Welcome to the instructions on how to work with 1msg demo. Here we will briefly tell you how to effectively spend 7 days of demo period and check all the features of the service and WhatsApp Business API that you need.

Important. If you are looking for WhatsApp Business API to integrate with CRM systems or other solutions, then write to our support on the website. We will help you navigate and suggest partners that will connect your number with the most popular CRM and other services.

Let's start with the most important thing - the demo period does not give you full access to WABA features. In fact, you will only be able to send messages to your number - this is not enough for full business integration, but it is enough for you to check and make sure that all the features of the service work.

The 7-day demo period is activated from the moment you register on the site. At the very beginning you will be offered to choose between “Business” and “Programmer”. Don't worry, you won't lose any of the features of your personal account, it's only about its design, for example: business brings the functions of chat, chatbot and automatic responses to the upper levels of the bar-menu, while the programmer will first of all be shown the developer tools, for example like this:

After selecting the settings of your personal account and specifying the data about your company, this stage can be skipped, you will be offered the opportunity to connect a phone number for the test, you can do it with the help of QR code or simply by clicking on the link. Choose the option convenient for you and 7 days of demo period are yours.

Now let's move on to the features of the service.

Shared team mailbox Chat

Or simply a chatbot to communicate with customers - an indispensable tool for any business.

As a reminder, when you fully connect the WhatsApp Business API number, you lose the ability to use the regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business apps, so you just need a solution that has built-in chat, or better yet, a mobile version of chat.

With the help of the chat box, you will be able to:

• Send messages

It is enough to write a message in the chat menu and send it. Incoming messages will also be displayed in the chat room.

• Edit messages

In the chat menu, you will be able to make text italicized, bold, or emphasize important things.

• Mark up

Leave notes when communicating with customers that will be visible only to you, other operators, but not to the customer. With the help of notes, you will not forget important nuances when communicating with the customer.

• Send files

With chat, you can send any type of file.

• Send template messages and initiate communication with users

In 1msg you can also create and edit templates to open a dialog with customers. You can do this in the main section with channels (numbers). While you are in the demo version you cannot create new templates, but you can send templates from our library in a test format.

We would like to remind you that you should use template messages to initiate a dialog with clients, without them you will be able to start communication with a client only if the client writes to you first. You can read more about templates and dialog sessions here.

How do I connect an operator to the chat room?

You will be able to connect colleagues and employees to handle incoming chat requests. You can connect an unlimited number of employees and you do not need to pay extra for each new operator. To connect a new employee, go to the “Operators” section and invite an employee by sending an invitation to his/her e-mail.

The operator will be limited in the ability to make changes to the personal cabinet: he will not be able to edit channel settings, connect new numbers, invoice or unsubscribe, but will be able to work in chat and communicate with customers.

You'll also be able to set up automatic distribution of incoming requests to agents or a chatbot using chat capabilities, more on that here.

WhatsApp Chatbot and automation

Let's talk about another indispensable tool for businesses - WhatsApp chatbots, well, or other inbox automation.

You will be able to create your own chatbot to handle customer requests with 1msg chatbot builder. The possibilities of chatbots are quite wide, we talked about them here:

1MSG.io — How to set up a WhatsApp chatbot? Part 1

Send out messages and WABA templates, create WhatsApp quiz chatbots, and send out List Messages

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 4 min read

1MSG.io — WhatsApp Chatbot: Customer Engaging for Businesses

How to fix leads and send you a notification about a new customer, use smart-delay messages and categorize customers into groups using tags

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 4 min read

1MSG.io — How to set up a WhatsApp chatbot? Part 3

How to significantly diversify the behaviour of the bot using randomizer and block with “conditions” for WhatsApp chatbot

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 2 min read

1MSG.io — Ready-made chatbot script examples

MSG.io — Ready-made examples of chatbot scripts for different businesses and cases. Easy to connect and start using.

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 5 min read

Activate the chatbot through the main menu of the chatbot builder, to do so:

• Create a new script or use one of the pre-built chatbots from our library.
• Edit the bot script using the visual builder blocks.
• Make the script the main one, so that this script will start processing incoming requests.

Now you can send a message to yourself and watch how the bot will handle the incoming request. If you want to try other scenarios, all you have to do is switch the bot's script via chat.

If you want the bot to write to you first, don't forget to run the WABA template first. The bot won't be able to start a dialog with the client if it doesn't open it with a template message, and after that launch the bot on the desired number.

If you're looking for a simpler automation solution, go for automated responses. They are fairly easy to customize, just select the auto-response option you want and edit the content.

Bulk mailings in WhatsApp

The top 3 most popular WhatsApp solutions definitely include WhatsApp newsletters.Now, you won't be able to send more than one message to your number, but that won't stop you from learning how you can create these newsletters in 1msg.

In the “Newsletters” section, create a new one. Give it a name, select your channel, in this case it will be a demo channel, then create a segment for the mailing - for now the segment can only be your number. Choose a template and send the newsletter. We have described the process of creating a newsletter in great detail here:

1MSG.io — How to make Bulk Messaging in WhatsApp?

Detailed instructions on how to set up bulk messaging or broadcasts using WhatsApp Business API.

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 11 min read

Now you know enough to test the features of the service and see if it suits you, but don't forget that you can always write to us in the chat on the site if you have any questions. Have a good test!

Добро пожаловать в инструкцию по работе с демо 1msg. Здесь мы коротко расскажем о том, как эффективно провести 7 дней демо периода и проверить все нужные вам возможности сервиса и WhatsApp Business API.

Важно. Если вы ищете в WhatsApp Business API возможность интеграции с CRM системами или другими решениями, то напишите нашей поддержке на сайте. Мы поможем вам сориентироваться и предложим партнеров, которые свяжут ваш номер с самыми популярными CRM и другими сервисами.

Начнем с самого главного – демо период не дает полный доступ к возможностям WABA. Фактически вы сможете отправлять сообщения только на свой номер — этого недостаточно для полноценной бизнес-интеграции, но вполне достаточно, чтобы вы проверили и убедились в работе всех возможностей сервиса.

7-ми дневной демо период активируется с момента регистрации на сайте. В самом начале вам будете предложено выбрать между «Бизнесом» и «Программистом». Не бойтесь, вы не лишитесь никаких возможностей личного кабинета, речь идет только о его оформлении, для примера: бизнес выводит функции чата, чат-бота и автоматических ответов в верхние уровни бар-меню, а программисту в первую очередь будут демонстрироваться инструменты разработчика, например вот так:

После выбора настройки личного кабинета и указания данных о вашей компании, данный этап можно пропустить, вам будет предложена возможность подключить номер телефона для теста, сделать это можно с помощью QR кода или просто перейдя по ссылке. Выберите удобный для вас вариант и 7 дней демо периода ваши.

Теперь перейдем к возможностям сервиса.

Shared Team Inbox Чат

Или просто чат для общения с клиентами – незаменимый инструмент для любого бизнеса.

Напомним, что при полноценном подключении номера WhatsApp Business API у вас пропадает возможность пользоваться обычными приложениями WhatsApp и WhatsApp Business, поэтому вам просто необходимо решение, которое имеет в себе встроенный чат, а еще лучше мобильную версию чата.

С помощью чата вы сможете:

• Отправлять сообщения

Достаточно написать сообщение в меню чата и отправить его. Входящие сообщения также будут отображаться в чате.

• Редактировать сообщения

В меню чата вы сможете сделать текст курсивным, жирным или подчеркнуть важное.

• Ставить пометки

Оставляйте пометки при общении с клиентами, которые будут видны только вам, другим операторам, но не клиенту. С помощью пометок вы не забудите важные нюансы при общении с клиентом.

• Отправлять файлы

С помощью чата вы можете отправлять любые типы файлов.

• Отправлять шаблонные сообщения и инициировать общение с пользователями

В 1msg вы также можете создавать и редактировать шаблоны для открытия диалога с клиентами. Сделать это можно в основном разделе с каналами (номерами). Пока вы демо версии создавать новые шаблоны нельзя, однако можно в тестовом формате отправлять шаблоны из нашей библиотеки.

Напоминаем, что для инициации диалога с клиентами нужно использовать шаблонные сообщения, без них вы сможете начать общение с клиентом только если сам клиент напишет вам первым. Подробнее о шаблонах и диалоговых сессиях можно почитать здесь.

Как подключить оператора в чат?

Вы сможете подключать коллег и сотрудников для обработки входящих запросов в чате. Можно подключить неограниченное количество сотрудников и за каждого нового оператора доплачивать не нужно. Для подключения нового сотрудника перейдите в раздел «Операторы» и пригласите сотрудника, выслав ему приглашение на почту.

Оператор будет ограничен в возможностях вносить изменения в работу личного кабинета: он не сможет редактировать настройки канала, подключать новые номера, выставлять счета или снимать подписку, но сможет работать в чате и общаться с клиентами.

Вы также сможете настроить автоматическое распределение входящих заявок между операторами или чат-ботом с помощью возможностей чата, подробнее об этом здесь.

WhatsApp Чат-бот и автоматизация

Поговорим о еще одном незаменимом инструменте для бизнеса — WhatsApp чат-боты, ну или другая автоматизация входящих сообщений.

Вы сможете создать своего чат-бота для обработки клиентских запросов с помощью 1msg чат-бот конструктора. Возможности чат-бота достаточно широки, мы говорили о них здесь:

1MSG.io — How to set up a WhatsApp chatbot? Part 1

Send out messages and WABA templates, create WhatsApp quiz chatbots, and send out List Messages

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 4 min read

1MSG.io — WhatsApp Chatbot: Customer Engaging for Businesses

How to fix leads and send you a notification about a new customer, use smart-delay messages and categorize customers into groups using tags

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 4 min read

1MSG.io — How to set up a WhatsApp chatbot? Part 3

How to significantly diversify the behaviour of the bot using randomizer and block with “conditions” for WhatsApp chatbot

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 2 min read

1MSG.io — Ready-made chatbot script examples

MSG.io — Ready-made examples of chatbot scripts for different businesses and cases. Easy to connect and start using.

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 5 min read

Активируйте чат-бота через основное меню чат-бот конструктора, для этого:

• Создайте новый сценарий или используйте один из заранее созданных из нашей библиотеки чат-ботов.
• Отредактируйте сценарий бота с помощью блоков визуального конструктора.
• Сделайте сценарий основным, чтобы именно этот сценарий начал обрабатывать входящие заявки.

