In this article we'll go over the steps required to integrate Innercrowd with WhatsApp.
Why integrate WhatsApp with Innercrowd?
To communicate with your Ambassadors, our primary communications channel is WhatsApp. Compared to other channels such as Email or SMS, WhatsApp has the highest Open Rates and Click Through Rates. Therefore WhatsApp is the ideal channel to communicate with your most loyal fans.
Before you start...
Make sure that you have the following ready:
Valid Phone number
You need a phone number that is not associated with WhatsApp in any way. Not via a personal WhatsApp Account, or a WhatsApp Business account. If the phone number is already known by WhatsApp, it will be rejected.
Make sure that you own the phone number, and that you can receive SMS messages on it for validation purposes.
TIP: Purchase a brand new, pre-paid phone number for this integration.
Facebook Accounts
You need a personal Facebook Account, connected to your Facebook Business Account. If you don't have a Facebook Business Account, you can create one during this process.
Admin user rights
In order to add billing information, and verify your business, you need 'full control' user rights for the Facebook Business Manager. Click here to check what user rights you have.
Company details
Have your company's legal business name, address and website ready. This is required for the Business Verification step.
Company Credit Card
Billing of WhatsApp goes directly through Facebook/Meta. Make sure you have a credit card ready to link to your WhatsApp Business Account.
Display name
Have the Display Name as you want to appear on WhatsApp ready. Make sure to adhere to the Meta Display Name Guidelines
Start Integration with Innercrowd
Navigate to Innercrowd Dashboard > Integrations > WhatsApp and click connect.
Now start the integration by clicking on connect to WhatsApp.
Now a popup opens where you can start configuring your WhatsApp Business Account. Select Continue as "your name" to continue with your Facebook account
Accept to connect your account with Haventures, this is one of the parent companies of Innercrowd. Click Get Started.
Select the Meta Business Account you want to use to create this WhatsApp Business Account. If you don't have a Meta Business Account yet, create one.
Select or create a WhatsApp Business Account. Also select or create a WhatsApp Business Profile. By creating a new WhatsApp Business Profile you can add your WhatsApp phone number.
When creating a new WhatsApp Business Account fill in your Business account name (only visible for you), and the WhatsApp Business Profile display name. Make sure that this name is according to the Meta Display Name Guidelines. Select the business category that fits you best. You can also give a description that will be visible in WhatsApp, this description can be changed on your WhatsApp Business Profile page.
After this give the final confirmation for the integration. The popup should then close and lead you back to dashboard.innercrowd.io. Here you see that WhatsApp is 'connected'.
Next Steps
Before you can start sending messages you need to complete the following next steps:
Business Verification
Before you can start sending messages you need to have your business verified by Facebook. In the Facebook Business Manager account, go to Business Settings > Security Center. Here you can verify your business.
Read this article for further instructions on how to verify your business.
Setup WhatsApp Billing
WhatsApp costs are directly charged by META, it is required to add a payment method to your WhatsApp Account (even if you already have this setup for your social advertisements).
Read this article for further instructions on how to setup WhatsApp Billing.