---
schema_version: "1"
id: 6430ab1e4f0d9371adce693afa9f6d9933482898691672948fa7d32582846678
title: "Quick Start: Send a WhatsApp Campaign"
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mktg_admin_whatsapp_quick_start_campaign.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_admin_whatsapp_quick_start_campaign.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: a77718e088322ea4aa0ba12263583df48ae1f602a033fd2bdb213ba439890e1a
description: This guide covers the basic steps to send a promotional WhatsApp message to opted-in leads and contacts with Marketing Cloud Next. It outlines the simplest path, so that you can get a feel for using the tools.
products:
  - Marketing
release: "264"
---
# Quick Start: Send a WhatsApp Campaign

This guide covers the basic steps to send a promotional WhatsApp message to opted-in leads and contacts with Marketing Cloud Next. It outlines the simplest path, so that you can get a feel for using the tools.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_editions.htm&amp;language=en_US&amp;type=5" target="_blank">View supported editions</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:left;vertical-align:top;" id="d30434e65">User Permissions Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d30434e65 ">To manage settings in Salesforce Setup:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d30434e65 ">
              <p>System Administrator profile </p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">AND</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;"> Marketing Cloud Admin permission
                set</p>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d30434e65 ">To import data and create campaigns:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d30434e65 ">
              <p>Marketing Cloud Manager permission set </p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">OR</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">View Flows and Create and Edit
                Flows user permissions </p>
            </td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

Included in this guide:

- Import Leads and Contacts
- Import Consent Data
- Create a WhatsApp Message Template
- Create WhatsApp Content in Marketing Cloud Next
- Create a WhatsApp Campaign
- Create and Add a Segment
- Schedule and Activate Your Campaign
- Monitor Your Campaign Performance

## Import Leads and Contacts

Import the leads and contacts that you want to target using a CSV file. If your leads and contacts are already in Salesforce, you can skip this step.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mktg_all-264-0-0-production-enus/e92be4e1-4bef-47a5-a11d-95f4ea1f7d7a/images/icon_note.png)

Note Make sure the phone numbers in your CSV are in E.164 format (for example, +14155551234), with the country code included.

1. On the Leads or Contacts tab, click **Import**.
2. Follow the steps to upload a CSV file. If you don't have a CSV file yet, download the sample file from the import window, add your data, and upload it.

After the import completes, Salesforce sends a notification email to the user who imported the file.

## Import Consent Data

Separately, import consent data for each phone number to update their consent status. You can send promotional WhatsApp messages only to contacts who have opted in to receive messages from you.

A consent import updates information for contact point phone numbers that are related to existing lead and contact records. These imports don't create lead or contact records or any fields besides the consent status.

Your CSV file must meet these requirements:

- A Phone column and a Consent Date column
- Phone numbers are in E.164 format (for example, +14155551234)
- Consent dates are in a supported DateTime format: MM/DD/YYYY or yyyy-MM-dd

1. On the Consent page, select **Consent Imports**, and then click **Import**.
2. For Channel, select **WhatsApp**.
3. For Communication Subscription, select**Marketing**.![Screen showing communication subscriptions.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mktg_all-264-0-0-production-enus/e92be4e1-4bef-47a5-a11d-95f4ea1f7d7a/mktg_all/images/mktg_comm_subscription_copy.png)
4. For the consent status, select **Opt In**, and then click **Next**.
5. Upload your CSV file, and then click **Next**.
6. On the preview step, review the sample fields from your file, and then click **Import**.

To import opted-out contacts, repeat these steps, but select **Opt Out** for the consent status.

After the import completes, Salesforce sends a notification email to the user who imported the file. Consent status changes can take more time to sync to Data Cloud.

See [Formatting Marketing Consent Import Files](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_import_format.htm&language=en_US&type=5).

## Create a WhatsApp Message Template

Create templates for common, reusable messages that share the same basic content and structure. Meta must approve a template before you can use it in campaigns.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mktg_all-264-0-0-production-enus/e92be4e1-4bef-47a5-a11d-95f4ea1f7d7a/images/icon_note.png)

Note You must get opt-in consent from your intended recipients before you send a template message. For opt-in best practices, see [Get Opt-In for WhatsApp](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/overview/getting-opt-in/) (Meta).