Теперь вы можете отправить сообщение себе на номер и наблюдать, как бот будет обрабатывать входящий запрос. Если вы захотите попробовать другие сценарии, то достаточно переключить сценарий бота через чат.

Если вы хотите, чтобы бот написал вам первым, то не забудьте первым блоком запустить WABA шаблон. Бот не сможет начать диалог с клиентом, если он не откроет его с помощью шаблонного сообщения, а уже после запускайте бота на нужном номере.

Если вы ищете более простое решение автоматизации, то воспользуйтесь автоматическими ответами. Их достаточно легко настраивать, просто выберите нужный вариант автоответа и отредактируйте содержание.

Массовые рассылки в WhatsApp

В топ 3 самых популярных решений по работе с WhatsApp обязательно входят рассылки в WhatsApp. Сейчас вы не сможете отправить больше, чем одно сообщение на свой номер, но это не помешает вам познакомиться с тем, как можно создать эти рассылки в 1msg.

В разделе «Рассылки» создайте новую. Дайте ей название, выберите ваш канал, в данном случае это будет демо-канал, после чего создайте сегмент для рассылки — пока сегментом может быть только ваш номер. Выберите шаблон и отправьте рассылку. Очень подробно мы описали процесс создания рассылки здесь:

1MSG.io — How to make Bulk Messaging in WhatsApp?

Detailed instructions on how to set up bulk messaging or broadcasts using WhatsApp Business API.

1msg.io — WhatsApp Business API tools• 11 min read

Теперь вы знаете достаточно, чтобы протестировать возможности сервиса и понять подходит ли он вам, но не забывайте, что вы всегда можете написать нам в чат на сайте, если у вас возникнут какие-либо вопросы. Удачного теста!

As a business proprietor, you can schedule payment reminders on the last day of subscription or cart reminders in WhatsApp for your customers. You can also send welcoming messages to all new Customers or subscribers.

For business owners like you, scheduling WhatsApp messages is essential as it improves engagement and boost sales. Whether you are using WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business, you can easily accomplish this in a few simple steps.

Now let's understand how to schedule Messages in WhatsApp messages on the WhatsApp platforms.

How to schedule messages to be sent in WhatsApp Business API using 1msg.io?

In 1msg.io you can schedule both sending messages to WhatsApp and sending an entire broadcast. In this article we will look at both cases. How to schedule messages to be sent in WhatsApp using Shared Team Inbox Chat:

1. Go to Shared Team Inbox Chat in your personal 1msg.io account.
2. Open any chat room with a client.
3. Click on the "schedule" button to customize the ability to schedule messages.

With this tool you can schedule any message for any time, you can use this solution for yourself or for your team, here are some examples of how you can use time scheduling in Shared Team Inbox Chat:

1. Send reminders to customers at strictly designated times.
2. Send reference materials and responses during business hours.
3. Send messages taking into account clients' time zones.
4. Send reminders to customers to write before the 24-hour free communication window expires to save budget for communication in WhatsApp.

Another option to send scheduled messages is to use WhatsApp Bulk Messaging or Broadcast.

When setting up a WhatsApp broadcast, you can specify the time of the mailing at which it should happen. Setting up a broadcast takes some time, we have described the whole process in detail here, read the article to produce any newsletter of your choice: 1MSG.io — How to make Bulk Messaging in WhatsApp?

How To Schedule WhatsApp messages on the Business App?

WhatsApp Business APP has a built in functionality to send scheduled messages. WhatsApp Business APP itself is a tool that has a lot of business functionality. What is the difference between the regular WhatsApp app and WhatsApp Business app, we have written here: 1MSG - Comparison WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business and API.

1. Open the WhatsApp Business app on your Android or iPhone mobile device.
2. Tap and go to Settings. Select "Business Tools."
3. Tap on "Away Message" and turn on the "Send Away Message" toggle switch. Here, select the pencil icon next to "Away Message".
4. Type the WhatsApp message in the text box. After that, tap "OK".
5. Choose how you want to schedule the message to be sent and tap "Schedule". You can choose a customized schedule based on your business hours.

This is how you can set up scheduled messages in WhatsApp using WhatsApp Business APP.

How To Schedule WhatsApp Messages on Android and iPhone?

To set up scheduled messages in the regular WhatsApp app on android and iPhone, you need to install separate apps to take advantage of the ability to schedule messages. For android you can use WhatsApp Message Scheduler SKED it app and for the iPhone Shortcuts app from the App Store. Install apps and set up a new approach to automate scheduled messages.

Why schedule messages in WhatsApp?

Scheduling messages on WhatsApp can help improve communication efficiency and ensure that all the messages you need are sent at the right time. Here are a few reasons why you should schedule messages in WhatsApp:

Time Zone Consideration: If you have customers in different time zones, scheduling messages can help ensure that your message is delivered at a time that is convenient for them.

Streamlining your work life:
You are dealing with countless tasks. By setting aside a specific time in your routine to schedule messages, you optimize your process. Organize a week's worth of communication in one sitting, and then you can focus on other tasks knowing that customer interactions are on autopilot.

Think carefully about your messages:
Have you ever been in a hurry to write a message and then noticed a typo as soon as you hit the send button? When you plan, you give yourself the opportunity to compose, review and perfect your message. Your messages reflect your professionalism, so each one should be clear and error-free. No more rushed typing and instant regret!

Avoiding forgotten messages: When you're busy, it's easy to forget to send an important message. Scheduling allows you to ensure that all important messages are sent on time

Zapier is an online service that automates processes between web applications. It works as a "middleman", connecting tools such as CRM, email, finance and others to perform tasks automatically.

It can be used to create a "task" (called a "Zap") to perform certain actions in response to events, such as a new contact in CRM or a new message in email. For example, you can set up a Zap to automatically add new contacts in your CRM to Google Sheets.

The platform supports over 1,500 web applications, including popular tools such as Slack, Trello, Gmail. This makes it a very flexible tool for automating business processes.

With Zapier, you will also be able to synthesize with WhatsApp via 1msg.io apps. You will be able to send, receive messages, update and check their status, as well as upload all the necessary data to a google spreadsheet. In this article, we will show you how easy it is for you to do this.

How to set up WhatsApp integration with Zapier in 5 points?

1. Register with Zapier and 1msg.io.
2. Create a new ZAP.
3. Link it to your 1msg.io account using API KEY and API URL.
4. Link the new ZAP to google tables.
5. Set the desired query and collect information about WhatsApp messages in Google spreadsheet.

Now let's break it down in more detail and with intructions.

WhatsApp integration with Zapier

The first thing you need to do to start integrating Zapier WhatsApp API is to go to the Zapier website and register, you will immediately have access to over 1500 different web applications. The free version has its limitations, but the free version is sufficient for initial WhatsApp Zapier integration and the first episodes of working with the messenger.

After registration you will find yourself in your personal account, where you can integrate with other web applications, to synthesize with WhatsApp Business API you need to find us among Zapier applications, for this just type in the search "1msg.io".

The hard part is done, now let's move on to creating and setting up Zap with WhatsApp. Before doing this, it is necessary to understand "triggers" and "actions" in Zapier.

Triggers are events that happen in WhatsApp, the data about which you can capture and store. You can say that triggers are less dependent on your actions. There are now two types of triggers available in Zapier, with which you can create your own Zap or WhatsApp integration. These are a new message trigger and a message status trigger. In the first case you capture information about the message and its content and save it in google sheets, and in the second case you capture information about the status of the message: sent, delivered, read. Each status change will be transmitted through Zap to your google spreadsheet.

It is also possible to perform an "action", in our case sending messages through your Zapier integration. But let's start with the triggering events.

Zapier trigger on incoming message in WhatsApp

Create a new Zap and set a trigger on incoming messages to 1msg.io in the first block.

For further work you will need to register and get API KEY and URL in 1msg.io personal account.

You can get the necessary data in your 1msg.io personal cabinet: go to the channels section, select your working project with connected and active WABA number, copy the keys and url in the main screen.

You can copy the API KEY and API URL from here. In this case, the token is an API KEY, and the instance ID is an API URL. Note that when you copy the URL, it should be copied without https://api.1msg.io/, but just the number, e.g. LOK607870088. Otherwise Zapier will indicate an error.

After that click "+" under the block with 1msg.io, you will be given the option to link 1msg.io with another web application, here you need to select google sheets.

The look of Zap is somewhat reminiscent of the visual constructor of bots in your personal account, as is the principle of action in blocks in a way. After creating the block with google table, go back to the first block with 1msg.io triggers on a new incoming WhatsApp Zapier message. Finish the configuration and press test. You'll see the response option from the server, which is basically just a list of sample responses to queries. You will see all the information you can get from the server, including the message ID, Body (i.e. text) and status.

Note that there is a green checkmark next to the block, which means that we have configured the first block for incoming messages correctly. Now we have to move on to setting up another block with google tables, so that it is where the information about all incoming WhatsApp messages is saved. Select to create a new row in the settings.

This is necessary for message data to create new rows in your table. Next, you need to authorize in google tables so that Zapier can access your spreadsheets.

Next you have to create the table you want in google tables, roughly it can look like this, note that the rows have the name of the information you would like to get from the queries to WhatsApp Business API.

The final step in customizing the table block is to specify the key information: the name of the google table, the table sheet, and the processing of the query we need. Everything is set up quite easily, Zapier itself will point you to the missing information. It is more difficult to decide on the query you want to run, if you are interested in the message id, then choose it, if you need the text of the message, then choose Body.

This is the last important step, after that you can finalize the configuration and create your Zap. Now all the messages that will come to you in WhatsApp will be displayed through Zapier in your Google Spreadsheet. To get the status of messages in the same way: sent, delivered, read, you need to create and configure another trigger, a trigger on message status.

Zapier's trigger to change the status of messages in WhatsApp

Configuring this trigger is very similar to configuring an incoming message trigger, with a few minor exceptions. Select the post status update block in the start menu and also select and create the google spreadsheet block.

The difference is that now in the table we select ACK ID, so that in the table we keep information about the status changes of messages in WhatsApp.

You're all set, complete the setup, don't forget to check the spreadsheet and let Zap collect the status change information for you online in a google spreadsheet.

