Once your WhatsApp account is connected to lemlist, use this guide to add WhatsApp steps to campaigns, preview messages, track replies from the inbox, and troubleshoot common issues.
Note: WhatsApp is available exclusively on Multichannel Expert and Enterprise plans. If you haven't connected your WhatsApp account yet, see How to connect WhatsApp to lemlist.
Step 1: Add WhatsApp steps to a campaign
Create (or open) a campaign, then add a WhatsApp step.
Go to Campaigns, click Create campaign, then in the sequence builder select WhatsApp as a step type.
Step 2: Preview WhatsApp messages before sending
Preview your message from the WhatsApp step editor.
Select the sender, write your message, then click Preview.
Check how it renders on a phone screen.
The preview shows how the message will appear for the lead in a phone-style conversation view.
Validate long messages and “Read more” behavior.
If your message is long, the preview shows how it will appear with a Read more cut.
Watch for link warnings.
If your message includes a link, lemlist displays a warning because links can increase the risk of being flagged.
Step 3: Track delivery, views, and replies
You can track WhatsApp activity on the lead timeline (sent, delivered, seen, replied) to understand engagement in real time.
Step 4: Reply from the centralized inbox
All WhatsApp conversations can be handled directly in your lemlist inbox—so you don’t need to switch tools to respond.
Go to Inbox, then open the channel selector (shown as Email by default).
Select WhatsApp to view and reply to WhatsApp conversations.
Practical Application / Real-Life Example
Example sequence (simple + safer):
Day 1: Email intro (personalized).
Day 2: WhatsApp short follow-up (no links, ask a simple question).
Day 4: LinkedIn touch (if connected) or a second email.
Try-it-yourself checklist for WhatsApp messages:
Keep it short and specific (1–3 lines).
Personalize (name/company/context).
Avoid links in your first WhatsApp message.
Preview before launching.
Troubleshooting & Pitfalls
Issue: I added a link and see a warning.
Root cause: Links can increase the risk of being flagged and link previews aren’t available.
Fix: Remove the link from the first WhatsApp message and move it to a later step (after engagement).
Issue: My WhatsApp campaign messages are blocked by a temporary Meta ban.
Root cause: Meta introduced a new type of temporary ban that blocks automated outreach to new contacts via the WhatsApp web app. When triggered, your account is prevented from reaching out to new leads for 7 days. This is not a full account ban — your WhatsApp account stays connected and your inbox keeps working normally.
What you can still do: Receive and send messages to existing contacts directly from the lemlist inbox.
What is blocked: Sending WhatsApp messages from campaigns. Affected campaigns will show an error explaining the ban and indicating when it ends.
Fix: Wait for the ban period to end. Campaign sending resumes automatically once the 7-day restriction lifts. You can check the exact end date in Sender settings and on the affected campaign.
Screenshot
Knowledge Check
Did you preview your message for at least one lead before launching?
Is your first WhatsApp message short, personalized, and free of links?
Did you confirm your WhatsApp health score is in a safe range before scaling volume?