How to run a WhatsApp campaign end to end
A WhatsApp campaign is not an email campaign with a different delivery mechanism. The reply volume is the difference, and planning for it is what separates campaigns that work from campaigns that generate complaints.
Published
Before the send
Decide the segment before the message. A campaign written for everyone reads as written for nobody, and per-conversation billing punishes breadth.
Get the template approved early. Approval is usually quick but not instant, and a campaign waiting on review is a campaign that misses its date.
The send
Start with a slice, watch delivery and reply rate, then release the rest. New numbers on low messaging tiers may queue, which is worth discovering on 200 recipients rather than 20,000.
The hour after
This is the campaign. Replies arrive within seconds and continue for hours, they are conversational rather than clicks, and each one opens a 24-hour window where you can talk freely.
Have the answers ready, automated where possible, and a person available for anything that needs one.
Never schedule a campaign for a time nobody is available to respond. Friday evening sends are a classic and expensive mistake.
Measuring it
Delivered and read tell you the plumbing worked. Replies, qualified conversations and attributed revenue tell you whether it was worth doing.
Tie outcomes back to the campaign in your CRM, or the channel will never get credit for what it produced.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good reply rate for a WhatsApp campaign?
Much higher than email, which is why the reply plan matters. Assume a meaningful share of any engaged list writes back within the hour.
How far in advance should I get templates approved?
Days, not hours. Approval is often fast but a rejection plus a resubmission can consume a working day.
Keep reading
See it answer, in your own words
Tap the mic on our homepage and talk to the same AI your customers would. No form, no scheduling, no sales call first.