How to Leverage the WhatsApp API to Send Messages

WhatsApp is a powerful channel for business with a massive global reach of 2.7 billion users and counting. Odds are, most of your customers are already using WhatsApp as their primary messaging platform.

To engage customers at scale on WhatsApp, you should use the WhatsApp API to send messages. With WhatsApp API you can send unlimited messages to saved and unsaved contacts and track real-time analytics of those sent messages to streamline your WhatsApp marketing strategy, leverage WhatsApp chatbot to automate your customer support, use team inbox to answer 1000s of customer queries at once, do product marketing, send business reminders, drive lead generation and do a lot more. The possibilities are endless.

So, in this article, we’ll walk you through the process of using DoubleTick WhatsApp API to send messages and offer some insights into real-world use cases.

Let’s dive in.

What is WhatsApp API?

The WhatsApp Business API is an application program interface that enables businesses to efficiently send and receive bulk WhatsApp messages in real-time. It helps businesses enhance their communication with customers by offering features like bulk WhatsApp messaging, interactive automated messages, quick replies, WhatsApp chatbots and a lot more. 

WhatsApp API allows businesses to send and receive unlimited messages, track message delivery, integrate a WhatsApp chatbot, and manage customer interactions all in one place. It also enables businesses to set up a product/service catalog for customers to browse and make purchases directly within WhatsApp. 

The WhatsApp Business API can be integrated with any third-party tools like Google Sheets, Shopify, Zoho, Zapier, WooCommerce and so on.

Wanna know about WhatsApp Business API in detail? Here is your 2024 Ultimate Guide to WhatsApp Business API - Click Here to Read

How to Broadcast Messages via DoubleTick

Step 1: Open DoubleTick

First, launch DoubleTick by clicking this link: https://web.doubletick.io/. Once there, find and click the “Broadcast List” tab.

Step 2: Create a Channel

To proceed, click on “New List” >> Type list name >> click on “CREATE LIST”.

Step 3: Create a Contact List

Now add contacts to the broadcast list created.  You can do it manually or import bulk contacts from the Excel sheet.

To follow the second method, start by downloading the sample Excel format by clicking on the triple dot icon.

Then fill in your contact information into it.

When you’re done, import the file by selecting “Import contacts from Excel”.

Step 4: Send a Template Message

Now, open the channel and click on the “Send template” button.

Then, choose the approved message template you want to use.

When you’re done, you have two options:

• Send: Click “Send now” and the message will be sent out to all the numbers in the list immediately. 

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• Schedule: Click “Send later” and you’ll be able to pick a date and time for the message to be sent out. You can view scheduled messages by clicking on the “Scheduled Broadcast” tab.

Step 5: Track Performance

Once your Broadcast message has been successfully sent, you can monitor the analytics in real-time within the same channel.

Here is your one-stop guide to WhatsApp Broadcast: Click To Read

Also read- how to schedule messages on WhatsApp: Click To Explore

​How to Send Messages to Individual Customers via DoubleTick​

Step 1: Open DoubleTick

First, launch DoubleTick by clicking this link: https://web.doubletick.io/. 

Once it loads, click the “Home” tab.

Step 2: Start or Find a Chat

If you’re messaging a customer who has already interacted with your business through WhatsApp, you can simply open the chat from the list or search for the customer’s name from the search box. 

If you want to start a new conversation, click on the “New Chat” button in the bottom-left corner and enter the customer's phone number. Then click “Start Chat” to open up the chat window.

Step 3: Choose a Template or Draft Your Message

WhatsApp prevents businesses from reaching out to customers with non-approved messages unless the customer initiates the conversation first. 

So, for the first message, you’ll have to choose an approved template by clicking “Send template”. You can personalize these templates by editing the dynamic fields.

Once a customer responds, asks a question, or initiates the conversation, you can reply freely and use all messaging formats available on WhatsApp, including:

• Photos and videos

• Audio

• Documents

• Products

• Catalogue

…and more.

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Here is your one-stop guide to every type of message template in WhatsApp API: Click Here To Explore


Also here is a guide to WhatsApp API messaging template categorization: Click To Read

How to Send Messages from DoubleTick via Your CRM

In this section, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step process to integrate Zoho CRM with Doubletick and how to automatically trigger messages from DoubleTick every time an event is captured on the Zoho CRM.

Step 1: Open DoubleTick’s Bot Studio

Click this link to open DoubleTick: https://web.doubletick.io/.

Click on “Bot Studio” in the sidebar and then click on “Create new bot”. Now find “On webhook” in the “Triggers” menu and click on it.

An “On webhook” module will open and from there click on “Copy” to copy the webhook URL. Keep DoubleTick open in your browser as you complete the next steps.

