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2026 guide

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WhatsApp Marketing for Business

WhatsApp marketing means sending opted-in customers approved template messages, such as offers, reminders and launches, then turning their replies into conversations. In 2026, Meta bills per delivered message and has paused Marketing templates to US numbers, so it works best on a WhatsApp marketing platform that tracks consent, schedules broadcasts and routes replies to your team.

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Key takeaways

  • Only message customers who opted in to WhatsApp, and keep a record of how they agreed.
  • Business-initiated messages use Meta-approved templates in three categories: Marketing, Utility and Authentication.
  • Meta charges per delivered template message by category and country; replies inside the 24-hour service window are free up to 1,000 per number each month, then charged.
  • Marketing templates don’t reach US (+1) numbers during Meta’s pause; Utility and Authentication still do.
  • Answer replies fast: route them to the tools your team already uses and let an AI chatbot take the first pass.
90
Free WhatsApp templates
34
Template collections
5
Free WhatsApp tools
Sin límites
Agents from the Basic plan

The WhatsApp marketing toolkit

Everything runs on the official Meta Cloud API, on the same number your team uses for support.

WhatsApp Broadcasts

Send approved templates to opted-in audiences with pre-flight checks, SMS fallback for US numbers and campaign reports.

Template library

90 free, copy-ready templates for holidays, reminders, order updates, carts and OTP codes.

WhatsApp AI chatbot

Answer questions and broadcast replies 24/7 with ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini trained on your business.

WhatsApp team inbox

One shared number for the whole team, with unlimited agents on Basic and above.

WhatsApp in Teams & Slack

Customers message you on WhatsApp; your team replies from Microsoft Teams, Slack or Google Chat.

Click-to-chat button

Add a free WhatsApp chat button to your website so visitors can start conversations and opt in.

Free WhatsApp tools

Link generator, QR codes, text formatter and an API pricing calculator. No sign-up needed.

WhatsApp + Slack

Every WhatsApp conversation as a Slack thread, with pinned channels for key customers.

Embed WhatsApp chat

Put a WhatsApp chat widget on any website or landing page in minutes.

How WhatsApp marketing works in 2026

Six rules from Meta that shape every WhatsApp marketing program. Sources: Meta’s documentation on opt-in, message templates and pricing.

Opt-in comes first

You need a customer’s permission before sending business-initiated messages. Record how and when you got it.

Templates start conversations

Outside an open 24-hour window, you can only message someone with a template Meta has approved and categorized as Marketing, Utility or Authentication.

You pay per delivered template

Since July 1, 2025, Meta charges each delivered template by category and recipient country. Since October 1, 2026, service replies inside the 24-hour window are charged too, after 1,000 free per business number each month.

Ads open a free 7-day window

Reply to a customer who messaged you from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad and Meta opens a free entry point window: no message charges for up to 7 days.

Limits scale with quality

Messaging tiers cap how many unique people you can message in a rolling 24 hours: 1K, 10K, 100K or unlimited (unverified businesses start lower). Tiers rise as you send well-received messages.

US Marketing is paused

Meta has not delivered Marketing templates to US (+1) numbers since April 1, 2025. Utility, Authentication and service messages still deliver.

A WhatsApp marketing playbook in five steps

  1. 1

    Grow an opted-in audience

    Add a chat button, print a keyword QR code, add consent checkboxes at checkout and run Click-to-WhatsApp ads.

  2. 2

    Welcome and segment

    Confirm the opt-in, send a welcome, and tag contacts by interest, location or purchase history so every later message is relevant.

  3. 3

    Broadcast with templates

    Use WhatsApp Broadcasts with templates from the library. Check the Reach card, then send or schedule.

  4. 4

    Convert in the conversation

    Replies open a 24-hour customer service window. Your AI chatbot answers first and hands off to the team in Slack, Teams, Google Chat or the inbox.

  5. 5

    Measure and retarget

    Track delivered, read and replied per campaign, export results, and build the next audience from people who read but didn’t reply.

Why teams run WhatsApp marketing on Social Intents

  • Replies land in Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Chat or the web inbox, not another dashboard to babysit.
  • Unlimited agents on Basic ($69/month billed annually) and above.
  • An AI chatbot (ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini) answers replies instantly and hands off to people.
  • Coexistence keeps your WhatsApp Business App working on your phone.
  • Multiple WhatsApp numbers, plus SMS fallback through Twilio for numbers WhatsApp can’t reach.
See WhatsApp Broadcasts See WhatsApp Automation

WhatsApp marketing by industry

Start with templates written for your business.

Ecommerce & retail

Launches, holiday sales, cart reminders and order updates.

Atención sanitaria

Appointment reminders and portal notices without health details in chat.

Educación

Class reminders, fee notices and enrollment campaigns for families.

Real estate

Listing alerts, open house invitations and viewing confirmations.

SaaS

Onboarding, renewals, usage alerts and sign-in codes.

Hospitality

Reservations, pre-arrival check-in and special-occasion offers.

Local services

Bookings, technician updates, quotes and seasonal reminders.

