How to set up auto response in whatsapp
How to Set up Auto-Reply (Autoresponder) on WhatsApp Business
In previous posts, we’ve spoken about WhatsApp Chatbots; specific to why and how to build them. In this WhatsApp auto reply blog post, we’ll discuss how to set up an auto-reply feature for WhatsApp.
If you are looking for how to set auto-reply in WhatsApp business and WhatsApp auto-reply message sample, you are at the right place. In this post, we’ll help you understand the nitty-gritty of WhatsApp Chatbots. To start off with, let’s talk about how auto-response for WhatsApp works.
There are two ways to set up auto-replies for your business –
- Using WhatsApp Business: The WhatsApp Business App allows you to connect with your customers, deliver important notifications, and collect timely feedback from them. It works like a live chat tool, that allows you to set up away messages to communicate to your customers that you’re away and will reach out to them shortly.
- Using WhatsApp’s Business APIs: WhatsApp Business APIs allow you to automate your conversations and send timely messages. With a WhatsApp Chatbot, you can automate the responses to your FAQs and stay connected with your customers 24/7, round the clock.
Suggested Reading: WhatsApp Business Vs WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp Business is a platform for small- and medium-sized businesses. It allows you to set up “away messages” for when you’re not available or online.
In this article, we’ll talk about the process of deploying automatic reply away messages for your WhatsApp Business. WhatsApp auto-reply feature comes in handy for business owners who want to actively engage with their audience.
Most businesses work 8-12 hours a day. So while you may only be available from nine to five, your customers will interact with businesses based on their convenience.
Thus, these customers are lost revenue-generating opportunities. A business that only interacts with its customers eight hours a day loses more than 2/3rds of its potential revenue.
Suggested Reading: SMS Vs WhatsApp – The Final Frontier
A WhatsApp away message allows you to tell your customers that you’re away and encourages them to move within the sales funnel with more ease.
Using WhatsApp Business, you can set automated WhatsApp replies and schedule them as per your desired timings.
The first step to doing this is to decide who gets what away message. You can decide if a single away message is sent to all your customers or if it’s just being sent to specific customers.
The second step is to schedule the auto-reply away message to a specific function at a specific time. The recommended trigger time is during the hours that your business is closed.
If a customer reaches out to you during these “away” hours, auto-reply messages will be sent out based on your preferences.
Suggested Reading: Are you looking to build a WhatsApp Chatbot for your e-commerce business? We’re ranked #1 by Google for that very question.
Steps To Set-up Auto-reply for WhatsApp:
- Tap on the three vertical dots on the top right of your WhatsApp application. From there, click on Settings, followed by Business Settings, and lastly on Away message.
- Now, turn on the “Send away message” toggle button.
- Next, enter the “away” message or tap on it to edit the message which will be sent to your customers accordingly.
- After you edit your message, select the type of schedule for understanding when to program your messages to be deployed.
- Next, select the recipients to whom you want to send the message.
Scheduling of Away Messages :
WhatsApp auto-reply message- Always schedule: Select this when you’re away from work and can’t talk to your customers for days.
- Custom schedule: Select this when you want to send the automated away messages only during a particular time frame. If a customer texts you within this timeframe, they’ll immediately get the automated message.
- Outside of business hours: This feature works on the basis of your business hours mentioned on your profile. Depending on that, automatic away messages will be triggered and sent if any reply is received post business hours.
Suggested Reading: Ultimate Guide: WhatsApp Click-to-Chat link. Now get more customers to talk to you on WhatsApp.
How to Select the Recipients:- Everyone: The automated message will be sent to anyone who messages after business hours.
- People not in the address book: The message will be sent to the numbers that aren’t in your address book.
- Everyone except a few: The automated numbers will be sent to all numbers except the ones selected.
- All selected: The auto-reply message will only be sent to the ones who are selected from the list.
1. Make sure to save all of your changes.
2. Keep in mind that your auto-response away messages will only be sent when you have an active Internet connection.
- WhatsApp Business is meant for small businesses.
- It cannot help you generate leads or provide support.
- WhatsApp Business can’t use different templates.
- It always needs an active Internet connection.
- WhatsApp Business is not customisable.
