Send a broadcast

A broadcast sends one message to many people at once. Their replies come to Live chats, where you or your assistant can answer them.

Only the pastor (the owner of the number) and admins can send broadcasts. Delegates can read them but not send.

Send a broadcast

1. Open Broadcasts in the menu, under Messaging.
2. Tap New broadcast.
3. Choose the Number you are sending from, if you have more than one.
4. Under Send by, choose WhatsApp, or SMS if SMS is set up for you.
5. Under Who, pick one or more groups, or choose Everyone on this number. To add single people, search under Or add people. See Groups.
6. Under Message, type your message. A preview shows how it will look. You can also choose an approved template.
7. Under When, choose Send now or Schedule. For a schedule, pick the date and time in Ghana time.
8. Tap Send to the number of people, or Schedule for them.
9. Check the question "Send this broadcast to N people?" and the cost line, then tap Send or Schedule.

Plain message or template

WhatsApp only lets you send a plain message to people who messaged in the last 24 hours. Everyone else must get an approved template.

So the form sends your plain message to people who messaged recently. Others get the template. The note on the form says it plainly: "People who haven't messaged in the last 24 hours get it like this. Everyone else gets just your message."

Before you tap send, a line shows how many people get each kind, how many are skipped, and about what the WhatsApp charges will be. To learn about templates, see What templates are.

Have the assistant follow up

Tick Have the assistant follow up if you want your assistant to chase people who do not reply.

1. Write the Goal, for example "Find out if they can come and note any prayer needs".
2. Choose If there's no reply, follow up after: 1 day, 2 days or 3 days.

Learn more in Broadcast results and follow-ups.

Limits to know

• A broadcast can go to at most 5,000 people.
• Under Broadcasts you see "N of Q new conversations started today". If your daily limit is reached, the form says "N will go out on later days because of the daily limit."
• "Messages that would arrive between 21:00 and 07:00 wait until 07:00."
• People who opted out or have no consent are skipped. See Opt-outs and STOP.

Tip: Send to a small group first if you are trying something new.

If it will not send, see Broadcast problems.