You’ve connected your number — now let’s send something real. The one rule to remember: you start with a template, and after that it’s a normal chat.
Before you start
Check you have:
- An approved template (it’s your conversation opener).
- A contact who opted in to hear from you.
- Your number live in ChatMitra.
Why a template? Because the customer hasn’t messaged you yet, so WhatsApp requires a pre-approved opener to prevent spam.
Sending your first message
1. Open ChatMitra → Send / Broadcast
2. Pick an approved template
3. Choose your contact (opted-in)
4. Fill in any {{variables}}
5. SendExample: you send “Hi {{1}}, thanks for signing up with Glow Studio! How can we help?” to a customer who opted in. It lands on their phone in seconds.
Receiving and replying
The moment they reply, a 24-hour window opens. Now you can send anything — text, images, buttons — freely, with no template:
| Stage | What you can send |
|---|---|
| Before they reply | Approved template only |
| After they reply (24h) | Any message type |
| 24h+ later | A template, to reopen |
Test it on yourself first: send the template to your own number, reply, and watch the chat open in your inbox. If that works, you’re ready for real customers. Next, learn the message types you can use once the window is open.