Let's talk about chatbot scenarios. In brief, chatbot scripts are ready-made scenarios of your bot's work, the sequence of actions and reactions of the bot according to the client's requests. In 1msg.io we have prepared scenarios for the most popular requests, which will help you not to spend a lot of effort and immediately take a ready scenario to work. Of course, you can improve and complicate the scripts at your will, for this you can use a special WhatsApp chatbot builder. But before we analyze the ready-made scripts, a small introduction to bots, why do we need them at all?

Why are WhatsApp chatbots and ready-made scripts for them so popular?

WhatsApp chatbots present a transformational opportunity for businesses, bridging the gap between them and their customers with unparalleled efficiency and convenience. The ubiquity of WhatsApp, with its user base exceeding two billion, provides a fertile ground for businesses to cultivate a personal, yet automated dialogue with their audience, without the friction of introducing a new communication platform.

The real magic of a WhatsApp chatbot lies in its round-the-clock availability and instantaneous responses, ensuring that customer inquiries are addressed without delay, at any hour. This 24/7 presence means that businesses can offer consistent and reliable customer service, reducing wait times and improving overall customer satisfaction. The speed and quality of these interactions not only bolster customer trust but also free up human resources to focus on more complex tasks that require a personal touch.

Furthermore, the ability of WhatsApp chatbots to scale operations is a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. They can manage a vast number of conversations simultaneously, from simple FAQ responses to more intricate customer service inquiries, without compromising the quality of service. This scalability ensures that during peak times, like sales or product launches, customer experience remains smooth and uninterrupted. Coupled with the ability to gather data and insights from customer interactions, WhatsApp chatbots empower businesses with the knowledge to personalize experiences and proactively address customer needs, fostering loyalty and encouraging repeat business.

At 1msg.io you can create your own bot for almost free, we wrote why this is so in this article: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API chatbot for almost free. Detailed instructions on how to create a bot, as well as a full list of their features, we described here: 1MSG.io — How to set up a WhatsApp chatbot? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Ready-made chatbot scripts examples

All ready-made chatbot scenarios can be found in the personal cabinet of 1msg.io. in the "Flow Library" section. Registration is free and you can always use a test demo account to check the work of WABA and your number.

You can select the script you want and copy to your work scripts. To do this, click on the "Use this" button.

Copy your new chatbot scripts example. It will go into your personal bot library.

Now more about which ready-made chatbot scripts will be at your disposal at once.

Ready-made chatbot scenarios from 1msg.io

Here you will find ready-made chatbot scenarios that you can immediately use in your work. Ready-made scripts can always be improved, you can complicate and make any changes to the script at your discretion.

Bank Account chatbot script

Script a chat bot for banks that provides information and helps customers apply for a new bank account.

Doctor's appointment chatbot script

A chat bot script for clinics and private practitioners that helps customers to choose the right doctor and make an appointment. Also chat bot script can share the address of the clinic upon customer's request.

Ecommerce chatbot script

Startup chat bot script for online store. The chat bot provides information about the product and also helps the customer to send a request about the delivery status of the product.

Education chatbot script

A startup chat bot script for online or offline educational platforms that offers customers the choice of an educational course as well as booking a customer-friendly class time.

Hospital Booking chatbot script

Chat bot script to book a doctor's appointment and also book a place for outpatient treatment in clinics.

Realtor agency chatbot script

A starter chat bot script that gathers information about customer queries and afterward connects the agent to communicate with the customer.

Reservations for general appointments chatbot script

Chat bot script for booking an appointment, call or other form of discussing queries with a customer.

Restaurant chatbot script

A chat bot script that will share a menu with the customer, help book a table or carry out a takeaway order.

Conclusion

When working with WhatsApp chatbots it is worth remembering that sending messages to WhatsApp is paid, then the first thousand incoming messages per month are free. Therefore, these bots are scripted to handle incoming requests. Before installing a bot, learn about the WhatsApp payment system here: Flow block types - 1MSG KNOWLEDGE BASE and here: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API Payment model. Details on how to connect WhatsApp Business API to start using chatbot scripts can be found in this article: 1MSG.io — Setting up WhatsApp integration step by step.  

Probably no one needs to explain the advantages and possibilities of Chat GPT ai chatbot for business. Chat GPT has really changed the perception of how artificial intelligence can be used in work: chatbots, automated responses, AI support and sales, all companies are actively using it in their work, freeing up labor potential, increasing efficiency and unlocking the potential of their team. Today we will talk about how you can customize automated replies in WhatsApp by integrating WhatsApp Business API with Chat GPT.

What are AI automated responses and how can they help your business?

Chat gpt WhatsApp bot, auto replies is a feature that you can use to provide your customers with automatically prepared replies so that no customer is left out and all incoming requests do not go unattended.  At 1msg.io, you can take advantage of 3 types of common automated responses and customize them for your business.

And contains three options for working with auto responses: responses to incoming requests, auto responses with a delay, if you want to meet customers with live communication, but are afraid that you will miss a customer, then auto responses will back you up and auto responses outside of business hours. Automated replies work well when handling large numbers of requests, so autoresponders work well when teamed with Bulk messaging on WhatsApp. We wrote more about 1msg.io automated responses in this article: 1MSG.io — Auto Replay Features on WhatsApp Business 2023.

But today we're talking about AI auto replies in WhatsApp AI chatbot with integration to Open AI Chat GPT, the fourth option for handling auto replies in 1msg.io. What opportunities does it bring to you:

• Versatility in Language Processing: GPT-3’s adaptability shines across a multitude of language processing tasks. It serves as a multifunctional tool for translating languages, condensing text, responding to queries, and creating new content.
• Benchmark-Setting Performance: GPT-3’s impressive array of 175 billion parameters sets it apart, enabling it to deliver top-tier results in various natural language undertakings. This vast network of parameters is the cornerstone of its proficiency in navigating complex linguistic tasks.
• Custom-Tailored Precision: Tailoring GPT-3 to niche requirements enhances its output, making it an invaluable asset for customer service optimization, bespoke content generation, and seamless language translation.
• User-Friendly Integration: The integration of GPT-3 is straightforward across different platforms and applications, presenting a user-friendly option for businesses of all technical backgrounds.
• Adaptable Scale: The architecture of GPT-3 is designed for fluid scalability, accommodating fluctuating demands with ease.
• Economical Innovation: By streamlining content generation and other language tasks, GPT-3 cuts down on the need for costly development investments, offering a financially savvy alternative.
• Enhanced Customer Interaction: Leveraging GPT-3’s capacity for personalization can elevate customer interaction, fostering a sense of loyalty and increasing retention rates.
• Constant Availability: GPT-3 stands ready around the clock, providing uninterrupted customer support, resolving queries, and assisting customers anytime, thereby enhancing service reliability.

Now we can move on to the main thing: how to use chatgpt in WhatsApp?

How to connect and configure automatic AI responses for WhatsApp Business API in 1msg.io?

To connect AI auto-replies for WhatsApp Business API you first need to connect your WhatsApp Business API number. We will help you connect WhatsApp Business API, to do this you need to do the following steps:

1. Register at 1msg.io. Registration is free, you can use a free demo account.You will be able to send test messages to your own number.
2. Open a new WABA project.
3. Connect your WhatsApp number to WhatsApp Business API.
4. You will need an account in Meta Business manager to successfully connect the number. You can create it in advance, or it will be created in the process of connecting the number. Connecting the number is fast, our tips on the website will help you connect the number in just 10 minutes. Detailed instructions on how to connect the number can be found here: Attaching your WhatsApp number to WABA—detailed guide - 1MSG KNOWLEDGE BASE

After that, just activate auto-answers and they will start discussing incoming customer requests.

After connecting the number to WhatsApp Busines API, you will no longer be able to use the number in regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business applications, but we immediately open Inbox chat, Automation tools and Chatbot builder on WhatsApp Business API number for your customers. And, of course, the AI auto-reply features will also be available to you immediately. Once the number is connected, you can move on to setting up AI auto replies for WhatsApp Business API.

How to set up AI chat gpt on WhatsApp Business API?

1. Go to the "Auto replies" section.
2. Specify OpenAI API key.
3. Specify the response time of the Chat GPT bot. After what time the bot should automatically reply to the client's message.
4. Specify the prompt, that is, the primary context of the Chat GPT AI bot's responses. For example, you can specify that you work in the hotel business, the bot's responses should contain some general information about the hotel operation: check-in and check-out times, room occupancy, and so on. Examples of prompts can be found in the article below.

How to get an OpenAI API Key for ChatGPT?

To get your own OpenAI API key, follow the steps below:

1. Create an OpenAI account‍
If you don't already have an OpenAI account, navigate to the OpenAI website.
Here, you will see a "Sign Up" button at the top right corner of the website. Click on it and fill in your details to create an account.

2. Verify your account‍
After signing up, you'll receive an email from OpenAI to confirm your account. Open this email and click on the verification link. This step helps to ensure the security of your account.

3. Log into your account‍
Now that your account is verified, return to the OpenAI website and click on the "Log In" button. Enter the username and password you used to sign up.

4. Navigate to the API section
‍After logging in, in the top right corner of your screen you'll see an icon with your account name. Click it to open the dropdown menu then click "View API keys".

5. Generate a new API key
‍Now you're in the API keys section, you should see a button "Create new secret key". Click on that button to generate a new API key.

6. Secure Your API Key
Upon creation, your unique secret key will be displayed. It is essential to copy this secret key and input it into the necessary application. It is crucial to keep a record of this key in a safe place because, for security purposes, you will not be able to access it again. This key is necessary for the authentication of your applications with the services provided by OpenAI.

You can read more about working with API KEY here: Where do I find my Secret API Key? | OpenAI Help Center The main thing to remember is that Open AI offers the possibility to work with Chat GPT AI for free, but there are limitations on the volume of requests with Chat GPT, you can learn more about the price plan policy of the service here. Pricing (openai.com).

More details about WhatsApp charging system in this article: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API Payment model.

How to properly design prompts for Chat GPT, what nuances should be considered? Or how to use chat gpt to communicate properly with clients

A prompt is essentially an input that you give to an AI model like Chat GPT to initiate a response. It's the text or instruction that sets the stage for the model's output. When you're interacting with a language model, the prompt is the message or question you type in that tells the AI what you want it to do or talk about.

For example, if you say to Chat GPT, "Write me a poem about the ocean," the entire sentence is the prompt. It tells the AI that you want a poem (the type of content) that is about the ocean (the subject of the content).

