Sometimes you need to reach a lot of people at once. Whether it is a flash sale announcement, a service update, an appointment reminder, or a re-engagement campaign, the Broadcast feature in Chatmo lets you send bulk messages to targeted groups of contacts through multiple channels -- all from a single interface.
What Is a Broadcast?
A broadcast is a one-to-many message sent to a group of contacts simultaneously. Unlike regular one-on-one conversations, broadcasts let you deliver the same message (or a personalized version of it, using variables) to hundreds or thousands of recipients at once.
Chatmo supports broadcasting through several channels: WhatsApp (Personal and Business API), Instagram, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger.
To send broadcasts through WhatsApp Business API, you need at least one connected WhatsApp Business API device and approved message templates. Check the Broadcast Templates page for details on creating and managing templates.
When to Use Broadcasts
Broadcasts work best when you have a message that is relevant to a group of people. Common use cases include:
| Use Case | Example |
|---|---|
| Promotions & offers | Flash sales, member-exclusive discounts, new product launches |
| Announcements | Updated business hours, policy changes, new feature releases |
| Newsletters | Weekly updates, content roundups, industry news |
| Reminders | Payment due dates, appointment confirmations, upcoming events |
| Surveys | Customer satisfaction, product feedback, market research |
| Transactional | Bulk order confirmations, batch shipping notifications |
| Re-engagement | Win-back offers for inactive customers, follow-up campaigns |
Broadcast Page Navigation
The Broadcast page has three sections accessible via the sidebar within the page:
- Campaign -- Lists all broadcast campaigns with their status and progress
- Recipient -- Manage recipient lists uploaded from CSV or Excel files
- Template Message -- Manage WhatsApp Business message templates for broadcasts
The Campaign List View
The Campaign section gives you an overview of all your broadcasts. Each entry in the list displays:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Campaign Name | The campaign name and description you assigned when creating it |
| Status | Current state of the broadcast, shown as a color-coded badge (see below) |
| Progress | A visual progress bar showing the ratio of sent messages to total recipients |
| Channel | Icon indicating the channel used: WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger |
| Schedule | The scheduled date and time for delivery |
| Actions | Available actions: view details, edit, duplicate, delete, or stop sending |
Filtering and Search
You can narrow down the campaign list using several options:
- Search -- Find campaigns by name or description
- Status filter -- Show only campaigns with a specific status
- Channel filter -- Show only campaigns for a particular channel
- Sort -- Order by Name (A-Z or Z-A), Newest, or Oldest
Bulk Actions
To manage multiple campaigns at once, select the checkboxes on the campaigns you want to act on, then choose a bulk action:
- Duplicate -- Create copies of the selected campaigns
- Delete -- Permanently remove the selected campaigns
- Cancel/Stop -- Cancel scheduled campaigns or stop campaigns that are currently sending
Auto-refresh
The campaign list refreshes automatically every 30 seconds. You do not need to manually reload the page to see the latest status changes or delivery progress.
Broadcast Statuses
Every broadcast has a status displayed as a color-coded badge:
| Status | Badge Color | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DRAFT | Gray | The broadcast has been created but not yet scheduled or sent. You can still edit everything. |
| SCHEDULED | Blue | The broadcast is queued for delivery at a specific date and time. |
| SENDING | Blue (pulsing) | The broadcast is actively being delivered to recipients. |
| COMPLETED | Green | All messages have been sent. |
| FAILED | Red | Something went wrong and the broadcast could not be completed. Check the error details. |
| CANCELLED | Orange | The broadcast was cancelled before delivery completed, either manually or automatically. |
While in SENDING status, messages are dispatched gradually rather than all at once. This is done to comply with WhatsApp rate limits and to maintain delivery quality. Large broadcasts may take several minutes to several hours depending on the number of recipients.
Get into the habit of creating broadcasts as drafts first, especially for important campaigns. This gives you a chance to review everything -- audience size, message preview, personalization -- before committing to a schedule or sending immediately.
Understanding the Progress Bar
The Progress column shows a visual bar representing the ratio of sent messages to total recipients. This bar provides a quick overview without needing to open the campaign detail:
- A fully filled green bar means all messages were sent successfully
- A partially filled bar indicates sending is still in progress or some messages failed
- The numbers beside the bar show how many messages were sent out of the total
Understanding Broadcast Metrics
After a broadcast completes, Chatmo tracks several metrics that tell you how your message performed:
| Metric | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Sent | The number of messages successfully dispatched through the messaging platform |
| Delivered | The number of messages confirmed as delivered to the recipient's device |
| Read | The number of recipients who opened and viewed the message (depends on read receipts being enabled) |
| Replied | The number of recipients who sent a response. Replies open a regular conversation in your inbox. |
These metrics are available per broadcast and can also be viewed in aggregate on the Broadcast Analytics page.
Limitations and Best Practices
Limitations to Keep in Mind
- WhatsApp templates required for Business API -- Broadcasts through WhatsApp Business API can only use templates approved by Meta. Free-form messages are not supported for bulk sending through this channel.
- Messaging tier limits -- WhatsApp assigns a messaging tier to your Business account based on your reputation. New accounts start with a lower daily limit that increases as you maintain good quality.
- Opt-in requirement -- WhatsApp requires that contacts have opted in to receive messages from your business. Sending unsolicited messages can result in reports, blocks, and account restrictions.
Best Practices
Segment your audience. Do not send the same message to everyone. Use Contact Segments to target people who will actually find your message relevant.
Personalize your messages. Use template variables to include the recipient's name, relevant order details, or other personal touches. Personalized messages feel less like spam and more like a direct conversation.
Watch your frequency. Sending broadcasts too often fatigues your audience. One to two broadcasts per week strikes a good balance for most businesses.
Monitor your quality metrics. Keep an eye on your delivery rate, read rate, and block/report rate. If you notice a spike in blocks after a particular broadcast, rethink your approach.
Time it right. Send broadcasts when your audience is most likely to read them. Mid-morning and early afternoon on weekdays tend to perform well, but check your analytics for your specific audience patterns.
Provide value every time. Every broadcast should offer something the recipient cares about -- a genuine discount, useful information, a timely reminder.
WhatsApp can restrict or ban your Business account if your messages consistently receive negative feedback. Quality is not optional -- it is a requirement for maintaining your broadcasting ability. Always prioritize relevance and consent over reach.
What's Next?
- Create a Broadcast -- Step-by-step guide to building and sending your first campaign.
- Recipient List -- Manage recipient lists for your broadcast campaigns.
- Broadcast Templates -- Learn how to create and manage WhatsApp message templates.
- Broadcast Analytics -- Understand your broadcast performance and optimize future campaigns.
- Contact Segments -- Build targeted audiences for more effective messaging.