How to Broadcast Messages to WhatsApp Subscribers in BotSailor

Hello, everyone!

We know that WhatsApp is a popular messaging app with over 2 billion active users worldwide. Businesses can use WhatsApp to communicate with their customers, send marketing messages, and provide customer support. So, on this platform, if you want to use ChatBot-based marketing for your E-commerce business, BotSailor is your great option for it.

BotSailor, a product of  Xerone IT is a chatbot builder that allows you to create the chatbot for WhatsApp and Telegram. It offers WhatsApp & Telegram chatbot 24/7 automated chat support which is free for up to 1000 subscribers. It helps you to increase your business by improving online social media marketing. You can also use BotSailor to broadcast messages to your WhatsApp subscribers.

To broadcast messages to WhatsApp using BotSailor, you can use message templates. Message templates are pre-defined messages that you can use to send to your subscribers.

There are two types of message template categories in BotSailor:

• Transactional message templates (Utility, Auth/OTP): These templates are used to send messages that are related to a specific transaction, such as a shipping confirmation or a payment receipt.
• Marketing message templates: These templates are used to send messages that promote your products or services.

Step 1: (Creating a Message Template)

1. From the BotSailor's dashboard, go to WhatsApp Bot Manager and then select your Bot Account 
2. Then go to the "Message Templates" options.
3. Click on the "Create" button.
4. Enter a name in the “TEMPLATE NAME” field for your message template.
5. Select the type of message template (transactional or marketing).
6. Select Language from the “LOCALE” field.
7. Select Header Type from the “HEADER TYPE” list field.
8. Enter the text of your message in the “MESSAGE BODY” field.
9. If you want to add any variables (Custom Fields/Built-in Variables/Name) to your message, click on the particular button.
10. Additionally, you may provide text for the footer in the “FOOTER TEXT” field.
11. You can also set the button from “BUTTON”
12. Finally, click on the "Save" button. 
13. Remember, the Message template should be approved by WhatsApp. Click on the check Status button (after creating the message template) to see if it's approved by WhatsApp or not. It may take a little time to approve your Message Template. 

Step 2: (Creating a Broadcast Campaign)

Once you have created a message template, you can broadcast it to your subscribers (Inactive or Imported subscribers):

1. Go to the BotSailor Dashboard.
2. Click on the "Broadcasting" from the "WhatsApp" sub-menu.
3. Pick the bot account for which the broadcast campaign is to be created.

Then click on the "Create" button.

• A visual bot flow builder will appear as soon as possible. There is available an “Action” button and a “Start-Bot-Flow” in the canvas.
• However, instantly, a “Configure Action Button” form will show on the top-right side of the canvas.
• Give a name for the campaign in the “Campaign Name” field.
• Select the “Anytime” radio button. Instantly, the “ Select template” field will occur.
• It will show the targeted Subscribers.
• Select the template from the list in the “Select template” field.
• Optionally, you can add Include/Exclude label id(s). You can also set the Sending time if you want.
• You can send it right away or you may set a scheduled time.
• By choosing the “Send later” button, you will fill up the “Schedule time” and “Time zone” fields.
• Click the “Ok” button.
• Now, to configure the “Start-Bot-Flow”, double-click on it to give the name for it and hit the "Ok" button.
• Finally, save the campaign by clicking the "Save" button.

It is noted that as soon as we save, the campaign will be created and the broadcast messages will be sent right away.

Now, you can see it in the broadcasting list. If you have done all successfully, the broadcasting campaign status will be successful.

Broadcasting to Active users (Within 24 Hours message window)

From the Visual Flow builder, just select the “24 hours” radio button. This will enable broadcasting to active users only. It will also show the total number of targeted subscribers. For active users (who have sent messages in the last 24 hours), you can send any kind of message.

We can optionally include or exclude subscribers by using a label. For example, if you want to exclude subscribers with a certain label, then you will add that label in the exclude field. Finally, click on the "Ok" button.

Now, double-click on the Start Bot Flow.

Give a name for it and click on the “Ok” button. Now, you can add any message (Text, Image, Audio, Video, File, Interactive, Condition, etc.) according to your needs with the Start Bot Flow. Finally, just save the campaign. That’s it; the broadcasting campaign will start sending messages to subscribers.

Testing the Campaign before we Broadcast

On the top right corner of the Canvas, you will find a button called test. Click on the button, search for a subscriber, and select to test the broadcasting. Send the message to see if it has been received from the target subscriber’s WhatsApp account.

If your test (bot) is successfully run, the target message will be obvious in the target subscriber’s WhatsApp account. After completing the test, just save it from the top-right side “Button” Bar. Then, your message will be sent to the selected subscribers.

It is noted that as soon as we save, the campaign will be created and the broadcast messages will be sent right away. Next, you may check the campaign status. If you have done all successfully, the broadcasting will be successful.

In conclusion, I say that if you are looking for a way to broadcast messages to WhatsApp, using message templates in BotSailor is a great option. You may also see a  Video Tutorial about it.

However, no more today. That’s all. Be tuned with us and thank you to all.

Related Articles:

WhatsApp Broadcasting List: A guide to WhatsApp Bulk Messaging (2024)

How to Create a Personalized Broadcast Message with Different Data on WhatsApp

How to broadcast messages to Telegram Subscribers by using BotSailor

How to do Chatbot Marketing in WhatsApp by BotSailor