Step 2: Open Your CRM

This process will be a little different depending on the CRM you use, but not by too much. 

Open your Zoho CRM then click on settings and search for “webhook”. 

Then click “New webhook” and give it a:

• Name

• Description (optional)

Finally, paste the URL you copied from DoubleTick in the “URL” field.

Step 3: Set Up an Event in Your CRM

Next, choose the action you want to use as a trigger for your automated message from the dropdown menu labelled “Choose Event”.

1. Set a module (e.g., Tickets, Agents etc.).

2. Set an event (e.g., add, update, etc.).

3. Set a department.

Based on the CRM you are using, you can also set additional criteria for the event. This will make sure that the automated message is only triggered when specific conditions are met.

Step 4: Test the Connection

Once you’re done, click on “Save” and then click on “Test Run”. Now return to DoubleTick and click “Capture Response” on the created webhook module.

You should now be able to click “View response data” and see the response from your CRM in DoubleTick.

You’re now ready to set up the template message.

Step 5: Set Up the Message

To set a message template, drag the “Send Template” block from the “Actions” menu onto the canvas and draw a connector between it and the “On webhook Triggered” block.

Then, select an approved template from the “Select Template” dropdown menu to set up messaging. 

And that’s it! You’ve successfully connected your Zoho CRM with DoubleTick and set up a template message to be sent when specific conditions are met.

From the Editors Desk:
- Benefits of Integrating WhatsApp Marketing Software with CRM

- Everything You Need To Know About WhatsApp CRM
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- Top 10 WhatsApp CRM Software Compared: 2024 Ultimate Guide​

How to Send Messages via DoubleTick’s Mobile App

Open the DoubleTick Mobile App

Start by installing the DoubleTick mobile app from the Play Store or App Store.

You’ll notice that the UI is almost identical to the web platform, so the same steps above will apply here.

Send Messages to Individual Customers via the Mobile App

Tap “Home” and either find the customer you want to message in the list or tap “New Chat” to chat with a new contact. 

Then, you can either choose a template to send or (if the customer has initiated a conversation with your business first) type out a custom message to send.

50+ High-converting WhatsApp message templates that work like a charm: Click Here to Access

Send Broadcast Messages via the Mobile App

Tap the “Broadcast Lists” tab and either select an existing list or tap “New List” to create a new one. You can either bulk import numbers through an Excel sheet or add them manually.

After the channel is created and contacts are uploaded, tap “Send template” and choose an approved template to use. Personalize the dynamic fields to your liking and either tap “Send now” or “Send later”.

How Can Sending Messages via the WhatsApp API Benefit You?

Here are a few of the key benefits to send messages to your customer via WhatsApp API:

Bulk Messaging

WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business both limit the number of messages one can send, but with the WhatsApp API, you can send WhatsApp messages to unlimited saved and unsaved contacts.

Real-Time In-Depth Analytics

With WhatsApp Business API, you can track your broadcast campaign metrics like read, delivered, failed, unread and more in real time.

Chat Automation

Automation means more time for the important stuff!

The WhatsApp API takes the hassle out of customer outreach, allowing businesses to connect with their audience faster and easier. Automated responses to FAQs and common inquiries give customers the answers they need without having to wait while giving you more time to focus on other projects.

For example, DoubleTick's Bot Studio lets businesses create complex bots using an intuitive visual builder. You can even link other tools and services like Shopify and WooCommerce to act as triggers in your automated customer journeys.

Team Inbox

WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business are not designed for large teams. They don’t offer access controls, user management, or analytics. For example, DoubleTick makes team management simpler by offering an intuitive team inbox for all WhatsApp conversations. There, admins can create team hierarchies, assign conversations to the right agents and track performance.

Here is a quick guide to WhatsApp business greeting messages with examples & best practices: Click Here to Access

Also, you can download these templates HERE​

What Kinds of Messages You Can Send via DoubleTick WhatsApp API?

The WhatsApp API is very flexible in terms of the kinds of messages you can send out to your customers.

Here’s the comprehensive list of supported message types:

• Text messages

• Video messages

• Audio messages

• Image messages

• Document messages

• Location messages

• Template messages

• Interactive button messages

• Interactive list messages

Here are the easy ways to add WhatsApp to your website for FREE: Click HERE to Read

WhatsApp API Message Limitations & Rules

In order to leverage the potential of bulk messaging on WhatsApp API one must be aware of the limitations associated with it, as these are outside our (and any other provider's) control.

• Message Templates: For business-initiated conversations, you can send only approved message templates. These templates need to be reviewed and approved by WhatsApp before they can be used. This process usually takes around 24 hours.

