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WhatsApp Drip Campaign

A drip campaign is a series of automated messages sent over a set period, for example a welcome on day 1, a tip on day 3 and an offer on day 7. This guide builds a welcome sequence for new clients on WhatsApp.

Available withCRM SuiteIncluded in the Complete plan.Plans and modules

The example uses client triggers and client tags, which need CRM Suite. On Engage, build the same sequence with contact triggers (When a Contact is created, When a Contact is added to a Tag) and contact tags.

Before you start​

  • Create one approved WhatsApp template per message in the sequence. Messages sent days later need templates. See WhatsApp Message Templates.
  • Install the Managing Marketing Opt-Out Requests template so people can reply "stop" to leave. It tags them "unsubscribe". See Rule templates.

Two ways to build it​

  • One rule, several waits (simplest): one rule with several send a WhatsApp template message actions, waiting 1, 3 and 7 days. Wait times count from the trigger, not from the previous action. Downside: once scheduled, the later messages go out even if the client unsubscribes in between.
  • A chain of rules linked by tags (shown below): each step adds a tag after a wait, and the next rule reacts to that tag and checks the conditions again. A client who unsubscribes drops out at the next step.

Rule 1: welcome and start the chain​

  1. Go to Engage > Automations, click Add Rule, then Create rule from scratch.
The Automations page on the Manual tab with the channel tabs, folders on the left, the rule list with status switches, and the Add Rule and Import Rules buttons

  1. Name the rule, for example "Drip day 1 - welcome". In Rule Settings, choose the Customer Experience category.

  2. Choose the trigger When a Client is created.

  3. Optionally click Add Condition to limit the sequence, for example Client Tags includes any "New lead".

  4. Under Actions, choose send a WhatsApp template message. Pick your welcome template under Message Template (or click Create New Template) and fill in the parameters. Type # to insert the client's name.

  5. Click Add Action and choose Add Client Tags. Click Add wait time, set 1 day(s), and choose the tag "Follow up". This tag starts the next step tomorrow.

  6. Turn on Publish Rule and click Save.

The Drip day 1 - welcome rule: When a Client is created trigger, a send a WhatsApp template message action with the welcome_new_client template, and an Add Client Tags action that adds the Follow up tag after 1 day

Rule 2: the next message​

  1. Click Add Rule > Create rule from scratch again, name it "Drip day 2" and choose the Customer Experience category.

  2. Choose the trigger When a Client is added to a Tag.

  3. Add two conditions with Condition Type All (AND):

    • Newly Added Client Tags includes any "Follow up"
    • Existing Client Tags does not include all "unsubscribe", so people who opted out stop here

  4. Add send a WhatsApp template message with your day 2 template.

  5. Add Add Client Tags with a wait of 2 day(s) and the tag "Follow up 2" to start the next step.

  6. Add Remove Client Tags with the tag "Follow up", so the client's tags always show which step they are on.

  7. Publish and save. Repeat for as many steps as you need, each listening for the previous step's tag. The last rule only sends its message.

The Drip day 2 rule: When a Client is added to a Tag trigger, conditions Newly Added Client Tags includes any Follow up and Existing Client Tags does not include all unsubscribe, a collapsed template action, Add Client Tags with Follow up 2 after 2 days, and Remove Client Tags with Follow up

Your sequence appears on the Customer Experience tab.

The Customer Experience tab of the Automations page listing the Drip day 1 - welcome and Drip day 2 rules, both switched on

Tips​

  • Never let a rule add the tag it listens for, or it calls itself in a loop. See loop protection.
  • Use a folder per sequence to keep the rules together.
  • To put existing clients into the sequence, add the first step's tag to them in bulk. For a one-off message to many people, use a broadcast instead.
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