With a message opt-in, you can use a WA.ME link to have people send a predefined message to your WhatsApp number. For example, a WA.ME link can live behind a CTA on your website or a QR code in store. The predefined message should then trigger an opt-in flow.

1. Create the message opt-in

<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/745f8784-f3ef-41bb-be1d-543c2b4e3c43/bf818a0c-5f35-4853-abca-8421cb160547/Favcion_Typie_colors.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/745f8784-f3ef-41bb-be1d-543c2b4e3c43/bf818a0c-5f35-4853-abca-8421cb160547/Favcion_Typie_colors.png" width="40px" /> Right now we’re a little in between updates 🤫 While we (slowly) deprecate message opt-ins in favour of Journeys, we still need to create a message opt-in that acts as a sort-of “bucket” that collects the subscribers. So excuse us, because this is going to seem weird…🙃

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  1. Go to Automations → Message Opt-ins

  2. Select Add opt-in. A window will open

  3. Name your opt-in

  4. Add placeholder as the Opt-in Trigger (don’t worry, we’ll fill this out later in Journeys…see, weird 😉)

  5. Select Save & Next

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  6. On the next screen, select the grey rectangle on the left. Then Save & Next (leave blank)

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  7. Now select the grey rectangle on the right. Then Save & Next (leave blank)

  8. On the Opt-out page, add your opt-out keywords like STOP

  9. Now we need to add a blank template by selecting Create Template → clicking through to Save (we’ll cover this with a Global opt-out flow):

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  10. On the final page, select Finish

Now, we continue the setup in Journeys.

2. Set up the opt-in flow in Journeys

Creating an opt-in flow.mp4

  1. Set a trigger keyword phrase (e.g. Hey! I want to subscribe to your WhatsApp channel 🙏) and copy the WA.ME link:

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<aside> 💡 The WA.ME link you copied can be used anywhere to guide people into WhatsApp. Once tapped, clicked or scanned the trigger keyword phrase will be automatically pre-filled.

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  1. Add a welcome message and ask to confirm the opt-in via reply buttons:

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  1. Set opt-in=YES by;

    1. Connecting the YES reply button to a Manage Subscriber node=Subscribe
    2. Select the correct opt-in

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  2. Set opt-in=NO by;

    1. Connecting the NO reply button to a Manage Subscriber node=Unsubscribe
    2. Select the correct opt-in

  3. Add any additional questions

  4. Store the responses using the Manage Tag node:

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    <aside> 💡 Remember: adding Tags off of the additional questions will mean you can use this information to segment your audience in the future.

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  5. Publish 🚀

Problems publishing your flow?

<aside> ⚠️ If you don’t ask a question with two QRBs before collecting an opt-in, you cannot publish your flow as this would be a non-GDPR-compliant opt-in.

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To collect GDPR-compliant opt-ins, you need to always give your customers the option not to opt in. The best way to do this is to use a message node with two quick reply buttons (QRBs). After that message, you can then connect two opt-in nodes to the respective QRBs.

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Where to use your WA.ME link

Here are just some ways charles’ clients are collecting WhatsApp subscribers using WA.ME links. Need more inspo? Check here Expert guides

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