- WhatsApp Business doesn’t give you a Verified Business tag.
- Only works during predefined off-hours.
What are some of the UI challenges to consider when setting up auto-reply for WhatsApp?
WhatsApp auto-reply samples
Now let’s look at some examples of WhatsApp auto-reply that businesses can use.
General:
Sample 1
Hi!
Thanks for reaching out to [Business Name]. Our support agents will check your message and respond to you within 24/48 hours.
If your issue requires urgent assistance, please reach out to us via our live chat on the website [enter website address] or call us on [enter phone number].
Best Regards,
[Your Business Name]
Sample 2
Hello! Sorry to keep you waiting but we are very busy at the moment. We’ll get back to you in the next few hours. If you are in a hurry, please call us on [enter phone number].
Chat with you soon,
[Your Name]
Sample 3
Hi there! Thanks for writing to us. Please expect some delay in response as we are a little occupied at the moment. But have no worry, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Thanks for your patience,
[Your Name]
Out of office/ holiday template
Sample 4
Hello! We are closed for this festive season until the [date]. We’ll get back to you once we open again. You could also reach out to our team by emailing us at [enter support email ID] or call us on [enter phone number].
Have a great holiday,
[Your Name]
Sample 5
Happy [holiday name]! Thanks for reaching out. We are a bit busy this time of year but don’t worry. We’ll get back to you within [estimated time frame].
Have a great [holiday name]
[Your Business Name]
Sample 6
Wishing you a very happy holiday season. We’ve got your message. Someone from the team will reach out to you soon. If you want quicker assistance, please contact us on phone [enter phone number].
[Your Name]
Out of business hours
Sample 7
Thanks for contacting [Your Business Name]!
We’d love to help, but we’re currently closed. Our team will get back to you when we reopen at [enter opening hour time]. 🕦
In the meantime, did you know we have a Help Center at [enter website faq page link]? I’m quite confident you’ll find your answer without the help of our agents.
Cheers,
[Your Business Name]
Sample 8
Hello there!
We’re currently closed from [enter closing time and opening time], but we’ll get back to you at [time]. Meanwhile, hope you can find answers to your questions here [enter website faq page link].
Chat with you soon,
[Your Name]
Sample 9
Hi! Thanks for reaching out to [enter business name].
This is our off business hours. We will get back to you as soon as we reopen at [enter opening hour]. Alternately, please check out the website for more information [enter website address].
Best,
[Your name]
Event-specific
Sample 10
Hi there, thank you for getting in touch with [enter business name].
We are facing some issues with our supply chain and hence, you could face some issues with your order delivery. Our team is working on it to sort this out as soon as possible. We will let you know as soon as it’s resolved.
If you’ve reached out for any other issues, please let us know. We’ll get back to you in some time.
Thank you for your understanding,
[Your business name]
Sample 11
Thank you for contacting [business name].
Our servers are facing some issues and will be down till [enter time]. Because of this, you will not be able to access the website. We’ll keep you updated on the progress.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to write to us. Our representative will respond to you within 12 hours.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
Sample 12
Hey there, how can I help you?
We are facing issues related to [enter issue name]. For more information, please head to our website [enter website address].
If you are looking for a more powerful auto-responder WhatsApp solution, you can use WhatsApp’s Business APIs.
WhatsApp auto-reply botThis is a WhatsApp Chatbot. WhatsApp’s Business APIs power WhatsApp Chatbots.
Suggested Reading: WhatsApp Chatbots – Use-Cases, Applications, and Templates
Auto-reply for WhatsApp Chatbot
A chatbot is an automated conversation platform. They replicate human interaction but use software instead of teeth and bones. They can help you support and sell to your customers, in real-time, around the clock.
Customers can visit your website, app, or Facebook and Instagram page at any time and talk to your chatbot, which can replicate your best salesperson.
WhatsApp Business can only tell an inquisitive customer that you’re not available at the moment. But using WhatsApp Business APIs you can answer that customer’s question.
For example, a customer texts you on WhatsApp telling you he’d like to buy a shirt but has questions about size. Using WhatsApp’s Business’ auto-reply, you can text him that your store is closed, but she can drop you a message in the morning.
