How do I write a WhatsApp broadcast message people do not mute?
Keep broadcasts short, useful and personal, with one clear point and one link, so people keep reading rather than muting you.
A WhatsApp broadcast lands among messages from family, work and friends. You are competing with a cousin's wedding photos. To stay unmuted, your message has to feel like it came from a person who respects the reader's time. I cannot give you any open or read rates, and nobody honest can promise them. What I can give you is a way of writing that is easier to welcome.
One message, one point
Decide what the single point is before you write.
- A new product is available.
- A product is back in stock.
- A festival delivery cut-off is coming.
- A genuine thank-you after a busy week.
If you find yourself writing two or three points, send two or three separate messages on different days, or leave some out. A broadcast stuffed with five offers looks like an advert.
Start with a human line
Begin with a greeting that sounds like you. Use the person's name if your list lets you personalise. "Hi Meena, it is Anita from [shop]." People respond to names and to a voice they recognise.
Make it useful
Ask yourself what the reader gets from this message. If the answer is only "you get to hear about my product", that is weak. Better.
- Something new that matches what they bought before.
- A date that affects their order.
- A tip on using or caring for what they have.
- A real, honest reason to act now.
Keep it short
Three to five short lines is plenty. Phones show a preview, so make the first line count. Put the link on its own line so it is easy to tap. Avoid long paragraphs and blocks of capital letters.
A simple skeleton
- Hi [name], this is [your name] from [shop].
- [One sentence of news.]
- [One sentence of detail, such as price or size.]
- Order here: [store link]
- Reply here if you have a question.
For ready-made examples, see WhatsApp broadcast templates for new drops and templates for restocks.
Skip the tricks
Avoid fake urgency, ALL CAPS shouting and forwarded-looking messages. Do not send chain-style text or unrelated greetings. Do not add people who have not agreed to hear from you, a point covered in WhatsApp broadcast etiquette for small sellers.
Keep the door open
End with a way to reply and a way to stop. "Reply STOP if you would rather not get these." A person who can leave easily is more likely to stay. If someone replies with a question, answer it personally and quickly. That reply is often where the sale happens.
Check before you send
Read your message once, as if you were the customer. Would you feel pleased or pestered? If it is the second, cut it down or wait for a better reason to write. A short list of people who like hearing from you is worth more than a long list of people who have muted you. For building real lists with permission, see building an email list from day one, which applies the same principle.