How to automatically WhatsApp your Facebook leads

If you generate leads on Facebook, messaging them on WhatsApp is the best way to contact them and maximise your chances of making a sale. 

Why you should WhatsApp Facebook Leads 

With more than 2 billion active users worldwide, WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging tools. It’s the default messaging app for many people who use it hundreds of times a day to keep in touch with friends and family. When you message someone on WhatsApp, the likelihood they’ll read (and reply) to you is very high!

Let’s rethink it from a potential customer’s perspective. Imagine you saw an interesting ad about a product or service on the Internet. You clicked on it, filled out the form with your details, and submitted it. Would you be willing to answer a call from an unknown number, or would you prefer to receive a WhatsApp message providing more details about the product or service you showed interest in earlier?  

Reaching out to your leads on WhatsApp makes your communication fast, convenient and more effective. 

Here are some benefits of reaching out to leads on WhatsApp:

Instant communication: WhatsApp allows real-time messaging, helping you connect with new leads instantly. This immediacy can boost the response rate from your leads.

Global reach: WhatsApp has a vast user base around the world. This global reach makes WhatsApp the go-to messaging app for communicating with international leads.

Convenience: Many people find sending a message on WhatsApp more convenient over reaching out to people via phone calls or emails. The platform makes casual conversation easier, which is great for quick questions or updates, plus quicker responses than other platforms.

Multimedia support: WhatsApp supports various types of media, including text, voice messages, images, and videos. This versatility is great for business communication as you can provide detailed product information, share documents, and even conduct virtual tours.

Cost-effective: WhatsApp is a cost-effective messaging tool for business communications. It’s generally free to use the regular and WhatsApp Business applications.

Business Features: WhatsApp Business allows businesses to create profiles with information like their address, business description, email address, and website. More interestingly, businesses can showcase their products and services within the app by creating a WhatsApp Catalog.

Appointment scheduling: WhatsApp can be an efficient tool for services that require appointments. With WhatsApp, it’s easy to schedule, send reminders, and confirm appointments.

There are two ways to quickly WhatsApp Facebook leads from your Facebook Lead Ads:

1. Use WhatsApp Business API to send an automated response (with restrictions, such as not being able to use your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business apps) 
2. Use apps like Privyr to reply within seconds from your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business apps

Let’s look at both ways to WhatsApp your Facebook leads in detail.

Option 1: Automatically WhatsApp Facebook leads with WhatsApp Business API

What is WhatsApp Business API

WhatsApp Business API is a programmatic way to send and receive messages on WhatsApp. It does not have an app or user interface but rather is a set of functions that developers or service providers can build on top of. This is why WhatsApp encourages businesses to partner with its official service providers to implement it. 

It’s great for large businesses that use it to automate their transactional messages – order confirmation, delivery status, OTPs. Or as an inbound support channel. Unlike regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business apps, WhatsApp does not allow sending promotional marketing messages through WhatsApp Business API.

How to set up WhatsApp Business API

There are two ways to set up WhatsApp Business API. You can either partner with any official business providers (such as those from this list). Or you can try to configure the API integration yourself.

Pro tip: Do take your time to assess which vendors suit your needs because once you select one, you’re “stuck” with them. You will need to use the vendor’s platform to send and read messages, instead of your WhatsApp/WhatsApp Business account.

Also, you can’t port your WhatsApp Business API account from one vendor to another. So, if you ever want to switch providers, you’ll need to start from scratch. You can’t transfer your existing phone number, conversations, and data.

The second option is to be a developer yourself to configure and integrate the API on your own. For this, you must submit information about your business for consideration here. The selection process is strict as WhatsApp prefers businesses using its official business partners.

How to WhatsApp Facebook leads with WhatsApp Business API

Once you have permission to use WhatsApp Business API from an official vendor, you will use that vendor’s interface or app to send and receive messages. Their messaging platform should allow you to send, schedule, and/or set up rules to automate messages. 

If you’re a developer and receive confirmation from WhatsApp to use its API, you can configure it with your existing systems so they can interact with each other. You should be able to implement the APIs to send and receive messages automatically to suit your needs. 

In both cases, you’ll still need a process to ‘trigger’ sending messages when a new lead is received on Facebook. You can combine other systems (such as Zapier) to handle checking for new leads from Facebook. Then, have it instruct WhatsApp Business API to send your templated message to the lead.

What are the limitations of WhatsApp Business API

You can’t use the regular WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business apps with WhatsApp Business API. You can only message clients and view chats from your chosen vendor’s API integration interface. If you configured the API integration yourself, you’d need to build your own user interface.

You must go through an account application and approval process from a chosen vendor to be eligible to use WhatsApp Business API. Once you pick a vendor, you can’t change it. Your WhatsApp Business API number, chats, and data is locked to them. 