But with a WhatsApp Chatbot powered by WhatsApp’s Business APIs, your customer can have a full conversation with a customer; answering queries and completing sales.
The Chatbot can handle a variety of low-level FAQs. In the event where you are available and the bot can’t handle a question, the chat can be transferred to a human agent.
Thus, a WhatsApp Chatbot allows customers in any corner of the world to communicate with your company, regardless of time zone or availability. It is the ultimate auto-reply for WhatsApp.
Suggested reading: How to migrate your phone number to a different WhatsApp Business account?
How to automate your messages in WhatsApp Chatbots
WhatsApp business auto-reply message sampleSay, “Hello!”The first step to building a WhatsApp bot is to reach out to a company that can help you. To say hello to Verloop.io, simply hit the chat icon at the bottom right of the screen. 🙂
Suggested Reading: 10 Reasons Your Company Needs a WhatsApp Business Chatbot Today!
Tell me about yourselfA big determinant of the ease of acquiring WhatsApp’s APIs is whether your business has a WhatsApp Business License. Lots of providers only service companies that have an existing license.
Verloop.io is a one-stop solutions platform. We have partners that will get your Business Account rolling in no time.
Businesses are asked several questions to determine API qualification during the application process. Applications for certain sectors are restricted – like porn, government entities, and healthcare.
Industry-wide – the questions are largely standard.
Name
Company Name
Company URL
Country Location
Email ID
Use Case*
Suggested Reading: WhatsApp Business Policy Change: All You Need to Know
We’ll do the heavy liftingAfter this, simply sit back and let us do all the difficult work. Once your application has been processed, the real work begins. Businesses using WhatsApp’s APIs follow strict guidelines. These cover everything from the content used by the bot to the use-case in question.
Failure to comply leads to a ban from the platform.
Verloop.io guides you through possible use-cases, assists you with compliance, and provides, proofreads and develops acceptable templates for your business. This way, we ensure that you not only have WhatsApp APIs but also that you continue to keep them.
Suggested Reading: Migrate Your Phone Number to a Different WABA in 10 Steps
Congratulations – You have a Chatbot for WhatsApp!Now that you’ve built the skeleton for your WhatsApp bot, it’s time to add the muscle and brains.
The features that you receive while building your Chatbot for WhatsApp depend on your provider. Verloop.io is an all-in-one chatbot platform for WhatsApp solutions stack. From integrating your CRM to including WhatsApp queries, encrypting and decrypting messages, and providing a single dashboard for all your customer touchpoints.
Get Automated WhatsApp Chatbot Now
How To Set Auto Reply in Whatsapp: Step-by-step Guide
Barring the recent issues with its privacy policies, WhatsApp has been a messenger service app without an equal. Its immense popularity can be attributed to two main things – early user adoption and features. But it is the latter that has kept it ahead of the curve and kept its appeal up amidst growing competition.
One such latest feature is ‘Auto Reply’ that simplifies responding to your contacts when you are away. What is it and how can you set it up? Here’s all.
Related: 3 Ways To Mute Whatsapp Calls
What is the Auto-Reply feature in WhatsApp?
As the name suggests, the auto-reply feature lets you set messages to respond automatically for when you are not available to respond yourself. With it, you can schedule ‘away messages’ and even welcome new customers with greeting messages automatically.
The auto-reply feature is built chiefly to assist small businesses that have clear operating hours. But if you’re not a business owner, you can still use it for your personal use. But if you don’t want to switch to a different version of WhatsApp, you can always utilize third-party apps to auto-reply.
Related: What Happens When You Delete A Message On Whatsapp?
Set Auto Reply in WhatsApp Business
Currently, the auto-reply feature is officially available only on WhatsApp Business – a version of the app made just for businesses. Users can set up their Business profile, catalog their products and services, and set up auto-replies to respond to customers and keep them in the loop.
Download: Whatsapp Business for Android | iPhone
As related before, there are two main components to the auto-reply feature on WhatsApp Business – ‘away message’ and ‘greeting message’. To access these, tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner…
and choose Business Tools.
This will bring up the following screen where you’ll be able to access Away message and Greeting message options among others.
