WhatsApp marketing that respects consent

Start with a complete business profile

In the WhatsApp Business app, the business profile is what customers see when they open your chat: name, category, description, address, hours, website and email. A complete profile answers basic questions before anyone types and makes the account look legitimate.

Some businesses also apply for Meta Verified for Business or similar badges where available; requirements and availability vary by country and may change, so check Meta's current options.

Let customers come to you: click-to-chat links and QR codes

A click-to-chat link (wa.me followed by your number in international format) opens a chat with your business, optionally with a pre-filled message such as 'Hi, I'd like the spring menu'. The app can also generate a short link and QR code for you. Because the customer starts the conversation, you get a natural opt-in moment and a chat history to reply in.

Meta also offers ads that click to WhatsApp on Facebook and Instagram, which send people straight into a chat with you.

• Website header or contact page button
• Instagram and TikTok bio links
• Printed QR codes on menus, receipts, packaging and shop windows
• Email signatures and order confirmation pages

Catalogs, collections and quick replies

The catalog lets you list products or services with photos, descriptions and prices, grouped into collections. Customers can browse it from your profile, and you can share items in a chat. Quick replies (saved messages triggered with a slash shortcut) keep answers to common questions consistent, such as shipping times or how to book.

Consent and local rules in the US, Canada and UK

WhatsApp's own Business Messaging Policy requires that people opt in before you send them messages, and that you respect requests to stop. On top of that, local laws may apply to marketing messages. In general terms: in the US, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and state laws regulate marketing texts and may be applied to app messages, and they often require prior express written consent. In Canada, CASL generally requires consent for commercial electronic messages and a working unsubscribe. In the UK, PECR and UK GDPR usually require consent for electronic marketing, with a limited 'soft opt-in' for existing customers.

This is not legal advice. If marketing messages are a core part of your business, have a lawyer review how you collect and record consent.

• Record when and how each person opted in, for example with a label and a note.
• Say what kind of messages they will get and roughly how often.
• Honor opt-outs immediately and do not message them again.

Setting up a dedicated number for your business

Many owners do not want to put their personal number on flyers. You can rent a Noir SMS number to receive the one-time code and verify your own WhatsApp Business account: choose WhatsApp Business, pick the US, Canada or the UK, and read the code in your dashboard. It is refunded automatically if no SMS arrives in 20 minutes.

Because our numbers are single use and recycled later, a number you print on marketing materials and keep for years should be one you control long-term. Use a temporary number for setup or testing, then add two-step verification and move the account to a permanent number with WhatsApp's Change number feature. Use Noir SMS only for your own legitimate accounts; spam and bulk account creation are prohibited.

Step by step

1. Set up your profileVerify your own WhatsApp Business account, then fill in profile, hours, catalog and quick replies.
2. Invite conversationsPublish click-to-chat links and QR codes so customers message you first.
3. Market with consentLabel opted-in customers, send relevant updates only to them, and honor every opt-out.