Broadcast Messenger is a web-based tool that lets you create, send, and manage custom WhatsApp and SMS campaigns with no coding or developer support required.

This tool is ideal for sending out announcements, reminders, alerts, event information, quick polls, and notifications with just the click of a button. It does not require any integration or implementation and is provisioned via the Clickatell Portal.

Broadcast Messenger is available on all platform packages and self-serve SMS clients.

With this tool, you can:

• Create, schedule, and send WhatsApp and SMS messaging campaigns.

• Make use of the approved WhatsApp templates in your account.

• Upload recipient details in bulk via the web front-end or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).

• Receive and view customer responses.

• Create and manage auto-responses.

• Manage customer opt-outs.

• View summary data of how campaigns are performing.

The Broadcast Messenger tool supports both the WhatsApp and SMS channels. Note that SMS campaign sending has some limitations currently, with more enhancements coming soon.

Broadcast Messenger lets you set up and send WhatsApp and SMS campaigns within minutes. You can also add and manage your recipient lists in this tool.

Please refer to the detailed user guide for step-by-step instructions on setting up new campaigns and managing your target groups.

There is no charge for activating or using the Broadcast Messenger application. You only pay for the messages you send via the tool.

A message template is a special format used by businesses to send a WhatsApp message to customers. It looks and acts like a normal WhatsApp message, with the main difference being that WhatsApp must pre-approve it before you can send it to customers. Message templates are required outside of an open conversation window and can only be sent to customers who have opted in and permitted you to send them messages. 

To use WhatsApp message templates in campaigns via Broadcast Messenger, templates must first be submitted to and approved by Meta.

You cannot edit an approved message template. If you wish to change the template, you will have to submit a new WhatsApp message template for approval.

Note: Clickatell has no direct say in whether your message template is approved by Meta or not, however, here are some tips and best practices to help improve your chances. Read here to learn more about possible reasons why your template might have been rejected.

Currently, message templates are not supported for SMS.

Also see:

• What are WhatsApp message templates?

• How do I create a WhatsApp message template for approval?

For approved WhatsApp templates, the message body populates automatically and is not editable. The variables in the body are mapped to the columns in the contact file after the file has been imported.

The column headings in your file are automatically shown as options in a drop-down for each variable in your template. From each drop-down, select the column that must be used to populate each variable.

Merge fields are currently not supported for SMS – this is on the roadmap.

All dates and times in Broadcast Messenger are shown in GMT and changing the time zone is not supported.

Yes, Broadcast Messenger does support dynamic URLs for WhatsApp campaigns. Read here for more information.

SMS campaigns do not support dynamic URLs.

Contacts are imported for every campaign using an XLSX or CSV file. A column containing the recipients' MSISDN (phone number) is required. To add, edit, or delete a contact, you need to upload a new file containing the correct contact information.

Refer to the FAQ item about importing contacts for more information.

No, Broadcast Messenger does not prevent you from sending campaigns after hours. However, sending campaigns within normal business hours is recommended to minimize the chances of recipients blocking you.

When Broadcast Messenger is activated on an account that already has Chat Desk, all replies (inbound messages) from end-users will be received on the Responses tab instead of going to Chat Desk as before.

You can change your callbacks to the Chat Desk URL if you prefer to receive your replies there. Note that in this case, replies will not be visible in Campaign Manager and all replies will be directed to Chat Desk. Replies can go to either Campaign Manager or Chat Desk, not to both.