How to set up WhatsApp Broadcasting

Send WhatsApp messages to your contacts straight from SAGA. This guide walks you through the whole journey - from connecting your number, to creating your first approved template, to sending (or scheduling) your first broadcast.

Good to know before you start:

• Templates need approval. WhatsApp requires Meta to pre-approve every message template before you can send it. Approval usually takes a few minutes, but Meta officially allows up to 24 hours (rarely up to 2 business days). Plan your first send accordingly.

• Pricing. WhatsApp Broadcasting is included in your Pro plan - there's no extra SAGA charge to use the feature. However, the broadcasts themselves are billed by Meta directly to your own Meta/WhatsApp account. Meta charges per delivered message, and rates vary by template category (Marketing vs Utility) and each recipient's country. Because of this, you'll connect a payment card to your Meta account as the final step of setup (see Step 2).

Step 1 - Open WhatsApp Broadcasts

From the SAGA sidebar, go to WhatsApp. The first time you arrive, SAGA checks whether a WhatsApp number is connected and guides you through onboarding automatically.

Step 2 - Connect your WhatsApp number

If no number is connected yet, you'll see "Connect a WhatsApp number." Choose the option that fits you best:

1. Select an option and click Continue.

2. On the confirmation screen, review the "Before I start" prerequisites and the "What to watch for" note.

3. Tick "I'm ready to connect" and click Connect WhatsApp.

   

4. A new browser tab opens with Meta's guided setup. Complete it there.

   • If you chose "Use a new number": Meta shows a short setup video - It’s very Important to pick one of the numbers shown in that video. A different number won't connect.

5. Follow the Meta connection:

   1. Sign in to Facebook account.

   2. Choose your Business/Whatsapp accounts - if you don’t have one choose the options to create them:

      

   3. Choose Use a new or existing WhatsApp number and make sure to select the green verified number from the dropdown:

      

   4. Click confirm and authenticate.

   5. It’s important to add your payment card at this point

6. Add your payment card (final step). Before finishing, Meta will ask you to add a valid payment method to your Meta/WhatsApp Business Account. This is required - broadcasts and business-initiated messages won't send without valid billing on file. Add or confirm your card in Meta Business Manager to complete the connection.

7. When Meta finishes, you'll return to a SAGA confirmation screen showing "WhatsApp connected." You can close that tab and return to SAGA.

Your number is now connected and ready. ✅

Didn't add a card? If billing isn't set up, your number's health in SAGA will flag it and broadcasting will be blocked until you add or fix your payment method in Meta Business Manager.

Step 3 - Create your first message template

Once connected, SAGA shows the Getting Started checklist. Step 1 (number connected) is already ✓ Done. Now create your first template.

Click Create template and fill in the form:

• Name - lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores only (e.g. promo_may). No spaces or capitals.

• Language - the language of this template's content.

• Category - pick the right one; the wrong category is a common reason Meta rejects templates:

  • Marketing - promotions, offers, launches, re-engagement (typically highest cost per message).

  • Utility - transactional updates customers expect (confirmations, reminders, alerts).

• Header (optional) - add text, an image, video, or document. Text headers support one variable maximum.

• Body (required) - your main message. You can:

  • Add variables with Insert variable (e.g. {{first_name}}), which personalise per contact.

  • Format text with *bold*, _italic_, ~strikethrough~, and `monospace`.

  • Keep it under 1024 characters, and don't start or end the body with a variable.

• Variable examples - for every variable you add, provide a sample value (Meta requires this for approval).

• Footer (optional) - short text-only line (e.g. "Reply STOP to opt out").

• Buttons (optional) - up to 3: Quick Reply, Call, or Visit Website.

Use the live preview on the side to see exactly how your message will look. When ready, click Submit for approval.

Templates go to Meta with a Waiting status. Most are approved within 1–5 minutes; only Approved templates can be used in a broadcast.

Step 4 - Prepare your contact lists (while you wait)

While Meta reviews your template, get everything ready so you can hit send the moment it's approved:

• Go to Contact Lists and upload/organise your contacts into mailing lists.

• Only contacts with a phone number can receive a WhatsApp broadcast - others are automatically skipped.

• Optionally create a few more templates for different situations (promotions, reminders, order updates).

Step 5 - Send your first broadcast

Once your template shows Approved, click Create New Broadcast. The wizard has 3 steps:

1. Pick Template - choose one of your approved templates.

2. Pick contact list - select one or more mailing lists. SAGA automatically removes duplicate contacts across lists so no one gets the message twice.

3. Review & Send:

   • Confirm the broadcast name (a sensible default is pre-filled).

   • Review recipient count, template, lists, your number's status, and the message preview.

   • Fill in any custom variable values that aren't lead fields.

   • Check your daily send limit - Meta caps how many you can send per 24h.

Then either:

• Send Now - sends immediately, or

• Schedule - pick a date/time to send later.

Scheduling note: You cannot reschedule or cancel a broadcast within 10 minutes of its scheduled send time.

Step 6 - Track results

After sending, you land on the broadcast summary, showing live counts: total recipients, sent, delivered, read, responded, and failed - plus delivery/read/response rates.

You can revisit any broadcast anytime under the Broadcasts tab (history), filterable by status.

Messaging from a lead profile

Open any contact → WhatsApp tab. You need a connected WhatsApp number and a phone number on the lead.

Starting a conversation: If there's no recent thread, click Start conversation/Send Template, pick an approved template, and send. Meta requires templates for business-initiated messages.

24-hour window: Once they reply, you can message freely for 24 hours. After that, send another template to re-engage.

Where to reply: Same conversation appears in View Lead and WhatsApp → Inbox. Replies within an open window are free; template sends are billed by Meta.

Along the way: Inbox & number health

• Inbox - replies from your contacts appear in the WhatsApp Inbox tab. You can reply to any customer within 24 hours of their last message for free.

• Number health - SAGA continuously checks your number's status (quality rating, messaging limits, billing, display name). If broadcasting is ever blocked or limited, open the number health panel at the top of the page for the exact issue and how to fix it in Meta Business Manager.