Prompts can be simple or complex, depending on the task you're asking the AI to perform. They are a critical part of interacting with AI because the quality and specificity of the prompt can greatly influence the quality of the AI's response. A well-crafted prompt leads to more accurate, relevant, and useful outputs from the AI.

Designing prompts for Chat GPT AI chat-bot (or any variant of the GPT series) effectively is critical for getting the desired response. Here are some guidelines to follow when designing prompts:

• Be Specific: Clearly state what you want. The more specific your prompt, the more likely you are to get a useful response. For instance, instead of saying "Tell me about dogs," say "Provide a summary of the evolutionary history of domestic dogs."
• Use Clear and Concise Language: Avoid ambiguity in your prompts. Use clear and straightforward language so that the intent of your prompt is unmistakable.
• Provide Context When Needed: If your question requires understanding a particular context, include that in the prompt. For example, if you're asking for advice on a certain situation, provide enough background information.
• Sequential Prompts for Complex Tasks: If you have a complex request, break it down into smaller, sequential prompts. This will guide the model step by step through the task.
• Prompt for Examples if Applicable: When asking for creative content, it can be helpful to ask for examples or to provide a style guide within the prompt.
• Use Keywords That Direct the Model's Tone and Style: If you're looking for a response in a certain tone or style, include that in your prompt. For example, "Write a humorous description of a day in the life of a cat," cues the model to adopt a light-hearted tone.
• Close-Ended vs. Open-Ended: Decide whether you want a specific answer (close-ended) or if you are looking for a more explorative and detailed response (open-ended).
• Iterative Prompting: If the first response isn't quite what you're looking for, refine your prompt and try again, using the information you received to get closer to the desired output.
• Include Instructions for Structure: If the response requires a specific format (like an essay, a list, or a script), mention this in the prompt.
• Check for Bias: Be mindful that your prompts do not reinforce or introduce biases. Aim for neutral language that doesn't lead the model toward biased or undesirable outputs.
• Testing and Refinement: Test your prompts to see what kinds of responses they generate and refine them based on the results.

Remember, GPT models learn from the patterns of language in the data they were trained on, so the way you frame your prompts will significantly influence the response. Practice and refinement are key to mastering prompt design for the best interactions with Chat GPT.

Examples of Prompt

Commerce
Present yourself as a chatbot AI gpt Genie. Don't break character. Behave professionally and always provide accurate information.  Answer back in the same language as was the question.

Inform that all operators are busy at the moment.
If a user asks for links - provide them with https://www.google.com/ for general purposes, https://www.google.com/ for delivery options, https://www.google.com/ for contact information.

If a user seems satisfied or if the operator is required to answer the question, thank them and tell them that operator will be present soon.

Booking
Present yourself as a chatbot gpt AI Genie. Don't break character. Behave professionally and always provide accurate information.  Answer back in the same language as was the question.

Inform that all operators are busy at the moment. You may advise user to navigate to https://www.google.com/ for general purposes, https://www.google.com/ for booking options, https://www.google.com/ for contact information.

You may provide the user the general information about the interested area of your knowledge. If you see a specific booking request, thank the user, and tell them to wait for the operator.

Medicine
Present yourself as a chatbot AI Genie. Don't break character. Behave professionally and always provide accurate information.  Answer back in the same language as was the question.

Inform that all operators are busy at the moment. You may advise user to navigate to https://www.google.com/ for general purposes, https://www.google.com/ for pricing options, https://www.google.com/ for a list of doctors, https://www.google.com/ for contact information.

You can provide information about various diseases, their symptoms and treatments. You may provide the user the general information about the interested area of your knowledge. If you see a specific request from a user, like asking for advice, asking for a time window with a doctor, or other, thank the user, and tell them that operator will answer their question as soon as possible.

Every time answering the question - provide text that AI Genie is an informational tool and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Education
Present yourself as a chatbot AI Genie. Don't break character. Behave professionally and always provide accurate information.  Answer back in the same language as was the question.

Inform that all operators are busy at the moment. If a user asks for links - provide them with https://www.google.com/ for general purposes, https://www.google.com/ for contact information. You will help find resources for learning new material, provide tips for effective study, and provide support for learning goals.

If a user seems satisfied or if the operator is required to answer the question, thank them and tell them that operator will be present soon.

Use Chat GPT in WhatsApp for your business, don't be left behind by innovation and you will see how much of your company's resources and capabilities you free up, as well as how your customer experience grows.

In the modern digital landscape, engaging with customers is vital for any business's success. WhatsApp, with its impressive global user base of 2,5 billion active individuals in 2023, has become an invaluable tool for connecting with potential clients. However, for many entrepreneurs, crafting a WhatsApp link can be a challenging task.

Worry not, because the WhatsApp link generator provides an easy and efficient way to generate WhatsApp chat links. This blog will explore how businesses can use the WhatsApp link generator to craft impactful WhatsApp links, thereby elevating their customer engagement efforts.

What is WhatsApp Link Generator?

WhatsApp link generators are a tool designed to create custom, clickable links that directly open a chat with a company's WhatsApp number. Such links are very useful for businesses, they simplify communication and facilitate contact with customers.  

WhatsApp link generator online is a tool designed to create custom, clickable links that directly open a chat with a company's WhatsApp number. Such links are very useful for businesses, they simplify communication and facilitate contact with customers.

The first messages that customers write to you using the click-to-WhatsApp link will not be charged by the WhatsApp Business API. More details about WhatsApp charging system in this article: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API Payment model.

The WhatsApp chat link generator is an exceptionally user-friendly tool, streamlining the process of crafting WhatsApp links with remarkable ease. This tool liberates you from the complexities often associated with creating these links. Simply input your phone number, select the appropriate country code, and hit "Create Link." Just like that, have your very own WhatsApp link generator for free at your disposal.

This generator stands as a potent instrument for ramping up customer interaction. It facilitates effortless sharing of your WhatsApp contact with prospective clients. Therefore, for anyone aiming to construct a WhatsApp link, the WhatsApp link generator is your go-to resource. It embodies the ideal blend of simplicity and efficiency for businesses eager to augment their presence and engagement on WhatsApp.

How to generate a WhatsApp chat link in 2023?  

1. Follow the link to use the WhatsApp Link Generator for free or simply go to your personal 1msg.io account.
2. Go to "WA Link Generator" section.
3. Type your WhatsApp Number. Enter your WhatsApp number along with your country code (without the `+` symbol). For instance, if your country code is +91 and your WhatsApp number is 872849182, just type 91872849182.
4. Write a welcome message, for example: " Hi there, glad you wrote to me on WhatsApp".
5. Click on the "Generate Now" button.

A link as well as a QR code will be generated for you, which you can display on your social media accounts or website, as well as send to your customers to quickly and seamlessly connect with you on WhatsApp.

Leveraging WhatsApp Links for Enhanced Marketing Campaigns

Utilizing WhatsApp links in your marketing endeavors offers a dynamic way to connect with audiences and boost conversions. Here are several impactful methods to integrate WhatsApp links into your marketing strategies:

1. Website Interaction Boosters Deploy WhatsApp links on your site as interactive “Click-to-Chat” buttons. Position these on pivotal pages like product descriptions, contact sections, or within blog articles, providing an immediate pathway for visitors to engage with your business.
2. Amplifying Social Media Reach Incorporate WhatsApp links into your social media content and ads, inviting users to easily reach out for queries, support, or order placements.
3. Engagement through Contests Use WhatsApp links to drive participation in contests or to publicize special deals, encouraging users to engage or access exclusive offers through the link.
4. Enhancing Customer Service with Chatbots Combine AI-driven chatbots with your WhatsApp links to automatically interact with users, offering information or help post-click.
5. Integrating into Email Campaigns Embed WhatsApp links in your email marketing initiatives, such as through a “Chat with Us” feature that connects directly to your WhatsApp conversation thread.
6. Direct Access to WhatsApp Business Catalog For those utilizing WhatsApp Business, craft links leading directly to specific products or service catalogs, streamlining the shopping experience for prospective buyers.
7. Utilizing QR Codes Create QR codes that connect to your WhatsApp number and incorporate them into physical promotional materials like brochures, flyers, business cards, or even product packaging.
8. Event Engagement Apply WhatsApp links in the context of events, webinars, or workshops for straightforward registrations or to field queries from attendees in real-time.
9. Empowering Affiliate Networks Equip your affiliate partners with unique WhatsApp links, aiding in tracking referrals and conversion rates.
10. Prioritizing User Consent and Compliance Always secure user consent before dispatching marketing messages via WhatsApp links and adhere strictly to WhatsApp’s guidelines and pertinent privacy laws.

Advantages of creating WhatsApp Link

Customization and Branding: Create your own personal WhatsApp Link. Businesses can tailor their links with specific pre-set messages or greetings. For example, a link could lead to a chat that starts with, "Hello, welcome to our service! How can we assist you today?" This feature not only saves time for the customer but also allows businesses to infuse their brand's voice right from the first point of contact.

Marketing and Outreach Applications: These links are incredibly versatile in marketing campaigns. They can be embedded in emails, social media pages, digital brochures, or even QR codes. This flexibility ensures that wherever the target audience is, there's an easy way for them to connect with the business via WhatsApp. It's a direct line of communication that can be leveraged across various platforms.

Analytics and Tracking: Sophisticated short WhatsApp link generators also provide analytics. Businesses can track how many users are clicking their links, from which platforms they are coming, and other useful data. This information can be pivotal for understanding customer behavior and refining marketing strategies.

In summary, WhatsApp link generators are a simple yet powerful tool for businesses in the digital age. They not only simplify the process of connecting with customers but also open up new avenues for engagement and marketing, all while providing valuable insights into customer interactions.

You can generate more leads from mobile traffic through WhatsApp messages and messengers in general. How do you make it work? You simply add a special WhatsApp button to your website.

It's about the widget. This is probably the most convenient version of communication, because any visitor to your website can very easily write a message to your company's chat room via the popular messenger. The button is a floating block that occupies a certain place on the page of the site. Thanks to this tool is convenient to use - a person clicks on it and gets into the WhatsApp application to start a dialog with you and ask questions in the message.

