story here.

Zoko Helps You Send Bulk Messages through WhatsApp

Customers who message you on WhatsApp are your most engaged customers and prospects.

With WhatsApp bulk messages, you can:

• Send useful info (e.g., order updates)
• Have personalized conversations on a large scale
• Engage, qualify, and convert customers in real-time, day or night

Good communication makes your customers happy and, ultimately, improves your business.

If you need help broadcasting your messages through WhatsApp, consider Zoko.

Watch our full product demo here.

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