WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One handy feature is the ability to send a broadcast message to multiple contacts at once, even if they don’t have your number saved in their phone.
What is a WhatsApp broadcast message?
A WhatsApp broadcast (or broadcast list) allows you to send a single message to multiple WhatsApp contacts at once. It’s useful for making announcements, sending reminders, or just messaging a group of people without having to send each one separately.
To send a broadcast message, you create a list of contacts and then send a single message that will be delivered to everyone on that list. It’s just like sending a group text message in your regular messaging app.
How do broadcast messages work on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp’s broadcast list feature uses the same messaging pipeline as regular one-on-one messages. This means each recipient will receive the message individually, with no indication it was sent to multiple people.
The major difference versus a regular message is that your contacts don’t have to have your number saved in order to receive a broadcast. As long as you have their phone number added to the broadcast list, the message will be delivered.
Can I send a broadcast message without saving numbers?
Yes, you can send a WhatsApp broadcast message without first saving the recipients’ numbers in your phone’s contacts. Adding contacts to your phone is not required.
The only requirement is that you have the full phone number for each recipient you want to include in the broadcast list. As long as you have the number, you can create a broadcast list and send a message to it.
Steps to send a broadcast message on WhatsApp
Follow these steps to create and send a broadcast message on WhatsApp to numbers not saved in your contacts:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the New Chat icon (a pencil and paper icon)
- Tap New Broadcast
- Type or paste the phone numbers you want to message, separated by commas
- Tap Done when finished adding numbers
- Type your message in the message field
- Tap the send icon to broadcast your message
And that’s it! Your message will now be delivered to each recipient in the broadcast list individually.
Tips for using WhatsApp broadcast lists
Here are some tips to make effective use of WhatsApp’s broadcast message feature:
- Get consent first – Only message people who have agreed to receive broadcast communications from you.
- Keep it relevant – Make sure your message contains information your recipients will appreciate.
- Avoid overuse – Don’t bombard people with too many broadcasts or risk being marked as spam.
- Segment your lists – Create targeted lists for different types of messages instead of one huge list.
- Review your lists – Occasionally prune your lists to remove inactive numbers or people who opt out.
WhatsApp broadcast message limits
WhatsApp does impose some limits on how many people you can reach with broadcast messages:
- Maximum 256 recipients per message
- Maximum of 5 forwarded messages per chat at once
- Maximum of 20 broadcast lists with up to 256 members each
So while you can reach a fair number of people, very large mass blasts are not possible within the rules of the platform.
Troubleshooting WhatsApp broadcast issues
Here are some common issues that may come up when trying to use WhatsApp broadcast lists and how to resolve them:
Message didn’t send
If your broadcast message shows just one check mark instead of two, it indicates the message failed to send to some recipients. This can happen if you exceed WhatsApp’s forwarding limits, or if some numbers are invalid.
Broadcast not working
If your broadcast list doesn’t seem to be working at all, make sure your app is updated to the latest version. Outdated versions may not support the broadcast feature.
Recipient not receiving messages
If just certain recipients aren’t receiving your broadcast messages, remove their numbers and add them back to your broadcast list again. Their messaging settings may be blocking unknown senders.
Too many messages sent warning
If you receive warnings about exceeding WhatsApp’s broadcast limits, prune your lists and consolidate messages before trying again. Sending too many broadcasts too frequently can get your account banned.
WhatsApp business API for larger broadcasts
If you need to reach larger audiences for business messaging purposes, WhatsApp offers a Business API plan that supports larger broadcast capabilities.
Key features of the WhatsApp Business API include:
- Reaching up to 1,000 recipients per message
- Sending up to 288,000 messages per day
- Advanced segmentation and targeting
- Message templates
- Auto-reply chatbots
While not free, the WhatsApp Business API provides much more robust tools for managing large-scale broadcast messaging campaigns via WhatsApp.
Conclusion
Sending broadcast messages via WhatsApp is a convenient way to get information out to groups of people at once. While limited to 256 recipients per message, it still provides an easy tool for small-scale broadcasting directly within WhatsApp.
Just be sure to get consent first, keep your lists tidy, and don’t overdo it. Used properly, WhatsApp broadcast messaging can be a handy way to stay connected.