• Message Sending Limits: Businesses have to stick within certain message limits as per their messaging tier.  There are 4 messaging tiers:

• Tier 1: You can send messages to 1K unique numbers in a rolling 24-hour period

• Tier 2: You can send messages to 10K unique numbers in a rolling 24-hour period

• Tier 3: You can send messages to 100K unique numbers in a rolling 24-hour period

• Tier 4: You can send messages to unlimited unique numbers in a rolling 24-hour period, but your sending volume is limited by the SLAs (service-level agreements) and the speed at which messages can be sent out.

• Message Costs: WhatsApp charges an additional fee for each message sent through the API, with costs varying by country. This is on top of any platform fees charged by your chosen WhatsApp Business API provider.

WhatsApp Business API Conversation Cost Explained: Click Here to Access the Guide

How to Access the WhatsApp API

To get WhatsApp API, you can:

1. Get It Directly Through Meta

2. Get It via a Solution Provider

Let's explore the pros and cons of each of them in detail.

Access It Through Meta

Businesses have the option to access the WhatsApp Business API directly via Meta, but this means opting for a more DIY approach to WhatsApp API integration.

Here are the pros and cons:

Advantages

• Flexibility: With direct access to the WhatsApp API through Meta, businesses can create custom integrations and have more control over their messaging flow.

• Cost-effective: Businesses only pay for what they use with this option, making it a more budget-friendly choice for companies.

• Self-service: Businesses can manage their WhatsApp Business API account and integrations on their own, without relying on a third-party provider.

Disadvantages

• Highly technical: This option requires businesses to have technical expertise and knowledge to set up the integration and troubleshoot any issues.

• Time-consuming: Direct access to the WhatsApp API through Meta means that businesses will need time and resources to set up and maintain the platform.

• Limited support: While businesses have more control over this option, there is limited support available from Meta in case any issues arise.

• No Support for Indian Credit Cards: Businesses need to add their own credit card to avail the WhatsApp API services directly from Meta. However, Meta does not currently support Indian credit cards for payment, making it inaccessible to many businesses in India.

Access It Through a Solution Provider

You can also access the WhatsApp API through a solution provider like DoubleTick for a completely managed integration. This means that DoubleTick takes care of the technical aspects, and you get a fully functional WhatsApp API solution right out of the box.

Advantages

• Easy setup: With DoubleTick, you can have a fully functional WhatsApp API solution in a matter of minutes—no technical expertise is required.

• Dedicated support: As a solution provider, we offer dedicated support to make sure that any issues are resolved quickly and efficiently. We also have direct connections with Meta support to simplify the process for you.

• Payment Flexibility: DoubleTick can manage billing with Meta on your behalf. We can pay your bills to Meta and you can pay us via a wide range of payment gateways such as Razorpay, Stripe, Worldpay, and more.

• Advanced features: DoubleTick offers all kinds of features that you’d need to build yourself in a DIY integration—things like team inbox, analytics, WhatsApp Chatbots, Order Booking bot and more.

5 Use Cases for Sending Messages via the WhatsApp API

To finish up this guide, we thought it would be helpful to run through five use cases for sending messages with DoubleTick’s WhatsApp API.

Customer Support

Effectively handle customer queries and provide prompt responses via WhatsApp using DoubleTick's cloud-based Team Inbox. Improve customer satisfaction by facilitating seamless collaboration among team members.

Product Marketing

Use DoubleTick's Bulk Broadcast feature to effortlessly promote products, offers, or services to your customers. Perfect for marketing campaigns and event announcements, Bulk Broadcasts empower businesses to engage with a large audience without manual effort.

50+ Best WhatsApp Promotional Message Templates That Work Like a Charm: Click Here to Access

Feedback Collection

Collect valuable customer opinions and insights by sending surveys or feedback forms through WhatsApp using DoubleTick. Easily track and analyze your feedback campaign effectiveness with our powerful monitoring and analytics feature.

Order Updates

Automate order updates and inquiries using DoubleTick’s Bot Studio. Give customers a convenient self-service option for answering questions about shipping times, return windows, and more.

E-Commerce

Facilitate product inquiries, orders, and transactions directly through WhatsApp using DoubleTick's commerce bot. The Dynamic Cataloging feature provides an interactive showcase for products that supports checkout and add-to-cart.

​WhatsApp for e-Commerce: A Comprehensive Guide​

Conclusion

WhatsApp API is a great way to send bulk messages. And beyond that, it opens up a whole new world of features, functionality, and connections that you won’t find in the native WhatsApp platform. 

At DoubleTick, we empower businesses with a powerful set of tools to maximize engagement on WhatsApp. Our platform allows businesses to automate messages, set up customer workflows, and access innovative features like team inbox, campaign and team analytics, chatbots, differentiated WABA numbers, order booking bots, and much more.

Schedule a demo to see DoubleTick in action.