WhatsApp API : Broadcasts
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WhatsApp broadcasting allows businesses to send one message to many customers at once—without losing the personal touch of a direct conversation. Done right, it’s a powerful way to share updates, promotions, and reminders instantly.
This step-by-step guide will walk you through the essentials of setting up and running a broadcast campaign with iSlash AI. From preparing your account and templates to sending your first message and analyzing results, you’ll learn how to broadcast effectively, compliantly, and in a way that keeps customers engaged.
Setup Requirements
Before starting a broadcast, ensure you have the following:
WhatsApp API Channel – Set up and connected to iSlash AI.
Approved Message Template – Pre-approved by WhatsApp for use.
Customer List – A database of recipients for your broadcast.
Please ensure there is sufficient Message Credit – WhatsApp Broadcasting is an efficient way to send business-initiated message to a large group of people; hence message fee applies.
Important: iSlash AI integrates with the Hong Kong government’s Do-Not-Call list, but it does not automatically filter out restricted contacts. You must manually opt-out these customers using the filter.
Step-by-Step Guide
Logon to iSlash AI Platform at https://app.islash.io/
From the top banner menu, go to Broadcasts and click "Create". Then, choose the broadcast type that best fits your needs:
Standard Broadcast - Send a single broadcast campaign.
Batch Broadcast - Send broadcast messages to multiple WhatsApp Channels by uploading an Excel file.
Sequence Broadcast - Send a series of scheduled broadcast messages.
Proceed to setup these parameters:
Channel – Select WhatsApp as your broadcasting channel.
Message Template – Choose an approved template for your message.
(i) Standard Message TemplateWithout Dynamic Variables: Click “Select”
With Dynamic Variables: Click the Variables icon to insert customer names or custom fields automatically.
If all recipients use the same variable value, enter the value directly in the message.
If each recipient has a different variable value, leave the variable field empty and click “Select” to fill in the values later.
With Header Media (Image / Document / Video): Upload the media file and click “Select”.
(ii) Catalog Message Template: Select a Synced Catalog and choose one product from the dropdown list.
(iii) Single Product Message Template: Select a Synced Catalog and choose one product from the dropdown list.
(iv) Product Carousel Message Template: Select a Synced Catalog and choose up to 10 products from the dropdown list.
Targeted Customers List – Select from your existing customer database or import an Excel file.
Schedule Send Time – Define when your message should be sent.
Attach Label After Sent (Optional) – Choose a label to attach upon sending the WhatsApp Broadcasts.
There are two ways to set broadcast target audience:
Choose from existing customers in your database.
Upload an Excel file with recipient details. (Download the template from the ‘Import’ tab.)
To demonstrate:
Recipients can be from selected customers and import an Excel file on-the-fly, can you download the Excel template under the import tab.
System default send time is one hour after campaign creation, you may edit the schedule to your preferred date and time.
Click "Confirm" and your WhatsApp Broadcast is set to be send at the scheduled time.
Please refer Video Tutorial:
Using Dynamic Content in Message Templates
If your message includes variables that change per batch, follow these steps:
Select the WhatsApp API Channel.
Choose a message template and leave the variables blank.
Select the recipients.
Complete the Label and Message Send Time Setting
Click ‘Next’ to download an auto-generated Excel file, you will be prompted to download the Excel file.
Update the variable values in the Excel file.
Upload the updated Excel file.
Proceed with sending the broadcast.
Batch Broadcast
Batch Broadcast allows you to upload a single Excel file containing recipients for multiple WhatsApp Channels and create multiple broadcast campaigns at once.
Go to Broadcast -> Create -> Select Batch Broadcast.
Click「Channel」and select the WhatsApp Channel you want to send the broadcast from. Click「Add 」and select a Message Template.
If every recipient should receive the same variable value, enter the value directly.
If each recipient has different variable values, leave the variable fields empty and click「Select」. You can fill them in later using the Excel template.
Click「Download Template」 to download the Excel template.
Each selected WhatsApp Channel will have its own worksheet. Complete each worksheet with:
Recipient Phone Number with Country Code. Example: 85212345678
First Name or Last Name (at least one is required)
- If all recipients already exist in the platform, you can use the system variables (First Name, Last Name, or Full Name) in your message template.
- If the recipients are new, fill in First Name or Last Name for every recipient
- Do not mix filled and blank name fields within the same worksheet.
Variable values (if applicable)
Attach Label After Sent (optional)
- To assign multiple labels, separate each label with a comma. Example: AAA, BBB, CCC
Save the Excel file. Upload the completed Excel file back to the system, and click「Confirm」.
Smarter Broadcast Retargeting
Re-engage your audience with precision. You can now create retargeted Broadcasts using pre-generated audience segments:
The pre-generated audience segments are Read, Unread, Respond, No Respond, Read and Respond, Read and no Respond, and Unsuccessful.
Alternatively, you can manually add other contacts to the retargeting list for complete control.
Insights
How do I create Message Template on iSlash AI Platform?
Please refer to a detailed user guide on WhatsApp Message Templates.
Once a WhatsApp Broadcast Campaign is created, can I modify it?
No, if you find that you need to modify the campaign, you will need to delete the existing campaign (default set to send out one hour after creation, unless adjusted) and create a new campaign.
How to increase WhatsApp Broadcasting Limit?
You can send up to to 250 broadcast messages in 24 hours once integrated WhatsApp API to iSlash AI.
Tier 1: Boost to 2,000 messages in 24 hour through business verification.The increase in broadcast limit to unlimited is by tiers.
Your quality rating must be Medium or High; send at least 50% of your current broadcast limit within 7 days. Achieve these conditions and your broadcast limit will be upgraded to the next tier.
Tier 2: 10,000 messages per 24 hours.
Tier 3: 100,000 messages per 24 hours.
Tier 4: Unlimited messages per 24 hours.Tip: Keep your messaging quality high to increase your limit smoothly.
Reference: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/messaging-limits
For Batch Broadcast, can I leave the First Name and Last Name columns blank?
Yes. If all recipients already exist in the platform, you can use the system variables (First Name, Last Name, or Full Name) in your message template. The system will automatically retrieve each recipient's information from the platform.
Example, if a recipient's Full Name is stored as "Cherry VIP", the Full Name variable in your message will automatically display "Cherry VIP".