By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to add a WhatsApp voice note to a campaign in lemlist, choose the sender, and upload or record a manual voice message for a more personal outreach experience.
WhatsApp voice notes help you add a more human touch to your outbound strategy. They’re especially useful when you want to sound more authentic, improve reply rates, and manage WhatsApp outreach directly from lemlist without switching back to your phone.
Why this matters
Until now, WhatsApp campaigns in lemlist supported only text and images. Voice notes were one of the most requested attachment types because they make outreach feel more natural and personal, which can increase engagement and replies.
With this new step type, sales reps can send manual WhatsApp voice notes directly from lemlist. This is particularly valuable when using virtual numbers purchased through lemlist, since you may not be able to fall back on sending messages from your mobile device.
Important: WhatsApp voice notes are available as a dedicated step type, not as an attachment inside a WhatsApp text step. Only manual voice notes are supported at this time. AI voice notes are not available for WhatsApp.
Prerequisites
You should already know how to:
Create and edit a campaign in lemlist
Use a WhatsApp-enabled sender
Access the sequence builder for your campaign
Core lesson — step-by-step workflow
Phase 1: Open the campaign you want to update
Go to Campaigns from the left sidebar, then open the campaign where you want to add a WhatsApp voice note. This takes you into the sequence builder, where you can add new steps to your outreach flow.
Phase 2: Add a WhatsApp voice message step
In the sequence builder, click Add step, then select WhatsApp voice message from the list of available steps. This creates a dedicated voice-note action in your sequence, separate from regular WhatsApp text messages.
Phase 3: Record or upload your voice note
After adding the step, choose the sender assigned to the voice note. Voice notes must be sent from a specific sender, so make sure the correct WhatsApp number is selected.
Next, add your audio by either clicking Start recording to record directly in lemlist, or choosing a file to upload. You can also drag and drop an audio file into the upload area.
If needed, select the right microphone source before recording. The maximum voice note length shown in the editor is 1 minute, so keep your message short and natural.
Best practices for WhatsApp voice notes
Keep it short: Aim for a concise message that gets to the point quickly.
Sound natural: Speak like a real person, not like you’re reading a script.
Use it strategically: Voice notes work best when you want to build trust or stand out from plain text outreach.
Match the sender: Since voice notes are tied to a specific sender, confirm the right number is assigned before launch.
Test your tone: Listen back before saving to make sure the message sounds clear and confident.
Practical application
A good use case for WhatsApp voice notes is a follow-up after a prospect has already seen your brand or interacted with a previous step. For example, instead of sending another plain text follow-up, you can send a short voice message such as:
Example voice note:
“Hey Sarah, just wanted to send a quick note instead of another text. I had an idea based on your team’s outbound process and thought it might be relevant. If you’re open to it, I’d be happy to share more.”
This type of message feels more personal and can help increase perceived authenticity, especially in outbound sales workflows.
Using WhatsApp voice notes from the inbox
You can also use WhatsApp voice notes from the inbox, which is especially helpful if you use virtual numbers purchased through lemlist. In that case, sending directly from lemlist helps you keep all communication in one place instead of relying on your phone.
The same principle applies: voice notes are manual and meant to support more human, one-to-one communication.
Troubleshooting & pitfalls
Issue: I can’t find WhatsApp voice notes as an attachment option
Root cause: Voice notes are not attachments inside a text step.
Fix:
Add a new step in the sequence
Select WhatsApp voice message as its own step type
Do not look for it inside a standard WhatsApp text message step
Issue: I can’t use AI-generated audio
Root cause: AI voice notes are not supported for WhatsApp.
Fix:
Record the voice note manually in lemlist
Or upload a manually recorded audio file
Issue: The wrong sender is selected
Root cause: Voice notes must be sent from a specific sender.
Fix:
Open the WhatsApp voice message step
Check the Sender assignment field
Select the WhatsApp-enabled sender you want to use
Issue: My voice note is too long
Root cause: The step shows a maximum duration of 1 minute.
Fix:
Re-record a shorter version
Focus on one idea or call to action
Keep your delivery conversational and concise
Summary
WhatsApp voice notes let you create more authentic outreach directly inside lemlist. To use them, open your campaign, add a WhatsApp voice message step, assign the correct sender, and then record or upload a manual audio file.
Because this feature is built as a dedicated step type, it gives you a clear way to bring more personality into your WhatsApp campaigns and inbox conversations without leaving lemlist.