In this case, the system automatically inserts the phone number of the company, and in the input line users see a message, the text of which you have prepared in advance, so that it is easier for customers to start communicating with the manager. The person sends this template, and the company receives a potential customer, his number, a request for cooperation and the person's name, if it is in the profile description. Next, everything depends on how the messages are triggered by the sales team.

The main function of the WhatsApp live chat widget is to create a link to a dialog in this messenger. Almost anyone can set up such a useful option. A floating button on the website allows you to properly design this link, simplify communication with the audience and communicate with customers through the application.

Why is it effective to install a WhatsApp widget on your website?

This tool is quite new, but nevertheless, it is ahead of the usual online chats due to the following advantages:

• Simple and convenient - people are used to chatting and writing messages in messengers, it is faster and more convenient than through mail, calls, etc. The widget allows you to move from the website to WhatsApp dialog in two clicks.
• Access to customer's contact information - segmentation of customers by query helps to make targeted mailings.
• Trust - a person leaves his number, and this makes him more loyal.
• Effective advertising - the percentage of opened messages in this application is close to 100.

The first messages that customers write to you using the click-to-WhatsApp link will not be charged by the WhatsApp Business API. More details about WhatsApp charging system in this article: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API Payment model.

How to create WhatsApp free Widget?

1. Follow the link to use the widget for free or simply go to your personal 1msg.io account.
2. Go to the "WA chat Widget" section.
3. The next step is to customize the widget. Select the color and text of the widget. As well as the location on the left or right side of the site.
4. Next, provide a brand name and phone number for your customers to write to.
5. Afterward, set up the welcome message, for example: " Hi there, glad you wrote to me on WhatsApp".
6. Then you can set a stylized brand image and generate your own widget.
   

You will have a Html code that you can paste into your website and the WhatsApp Widget or WhatsApp button for website will appear on your website.  

More on the pros and cons of working with WhatsApp chat Widget

An increasing number of entrepreneurs are acknowledging the advantages of engaging with their clientele through WhatsApp, the world's most popular messaging platform.

Having WhatsApp as a readily accessible communication tool means you can swiftly respond to customer needs, providing ongoing support throughout their interaction with your brand. Implementing a WhatsApp chat box feature on your site brings several benefits for both your business and its customers:

Advantages

• Improved Customer Interaction: Adding WhatsApp buttons to your site enables efficient and direct communication with customers, offering real-time responses to their questions and issues.
• Instant Messaging: With WhatsApp's immediate messaging features, businesses can offer quick and effective customer support.
• Enhanced Engagement and Loyalty: WhatsApp's user-friendly nature and widespread familiarity can motivate visitors to engage more with your site and brand, thereby boosting engagement and loyalty.
• Sales and Marketing Efficiency: Use WhatsApp for various promotional activities, customer inquiries, and marketing campaigns, enhancing your sales and marketing strategies.
• Broad Audience Reach: Incorporating WhatsApp allows you to connect with its extensive user base of over 2 billion active individuals. So at least for coverage reasons, it's worth to add WhatsApp button to website.

Disadvantages

• Privacy Issues: Some users may be reluctant to use WhatsApp for conversations or to share their contact details due to privacy concerns.
• Dependence on External Platform: Relying on WhatsApp for customer interactions means being subject to its evolving policies and system.
• Limited Customization: Adjusting WhatsApp to align with your website’s style and branding offers limited flexibility.
• Risks of Spam and Security Breaches: Employing WhatsApp for customer interactions might open up risks related to spam and security threats.
• Need for Resource Management: Adequate training and resource allocation are necessary to manage customer interactions effectively on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp chat example for welcome messages

Crafting welcoming and engaging messages for a WhatsApp chat page or widget is essential to create a positive first impression and encourage communication. Here are several examples tailored for different business contexts:

General Inquiry

• "Hi there! I have a question about one of your products/services."
• "Hello! I'm interested in learning more about [specific product/service]. Can you help?"

Support or Assistance

• "Hi! I need some assistance with my recent purchase/order."
• "Hello, I'm having an issue with [product/service]. Could I get some help?"

Booking/Appointment Inquiry

• "Hi, I'd like to book an appointment/make a reservation. What are your available times?"
• "Hello! I'm looking to schedule a [type of appointment]. Could you provide me with the available slots?"

Feedback or Review

• "Hi there, I recently had an experience with your [product/service] and would like to share my feedback."
• "Hello! I'd like to leave a review about my recent experience. Where can I do that?"

Product/Service Specific Query

• "Hi, can you tell me more about [specific product/service feature]?"
• "Hello, I have a question about how [specific product/service] works."

Pricing and Availability

• "Hi, I was wondering about the pricing of [product/service]. Can you provide more information?"
• "Hello, is [specific product/service] currently available?"

General Expression of Interest

• "Hi, I'm really interested in [product/service]. Can you give me more details?"
• "Hello! I came across your [product/service] and would like to know more."

Order/Service Follow-Up

• "Hi, I would like an update on my order/service request. Can you assist?"
• "Hello, I'm following up on my recent order/service booking. Any updates?"

Request for Recommendations

• "Hi! I'm looking for recommendations on [products/services]. What do you suggest?"
• "Hello, I need some advice on choosing the right [product/service]. Can you help?"

Partnership or Collaboration Inquiry

• "Hi, I'm interested in discussing a potential partnership/collaboration. Who can I speak to?"
• "Hello, I represent [Your Company/Organization]. I'd like to talk about a collaboration opportunity."

These templates are designed to encourage customers to initiate conversations on a variety of topics, ranging from inquiries and support to feedback and collaborations. They can be adjusted to match the tone and services of your online WhatsApp chat.

In conclusion, WhatsApp Widget is a progressive tool that will help you get leads for your business. There are some disadvantages with the possibility of spamming, but in general, customers will always be grateful to you for the ability to quickly and promptly contact you in a way that is convenient for them.

WhatsApp Business API has a wide arsenal of possibilities, with its help you can establish sales in messenger, conduct bulk messages to customers, build customer support, and of course collect feedback from customers, organize customer feedback management.  

Why is collecting feedback on WhatsApp more effective than other ways?

WhatsApp has its own markup on outgoing and incoming messages, which may discourage you from getting started with WhatsApp Business API, but the benefits you'll gain from working with WhatsApp outweigh the hassle.

All API providers have their own markup on WhatsApp messages. 1msg.io offers you to connect WhatsApp at the lowest markup on the market. Instead of 15%, it's only 5%. Learn more about why connecting the number with 1msg.io will be a profitable decision for you: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API Payment model.

Firstly, WhatsApp remains the most popular messenger in the world as of 2023, customers are more likely to prefer to text you on WhatsApp rather than go to other channels to contact you.

Secondly, WhatsApp has an incredible open, read and reply rate from users. Compared to email newsletters, messages are opened 60% more often and replied to 35% more often. This means that any newsletter you send out has a high chance of bringing in new customers or getting your old audience to buy.

How to set up feedback collection in WhatsApp

Almost as in everything, we can talk about two important areas: technical implementation and proper user interaction. Let's start with how to build the right customer feedback collection: when is it the right time to collect feedback, what is the best way to handle it, what are the secrets here?

One of the most effective moments to collect WhatsApp feedback is immediately after an interaction or transaction has taken place. Whether it's a product purchase, service provision, or any other significant touchpoint, this is when the experience is freshest in the customer's mind. By leveraging WhatsApp's instant communication platform, businesses can send a brief survey or simply a message asking about the customer's experience. Immediate feedback often results in more accurate and actionable insights, helping businesses quickly address any concerns or reinforce positive behaviors.

To ensure higher response rates, businesses can consider offering incentives to customers for their feedback. This could be in the form of discount codes, early access to new products, or other relevant perks. In a platform like WhatsApp, where interaction is personal and direct, a well-timed incentive not only encourages feedback but can also foster customer loyalty. It's essential, however, to ensure that incentives don't bias the feedback. Customers should feel free to express both positive and negative experiences honestly.

How to set up feedback collection using WhatsApp Business API customer feedback tools?

The first way. Quiz chatbot script

The best way to collect feedback is to use a smart chatbot, which you can make with the 1msg.io chatbot builder.

It is convenient for several reasons at once:

1. You can easily automate the process of collecting feedback.
2. Gather feedback at the right moment in time.
3. The bot will automatically collect all customer responses into the right section convenient for study and analytics.

To customize the bot you will need to go to the bot section of the bot builder and create a new script.

You will need to use a "questions" block to gather information from your customers. Questions allow you to ask customers questions, but even more importantly, questions allow you to store customer responses in variables.

Variables are the key to collecting information. You should separately create variables, specify the criteria for the client's answer to the question (i.e. text, numbers, dates, possibly other client data). All client's answers will be saved in variables created by you, in the future you can study them or use them to make communication with the client "smarter" and more diverse.

It is better to understand the relationship between variables and questions with an example. Imagine that you ask a customer with a block of "questions" his name, you should set a "variable" for the customer's answer, it is better to call it "customer name". Then, when the customer answers the question, his answer will go into the "Customer Name" variable.

How do I use a bot to manage feedback collection in time or after a trigger event has occurred?

To do this, you will need a combination of two tools, you can set special tags and teach the bot to collect feedback after exposing a certain tag to the client, for example, the tag "The customer made a purchase". If the client receives a similar tag, the bot responds with an action to collect information.

Tags are also installed in the bot settings menu. Think of the tag as a kind of token that the client receives. In order for the bot to expose such markers to clients after trigger events, you need to use the "Action" block in the bot constructor.

The action block is not visible to the clients, but at your request, the bot can perform various actions using this block, for example, set the desired tag on the client.

It will take some time to build a bot that will collect feedback, but you can always use our ready-made bots that you can find in your personal account 1msg.io.

The second way. Smart message delay in chatbot scripts

This method of feedback collection assumes that you teach the bot to collect feedback not after a trigger event, but after a certain time has passed: an hour, 12 hours, a day, etc. This method can also be very effective if you set up the right time to collect feedback.

To set a delayed message, simply use the block of the same name in the chatbot constructor.

The third way. Automated messages or autoresponder tool

The auto-answer section is in the personal account automation section of 1msg.io along with chatbots and reactions to customer keywords.

And contains three options for working with auto responses: responses to incoming requests, auto responses with a delay, if you want to meet customers with live communication, but are afraid that you will miss a customer, then auto responses will back you up and auto responses outside of business hours. The autoresponder function can also be used on the principle of time-delayed messages that you can send to customers after they have interacted with your service and collected feedback.