1. From the dropdown list for your active WhatsApp Business Account, select **Message Templates**.
2. If prompted, log in to the Facebook account associated with your business.
3. Select **Create Template**.
4. Select a template category, and then name your template.
5. Select a language, and then click **Continue**.
6. Enter the message body and optional header, footer, or button.
    
    1. To add a media file to the header, select **Media** from the dropdown.
    2. Click **Add Sample**, and upload a JPG, PNG, or PDF file from your computer. You can add only images, videos, and documents to a template message. Audio files aren't supported.
    3. Click **Done**.
    
    ![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mktg_all-264-0-0-production-enus/e92be4e1-4bef-47a5-a11d-95f4ea1f7d7a/images/icon_important.png)
    
    Important If you include a URL in your template message, make sure that the URL has a valid landing page and belongs to your business. A template with an invalid URL is rejected.
7. Submit your template request.

After submitting, you can check the status of your template on the Message Templates page. After a template is approved, you can edit it once every 24 hours.

## Create WhatsApp Content inMarketing Cloud Next

Create content for your campaign by using the approved template.

1. From your CMS workspace, click **Add**, and then select **Content**.
2. In the Create CMS content window, select **WhatsApp Template Message** or **WhatsApp Session Message**, and then click **Create**.
    
    - To send outbound promotional messages using a Meta-approved template, select **WhatsApp Template Message** .
    - To respond within an active conversation window, select **WhatsApp Session Message**.
3. Select your WhatsApp Business Account, language, and the template that you want to use.
4. In the Content Details section, specify a name and description for internal use.
5. If your template includes variables, fill in the values.
6. Preview your message and save.

To learn more, see [Create a WhatsApp Template Message](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_content_whatsapp_create.htm&type=5&language=en_US) and [Create a WhatsApp Session Message](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_content_whatsapp_session_message_types.htm&type=5&language=en_US).

## Create a WhatsApp Campaign

1. From the Campaigns tab, click **New**.
2. Fill in your campaign details.
    
    - Enter a descriptive campaign name.
    - Add a description (optional).
    - Select **WhatsApp** as the campaign type.
3. Click **Create**.
4. In the **Content** section of the campaign record, click **Select Content**.
5. Select the WhatsApp Template Message that you created earlier, and then click **Add**.

After you create the campaign, the campaign record shows links to configure your flow, select a recipient segment, and schedule a send time. Complete each section to finish setting up the campaign.

See [Work with Campaigns](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_campaigns_working.htm&type=5&language=en_US).

## Create and Add a Segment

Target your recipients with a segment. The easiest way is to use a quick filter directly on the campaign record.

1. In the Quick Start tab in Campaigns, select **Blank WhatsApp**.![Campaigns tab with a blank whatsapp quick start.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mktg_all-264-0-0-production-enus/e92be4e1-4bef-47a5-a11d-95f4ea1f7d7a/mktg_all/images/mktg_campaign_segment.png)
2. Select the segment and the WhatsApp Template Message that you created earlier
3. Click **Add**.
4. From the campaign record, click **Publish**.
5. Wait for the segment to publish, and then refresh the page.
6. After the segment is published, click **Preview** to review a sample of the people in your segment.

## Schedule and Activate Your Campaign

To begin sending messages, set the send time for your WhatsApp campaign, review your audience and campaign details, and activate.

1. In the campaign record, configure your send settings.
    - Send immediately or schedule for a specific date and time.
    - Review your audience size and estimated reach.
2. To start your campaign, click **Activate**.

## Monitor Your Campaign Performance

After your campaign is active, you can track its delivery and engagement metrics.

1. On the **Campaigns** tab, select your campaign.
2. View metrics such as messages sent, messages delivered, messages read, and click-through rate.
3. Access detailed reports in the Analytics tab for deeper insights.

See [Track Marketing Content Performance](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_content_performance_tracking.htm&type=5&language=en_US).