How to Set Up Auto-Reply on WhatsApp (2022)

Auto Replying on WhatsApp is a must for every D2C ecommerce business out there.

You are cutting holes in your pocket if you think that you can wait a while till you respond to your customer's queries. It is very important for your business to quickly reply to your customer or at the very least address their message.

In this blog, I'll teach you How to set Auto Reply Messages using WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp API.

Let's get started.

How to Set Up Auto-Reply on WhatsApp (2022)

Two Ways To Set Auto Reply For Your Business

1. Using WhatsApp Business App

WhatsApp's free to download business app- WhatsApp Business App can be used by small and medium businesses. It helps to build personal connections with your customers, provide a products and services catalogue list, guide your customers throughout their shopping experience with you and share important notifications with them.

With the help of the WhatsApp Business App, you can set up 'Away Messages' for when your customer support is not available to interact with your customers. Not only this, you can also set up other basic auto reply messages as well.

Why Use WhatsApp Business App To Auto Reply?

Not every business runs 24/7 continuously. We all need a break!

Sometimes, it becomes impossible to reply to every customer instantly. But let's face it, no one likes to wait. Customers will text you in the middle of the night hoping for a response at that very moment. How will you respond when you are already asleep?

Enters, 'Away Messages' on WhatsApp Business App! What this message does is, it tells your customers or potential customers that you are away and that you will get back to them as soon as possible. Well, something is better than nothing. Is it not?

Instead of letting your customer just wait for a response with no guarantee as to if they'll ever receive one, this simple auto reply feature on WhatsApp can save you from a huge revenue loss of your business.

How To Set Auto Reply In WhatsApp Business App?

Setting up away messages will let your customer know that you are not available to respond to them right away. Not only this, away messages will also encourage your customers to interact with you again. An away message is way better than a no reply at all.

Here's how you do that:

1. Download the WhatsApp Business App on your Android or iOS device.

2. Open the app and click on three dots.

3. Go to Settings > Business Tools > Away Message.

4. Click on ‘Send Away Message’.

5. Change the ‘Send Away Message’ Setting to On and edit the Away Message as per your need.

6. After editing, click on save.

7. Next you have to schedule the message. You have three different options to schedule your message.

8. Now comes the last step which is to choose the recipients of your away message. You can choose to send auto reply message to:

Everyone: Anyone who reaches out to you after your working hours will receive the auto-reply away message.

Everyone not in the address book: By choosing this option, you'll be able to send messages to numbers that aren't a part of your address book or contact list.

Everyone except: This lets you refrain some of the people from receiving the auto reply away message.

Only send to: This will allow you to select a few people who will receive the auto reply message.

9. Voila, you are good to go.

Disadvantages of WhatsApp Business App

Although auto reply messages using the WhatsApp Business App may be the quick fix but it's not the permanent solution.

Here's a few reasons why you should consider using the best alternative- Whatsapp Business API:

WhatsApp Business App is not capable of handling the entire customer support system, thereby making it effective only for small businesses.

WhatsApp business App does not support creating multiple message templates.

Your business cannot get the verified green tag while using WhatsApp Business App.

The app does not allow you to integrate third party solutions.

It only works during the predefined hours and requires an active internet connection at all times.

Like I said earlier, its a quick fix but not the apt solution. Now lets take a look at the solution which the big brands are using to make more money!

2. Using WhatsApp Business API’s

WhatsApp Business API is generally used by medium and large businesses to connect with their customers by providing them world class customer support service. WhatsApp API allows businesses to create conversational chatbots that automatically respond to a pre-defined keyword.

WhatsApp Chatbots can also be used like a 24/7 digital salesman for your business answering the frequently asked questions of your customers and connecting them to a human if need be.

How To Build Chatbots With WATI?

Building WhatsApp Chatbots can be wearisome process but wait till I tell you that I know of a solution that will help you to create high quality chatbots that too without any sort of coding!

Presenting WATI! A no-code, drag and drop interface. Wati is an easy to use WhatsApp Marketing software that provides WhatsApp Broadcast Messaging Facility and many other impressive features. Read my take on WATI to know more about this software.

WATI's no code, drag and drop interface helps you to create automated replies for your chatbot by creating new flows where you can pretty much do anything from adding buttons, to adding lists, using images and videos in the message. The scope is endless.

Advantages of WhatsApp Business API's

How To Use WhatsApp Business API To Earn More Money?

The scope of WhatsApp Business API or WhatsApp Chatbots is breathtaking. Here's what you can do with it:

General automated messages like order confirmation, abandoned cart etc.

You can give out discount coupons and increase your sales.

You can build a strong database of conversational leads by running Click to Chat Ads or retargeting ads on Facebook.

You can run special occasion or new product launch campaigns on WhatsApp.

You can send bulk messages without getting banned.

WhatsApp Business App vs WhatsApp API's - What is better?

After all this, you must be wondering what is better for your business- WhatsApp Business App or WhatsApp API?

If you're just starting up and one member can handle all the customer support chats on WhatsApp then WhatsApp Business App will solve the purpose for you.

But if you want to communicate with multiple people at the same time and if you want to enhance your customer's buying experience and generate extra profits, then practicing WhatsApp Marketing with the help of WhatsApp Business API's is a must.

WhatsApp Business App vs WhatsApp API's - What is better?

That's Everything About Auto Reply Messages On WhatsApp

WhatsApp Marketing is a winning strategy. Instantly responding to the customers helps build their trust for your brand. I hope this blog was helpful in explaining how to set up auto reply messages in WhatsApp.

This is just a teaser. The scope of using WhatsApp API for your ecommerce business is endless. You should definitely check out my WhatsApp Marketing Library to learn how to scale your ecommerce business using WhatsApp.

How to Set Up Auto-Reply on WhatsApp (2022)

How to Set Up Auto-Reply on WhatsApp (2022)

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Table of Contents

Two Ways To Set Auto Reply For Your Business

1. Using WhatsApp Business App

Why Use WhatsApp Business App To Auto Reply?

How To Set Auto Reply In WhatsApp Business App?

Disadvantages of WhatsApp Business App

2. Using WhatsApp Business API’s

How To Build Chatbots With WATI?

Advantages of WhatsApp Business API's

How To Use WhatsApp Business API To Earn More Money?

WhatsApp Business App vs WhatsApp API's - What is better?

That's Everything About Auto Reply Messages On WhatsApp