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⚠️ How to Avoid Blocking When Developing Bots
It’s important to keep in mind that WhatsApp has strict policies in place to prevent spamming and abuse of their platform.
If you’re developing a bot for WhatsApp, it’s crucial to follow these guidelines to avoid getting blocked.
Guidelines to Follow
1. Only Reply to Messages
When developing a bot for WhatsApp, you should never initiate a conversation. Instead, your bot should only reply to messages that it receives. This will prevent your bot from being flagged as spam by WhatsApp’s users and algorithms.
2. Avoid Spamming and Sending Unnecessary Content
Sending too many messages or sending content that the user did not request can also lead to your bot being blocked. Make sure to only send relevant and useful information to the user. Additionally, do not send too many messages at once, as this can also trigger spam filters.
3. Other Considerations
There are other guidelines to follow when developing a bot for WhatsApp, such as avoiding the use of banned words and not sharing sensitive or inappropriate content. Make sure to read WhatsApp’s policies thoroughly to ensure that your bot complies with all of their rules.
4. Broadcasting in low speeds and small amount of contacts
Broadcast on slow speeds, and only to targeted audiences, sparingly. If broadcasting is an important part of your Social Media Strategy, then consider getting the Official Whatsapp Business API.
How many messages can I send?
Quantity is important, yes, but it is not just about the quantity sent, the TO WHOM factor is often the key point.
In our conversations, we always use the case of one of our oldest clients, who now sends promotional messages via WhatsApp to more than 80,000 people every day and has never had his number blocked. When we approached him and asked how he managed to do this, he kindly shared the following technique:
- Maturing the chip: This means using the phone number on WhatsApp normally before you start sending lots of messages
- Interact via mobile or WhatsApp Web before connecting ChatsHero: This helps show WhatsApp that you are a real user and not a bot.
- Have text that prompts users to respond to messages: This helps show WhatsApp that you are having real conversations with people.
- Offer an option for users to no longer receive messages if they do not wish to do so: This is important to respect users’ privacy and avoid complaints.
- Having your profile details filled out on WhatsApp: This helps show WhatsApp that you are a legitimate user.
- Scan the QR code after 24 hours of registering on WhatsApp: This helps confirm that you are a real user.
Shipping method:
- First: To receive messages with promotions, the recipient needs to add the company’s number to their contacts and send a message saying “I want promotions”. This simple action significantly reduces the risk of being blocked, because with your number in the address book and starting the conversation, the block and spam report buttons will not appear;
- Second: It personalizes messages with recipient data, so that all messages are not exactly the same;
- Third: always give the recipient an option to stop receiving messages. Example: “Press 2 to stop receiving these messages”, this way the recipient can monitor the webhooks to remove the numbers that no longer want to receive them from the sending list.
Summary
- Avoid sending messages to people who don’t have your number in their contacts;
- Personalize messages with recipient information. If this is not possible, use random attributes to differentiate each message;
- Try to convince the recipient to interact with your number, especially if you know they don’t have your number in their address book;
- Provide the recipient with the option to opt out of receiving messages and monitor webhooks to handle these interactions.