1. Understand the Playing Field
Meta isn’t disrupting private chats — it’s monetising attention zones (Status & Channels).
Treat WhatsApp like a private sales room, not a public feed.
2. Set Up Your WhatsApp Business Foundation
- Create or optimise your WhatsApp Business Account
- Set up Quick Replies, Away Messages, and Product Catalogues
- Link WhatsApp to your Meta Business Manager
3. Launch a Status Ad Funnel (Top of Funnel)
- Use Meta Ads Manager to create Status Story Ads
- Target broad or custom audiences (like Instagram)
- Focus on short-form vertical video with a swipe-up to chat CTA
Think: “Stories-style ads” with high intent built in.
4. Build a Channel + Retargeting Strategy
- Set up a WhatsApp Channel for regular content
- Invite customers to follow it via ads, email, and social media
- Retarget people who viewed your Status or engaged with your Channel
Smart Play: Turn views into warm retargeting audiences.
5. Design a “DM-First Funnel”
- Use Status/Channel ads to drive traffic into a 1:1 chat
- Set up automated sequences (e.g. welcome flow, FAQs, product info)
- Include human handovers for consultations, demos, or high-ticket sales
This replaces email + chatbot + SMS — all in one place.
6. Capture & Sync First-Party Data
- Collect names, emails, and phone numbers in-chat
- Sync into your CRM (e.g. via Zapier, GoHighLevel, HubSpot)
- Use this data to build future lookalike audiences
Remember: WhatsApp = Owned Data.
7. Track Engagement & Optimise
- Track opens, replies, and CTA clicks in Status
- Use UTM links + Meta reporting to measure ROI
- A/B test creatives — but keep them native and low-friction
This is your new direct-response dashboard.
8. Grow Now — Before the Paywall Hits
- Meta’s playbook is predictable:
- Organic reach →
- Channel growth →
- Pay-to-play flip.
- Get in early while Status + Channel views are still free
Timing = leverage.
Final Take
WhatsApp isn’t “just another ad channel.”
It’s intimacy + intent + scale — with some of the highest open rates in the world.
Most marketers will sleep on this.
You won’t.