Are you interested in effectively reaching your audience through newsletters? If your customers are on WhatsApp, utilizing a WhatsApp business newsletter is the ideal solution. In this comprehensive article, we will explore the advantages of using a WhatsApp newsletter for customer communication. Additionally, we will guide you through the process of using a WhatsApp newsletter tool to send newsletters to your contact list effortlessly. To further assist you, we will provide a collection of valuable templates to inspire and assist you in composing your own engaging WhatsApp newsletters. Let's delve in and unlock the full potential of WhatsApp newsletters!
What is a WhatsApp Newsletter?
WhatsApp newsletters are mass messages delivered to subscribers through WhatsApp. They provide a direct and effective way for businesses to engage with their audience and keep them informed about important events.
WhatsApp newsletters can include various types of content, such as updates on new products or services, promotions, discounts, company news, tips, or any other information the business or organization wants to share with its subscribers.
Let’s go through some of the benefits of using WhatsApp for newsletters.
Why Send a WhatsApp Newsletter
Sending a WhatsApp newsletter offers several advantages over traditional communication channels. Here are some key reasons why businesses should consider incorporating them into their customer communication strategies:
- High open rates: WhatsApp messages have high open rates compared to email, as people tend to check their WhatsApp messages more frequently. This means that businesses can reach a larger audience with their messages.
- Personalized messaging: WhatsApp newsletters can be customized, allowing businesses to tailor their messages to specific audiences and increasing the relevance and effectiveness of their messaging.
- Multimedia and interactive content: WhatsApp supports various forms of multimedia, including images, videos, and documents. This enables businesses to create visually appealing and engaging newsletters that capture the attention of their subscribers. Additionally, WhatsApp allows for interactive elements such as buttons and quick replies, enabling businesses to gather feedback or prompt subscribers to take specific actions.
Now that you are familiar with some of their benefits, we’ll explain the options available when it comes to sending a WhatsApp newsletter.
How to Send a WhatsApp Business Newsletter
Sending WhatsApp newsletters is a straightforward process that can be done using the WhatsApp Business App or the WhatsApp Business API. Your WhatsApp newsletter tool of choice will depend on your requirements and the scale of your messaging. We’ll explore both options in this section, starting with the WhatsApp Business App.
WhatsApp Newsletter Tool: WhatsApp Business App
If you're a small business or a freelancer looking to send newsletters to a relatively small audience, the WhatsApp Business App provides a user-friendly solution. Here’s the step-by-step on how to send WhatsApp newsletters via the app.
- Open the WhatsApp Business App.
- Go to the Chat screen > Menu > New List.
- Type the names of the contacts you want to send the message to or press the + button to select them directly from your contact list.
- Press OK.
- Press Create
You’ve just created a new contact list. To send your newsletter to this custom audience, press the Menu button > Labels and select your contact list. Then, press the three dots in the top right corner and select Message customers from the menu. Compose your message and tap the send button when finished.
The WhatsApp Business App has a contact limit of 256 recipients for bulk messaging. This means that when sending messages to multiple recipients at once, you can include up to 256 contacts in your target audience for a single message or newsletter.
If you have a significantly larger audience or require more advanced features, you should consider using the WhatsApp Business API, which provides additional scalability and flexibility for sending messages to a much larger number of contacts.
WhatsApp Newsletter Tool: WhatsApp Business API on respond.io
When it comes to sending a WhatsApp API Newsletter, it's crucial to understand the key elements that ensure successful message delivery and compliance with WhatsApp’s Business and Commerce policies.
WhatsApp Business API Newsletter: What You Need to Know
Firstly, opt-ins are a critical element of sending WhatsApp API newsletters. All of your subscribers must have opted in to receive messages from you, as unsolicited messages can result in penalties or account suspensions.
Also, ensure your WhatsApp newsletter adheres to WhatsApp's guidelines to provide relevant information to your subscribers while avoiding spam.
WhatsApp Business API requires the use of pre-approved message templates for mass messaging. In addition to WhatsApp newsletters, you can create templates for different types of messages, such as order confirmations or shipping updates.
Lastly, it's essential for businesses to understand the pricing structure of WhatsApp Business API. Costs can vary depending on message destination country and conversation type. In addition, some WhatsApp Business Solution Providers charge a markup per message sent.
To start your first WhatsApp API newsletter, you’ll need a WhatsApp API account and a WhatsApp messaging inbox. You can try respond.io for free and get a WhatsApp API account in minutes. All set? Then follow the next steps to use respond.io as a WhatsApp newsletter tool.
1. WhatsApp Business Newsletter: Create a Broadcast Segment
Before sending a WhatsApp business newsletter, you’ll need to determine the audience that’s going to receive it. Start by creating a segment from your existing contact list using filters or importing a contact list to respond.io.
Whatever your choice is, remember that you should only create audience segments with contacts that have opted in to receive notifications from your business. Otherwise, you’ll be at risk of getting your account suspended.
Once you create your broadcast segment, you can proceed to create a WhatsApp message template.