Finanzas

Transaction alerts, payment reminders and secure document requests.

Marketing to US customers on WhatsApp

Since April 1, 2025, Meta has paused delivery of Marketing template messages to US (+1) phone numbers, and as of October 2026 there is no announced end date. That doesn’t make WhatsApp useless in the US: order updates, appointment reminders and other Utility messages still deliver, as do Authentication codes, replies inside the 24-hour window and conversations started from Click-to-WhatsApp ads.

Social Intents detects US contacts in the pre-flight check, suggests Utility templates where they genuinely fit, and can send an SMS through Twilio to US contacts who opted in to texts. Read the full 2026 guide.

WhatsApp marketing FAQs

Quick answers about marketing on WhatsApp

Is WhatsApp marketing legal?
Yes, when you follow WhatsApp’s Business and Commerce policies and local privacy laws: get opt-in before sending business-initiated messages, use approved templates, identify your business, and honor opt-out requests promptly.
Is Social Intents an official WhatsApp provider?
Yes. Social Intents is a Meta Tech Provider: you connect your number through Meta’s Embedded Signup, and messages go through the official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API). Meta bills message fees to your own WhatsApp Business Account.
Can I use the WhatsApp Business App for marketing?
The app’s broadcast lists only reach contacts who saved your number and are designed for small volumes. For approved templates, larger audiences, multiple agents, automation and reporting you need the WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API). With Coexistence you can use both on the same number.
How much does WhatsApp marketing cost?
Meta charges per delivered template message based on the category and the recipient’s country. Marketing messages cost the most; Utility and Authentication cost less. Replies inside the 24-hour customer service window are service messages: Meta gives each business phone number 1,000 free service messages per month, then charges a per-country service rate (as of October 2026). Your software plan is separate. Use the pricing calculator to estimate.
Can I send WhatsApp marketing messages to US customers?
Not as Marketing templates right now. Meta paused their delivery to US (+1) numbers on April 1, 2025. Utility and Authentication templates, service-window replies, Click-to-WhatsApp ad conversations and customer-initiated chats still work. See the full guide.
How do I get customers to opt in?
Add a WhatsApp chat button to your site, put a keyword QR code at checkout or in-store (“Send JOIN to subscribe”), add a consent checkbox to forms, and run Click-to-WhatsApp ads. Always explain what you will send and how to stop.
What is the 24-hour customer service window?
When a customer messages you, a 24-hour window opens in which you can reply with any free-form message. Meta gives each business phone number 1,000 free service messages (replies inside this window) per month; after that, service replies are charged at a per-country rate (as of October 2026). Outside the window, you can only start a conversation with an approved template. If the customer messaged you from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad, your reply opens a free entry point window in which messages are free for up to 7 days.
Will my WhatsApp number get banned if I send broadcasts?
Not if you follow WhatsApp’s rules. Social Intents is built on the official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API), not the unofficial extensions and emulators that get numbers restricted. What Meta watches is how people react: blocks and reports lower your number’s quality rating, and a low rating can reduce your messaging limit. Message only contacts who opted in, keep messages relevant, and let Social Intents honor STOP replies automatically, hold sends for quiet hours and skip anyone you messaged recently.
Can I switch to Social Intents from my current WhatsApp provider?
Usually, yes. Meta lets a business move a phone number that is already on the WhatsApp Business Platform from one provider to another: the current provider releases the number (typically by turning off two-step verification) and you confirm ownership with a code sent by SMS or voice call. Meta’s migration is designed to keep the number’s display name, quality rating and messaging limit, but chat history stays with your old provider, and you should export your contacts and opt-in records first. Talk to our team before you switch and we’ll help you plan the move.

Tools for every step of your WhatsApp marketing

Everything Social Intents offers for WhatsApp marketing and support, built on the official WhatsApp Business API (Meta’s Cloud API).

WhatsApp BroadcastsSend approved templates to opted-in audiences at scale.WhatsApp Message Templates90 free, copy-ready templates by occasion and industry.Free WhatsApp ToolsLink and QR code generators, text formatter and more.WhatsApp Pricing CalculatorEstimate Meta’s per-message fees by country.Bandeja de entrada del equipo WhatsAppOne shared number, unlimited agents on Basic and above.WhatsApp AI ChatbotChatGPT, Claude or Gemini answering 24/7 on WhatsApp.Chat en directo de WhatsAppAnswer WhatsApp from Teams, Slack or Google Chat.WhatsApp + SlackEvery WhatsApp conversation as a Slack thread.WATI AlternativeCompare Social Intents and WATI side by side. WhatsApp green tickHow WhatsApp business verification badges work in 2026.
  • Meta Tech Provider on the official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API)
  • Unlimited agents from the Basic plan
  • Replies in Slack, Microsoft Teams or Google Chat
  • Opt-in evidence, STOP opt-outs and quiet hours built in
  • 4.7 en Capterra

Start your WhatsApp marketing program

Connect your number with Embedded Signup, import your opted-in contacts and send your first broadcast. Your team answers from the tools they already use.

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