Through MailBlue, there are several ways in which you can automatically send WhatsApp messages to your contacts using automation. You can also set this up using MessageBird. In this article, we will explain how this works and the steps you need to take.
First, it is important to read the following:
- The MailBlue Support Team cannot assist you if there are any issues on the WhatsApp or MessageBird side. We only have control over the MailBlue part of this setup. For help with problem-solving related to MessageBird or WhatsApp, you can contact the MessageBird support team.
- This configuration requires an active MailBlue account, a MessageBird account, and a WhatsApp account.
- It is only possible to send WhatsApp messages to contacts whose phone numbers are known. Additionally, the phone number must be saved including the country code, using the phone field in MailBlue.
Sections of this article:
The initial steps within MessageBird
How does this setup work?
Once the connection with WhatsApp and MessageBird is established, you can automatically send WhatsApp messages to contacts within MailBlue.
You can achieve sending these messages by first creating a WhatsApp template in MessageBird. Subsequently, you can build a flow that is triggered by a webhook in conjunction with Flow Builder. This Flow Builder is the environment within MessageBird where you can create/modify your message and contacts. Once this step is completed, MessageBird will release the webhook URL. When this is displayed, you can copy and use the URL.
After copying the URL, you can use it within your automation in MailBlue. For this, you select the Webhook action, where you can use the URL.
Once you set the automation to 'Active', contacts can flow through the automation. Each time a contact passes through the Webhook action, the contact's information is forwarded to MessageBird via the webhook, after which MessageBird will send the WhatsApp message to the contact.
The initial steps within MessageBird
In this section, we will show you how to set up a MessageBird account and create a custom workflow. You can follow these steps:
- Request access to the WhatsApp channel and follow the steps to become a verified WhatsApp business.
- Next, create a WhatsApp template within MessageBird. WhatsApp needs to approve all templates. To apply variables within your template, you can use combinations such as {{1}}, {{2}}, {{3}}, and so on. The braces are numerically based and indicate a variable.
- Create a new custom flow in MessageBird. This custom flow is triggered by the webhook. Add a variable for the phone number of the contact/recipient. Please note that the phone number must include a country code, otherwise it cannot be linked to a WhatsApp user.
- Add webhook variables for each variable in the WhatsApp template message. Use the following format for these variables:
contact [field_name].
Use this format including the contact and square brackets, along with the name of the field inside the brackets. One of the variables should be contact [phone] so that the phone number of a contact within MailBlue is linked to the WhatsApp account. - Add a step to send a WhatsApp message. Select the verified WhatsApp account from the menu. Then set the recipient as the contact [phone] variable and select the approved WhatsApp template message. Fill in the remaining variables for the WhatsApp message using the variables defined in the webhook.
- Publish the custom flow in MessageBird and you are ready to go!
Please note: If you are having trouble, we recommend contacting MessageBird support. MessageBird is a tool that is not managed by MailBlue. You may indicate to MessageBird that it is related to a WhatsApp integration. Otherwise, the following articles may help you further:
- WhatsApp deepdive
- Getting started with WhatsApp using MessageBird (quickstart)
- WhatsApp business step-by-step guide
- MessageBird x WhatsApp template
If despite taking the above steps you still encounter issues, you can also refer to this page: Troubleshooting WhatsApp
Settings within MailBlue
In order to send WhatsApp messages from MailBlue, you need a Webhook action in your automation. The 'Webhook' action sends data from the MailBlue account to the respective MessageBird account.
To add this action, you can follow these steps:
- Create a new automation. Click here to learn how to create your funnel.
- Add the Webhook action to your automation. Click on the + sign and choose the category 'Conditions and workflow'. Then select the 'Webhook' action.
- Select the webhook action and add the URL obtained from MessageBird to the action.
- Choose 'Finish' and your action will be saved and added to the automation.