If you choose to convert your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business phone number to WhatsApp Business API, there’s no going back. You’ll lose all your existing data and chat history. You also won’t be able to switch your number “back” to the regular or business WhatsApp apps.

Additionally, WhatsApp does not allow you to send promotional, outbound marketing messages from WhatsApp Business API. It also has many restrictions on the types of messages you send, and charges you per message sent with WhatsApp Business API.

Option 2: Sending WhatsApp messages to Facebook leads in seconds with Privyr

What is Privyr

Privyr is a mobile app that helps you convert your leads into clients from your phone. It’s built for sales & marketing professionals and business owners who interact with their leads through apps like WhatsApp. The app directly connects with various lead sources (Facebook Lead Ads, website contact forms, etc.) for instant new lead alerts. 

More importantly, it lets you respond to new leads within seconds of leaving their details. No typing or copy + pasting is needed. Privyr works with WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, SMS, iMessage, email, and phone calls. Even better, it works with the apps and accounts you already use.

How to set up Privyr

Setting up Privyr takes less than 30 seconds. To instantly receive your leads from Facebook, log into the Privyr app and select the Facebook Pages you wish to connect. That’s it – you’re done! Here’s how to do it, step by step:

Step 1. Create a Privyr account and install the the app on your phone
Go to www.privyr.com, create your free account, and install the app on your mobile device. Privyr is available on the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play Store for Android devices. 

Step 2. Configure and connect your Facebook account
When opening the Privyr app on your phone, it will automatically prompt you to connect to your Facebook pages. Tap on the Connect Account tab and continue.   

Step 3. Select your Facebook pages
You’ll now see the list of your Facebook pages. Choose the page you want to connect to or select all pages and tap Next. 

Step 4. Accept Privyr’s settings
A window will open, showing you the permission settings. Ensure all permissions are checked for Privyr and click Done. 

Your Facebook Page is connected to Privyr. You’ll now automatically receive real-time alerts on your mobile phone whenever there are new leads . When you tap on the notification, you’ll have the option to WhatsApp the lead with an auto-personalised message. You’ll be able to connect with your new leads within minutes of them submitting interest on your Facebook form. 

You don’t need any additional integrations or complex configurations. Privyr automatically works with the regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business accounts from your phone. 

Even better, Privyr offers a free trial (no credit card required) and unlimited usage plans. This includes unlimited calls, unlimited messages, and unlimited lead alerts from unlimited Facebook Pages and Lead Forms (and other lead sources).

How to WhatsApp Facebook leads with Privyr

Messaging new leads with Privyr is super simple. Each time new leads submit interest on your Facebook ads, you will receive instant new lead notifications via the mobile app and email. Click the alert to view the lead’s details and responses. 

You can then use Privyr’s ‘Quick Response’ feature to reply to new leads by selecting a message template. Tap on a template to send a personalised version of it within seconds via WhatsApp, SMS, iMessage or email. No typing, copy + pasting, or saving to phonebook needed. 

Watch the video below to see how to WhatsApp Facebook leads in less than 8 seconds with Privyr!

What are the limitations of Privyr

Privyr uses your existing WhatsApp and/or WhatsApp Business accounts. Therefore, it can’t send automatic responses to new leads. You’ll need to use its Quick Response feature to message leads with a few taps when you receive new lead alerts. 

However, this ensures that all messages and conversations are from your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business applications. Rather than you using another app or phone number that you may not be able to access directly. 

Since Privyr works with the regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business apps, all limitations from those apps also apply to Privyr. An example is not being able to log into the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones. That said, Privyr offers team features that allow multiple users to coordinate across leads and clients.

A recap on using WhatsApp to message your Facebook leads automatically

There’s no way to automatically WhatsApp Facebook leads from your regular WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business accounts. Your only options are:

1. Move to WhatsApp Business API, which lets you automatically reply to leads but with several restrictions. The most important being that you can’t use your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business apps.
2. Go with an app like Privyr that lets you personally reply to leads in a few taps. Better still, from the existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business apps on your phone.

WhatsApp Business API is ideal for larger businesses that automate transactional messages – order confirmation, delivery status, OTPs. Or as an inbound support channel. But this solution has A LOT of other restrictions and limitations, and charges you per message sent. 

Privyr is ideal if you are a business owner or sales & marketing professional who personally interacts with your clients via the WhatsApp or WhatsApp business apps. You use your phone number via WhatsApp/WhatsApp Business and want to continue to do so. It also works with SMS, iMessage, email, and phone calls, so you don’t need different systems for each app.

Privyr easily connects to both Facebook and WhatsApp so you can message new leads within seconds, in just a few taps. No typing, copy + pasting, or saving to phonebook needed.

Are you interested in trying out Privyr? Sign up for a free trial today!

WhatsApp Bulk Sender : This FREE! bulk message sender tool helps you bulk-send personalised WhatsApp messages to multiple people, even if you haven’t added them to your phonebook.

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