On these channels, Meta decides what you’re allowed to send.
Messaging bots aren’t a design problem first — they’re a platform-rules problem. Opt-in, a reply window that closes, and pre-approved templates for anything outside it. Design before you understand those and you’ll build something you can’t ship.
In short: people message businesses on WhatsApp and Messenger because they already live there, and they expect an answer in minutes rather than a ticket number. A bot on those channels can do that — within rules Meta sets about who you may message, when, and with what wording.
Three rules that shape everything
RULE ONE
They have to opt in first
You cannot message a number because you have it. Consent has to be given and recorded — through a form, a checkout tick-box, a website button that opens the chat, or a QR code. Building the opt-in path properly is part of the project, not an afterthought.
RULE TWO
The reply window closes
Once a customer messages you, there is a window — 24 hours on WhatsApp — in which you can reply freely with anything. After it closes you can only send pre-approved templates. Most badly designed flows die here, waiting for a reply that arrives too late.
RULE THREE
Templates need approving
Anything you send outside the window uses a template Meta has reviewed. Approval takes time and rejections happen — usually for promotional wording in a template submitted as a utility one. We write and submit them early rather than the week of launch.
AND THE BILL
Sending costs money
WhatsApp is not a free channel for businesses. Meta charges for messages, rates vary by country and category, and the model has changed more than once. We price your expected volume against current rates during scoping so the running cost isn’t a surprise.
What works well here
The window rule pushes you toward the right use cases anyway. Things that happen inside a live conversation, or that fit a legitimate utility template, work. Broadcast marketing mostly doesn’t, and shouldn’t.
Order and delivery updates. Appointment confirmations and reschedules. Answering a question about something the customer already bought. Taking an enquiry and routing it. Reactivating a conversation with a proper utility template when there’s genuinely something to say.
What we won’t do
Message a list you didn’t get consent from
Beyond the platform rules, this is the fastest route to a blocked business account — and blocked accounts are difficult to recover. Having someone’s number is not permission to message it.
Dress marketing up as a utility template
A promotion submitted as an order update gets rejected, and repeat attempts affect your account standing. We categorise templates honestly, even when it costs more to send.
Trap people in a bot
These are personal channels. “Talk to a person” works from the first message, and handover carries the conversation so nobody repeats themselves.
How it starts
Business account verification and template submission first, because both take time and neither is in your control. While those are in progress we build the conversation flows and the opt-in path. Launching on Messenger first is often sensible — fewer constraints, and it proves the flows before WhatsApp’s rules apply to them.
What our clients say
The businesses we’ve built for, in their own words.
★★★★★
“When I approached Abedin Tech with my land share selling plan, I wasn’t sure how it would work. But thanks to their precise strategy and powerful marketing, my business is now thriving. They truly understand their clients’ needs and go above and beyond.”
Owner, Richland Properties
Real Estate
★★★★★
“I approached Abedin Tech to develop my website with several specific functionalities. Their team delivered exactly what I envisioned, creating a beautifully designed website that met all my requirements. I highly recommend Abedin Tech.”
Rohit
Owner, Shop from China
★★★★★
“The decision to partner with Abedin Tech was the best decision we made. Our site looks great, our traffic is through the roof, and our sales are better than ever. Abedin Tech is the perfect digital partner that offers what is beyond your expectations!”
James Anderson
★★★★★
“We had an idea but no sense of direction. With each step of the way, Abedin Tech guided us and turned our vision into a beautiful website with functionality. The outcome is evident by the numbers!”
Isabella Scott
Tell us what you want to send, and to whom
We’ll tell you which parts the platform rules allow, what needs a template, roughly what the sending will cost at your volume, and whether Messenger is the better place to start.
Can we message customers on WhatsApp without them opting in?
No. Consent has to be given and recorded before you can message a number — through a form, a checkout tick-box, a website button that opens the chat, or a QR code. Having somebody’s number is not permission to use it, and messaging without consent is the fastest route to a blocked business account, which is difficult to recover.
What is the 24-hour window?
When a customer messages you, a window opens — 24 hours on WhatsApp — during which you can reply freely with whatever the conversation needs. Once it closes you can only send templates Meta has pre-approved. Most poorly designed flows fail at exactly this point, waiting on a reply that arrives after the window has shut.
Why do message templates get rejected?
Usually because promotional wording was submitted under a utility category. Meta reviews templates before you can send them outside the reply window, approval takes time, and repeated miscategorised submissions affect your account standing. We write and submit templates early rather than in launch week, and categorise them honestly even when that costs more to send.
Does WhatsApp cost money for businesses?
Yes. Meta charges for business messaging, rates vary by country and message category, and the pricing model has changed more than once. We price your expected volume against the rates current at build time during scoping, so the running cost is known before you commit rather than discovered afterwards.