Let’s take a look at how to set them up:
Away message
This is the main auto-reply option. It lets you reply to customers outside of working hours or when you’re away from the office. In the “Business Tools” screen, tap on Away message.
Here, toggle On Send Away Message.
Then tap on Away message.
Here, type in and customize the message that you’d want to send your customers automatically when you’re unavailable to respond yourself. Then tap OK.
Then, tap on Schedule to set when these away messages are triggered.
Here, you get three options –
1. Always Send – For when you’re away from work for an extended period of time.
2. Custom schedule – To specify exactly when these “away messages” are active. We’re thinking lunch hours and weekends.
After you choose this, enter the “Start time” and “End time”.
3. Outside of business hours – This option activates the away message during your business’ off-hours (based on the timings you provided under “Business profile”).
Lastly, under Recipients, you have the option to choose whom you auto-reply to.
The following four options provide all the possibilities for you to pick and choose exactly which recipient gets the auto reply.
Related: How to create a second WhatsApp account with a fake number
Greeting message
Another message that you can customize and send automatically is the greeting message that lets you welcome new customers or re-engage those who’ve been out of touch for over a fortnight. To customize it, tap on Greeting message in ‘Business tools’.
Then toggle On Send greeting message.
Under it, you can tap on the Greeting message…
… and type in your message.
Then tap on Recipients to choose who gets auto-replied to with a greeting message.
Here, too, you’ll get the same options as in ‘Away Messages’.
Related: What Happens When You Mute Someone on Whatsapp?
Third-Party apps to auto-reply on WhatsApp
So far, we’ve only looked at using the auto-reply feature on WhatsApp Business, mainly because the main WhatsApp app (the one that most of us have) doesn’t have an auto-reply feature. However, there are a few noteworthy third-party apps that let you customize auto-replies for your personal use on WhatsApp. Here they are:
AutoResponder for WhatsApp
This is one of the most popular auto-replying app for WhatsApp. Though a whole lot of its features can only be unlocked with a Pro account, the basic ones get the job done for the most part.
Download: AutoResponder for WhatsApp
Open AutoResponder for WhatsApp and tap on the ‘+‘ icon at the bottom right corner to create a rule.
Rules work on the “if this, then that” principle and help to customize exactly to whom and when your auto-replies go through.
On the Rule screen, under “Received message”, type in the message that will activate autoresponder.
The incoming message can either be an Exact match to what you specified or a Similarity match. More sophisticated pattern matching options are only available for PRO users.
Under the “Reply messsage”, type in the message you want to send automatically.
You can also choose specific contacts to send the autorespond to, or contacts that you’d rather not respond to this way.
Once created, the rule can be paused under the Pause rule for… option for a period of time.
Even without the Pro features, AutoResponder for WhatsApp is one of the best auto-replying apps for WhatsApp.
Watomatic – Auto Reply for WhatsApp & Facebook
Watomatic has a clean and minimalist design and works as autoresponder app for WhatsApp as well as Facebook. But as we’re only concerned with WhatsApp for now, let’s take a look at how to set it up to auto respond to your WhatsApp contacts.
Download: Watomatic
Once downloaded, open the app and toggle on Auto reply and be sure to uncheck Facebook Messenger (if you don’t want to auto reply on Facebook).
Then tap on Auto-reply text to curate an automated reply.
Here, type in the message that you want and hit Save.
Whoever texts you on WhatsApp will receive this message, regardless of who they are or what the message is. Although the lack of flexibility in the auto reply options is a clear disadvantage, it works just fine if your goal is to let others know where else they can contact you.
WhatsAuto – Reply App
The last auto-responding app that you should know about is WhatsAuto. This is a surprisingly efficient autoresponder with a UI that easily lets you access the different customizable options.
Download: WhatsAuto
Once installed, under the “Home” tab, simply turn on Auto reply.
Then tap on Auto reply text to customize your message.
Here, type in your message. You can also choose from “Reply Tags” to make it seem as though you’re specifically addressing your contact. This will personalize the message just a mite and give it an authentic sound.
Then tap on the tick-mark at the top right corner to confirm.
Under the “Contacts” tab, you will get a screen that is similar to what WhatsApp Business users get when choosing the recipients that get auto replied to.
