WhatsApp Broadcast: Send Bulk Messages Past 256 Limit

WhatsApp Broadcast Best Practices

1. Segment Your Audience

Don't send the same message to everyone. With Klaviyo integration, segment your WhatsApp lists by:

• Purchase history: VIP customers get exclusive offers
• Cart value: High-value cart abandoners get different messaging
• Location: Country-specific promotions and shipping info
• Engagement: Active openers vs dormant subscribers

2. Personalize Every Message

Use dynamic variables to personalize:

• Customer's first name
• Last purchased product
• Cart contents (for abandoned cart recovery)
• Recommended products based on browsing history

3. Time Your Sends Strategically

Starting points to test for e-commerce WhatsApp broadcasts (then keep what works for your audience):

• Weekdays: 10am-12pm and 6pm-8pm (local time)
• Flash sales: Send 2-4 hours before the sale starts
• Cart reminders: 1 hour, 24 hours, and 72 hours after abandonment
• Back-in-stock alerts: Immediately when inventory is replenished

4. Include Clear CTAs

Every broadcast should have a single, clear call-to-action:

• "Shop Now" button linking to your product page
• "Complete Your Order" for cart recovery
• "Get 20% Off" for promotional campaigns
• "Track Your Order" for order notifications

5. Respect Opt-in/Opt-out

Always provide an easy way to unsubscribe. This isn't just good practice: it's required by Meta's WhatsApp Business Policy. Non-compliance can get your number banned.

WhatsApp broadcast message samples you can copy

The samples below are written for e-commerce. The first one is plain text, for a broadcast list in the app. The others use buttons, shown in square brackets, which require a template on the WhatsApp Business API.

Plain-text sample for a broadcast list

Hi {customer_name}, it's {your_name} from {store_name}.

Our winter collection is live, and subscribers get early access until Friday: {link}

Reply STOP if you'd rather not receive these messages.

Back in stock

Good news {customer_name}: {product_name} is back in stock.

It sold out fast last time, so we wanted you to know first.

[Get Yours]

Flash Sale Template

Hi {customer_name}! 🔥

Our biggest sale of the year starts NOW.

Up to 50% off everything for the next 24 hours.

[Shop the Sale] [Browse New Arrivals]

Cart Recovery Template

Hey {customer_name},

You left something amazing in your cart:
{product_name} : {product_price}

Complete your order now and get free shipping!

[Complete My Order]

New Product Launch

{customer_name}, you're first to know 👀

We just launched {product_name}, and we think you'll love it based on your purchase of {last_product}.

Limited stock available.

[Discover Now] [Save for Later]

VIP Exclusive

{customer_name}, this is VIP-only 🖤

As one of our top customers, here's your exclusive early access + an extra 15% off with code VIP15.

Valid for 48 hours.

[Shop VIP Access]

For more templates and automated flows, check our WhatsApp campaign builder with drag-and-drop flow editor.

Broadcast Analytics: What to Track

With Kanal's analytics dashboard, monitor these KPIs. Your first broadcasts give you the baseline; compare each new send against it:

Calculate your expected return with our free ROAS calculator.

Common Broadcast Mistakes

Even with great copy, broadcasts can underperform when these mistakes creep in.

Sending to contacts who never saved your number

On the free app, broadcast messages only deliver to contacts who have saved your business number. If they haven't, your message silently fails. Always include a "save our number" CTA in your welcome flow before broadcasting.

Treating broadcasts like email blasts

Broadcasts in WhatsApp feel personal because each recipient sees the message as a one-on-one chat. Generic "Hi everyone" copy underperforms badly. Use merge fields ({first_name}, {city}, {last_product_viewed}) to keep the conversational tone.

Skipping the opt-in confirmation

Broadcast list members must have explicitly opted in to your messages. Without a documented opt-in (date, source, IP), you risk being flagged for spam, which damages your quality rating and can ban your number.

Sending too often

Daily broadcasts to the same list wear it out: opt-outs and blocks climb, and blocks hurt your quality rating. Once or twice a week is a sensible starting point for an e-commerce brand. Match your cadence to your purchase frequency.

