Send promotions and automatic order updates on WhatsApp, without a developer
Meta added a tool called Messaging campaigns inside Meta Business Suite. It sends a promotion to a customer list, or automatic messages when an order is confirmed or a booking changes. Here is what you need, how to build each campaign, and how Autorply helps you set it up right from day one.
What can you send?
A one-time promotional campaign
One message to many customers at once: a promotion, a new product or a special offer. You set the budget and dates, and it goes only to people who opted in to marketing messages.
Automatic messages on every change
- Order tracking: confirmed, shipped, delivered.
- Appointment booking: booked, rescheduled, canceled.
- Custom automation: payment reminders, account updates, feedback surveys.
What you need ready
- Full access to your Meta business portfolio.
- A verified WhatsApp business number with a messaging limit high enough for your campaign.
- A customer base that opted in to marketing messages from you.
- A payment method on each account Meta bills (explained below).
- For automatic updates: an online system holding your orders or bookings, plus an integration service Meta supports to connect it to WhatsApp.
You open the tool from here:
Meta Business Suite › All tools › Messaging campaigns
Building it, step by step
Create
In Messaging campaigns click Create, pick Promotional under Marketing, and name the campaign.
Identity
Choose the verified WhatsApp number to send from.
Audience
Select a customer list, or upload a new one using Meta's template.
Schedule and budget
Set the maximum price per message, the campaign budget, and start and end times. Meta shows the default cost per message for your region; set your maximum above it to reach more customers.
Creative
Pick a language and write the body. A header, footer, image or video is optional.
Buttons
Up to 10 quick-reply or Visit website buttons, 25 characters each. A website button can use a fixed URL or one that appends a detail from your customer list.
Tracking
Optional: connect your website dataset to measure what customers did after the message.
Publish
Meta reviews the message template. Once approved, the campaign starts on or around the scheduled time. Replies land in your inbox.
Order and booking updates that run themselves
Choose the campaign type and connect the system that holds your customer records through the integration service. Then for each message you set four things:
Stopping a campaign, and who gets billed
| Marketing | Event-based | |
|---|---|---|
| Once delivering | Can be stopped, not deleted | Can be paused or deleted |
| Editing after publish | Not stated by Meta | Not possible |
| Billed to | An ad account Meta creates for these campaigns | Your messaging account |
| When you pay | Per message, only when delivered | |
So each account needs its own payment method. If you can't see billing, you probably don't have full access to that account.
Prepare your list properly
Autorply gets you ready from day one
As an official Meta Business Partner, we help with everything before your first campaign:
- Verifying your business with Meta and setting up your business portfolio.
- Connecting and verifying your WhatsApp business number.
- Writing message templates that get approved the first time.
- The Autorply platform for campaigns, chatbots and one shared team inbox, with Salla and Shopify integrations.
- You pay Meta's fees directly to Meta with no markup from us, and your data is hosted in Saudi Arabia.
FAQ
Do I need a developer?
Not for marketing campaigns, according to Meta. Automatic campaigns need your records system connected through an integration service, and we can help there.
Why can't I see Messaging campaigns?
The feature may not have reached your account yet, or you may not have full access to the business portfolio or the messaging account.
Can I edit a campaign after publishing?
Event-based campaigns can't be edited, only paused or deleted. Marketing campaigns can be stopped once delivering, but not deleted.
How small can my list be?
At least 1,000 customers, in a CSV or TXT file, with country codes on every number.
Source: Meta Business Help Center pages on Messaging campaigns in Meta Business Suite and customer list formatting guidelines.