And that’s about it. Since auto-replying is available only on WhatsApp Business officially, third-party apps do the trick if you’re using WhatsApp as your personal messenger service.
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How to set up an autoresponder for WhatsApp
How to make a greeting in WhatsApp?
To set up welcome messages:
- Click More Options > Business Tools > Welcome Message.
- Enable Send greeting message.
- Edit the message by clicking on it.
- Select the desired settings in the "Recipients" field: ...
- Press SAVE.
How to automatically send messages on WhatsApp?
Click on the message to edit it > OK. Click in the Schedule field and select the desired settings: Send always to always send an automatic message.
How do I send a WhatsApp message at a specific time?
Sending a WhatsApp message is very easy. In the main interface of the program, type the desired message, select among the available WhatsApp services and set the date and time of sending. All! Now you can be sure that the recipient will receive the message on time.
How to find out when a person was online in WhatsApp if hidden?
To do this, go to "Settings" - "Account" - "Privacy", then select in the section "Visit time" - "No one". Now no one will be able to see the time of your last visit. However, this works in a mirror way - you also will not see information about who was online and when.
How can I find out who visited my WhatsApp page?
The only way to find out about the guests in the account
- We write any message to the contact, you can even just send a smiley.
- Pay attention to the checkmarks at the bottom of the message. …
- When the checkmarks turn blue, it means that the contact went to your WhatsApp account and read the message.
How do I schedule a WhatsApp message?
After downloading the message, you just need to give the application permission to access your contacts, and select Schedule Message from the tooltip, and select those to whom it is intended from the contact list.
How do I schedule an SMS to be sent?
Write a message Click the "+" button next to the text field or the button with three dots in the upper right corner of the screen to open the calendar Set the date and time Click "Send" to schedule
How to schedule a telegram message to be sent?
Telegram developers have added an option to schedule a message to the messenger. They wrote about it in the service blog. To create a scheduled message, you need to hold the "Send" button in the chat, then select the "Send Later" option and set the date and time for sending.
What is a WhatsApp bot?
WhatsApp Chatbot is a simple mechanism that can be configured with TextBack in a few clicks. At the same time, he himself will collect a lead base for you, segment it, “warm up” it with a chain of messages, and help establish a trusting contact with the buyer.
How to make a business account in WhatsApp?
To start using WhatsApp Business, download and install the app from Google Play and verify your business phone number. Get a confirmation code if the number is mobile, and confirmation by an incoming call if the number is a city or landline.
How to target WhatsApp?
To create ads in Ads Manager that go to WhatsApp, you'll need a previously created in-app business profile and a Facebook ad account. In the "Campaigns" section, select "Create". To create ads that link to a WhatsApp campaign, select the Messages objective.
How to send a WhatsApp message at a specific time on iPhone?
Open Delayed Time iMessage and grant permission to access your contact list. Then select the recipient to whom you want to send the message, enter the text of the message and specify the date and time of sending.
Can I send an empty message on WhatsApp?
You need to open it in the phone book and find the link to WhatsApp in the menu:
- send a private message;
- make an audio call;
- video call.
How to Set Automatic Reply on WhatsApp: A Step-by-Step Guide
With the exception of recent issues with its privacy policy, WhatsApp has been an unparalleled messaging app. Its huge popularity can be attributed to two main reasons - early adoption by users and features. But it was the latter that allowed the company to get ahead of it and maintain its attractiveness in the face of growing competition.
One such new feature is Auto Reply, which makes it easy to reply to your contacts when you're away. What is it and how to set it up? That's all.
Related: 3 Ways to Mute WhatsApp Calls
What is the WhatsApp Auto Answer Feature?
As the name suggests, the auto-reply feature allows you to set up automatic replies to messages when you cannot answer yourself. With it, you can schedule "missing messages" and even automatically greet new customers with welcome messages.
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The auto-responder function is mainly intended to help small businesses with clear opening hours. But if you are not the owner of the business, you can still use it for personal purposes. But if you don't want to switch to a different version of WhatsApp, you can always use third-party auto-reply apps.
Related: What happens when you delete a message on WhatsApp?
