If you are looking to scale up your business, the WhatsApp Business Platform will help you communicate with customers at scale. Plus, signing up takes a few minutes only.
This short guide will show you the step-by-step process to activate the WhatsApp Platform for your business.
The three main steps to activate your WhatsApp API include:
So, let's jump into it!
Step1: Activate and Verify your Facebook Business Manager
How to create a Business Manager?
Here is what you need to do to activate your Business Manager account:
Click Create Account.
Enter a name for your business, your name, and your work email address, and click Next.
Enter your business details and click Submit.
If you already have a Facebook Business account, you can use it. Your business information will appear automatically. So, you just need to start the verification process. Select your business and move to verify the account.
How to Verify your Facebook Business Account?
To start the business verification process:
Go to Security Center in Business Manager.
Click Start Verification.
Enter your business details and click Next. The business information you provide during the business verification process will become publicly visible if your Page has a large US audience or runs ads about social issues, elections, or politics in the US.
Select the right business from the list, or select None of these matche if you don't see your business on the list.
Confirm your business details.
Choose to get a verification code on your business phone number via a text message, phone, or email.
Note: the phone number option may not be available in all countries.
If you don't get the verification code, you can request to receive another code. If you're still having problems getting your verification code, learn more about how to troubleshoot phone call issues.
And that's it!
In fact, we made a separate post about verifying your Facebook Manager that you can check for more details.
Step 2: Activate your WhatsApp API Number.
To start the process, choose how you will host the instance. You can either host your instance on the Cloud API or On-premise API.
The cloud API means that Meta hosts the API for your business for free. It also means that Meta performs API software upgrades. The upgrades, new features, and security updates appear on the Cloud API in an automatic way.
You just need to operate some minimal coding changes. The changes are required to adapt to longer-term API changes.
You can always ask for the support of a Business Solution Provider.
So, you can choose one from the 62 BSPs listed in Meta's directory. But, a BSP will add a certain cost for the hosting services.
What is a Business Solution Provider?
BSPs are third-party companies that provide tools and apps to help you integrate WhatsApp into your business.
On-premise API means a BSP must host the API software for your business servers and data centers. On-premise API is costly in comparison to Cloud API.
After deciding how to get your WhatsApp instance live, you have one step left.
Step3: Select your Conversation Management Software
To manage your customer conversations on the WhatsApp Business Platform, you must have Conversation Management Software. Otherwise, you can't manage your customer conversations.
In fact, the right software, such as Businesschat.io, empowers your agents with different features. The tool will help you contact customers at scale and grow your business.
If you don't know how to choose the right software, check out this blog.
We listed for you the must-have criteria that every software should have.
That's it!
Follow these simple steps to set up your WhatsApp API in minutes.
But keep in mind that you can always contact us for support. Schedule a free demo with our team now, and we will get things settled for you!