2. WhatsApp Business Newsletter: Create a Message Template
Navigate to the Settings Module. From there, select Channel and select your WhatsApp API channel. Under this section, click on Templates to proceed. Within the Templates section, click on the Submit Template button to get started.
In the template creation form, provide essential details such as the template name, category, language, and the body of your template.
Give careful attention to the template category, as selecting the wrong one could be a potential reason for rejection. While newsletters typically belong to the Marketing category, reviewing the WhatsApp Category Guidelines before submitting your template to prevent rejection is advisable.
To make your WhatsApp business newsletter visually appealing, consider including a header in the form of text, image, video or document. Additionally, you can add a text footer to provide further information or branding. These steps are optional but can enhance the overall design of your template.
Also, consider adding a call-to-action button or a quick reply button to allow recipients to take specific actions directly from your newsletter. Next, include dynamic variables that will replace the placeholders in your newsletter to personalize it with details such as customers’ names.
Once you've filled in all the required information, click the Submit button to submit your template for approval. After submission, it's essential to sync the templates to refresh their status.
Once you get your message template approved, you can move on to the final step: Setting up a broadcast to send your WhatsApp newsletter to a segmented audience.
3. WhatsApp Business Newsletter: Send a WhatsApp Business Newsletter
Navigate to the Broadcasts Module. This is where you can manage and create your broadcasts. To create one, click on the New Broadcast button. This will open a new window where you can customize your broadcast.
In the broadcast creation window, enter your broadcast name and labels and click Create. Next, you'll need to specify the target audience for your WhatsApp newsletter with your Segments. Then, select your WhatsApp API channel and the message template you’ve created for this newsletter.
Ensure that your WhatsApp newsletter is only delivered to Contacts who have messaged you before. This is the easiest way to comply with WhatsApp’s policies and prevent your number from getting reported.
Do note that you can test your broadcast before sending it to your audience by clicking on Test Broadcast. When you’re ready, click Next and choose your delivery time and send rate. Lastly, click on Send Broadcast and you’re done.
One of the advantages of using respond.io as a WhatsApp newsletter tool is the possibility to monitor newsletter performance through broadcast analytics. In the Reports Module, visit the Broadcasts and Messages tabs to gain insights into your WhatsApp newsletters.
If you want an easy start on WhatsApp newsletters, look no further. We’ll provide you with some templates for different use cases.
WhatsApp Newsletter Template: Samples for Different Use Cases
These WhatsApp business newsletter templates can help you engage with your subscribers and keep them informed. Feel free to customize them according to your specific needs and audience preferences.
Remember to include your company branding and contact information for a professional touch.
Account Updates
Use the to keep your subscribers in the loop with important account updates or share the latest features, changes, or any relevant information that affects their user experience.
For example, you can notify them about system enhancements, policy updates, or account security measures.
Exclusive Offers
Deliver exclusive offers and promotions directly to your subscribers' WhatsApp inboxes. You can create a sense of urgency and exclusivity by offering limited-time deals, discounts, or special perks.
Broadcasting newsletters with irresistible offers help businesses drive conversions and boost customer loyalty. For a more personalized approach, consider tailoring offers based on subscribers' preferences or purchase history.
Industry News Roundups
Become a reliable source of industry news and trends for your subscribers. Compile the latest happenings, insights, and developments in your industry and share them through a concise and informative newsletter.
Position your brand as an industry expert and foster engagement with analysis, expert opinions, or tips related to the news to provide additional value.
Tips and Tricks
Provide valuable tips, tricks, and hacks related to your product or service. Alternatively, help your subscribers maximize product usage, troubleshoot common issues, or discover new features.
This type of newsletter is effective at keeping customers engaged and enhancing their overall experience with your brand.
Upcoming Events
Use this newsletter template to keep your subscribers informed about upcoming events, such as conferences, webinars, or product launches. Provide event details, schedules, and registration information.
To generate excitement and encourage participation to create a sense of community around your brand, highlight any guest speakers, special sessions, or exclusive perks attendees can expect.
In conclusion, WhatsApp newsletters provide businesses with a powerful means for engaging with their audience and keeping them informed. Using an advanced WhatsApp newsletter tool like respond.io enables businesses to streamline the creation, delivery, and analysis of their newsletters.
This results in enhanced audience reach, improved communication efficiency, and measurable success metrics.
By following this guide and utilizing the provided WhatsApp newsletter templates, businesses can effectively leverage WhatsApp as a platform for communication and marketing, fostering stronger connections with their audiences.
You’ve made it to the end! This is all you need to know to get started with WhatsApp newsletters. To start sending WhatsApp newsletters to your customers, try respond.io for free and get a WhatsApp API account in minutes.
Further Reading
Want to learn about other WhatsApp API-related topics? Here are a few articles to help you out:
- WhatsApp Green Tick: How to Verify your WhatsApp Business Account
- WhatsApp Business Multiple Users: A How-To Guide
- WhatsApp Sales: How to Sell on WhatsApp