So we have broken down three ways to customize the collection of customer feedback in WhatsApp, we hope you will find it useful in working with customers.

When connecting a WhatsApp Business API number, you should understand that the number will not immediately be able to send unlimited messages. Meta will monitor your number's activity, compliance with WhatsApp policies, and the quality of outgoing messages, meaning low-quality messages that annoy users and make them want to block your number. You don't have to be too scared here, just think of it as an additional quality filter, which may make you spend a little more time working on your WhatsApp marketing campaign, but at the same time it will increase its effectiveness, so in the end these restrictions may even play to your advantage. Now let's talk more about these limitations and how you can easily overcome them.

Tier 0 - Initial number registration

As soon as you register your WhatsApp Business API number, you get the ability to send and receive messages to the registered number in WhatsApp. Since the WhatsApp app will not be available for the number after registration, you can use inbox chats 1msg.io.

At this level, you will be able to send 250 messages per day until your business is verified in Meta Business manager.

It should be understood that level 0 is a kind of sandbox, it will be available to you for 2 months during which the number must pass business verification. At level 0 you will also not be able to connect more than 2 WABA numbers.

Tier 1 - 1000 messages after business verification

The first level opens immediately after business verification. You get the opportunity to send 1000 messages per day. You also get 1000 free incoming messages from clients per month.

You also need to understand that Meta in WhatsApp Business API traifies customer dialogs. Each new dialog with a client opens a window of 24 hours of free communication with clients. We have written in detail about the payment structure in WhatsApp Business API here: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API Payment model. You will also find it useful to read our tutorial on the Meta dialog system: Tariffs and payments (June update!).  

How do you transition to tier 2?

The more messages you send per day, the higher their quality, the faster you will move to the next level. Transition from level to level is automatic, it is enough to fulfil the following conditions:

Within a few days (from two days), the total number of open dialogs must exceed twice the level of messages available to you. That is, if within two days you, being on the first level, have opened 2000 dialogs, WhatsApp fixes it, reflects for 48 hours, and then raises your trust rating from 1 to 2. As a rule, if all conditions are met, from level 1 to level 2 is moved within 5 days. It will take you 10 days to move from level 1 to level 3.

Tier 2 and 3 - 10,000 and 100,000 messages available

Subsequent levels allow you to send 10,000 and 100,000 messages per day. The rules for moving from the second to the third level are the same as those described above.

It's important to remember that if you allow the quality of your messages to drop (customers start complaining about you), you may be downgraded in rankings and number capabilities.

OBA – Official Business Account

After the third level, you can still identify and 4, which gives you the opportunity to get a WhatsApp green tick. Few organizations get to wear the proud status of Official Business Account with a green tick. A company must prove that it is sufficiently well-known and renowned, as well as fulfil a number of additional requirements to pass the WhatsApp check.

By the way, we can help you to get a green tick, just write to our support: hello@1msg.io

How is the quality of messages in WhatsApp assessed and monitored?

The quality of your messages affects the rating of your number, you can track your number information in WhatsApp Account in Meta Business Manager. Your number can be rated in three categories:

• Green: High
• Yellow: Medium
• Red: Poor

Make sure that your messages are not banned, design them in such a way that it is interesting for the customer to interact with them, use interactive buttons and media files, then the chances of a user complaining about your message will be minimal and you will keep a high number rating.

In today's business landscape, the use of bulk WhatsApp messaging has gained widespread popularity as an efficient and effective communication tool. With over 2 billion monthly active users on WhatsApp, it's essential to keep up with the latest features and best practices. In this guide, we'll cover the ins and outs of sending bulk WhatsApp messages, utilizing a trusted sender, and complying with WhatsApp's rules.

Let's talk about how to produce Bulk Messaging or WhatsApp Broadcasts using WhatsApp Business API. If you have good programming skills, you will need documentation and access to WhatsApp Business API. You can also use off-the-shelf solutions like our WhatsApp Bulk Messenger. In this article, we are talking about how to set up and perform WhatsApp Bulk Messenger or Broadcasts using No-Code tools.

What is Bulk Broadcast WhatsApp and How to send bulk WhatsApp messages?

Bulk Broadcast WhatsApp Messages enable you to send messages to multiple recipients simultaneously. This automation saves you time and effort, making it an ideal choice for reaching a wide audience. It's a valuable solution for reaching out to new leads or maintaining contact with existing clients promptly, free from the limitations of WhatsApp Broadcast message Lists or Group Chats. For newsletters, you'll need Bulk WhatsApp software.

The Significance of WhatsApp for Business Success

WhatsApp remains a leading force in the messaging app landscape, and it's evident in Mark Zuckerberg's observation that private messaging, group chats, and Stories are the fastest-growing modes of online communication. Businesses, in light of this, must recognize the immense potential this platform holds for customer engagement. Employing unofficial bulk messaging tools for WhatsApp jeopardizes your business phone number, potentially leading to a ban.

Getting Started with WhatsApp Business API

To be able to do Official Bulk Messaging so that your number is not blocked, you need to connect WhatsApp Business API. You can do this in your personal 1msg.io account. Registration usually does not take more than 10 minutes, you will immediately have access to WABA, see below for instructions on how to do it. Detailed instructions on how to connect a WABA number can be found in this article.

How to connect WhatsApp Business API

1. Register at 1msg.io.
2. Open a new WABA project.
3. Connect your WhatsApp number to WhatsApp Business API.
4. You will need an account in Meta Business manager to successfully connect the number. You can create it in advance, or it will be created in the process of connecting the number. Connecting the number is fast, our tips on the website will help you connect the number in just 10 minutes.

After connecting the number to WhatsApp Business API, you will no longer be able to use the number in regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business applications, but we immediately open Inbox chat, Automation tools and Chatbot builder on WhatsApp Business API number for our customers.

Step-by-Step Guide to Sending Bulk WhatsApp Messages: How to broadcast (List) message on WhatsApp

To easily send bulk WhatsApp messages through 1msg.io just follow these straightforward steps:

1. Create a contact database

To kickstart your Bulk messaging on 1msg.io, the initial step involves importing a contact list into the platform. Navigate to the 'segments' section within your 1msg.io account, where you can create and manage audience segments for newsletters. Properly importing and organizing your contacts guarantees that your message effectively reaches the intended audience.

Segments are needed so that messages are not sent to all numbers at once, but to the ones you choose from your contact list. This will help you implement various marketing strategies: sending messages to activate new leads, remarketing, sending bonuses to a loyal audience, or simply sending messages to new customer bases to attract them.

There are several options for working with segments:

• You can upload a list of contacts in ".csv" or "xlsx" files and create a new segment to send out.
• You can select numbers to send manually from the contact list.

• You can filter your contacts by one, several or all of your existing tags for customer distribution.
• If none of the options seem flexible enough to you, then combine them and add contacts manually. You can even add new contacts that weren't in your Contacts List.

Once your Message Template is ready, it's time to put it into action and send a WhatsApp bulk message sending to your customers. Bulk message sending almost ready.  

2. Craft a Message Template

To send bulk messages using WhatsApp API, you are restricted to using WhatsApp Message Templates that have received prior approval from Meta. Thankfully, 1msg.io allows you to create and submit Message Templates for approval directly, streamlining the process for added convenience.

To craft a Message Template on 1 msg.io, start by heading to Channels, where you'll find your WhatsApp API Channel. From there, go to Templates, and click on new template. Next, provide a name for the Message Template and complete any other necessary details.

Dedicate some time to crafting a compelling message that connects with your audience. Ensure its brief, transparent, and pertinent to the specific group you're addressing.

On 1msg.io, you can check the status of your Message Templates, which fall into one of three categories: Submitted, Approved, or Rejected. In the event of a Message Template being rejected, you can easily access the reason for the rejection within the platform.

3. Create a Broadcast

How to send a broadcast message on WhatsApp? To initiate a WhatsApp API broadcast on 1msg.io, simply click on Broadcasts in the menu.

Click "Add Broadcast" and you will be taken to the mailing settings window.
Determine the name of the new newsletter, as well as the channel (i.e., the WhatsApp Business API number) from which the messages will be sent.

Add the segment you created to send Bulk WhatsApp messages.

If there are more contacts in the segment than can be sent from your WABA channel, you will get a warning that this action is not possible.

WABA channels have a limit on the number of possible outgoing messages per month. If you have just added a WABA number but haven't verified your business, you will only be able to send 250 messages, after verification 1000, then the number of messages sent will increase as Meta trusts your number and can go up to 100,000 outgoing messages per month. Incoming messages will still be coming in and they can be answered. You can read more about number restrictions here.

Next, select the message template to send. We wrote in detail about the special features of creating and working with WhatsApp template messages in this article: Utilizing WhatsApp Business API Message Templates: A Comprehensive Guide.

The use of variables in templates is still under development. However, if the template has declared variables, you will be prompted to enter information about them, such as the date, store address, discount percentage, etc. The editor will give you the opportunity to specify the content of text and media variables before submitting.

You can then send a message template to a selected audience at once or schedule a time and date to send it, using the Broadcast Scheduler.

Check again with the preview and click "send" if you want the mailing to be sent or to go on hold to send it at the date and time you specified. Click "save and exit" if you want to return to the broadcast editor later and have it saved as a draft.

4. Analyze the statistics of the broadcasts you run

In the main section of the broadcast, you can see:

1. The status of the broadcasts: whether it has been produced, is in progress, or just scheduled.
2. Find out information about the newsletters: from which channel they were launched, which segment, and which template was used for them.
3. Evaluate its effectiveness: open rate and answer rate and how many customers were not able to reach the message.

Just four steps take you from the most successful and fastest promotion on WhatsApp. Don't forget to monitor the quality of your template messages, give your customers gifts and discounts and then customers will love and show interest in your business and services.

Practices for Sending Bulk Messages

Adopt these recommended strategies to maximize the effectiveness of your bulk messaging campaigns with WhatsApp bulk sender software:  

Audience Segmentation: One of the key strategies for achieving the best results with bulk WhatsApp sender tools is audience segmentation. This approach involves dividing your audience into specific groups based on factors like demographics, interests, or preferences. By doing so, you can tailor your messages to resonate with the right individuals. This personalized approach not only increases engagement but also improves the likelihood of achieving your campaign goals, ultimately enhancing your messaging campaign's effectiveness for your business.

