How to setup WhatsApp with Messente

Follow the steps below to prepare your Meta account, link it to Messente and start sending WhatsApp messages

1. Read the WhatsApp Business policy

WhatsApp places some restrictions on the content and type of business that can use the platform so we strongly recommend familiarising yourself with their policy to ensure you don't run the risk of being blocked.

https://business.whatsapp.com/policy

2. Meta pre-requisites

In order to send WhatsApp Business messages through Messente you need the following in place:

1. A Meta Business account with billing setup - if you have a facebook page you probably already have this
2. A WhatsApp Business Platform account
   1. You will need a number for the account that is not already associated with another WhatsApp account *
   2. How to setup a WhatsApp Business Platform account with Meta
   
   
3. A WhatsApp template created (you can only initiate a conversation with a pre-approved template)
4. 1. WhatsApp message templates

3. Connect you WhatsApp account with Messente

Next you need to connect your accounts. Navigate to the Senders page and click the 'Connect' button under WhatsApp. This will take you into Meta's embedded signup flow, see the video below for more information.

The video belows takes you through the form and what's required.

4. Send a test message!

Once successfully registered you can start trying to send messages. Read the documentation here to help: https://messente.com/documentation/omnichannel-api/whatsapp-message 

Here's a demo on how the Omnichannel API works with WhatsApp:

Next steps

Now that you are connected you can prepare to start using WhatsApp for customer communications.

1. Setup an auto-reply or be prepared to answer replies - any replies must be responded to in 24hrs so either be prepared to monitor replies or setup an auto-response to guide users to another channel
2. Decide on your fallback logic - e.g. you might choose to always use WhatsApp first if you're looking to respond to customer demand or hoping for conversion improvements and then fallback to SMS or you could use it just for multi-part messages where it is likely to be cheaper
3. Verify your business with Meta by submitting document in Business Manager to get 1,000+ daily business-initiated conversations and show your business name in chat with customers.

Here's a video on the technical setup of integration WhatsApp Business: