A real estate agent asked us why their WhatsApp chatbot had a 68 percent response rate while their email outreach had a 4 percent response rate. The answer is where the buyer already is. WhatsApp is that place for most consumer categories outside the US.
What are the two constraints that shape every build?
- The 24-hour window. You can respond to a user for free within 24 hours of their last message. Outside that window, you can only send approved template messages.
- Meta review. New message templates and new use cases need Meta approval. Review takes 24 to 72 hours. Plan for one review cycle in the schedule.
What conversions should you expect?
Across the engagements we have shipped on WhatsApp Business:
| Use case | Typical conversion |
|---|---|
| Cart recovery outreach | 12 to 25 percent within 72 hours |
| Lead qualification | 40 to 60 percent complete the flow |
| Appointment booking | 70 to 85 percent of qualified leads book |
| First-line support | 40 to 60 percent of tickets resolved |
FAQ
Can I use WhatsApp Business without Meta review?
You can send messages to users who messaged you first, inside a 24-hour window. For outreach outside that window or new templates, you need review.
Who provides the LLM: Meta or you?
You. Meta provides the messaging infrastructure. The agent and the model are yours, hosted wherever you prefer.