Please note that you need to familiarize yourself with the WhatsApp messaging restrictions provided by Twilio.
When using WhatsApp, smart messaging is not recommended. If the same message (depending on the content) is sent to many recipients in a short period of time, there is a risk of being blocked. WhatsApp does not prescribe clear criteria for actions for which a number can be blocked, everything is individual (complaints about spam, blocking, frequency of unanswered messages...). There are no obvious restrictions on the use of external links, communication must be carried out on an interactive basis (incoming message from the client - outgoing from the platform, input message from the client, etc.)
Before connecting WhatsApp to the platform, you need to:
A SIM card that can receive SMS and that is not yet registered with Business Whatsapp.
Register an account with Twillio.
Open your Facebook account in the next tab with Twillio.
Registering an account with Twilio
Follow the link:https://www.twilio.com/try-twilio
Fill in all registration details:
3. After registration, from the Dashboard page, go to the page with details for your account:
4. To connect Whatsapp via Twillio you will need to upgrade your Twillio account. To do this, click the Upgrade button:
5. On the next page, fill in all the information:
6. Fill in your card details, the minimum top-up amount to raise your level = 20 USD
7. After payment, we proceed to connecting your number to Twilio.
Connecting your number to Twilio
In Twillio, go to Senders >> WhatsApp Senders and click the Get Started button.
2. Select My Own Phone number and enter your phone number that is not yet registered with Whatsapp in the appropriate field and click Continue.
3. Click Continue with Facebook:
4. Select the desired Facebook account and click “Continue as...”
5. Follow the instructions from Facebook and fill in the required data:
Connecting Twillio to Leeloo.ai
Go to your Twillio account settings and copy the required data: Account SID and Auth Token:
Let's go to the platform https://app.leeloo.ai/settings/integrations/messengers
Settings > Messengers > New connection.
Select a new Whatsapp connection.
3. Then we add data for integration:
Account SID in the Account field
AUTH token in the Token field
Phone (your phone number that you connected to Twilio Whatsapp)
Then add a new connection by clicking on the “Join” button.
4. Next, you need to go to Twilio to the Senders >> WhatsApp Senders section and click Edit next to your phone number:
5. Webhook Url for Incoming Message You need to indicate https://app.leeloo.ai/twillio-whatsapp/receive/Your_ID
You can copy the ID on the Leeloo platform, in your already connected WhatsApp connection, by clicking on the “Copy id” button
6. After making all the changes, click on the Update Whatsapp Sender button
This completes the connection process. You can now add WhatsApp as another communication channel on your LGT.
Transition to new functionality with the ability to send buttons
In order for the functionality of sending buttons to leads to appear, you need to configure the Twillio Message Service SID.
Step-by-step instructions for enabling button functionality
Go to Messaging>> Services>> Create Messaging Service
4. Give any name to the service and fill in the fields according to the screenshot below:
5. In the next step, click Add Senders:
6. Select the Whatsapp Number option:
7. Select the desired phone number and proceed to step No. 3
8. Select the Send a Webhook option:
9. Copy the webhook from Leeloo.ai and paste it into the Request Url field and proceed to step No. 4
10. In step 4, click Complete Messaging Service Setup and then View My Messaging Service
11. Go to Messaging >>> Whatsapp Senders
12. Find our number and click Edit Sender
13. In the Endpoint configuration menu, select Use Messaging Service and select the name of the service that we created.
14. Click Update Whatsapp Sender at the bottom.
15. Go to Messaging>> Services and copy the SID and paste it into the appropriate field in Leeloo.ai
16. Click the Reconnect button in Leeloo.ai.
17. Ready! Checking the ability to send buttons to leads:
Whatsapp restrictions, Whatsapp templates
WhatsApp messenger allows you to send messages to users only within a 24 hour window. That is, after 24 hours from the moment the first message was sent, you will not be able to communicate with the user. In order for you to be able to send messages, you need to add previously prepared templates with content that you will send for verification, and only after receiving confirmation will you be able to freely send previously verified content.
A notification like the one in the screenshot above will appear in your Twilio account after your business account has been verified. By clicking on the Create template button you can create templates and send them for review. Templates are necessary so that you can send them if users do not respond to your bot within 24 hours.
Instructions for creating templates https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/message-templates/creation/?locale=ru_RU
In our case, confirmation of a business account took 2 days. However, the exact time, how long this process may take, can be clarified in the service that provides the integration - Twilio.
In order to successfully use WhatsApp at work, you should study in detail and follow the recommendations put forward by this service, you can read them at the link: https://www.whatsapp.com/policies/commerce-policy/
Please note that the Company LEELOO.AI has no relation to Twilio/WhatsApp requirements, and therefore does not in any way affect the approval of your application and the verification of your WhatsApp business profile. Platform LEELOO.AI only provides you with the ability to integrate with Twilio/WhatsApp, so we recommend that you follow all instructions from Twilio/WhatsApp from their websites and emails you receive from them requesting additional information
For technical questions regarding problems connecting to your ALREADY verified WhatsApp business profile, please ask in the technical support chat LEELOO.AI
Instructions for creating Whatsapp Twilio templates
In order to be able to send proactive messages to your audience outside the 24 hour window, you need to confirm the message template you plan to send.
To submit your template for confirmation, use the step-by-step instructions below:
Login to your Twilio admin panel.
2. Go to the menu: Messaging>> Senders>> Whatsapp Templates
3. Click on the New message template button:
4. Fill in the appropriate fields:
Template name - choose any name for the template in English
Template category:
1. Marketing - any marketing mailings
2. Authentication - any messages of a transactional nature (2FA, code verification)
3. Utility - any system messages.
5. Click the “Send for Whatsapp Approval” button
Wait for the confirmation status “Approved“