Keep it concise: When composing messages for your Bulk message sender WhatsApp bulk message sender, remember the critical value of brevity. Clear, concise communication ensures that your key points are easily comprehensible, reducing the risk of overwhelming your audience with information and enhancing the chances of them retaining the core message. Short and to-the-point messages not only grab attention but also demonstrate respect for your recipients' time.

Test your messages: Before deploying your messages with a bulk WhatsApp sender, it's essential to undergo comprehensive testing. For confident bulk whatsapp marketing tests are a necessary element. Sending test messages allows you to confirm the accuracy of formatting and content, preventing potentially embarrassing errors or misunderstandings. This critical step guarantees that your bulk WhatsApp sender messages maintain a professional appearance and effectively engage your audience as intended.

Example of WhatsApp Broadcast message

How to send bulk messages on WhatsApp for business?  Creating effective WhatsApp newsletter templates requires balancing informative content with a personal and engaging tone. Since WhatsApp is a more intimate communication channel than email, the newsletters should be concise, relevant, and tailored to your audience's interests. Here are some examples:

New Product Announcement

• Title: 🚀 Introducing Our Latest [Product/Service]!
• Body: Hi [Name], we're thrilled to unveil our new [Product/Service]! Designed with your needs in mind, [brief description]. Check it out here: [Link]. Let us know what you think!

Exclusive Offer

• Title: 🌟 Exclusive Deal Just for You, [Name]!
• Body: We're offering a special [Discount/Deal] on our [Product/Service]. This deal is just for our loyal WhatsApp subscribers. Grab it before [expiry date]! Click here: [Link].

Event Invitation

• Title: 🎉 You're Invited: Join Our [Event Name]!
• Body: Hi [Name], we're excited to invite you to our [Event]. Date: [Date]. Time: [Time]. Expect [brief description of event highlights]. RSVP here: [Link].

Monthly Newsletter

• Title: 📅 [Your Company's Name] Monthly Round-Up!
• Body: Hello [Name]! Here's what's new and trending this month: [Briefly list news items or articles]. Dive in for more details: [Link].

Feedback Request

• Title: 📣 We Value Your Feedback, [Name]!
• Body: Hi [Name], how do you like our [Product/Service]? Your thoughts mean a lot to us. Share your feedback here: [Feedback Link]. It only takes a minute!

Tips or How-To Guide

• Title: ✨ How to Make the Most of [Product/Service]
• Body: Hey [Name]! Check out our latest guide on how to maximize your experience with [Product/Service]. Find useful tips here: [Link].

Evaluating Your Campaign's Effectiveness

Assessing and evaluating your campaign's performance is crucial for gauging the efficiency of the bulk WhatsApp sender feature and enhancing future messaging strategies. Here's a guide on how to analyze your campaign's performance:

a. Review Key Metrics: Start by monitoring a variety of key metrics to measure the overall success of your bulk WhatsApp sender campaign. WhatsApp bulk sms

b. Identify Trends: Take a closer look at the data from your bulk WhatsApp sender campaigns to uncover meaningful trends that resonate with your audience. Analyze factors such as engagement levels, response rates, and the popularity of different content types. By gaining insights into your audience's preferences and behaviours, you can create more tailored and engaging messages for better results.

c. Segment Results: Segmenting the outcomes of your bulk WhatsApp sender campaign is a potent method for comprehending how diverse audience segments react. When you dissect the data according to different criteria, like demographics, interests, or past purchases, you gain insight into which groups respond more positively to your messages. This segmentation provides the foundation for customizing future bulk WhatsApp sender campaigns to meet the specific requirements and preferences of each audience segment, ultimately boosting engagement and relevance.

d. Compare Different Bulk WhatsApp Sender Campaigns: Drive ongoing improvement by assessing the performance of your bulk WhatsApp sender campaigns. Compare various strategies, message content, and creative approaches to identify the most effective ones. Use the valuable insights from these comparisons to fine-tune your future messaging efforts and enhance your bulk WhatsApp sender campaigns, optimizing your communication strategy for superior results. You can view analytics in your personal account.

e. Gather Feedback: By actively listening to your customers, you engage in a meaningful two-way conversation that builds trust, strengthens your customer relationships, and provides you with valuable insights. These insights are a continuous source of improvement for your messaging strategy. This ongoing feedback loop creates a strong synergy, ensuring that your bulk WhatsApp messages always meet your audience's expectations, leading to more impactful and relevant communication. How to automate feedback collection you can learn from this article: 1MSG.io — 3 ways to automate feedback collection in WhatsApp.

Conclusion

Sending bulk WhatsApp messages continues to be a potent means for businesses to engage with their customers efficiently. By keeping abreast of the latest WhatsApp Business API enhancements, adhering to best practices, and meticulously monitoring your bulk WhatsApp sender campaigns, you can amplify the influence of your messaging efforts. With a 1msg/io user-friendly platform, you can seamlessly create, manage, and optimize your bulk WhatsApp sender campaigns.

Let us tell you 6 scary stories of WhatsApp API users who faced difficulties with the unofficial WhatsApp Business API. Stories that will give you goosebumps and that you can tell at night sitting by the fire to terrify any interlocutor. In this way we want to create a spooky atmosphere in anticipation of the spookiest holiday - Halloween. Enjoy! And the scariest part is, all stories are based on real events.

The phone, which was forbidden to touch and unplug…

This story takes place in an office in a medium-sized town in central America, in the mysterious state of Maine. Susan and Harry were ordinary account managers and were constantly chatting with clients on WhatsApp. But there was something mysterious about their office, the boss never turned off his cell phone. It was always plugged in and constantly charging. Susan and Harry were very curious to know the reasons why the boss never turned off his phone and was always charging it, after all he never even used it to make calls! They wanted to find out what was wrong with the phone, but the boss, who was nicknamed Blue Mustache for his experiments in hair colouring, strictly forbade them to even go near the phone.

One day, Susan and Harry stayed on the night shift and the ghostly light from the phone monitor screen beckoned and mesmerized the employees, so they decided to go near it. Slowly they approached the phone, picked it up and accidentally pulled it out of the charger, and then something incredible happened! WhatsApp messages stopped coming and none of the customers could contact the company. They heard the boss' footsteps on the stairs and froze in horror. He opened the doors and thundered: “You were not allowed to touch the phone! No more customers will be able to text us!” No one ever heard from Harry and Susan again, history doesn't tell us what happened to them after this terrible story, but most likely they were reprimanded, because the phone must always be connected to the network for the unofficial WhatsApp API to work, and Susan and Harry disrupted the connection. Now that's a really creepy story.

Mystical WhatsApp phone number ban

Once Kevin Chapman connected the WhatsApp API for his company, he was beyond excited because he could finally start communicating with his customers and doing promotional mailings. Even Kevin's wife was thrilled, because with the increase in profits, they were able to afford a long-awaited vacation. Kevin used his favorite phone number that duplicated his lucky number 7 several times and all started out well, messages were sent to clients, they responded, but a day later he received a strange message about suspicious activity on his number. Of course, Kevin thought the message came to him by mistake and there was nothing wrong with it. But a day later, his number was blocked!

It was a big loss, but he couldn't give up, his customers were waiting for him, so he bought a new number and started sending messages again, but not a day later his number was blocked again. Kevin bought another number, then another, another and another, Kevin lost count of the new numbers, he was getting confused, but he couldn't stop, or his clients wouldn't be able to contact him. But one day he realized that he had spent almost all the money he and his wife had saved for their vacation on buying new phone numbers! But it was good that his wife was a smart and wise woman who found out on the internet that her husband was using an unofficial or gray WhatsApp Business API, so their number was constantly blocked. They were able to connect the official business API and their number was never blocked again, and they saved up money for a new trip very soon. This is one of the few stories that ended well for users of the unofficial WhatsApp Business API.

Terrifying WhatsApp notifications

One day, Michael Yeison left his number on the website to register. Nothing portends trouble, but one night his phone lit up because of an incoming WhatsApp message. It was an advertisement, but a creepy one, he had heard of it, and people were afraid to call such messages spam. He deleted the message from the unknown number and went to bed, but a new message came again, its character had changed, it was even more illiterate and intrusive. Michael deleted the message and turned off the notifications, but he couldn't sleep for a long time, he kept worrying, what if the messages kept coming back?

He reached for his phone with a trembling hand and saw dozens of spam messages, ads asking him to buy alcohol, cigarettes, dubious banking services and other horrors. Terrified, he started deleting WhatsApp, but he couldn't do it, because the messages kept coming and coming, until a terrible hand came out of the phone's window and handed him a pass to attend a personal growth course. At that moment Mike woke up and was relieved to realize that it was just a dream, because if a business uses the official WhatsApp Business API, all advertising messages are moderated, so the customer will never get to the point where he wants to delete WhatsApp and will be interested in the offers from the mailing list, because he knows that there will be nothing forbidden. But was it really a dream?

A disconnect in Roger Brown's biggest moment

Roger Brown has spent a lifetime leading up to this moment. He connected the unofficial WhatsApp Business API, tested its work, checked and configured everything necessary, everything just so that at the right moment, at the right time, he could launch the most massive and perfect WhatsApp advertising campaign he had spent several years working on. And now that day has come. There was only one thing left to do - press the button. But it was on this day that WhatsApp released another update for which the gray API was blocked for a while.

It is said that at this point Roger Brown became so frustrated that the force of his emotions created a time loop in which he tries time after time to send messages in WhatsApp, but he can't do it and he has been trapped in this time capsule for centuries, trying to still produce the most perfect mailing in the history of messenger. Maybe Roger Brown's story is fiction, maybe not, but one thing is clear - the unofficial WhatsApp API can indeed lead to a lot of frustration when the WhatsApp API is much needed but there is no way to use it due to updates.

Wall of silence in WhatsApp messages

Clara had installed the unofficial WhatsApp Business API not long ago and started actively sending WhatsApp messages to customers, she was very lucky, and her number was not banned, but soon she noticed something suspicious. Her customers stopped responding to her. Whatever she wrote, whatever she offered, everyone responded with silence. For a long time, she couldn't figure out what was wrong, but when she did, it was too late. Even her family and friends stopped paying attention to her mailings, and soon stopped communicating with her altogether. The whole thing is that her messages were not labelled in any way that she was a user of WhatsApp business solution, so she was ignored more and more, and the wall of silence in WhatsApp kept growing. We don't know how this story ended, but rumour has it that on the night of October 13, during the full moon, you may receive a message from an unknown number, it's a message from Clara.

