{"id":5759,"date":"2023-05-02T03:29:31","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T03:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privyr.com\/blog\/?p=5759"},"modified":"2023-05-04T03:27:11","modified_gmt":"2023-05-04T03:27:11","slug":"whatsapp-business-autoresponders-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privyr.com\/blog\/whatsapp-business-autoresponders-use\/","title":{"rendered":"When should you use autoresponder features on WhatsApp Business?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a salesperson, you probably get a lot of inbound messages from new leads or existing clients asking for details about your products and services. But you may not always be available and ready to reply. Maybe you\u2019re in the middle of an event, speaking with another client, or simply on-the-go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Use autoresponders in the wrong way, and you risk looking dishonest<\/strong> and unreliable<\/strong><\/span> to your customer \u2013 and maybe even losing them to someone else<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

To help respond to so many messages on WhatsApp, an automated response might sound like a good solution to you. Luckily, the WhatsApp Business application<\/a> has two autoresponder options: Greeting Message<\/strong> and Away Message<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Greeting<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These autoresponders don\u2019t work in every situation. There are also right<\/strong> and wrong<\/strong> ways to use them. Use them correctly, and you buy yourself time. But if you do it wrong, you risk looking dishonest and unreliable to your customer. You might even lose them to someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do autoresponders work in WhatsApp Business? \ud83e\udd13 \u270f\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An autoresponder<\/strong> is a template message that is automatically sent to anyone who sends you a message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the WhatsApp Business application, a Greeting Message<\/strong> is a single pre-written message that is automatically sent when someone messages you for the first time or after 14 days of no activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Greeting<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The WhatsApp Business application\u2019s Away Message <\/strong>is a single pre-written message that is automatically sent when someone messages you during your scheduled away time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Away<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can only use both of these features if the following things are true:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 You\u2019re using the WhatsApp Business application, AND<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 People are messaging directly on WhatsApp (e.g. someone got your number via a referral, or you\u2019re generating leads a website or ads that Click-to-WhatsApp)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know what autoresponders look like on the WhatsApp Business application, how do you work with them in a way that helps your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u274c DON\u2019T use your autoresponder to trick your customer into thinking they\u2019re talking to a person<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to auto-reply to your customer, make sure that your customer knows that they\u2019re receiving a response from an autoresponder \u2013 and not a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may seem like a good idea to use your autoresponder to make your customer feel like you are there to listen to them. But you may run into problems when your client responds to the message expecting a reply \u2013 but no one is there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bad
Using an autoresponder to pretend that you\u2019re available may seem like a good idea \u2013 until your client responds and finds that no one is there to help them.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s still important for you to develop a relationship with your client. Your client should feel like they can trust you to be there for them when they message you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they message the autoresponder and do not receive a response, it may make you look flaky or misleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then what do you do? Is there a way to use an autoresponder that makes your client feel heard without leaving them expecting reply right away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705  DO make it obvious that your client is speaking with an autoresponder<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that autoresponders can<\/strong> help you keep in contact with your clients! You should, as much as possible, try to personally reply to your customers when you are ready and available.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But since you can\u2019t be available all the time, autoresponders can help by letting your lead know two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. You are temporarily unavailable, but will reply soon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A short introduction to yourself, your products, or your services<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    This way, your client gets a response immediately. And the message lets them know that you\u2019re there for them, even if you are not available to chat right now.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \"Good
    It\u2019s okay to not be available 24\/7, as long as your client knows when to expect your reply.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Because the message has a brief introduction to who you are and what you offer, they know that they messaged the right person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This way, you can manage your leads more easily in a way that is convenient for you, without leaving them waiting for a reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sounds good! But is there another way to automatically reach out to new leads via WhatsApp? \ud83e\udd14<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Now that you understand how you can use an autoresponder on the WhatsApp Business application, you may be wondering what comes next. The above tips only work if your client messages you first, on WhatsApp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re getting leads from other places, then you won\u2019t be able to use the WhatsApp Business application\u2019s autoresponder features. These places include<\/p>\n\n\n\n