Set an automatic reply in WhatsApp Business
Currently, the auto-reply feature is only officially available on WhatsApp Business, the business-only version of the application. Users can set up their business profile, catalog their products and services, and set up automatic replies to respond to and keep customers informed.
Download: WhatsApp Business for Android | iPhone
As mentioned earlier, WhatsApp Business has two main components of the auto-reply feature, the "Away Message" and the "Welcome Message". To access them, click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner...
and select Business Tools.
This will bring up the following screen where you can access Absence Message and Welcome Message options, among other things.
Let's see how to set them up:
Absence message
This is the basic answering machine option. This allows you to respond to clients after business hours or when you are out of the office. On the Business Tools screen, tap on the Out of Office message.
Set the radio button to "Send absence message" here.
Then click on the message "Out of office".
Here, enter and set up the message you want to automatically send to your customers when you cannot reply yourself. Then tap OK.
Then click on "Schedule" to set when these absence messages will appear.
Here you have three options -
- Always send - if you are away from work for an extended period of time.
-
Custom schedule - to specify exactly when these "absence messages" will be active. We are thinking about lunch breaks and weekends.
After you select this, enter the "Start Time" and "End Time".
- Out-of-hours - This setting will activate the message about your company being absent during out-of-hours (depending on the time you specified in the Business Profile section).
Finally, in the "Recipients" section, you have the option to choose who you will automatically reply to.
The following four options give you full control over which recipient will receive the automatic reply.
Related: How to create a second WhatsApp account with a fake number
Welcome message
Another message that you can set up and send automatically is the welcome message, which allows you to welcome new customers or re-engage those who was out of touch for over two weeks. To set it up, click Welcome Message in Business Tools.
Then enable "Send a welcome message".
Below it you can click on the welcome message…
… And enter your message.
Then click "Recipients" to choose who will be automatically sent greeting messages.
Here you will also get the same options as in Absence messages.
Related: What happens when you mute someone on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp Auto Reply 3rd Party Apps
So far, we've only looked at using the WhatsApp Business auto-reply feature, mainly because the main WhatsApp app (which most of us have) doesn't have an auto-reply feature. However, there are some noteworthy third-party apps that let you set up automatic replies for personal use on WhatsApp. Here they are:
Answering machine for WhatsApp
This is one of the most popular auto reply apps for whatsapp. While many of its features can only be unlocked with a Pro account, the core ones get the job done for the most part.
Download: Auto Responder for WhatsApp
Open AutoResponder for WhatsApp and click the "+" icon in the lower right corner to create a rule.
Rules work on a “if this, then that” basis and help you specify exactly who and when your auto-replies will be sent.
On the Rule screen, in the Received Message section, enter the message that activates the auto-reply.
The incoming message can either be an exact match to what you specified or a similarity match. More advanced pattern matching options are only available to PRO users.
In the Reply Message field, enter the message you want to send automatically.
You can also select specific contacts to auto-reply or contacts that you do not want to auto-respond to.
Once created, a rule can be paused using the Pause Rule For… option for a specified period of time.
Even without Pro features, AutoResponder for WhatsApp is one of the best auto reply apps for WhatsApp.
Watomatic - Auto Responder for WhatsApp and Facebook
Watomatic has a clean and minimalist design and works as an auto reply app for WhatsApp and Facebook. But since we're only interested in WhatsApp for now, let's see how to set it up to automatically reply to your WhatsApp contacts.
Download: Watomatic
Once downloaded, open the app and enable Auto Responder and be sure to uncheck Facebook Messenger (if you don't want to automatically reply to Facebook).
Then click on the auto reply text to create an auto reply.
Enter the desired message here and click Save.
Whoever sends you a WhatsApp text message will receive that message, no matter who they are or what the message is. While the lack of flexibility in auto-reply options is a distinct downside, it works great if your goal is to let others know where else they can reach you.
WhatsAuto - answer app
The last answering app you should know about is WhatsAuto. It is an amazingly efficient autoresponder with a user interface that allows you to easily access various customizable options.
Download: WhatsAuto
Once installed, on the Home tab, simply enable Auto Reply.
Then click on Auto Reply Text to customize your message.