The maddening desire for the indefinable green check tick

Roger White had been using the unofficial WhatsApp Business API for a long time and everything suited him: yes, there were problems with network disconnection and WhatsApp updates, sometimes numbers were banned, but he considered it not a terrible cost, but something still confused him... The green checkmark of the official WhatsApp Business account. It beckoned Roger, fascinated him, but it could not be available to users of the unofficial solution. All his business partners already had such ticks and he, despite the fact that his business was even larger than many of his competitors, he could not get hold of this tick. The desire quickly turned into a mania, and he decided to act the same way he did with the WhatsApp API - hire a programmer to help him hack into his WhatsApp account so that the green checkmark would appear in his profile.

The developer warned him that it was a difficult task and could lead to unexpected consequences, but Roger was not deterred by this, not even by the fact that the programmer asked Roger to pay for his services not with money, but with Roger's soul! Roger agreed. A week later everything was ready, a green WhatsApp checkmark appeared in the WhatsApp profile of Roger's company's WhatsApp account. All was well, but it wasn't long before roger noticed that whatever he sent to clients in correspondence, everything turned into green check marks. Any message, any text or media file all magically turned into green tick. Soon all rogers could do was send green checkmarks to the clients he longed for. This wise and cautionary tale teaches us that you can't get a green checkmark on a gray Api, but only on the official WhatsApp Business API and you don't even have to sell your soul to get it. It's not that complicated.

Hope you enjoyed our creepy stories, sure, we may have embellished something, but almost 90% of the story content is true. Most likely.

In this article, we will try to break down the advantages of both approaches to work official WhatsApp Business API from Meta and unofficial (gray) WhatsApp API solutions. We will update the material if we find new advantages for one or the other side. You can always refer to this article to decide which is more suitable for you. We have described the history of the confrontation between the official and unofficial API in enough detail here: 1MSG.io — Official and Unofficial WhatsApp Business API

Now to the point, let's break down the main advantages of both solutions:

Of course, WhatsApp Business API still has a number of complexities that may look disadvantageous against a gray background: there are charges for template messages, higher number trust and related restrictions, but the trend of recent years shows that WABA is becoming easier and more accessible, so the choice for businesses can be expressed in one thought:

Use fast access to a gray API now to face increasingly frequent problems later with WhatsApp bans and updates that will require you to deal with constant solutions or spend more time and effort at the beginning of the journey to face fewer problems later on and enjoy a reliable connection, but likely at a higher price.

If you are looking for Business API at the same affordable price as gray API, then take a look at our pricing policy, we have tried to make the most favorable connection conditions for our users: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business API Payment model.

Let's talk about the confrontation between the gray or unofficial WhatsApp API and Meta's official WhatsApp Business API: where it all started, how the confrontation between the two APIs developed and where we are now. The history of the emergence and development of APIs and their preferences will help you decide which WhatsApp API to choose for your business.

A bit of history: 2009 - 2018, the triumph of the gray API, the emergence of the WhatsApp Business API

Initially, since 2009, WhatsApp, unlike other popular solutions, kept its API closed. That is, programmers had no opportunity to link their software solutions with the messenger. For example, to integrate WhatsApp with CRM/ERP systems or to automate communication with users in some other way, using, for example, auto-replies or chatbots.

Facebook, now Meta, bought WhatsApp in October 2014. According to Meta's policy, the company kept the API closed because it wanted to protect users from unnecessary spam and mailings, to make the messenger InfoSpace more secure. By the way, this leitmotif of Meta's policy has remained in place until now, and the company justifies many of its decisions with these principles.

Nevertheless, the lack of open access to the API did not stop enthusiastic developers from searching for ways to optimize work with the messenger. Self-written gateways were created for integrations with WhatsApp based, as a rule, on WhatsApp WEB protocols. That's why most unofficial (or gray) WhatsApp API solutions so often need to scan QR codes and keep the phone turned on for the gray WhatsApp API to work. Some such solutions were successful, some not so successful, but it can be stated for sure that the market was captured by the gray or unofficial WhatsApp API and could be worth millions and millions of dollars. The gray API was also easily accessible to programmers. On GitHub, for example, you can still find libraries for integrating with WhatsApp, which, however, quickly become obsolete due to updates to the messenger.

In 2015, WhatsApp becomes the most popular messenger on the planet and as of today the app has over 2 billion users. It seems that WhatsApp has already gained a critical mass of users, which will not allow it to get off the podium so easily. By the way, in this article we analysed what makes up the popularity of WhatsApp and where in the world it is especially often used: 1MSG.io — WhatsApp Business Statistics 2023.

As the popularity of the messenger grew, so did the interest of businesses in working with it. Recall that Meta positioned WhatsApp as a free messenger protected from commercial mailings, which is partly why the introduction of tools for business work was delayed - the opening of the API required preparation.

In 2017, Meta announced limited access to the messengers Business API, and only the world's biggest brands had the opportunity to pilot the long-awaited Gateway. Since 2018, more and more companies have been able to connect to the messengers Business API and today the trend of simplifying the procedure of access to the Business API, despite the specific features of working with Meta's solution, continues.

2018 - 2022, BSP, the official API enters a phase of confrontation with the unofficial API

Before the release of the official WhatsApp Business API Meta waged a measured war with gray API providers: from the companies of legal representatives to the "violators" came letters asking to close the gray API work, but it did not come to the courts, in fact, some companies listened to the threats and simply changed the name of their solution to avoid possible legal delays with the company giant Meta. With the advent of the official decision, of course, a lot has changed.

We can't say that businesses immediately rushed to install the official WhatsApp Business API, but big brands, who were initially confused about working with the unofficial WhatsApp API, began to integrate with the official API despite the complexities of working with it. What kind of complexities are we talking about here? In the beginning it was very difficult to pass the registration of a number in WhatsApp Business API, the number, no joke, could connect from 2 months or more.

Despite the difficulties, the official WhatsApp Business API still had a number of significant advantages that outweighed even the headache of registration, namely: the status of the official solution, reliability, because the number was always available and did not depend on documentation updates on GitHub, as well as the absence of bans, which were very scary for businesses. With the official Business API, a business could not be afraid that its number would be blocked, and it would lose all its customers.

That's when the mysterious BSPs or Business Solution Partners appeared. These were companies that had proven themselves and were already working in the field of organizing business communication in messengers. These companies became vendors and were authorized to connect customers to WhatsApp Business API on behalf of Meta itself. You can find the list of such companies on Meta's website.

Here you might think that BSP is the only way to connect WhatsApp Business API, but that's not the case. The thing is that BSPs themselves can enter into partnerships with other companies, which in this case become another link in the API connection, they can be called API integrators. For example, we are 1msg.io, it should be noted at once that the terms of connection of BSPs can be worse than those of their partners, for example, we provide API connection for only $30 along with chatbot, chat, WhatsApp broadcast and many other things for free. Yes, intuitively you want to say that BSPs should have better conditions, but that's not always the case. Read more about our pricing policy.

Anyway, we can say that there was a certain parity between the official and unofficial WhatsApp Business API in 2018-2022. On the side of the official one was cheaper price, ease of connection and simplicity of work, on the side of the official one: the status of the number, its security and reliability of the provider. However, in recent years, the market position has been even more tilted towards official solutions.

2023 and a little prediction for the future

One of the main factors why the official WhatsApp Business API is starting to beat the gray API is the simplification of number registration procedures. From two months, to 10 minutes if you already have Meta Business Manager, if not, registration will take 15 minutes. it is true that after connecting the number you need to verify your business, because only officially registered companies or individual entrepreneurs can connect the API, but even without verification you will still have access to the number, and the verification itself will take a week at most.

Of course, WhatsApp Business API still has a number of complexities that may look disadvantageous against the gray background: these are the fees for template messages, the level of trust in the number and related restrictions, but the trend over the past few years shows that WABA is becoming easier and more accessible, so the choice for businesses can be expressed in one thought:

Use fast access to a gray API now to face increasingly frequent problems later with WhatsApp bans and updates that will require you to deal with constant solutions or spend more time and effort at the beginning of the journey to face fewer problems later on and enjoy a reliable connection, but likely at a higher price.

However, the price may not be so clear, because in 2023 Meta opened WhatsApp Cloud API, which you can use absolutely free of charge. Unlike WhatsApp Business API, which was initially connected by BSP, Cloud you will be able to connect on your own directly from Meta, but we warn you that Cloud will require patience and decent programming skills, because it doesn't work perfectly yet.

In the end it's up to you to decide which WhatsApp Business API you will connect, but if you opt for the official one and choose us, we will give you both the number and all the necessary tools to work with WhatsApp Business API at once, such as: free of charge. You will only pay for the connected number.

We continue the analysis of bot functionality; in this article we will show how you can significantly diversify the behaviour of the bot using randomizer and block with "conditions" for WhatsApp chatbot.

How to customize for WhatsApp chatbot conditions of actions and reactions to customer requests?

1. Register and connect your WhatsApp Business API number.
2. Go to Flow Builder and create a new script.
3. From the left menu, select the "Condition" block, add it.
4. Spell out the conditions that an incoming request may have. If they correlate with the requirements of the block, the bot will change its behaviour or reproduce the desired action.
5. Conditions, in the "conditions" block, can be more than one.

Conditions allows the bot to perceive information about the customer and if it meets your requirements, it will change its behaviour or transfer the customer to another chatbot scenario. For example, your customer has specified his age and name. This information has been stored in variables. Then you can set a condition that if the client is over 18 years old, then a certain answer will be prepared for him, and if he is under 18, then another one. The possibilities for working with conditions are quite wide, you can set any conditions and expand the behaviour of the bot as you are most effectively.

How to add the ability to reply randomly and randomize conversations to WhatsApp chatbot?

1. Register and connect your WhatsApp Business API number.
2. Go to Flow Builder and create a new script.
3. From the left menu, select the "Randomizer" block, add it.
4. Select the likelihood that the customer will receive the following message.
5. Specify possible bot responses.

The randomizer block is great when you want to complicate bot behavior so that customers get random responses from the bot. This feature is more of an entertainment feature, but it makes communication with the bot livelier and more interesting, use it to delight your customers with a smarter and more fun chatbot script.