Using only text

A text-only broadcast asks the customer to tap before they have seen the product. Include at least one product image or branded GIF (or a video or carousel), and check the difference in clicks on your own list.

No clear single call-to-action

Multiple CTAs ("Shop now / See offer / Browse / Contact us") create decision paralysis. Pick one primary action per broadcast.

Ignoring the 24-hour window

Replies to a broadcast open a 24-hour customer service window where you can answer with free-form messages, no template needed. Without a follow-up, that window closes unused. Use a Kanal automation to schedule a follow-up within the window.

How to Search and Manage Broadcast Lists

Finding a broadcast list

1. Open WhatsApp Business
2. Go to Chats tab
3. Tap Broadcast Lists at the top (iOS) or the three-dot menu > New broadcast (Android)
4. Your existing lists appear with member counts

Editing a broadcast list

• Add members: Open the list > tap the list name > Edit recipients
• Remove members: Same path, deselect contacts
• Delete list: Long-press the list > Delete

Broadcast list limitations

• You can create unlimited broadcast lists on the free app
• Each list maxes at 256 contacts
• No scheduling: messages send immediately
• No analytics: you can't track opens or clicks

For scheduling, segmentation, and analytics, upgrade to Kanal's WhatsApp Business API.

FAQ

How many contacts can I add to a WhatsApp broadcast?

On the WhatsApp Business app, maximum 256 contacts per broadcast list. Via the WhatsApp Business API (through platforms like Kanal), there's no limit.

Can I send a broadcast if the contact hasn't saved my number?

On the free WhatsApp Business app, no, the recipient must have your number saved. Via the WhatsApp Business API, yes, you can send template messages to any opted-in contact regardless.

How do I know if someone read my broadcast?

On the free app, you can see delivery and read receipts for individual chats, and our guide to WhatsApp read receipts and blue ticks explains what each tick state actually proves. With Kanal's analytics, you get aggregate open rates, click rates, and conversion tracking.

What is a good WhatsApp broadcast message sample?

A good broadcast message is short, names the customer, makes one offer and ends with one action. For example: "Hi Sarah, our winter collection is live. As a subscriber you get early access until Friday: [link]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe." On the free app you send it as plain text to a broadcast list. On the WhatsApp Business API it becomes a template with a button.

Is there a limit on how many broadcast messages I can send?

On the WhatsApp app, a broadcast list holds up to 256 contacts and you can create as many lists as you like. WhatsApp is also rolling out a monthly limit in some countries: where it applies, its Help Center gives 35 broadcast messages per month at no charge (read on October 7, 2026). On the WhatsApp Business API there is no list size, and Meta charges each delivered marketing message.

Is WhatsApp broadcast the same as WhatsApp newsletter?

They're similar concepts. A "broadcast" is the technical feature. A "WhatsApp newsletter" is a regular broadcast series sent on a schedule. With the WhatsApp Business API, you can schedule automated newsletter-style broadcasts.

Can I send broadcasts to international numbers?

Yes. WhatsApp works globally. With the API, you can target customers in any country. Keep in mind that Meta charges each delivered template message at a rate set by the recipient's country and the template category (promotional broadcasts are marketing templates), detailed in the official pricing grid and in our WhatsApp Business pricing guide.

Conclusion

WhatsApp broadcast lets you reach your e-commerce customers with personalized, rich media messages in the app they already use to chat. While the free app works for small businesses, the WhatsApp Business API through Kanal unlocks larger sends, automation, and detailed analytics.

Start broadcasting to your customers today. Install Kanal on Shopify to send your first campaign, or book a demo to see the campaign builder in action on your store.

Create your click-to-chat link with our WhatsApp Link Generator to start growing your subscriber list.

Further Reading

• WhatsApp Newsletter Guide: turn your broadcasts into a recurring newsletter strategy
• WhatsApp Business API Guide: understand the API that powers broadcasts at scale
• WhatsApp Marketing for E-commerce: the complete guide to WhatsApp commerce
• Best Shopify SMS Apps: compare messaging apps for your Shopify store