How to connect & message via WhatsApp Business

This guide covers setting up your WhatsApp Business API credentials, connecting to FeedMyPost, testing message prompts, sending a preview message, and scheduling automated WhatsApp broadcasts.

Contents

Requirements Get your API credentials 1) Connect WhatsApp Business 2) Create a Post Group 3) Test Prompts 4) Send a preview message 5) Schedule your group Troubleshooting FAQ

Requirements

  • A Meta Business Account at business.facebook.com.
  • A WhatsApp Business API phone number set up in your Meta Business Account (not the WhatsApp Business App — the Cloud API).
  • A Permanent System User Token from Meta Business Settings → System Users.
  • Your Phone Number ID — found in Meta for Developers → your app → WhatsApp → API Setup.
  • For sending messages to recipients outside your business, your WhatsApp number must be approved for production use (not just the test number).
⚠️ Important: WhatsApp Business API uses a credential-based connection (no OAuth redirect). You provide your Phone Number ID and System User Token directly. These are stored only for your session in the demo, or securely server-side for registered accounts.

How to get your WhatsApp API credentials

You need two pieces of information before connecting:

Phone Number ID
Found in Meta for Developers → select your app → WhatsApp → API Setup → "Phone Number ID" field.
System User Token
Go to Meta Business Settings → System Users → create or select a System User with the WhatsApp Business Messaging permission → Generate Token → set expiry to Never.
Why a permanent token? Scheduled posts run unattended, so the token must not expire. A System User token set to "Never" ensures your automation keeps running without manual re-authentication.

1) Connect WhatsApp Business

  1. Open the connection page.
  2. Click Connect WhatsApp — a modal (pop-up form) will appear.
  3. Enter your Phone Number ID (numeric, e.g. 123456789012345).
  4. Enter your System User Access Token (starts with EAA…).
  5. Optionally enter a Default Recipient Phone (in E.164 format, e.g. +447700900000) — this is who your messages will be sent to by default.
  6. Click Connect. FeedMyPost will validate your credentials with Meta's API.
  7. On success, your WhatsApp Business number will appear in My Connections.
Note: Unlike Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, WhatsApp does not use an OAuth redirect. You enter credentials directly in the connection modal.

2) Create a Post Group

A Post Group defines your message prompts and sending schedule. For WhatsApp Business, each run generates a text message (and optionally an image) sent to your configured recipient(s).

  1. Go to Post Groups and click Create Post Group.
  2. Select WhatsApp Business as the platform and choose your connected phone number.
  3. Enter a Name (e.g., "Daily Customer Update").
  4. Provide your Message Prompt — the AI will generate the message body.
    • Keep messages concise and conversational — WhatsApp is a messaging platform, not a social feed.
    • Use [[FEED_URL]] in your prompt to pull in dynamic data from a CSV or RSS feed.
    • Optionally add an Image Prompt to attach an image to the message.
  5. Set Run every (minutes) and an optional Start time.
  6. Click Create Post Group.
Recipient: The recipient phone number set during connection is used by default. Your Post Group can override this if you're sending to a specific contact or test number.

3) Test Prompts (preview)

Before scheduling, generate a one‑off preview to validate your message prompt.

  1. In the Create or Edit Post Group form, click Test prompts.
  2. Review the generated message text and any optional image.
  3. Refine your prompt until the output matches the tone and content you want.
Tip: WhatsApp supports basic text formatting: *bold*, _italic_, ~strikethrough~, and `monospace`. Include formatting instructions in your prompt if needed.

4) Send a preview message

When you're happy with the preview, send it immediately to your configured recipient — no need to wait for the schedule.

  1. After generating a preview, click Post Preview to Channel.
  2. The message will be sent via the WhatsApp Cloud API to your recipient phone number.
  3. Check the recipient's WhatsApp to confirm delivery.
Requirement: The recipient must have an active WhatsApp account, and your business number must be approved to send messages to that contact. For new contacts (outside the 24-hour window), an approved Message Template may be required by Meta.

5) Schedule your group

  1. Ensure the Post Group Status is set to active.
  2. Set an appropriate interval — for WhatsApp, daily (1440 minutes) or weekly (10080 minutes) is typical to avoid being flagged as spam.
  3. Optionally set a Start time to send during appropriate hours in your recipient's timezone.
⚠️ Spam caution: WhatsApp has strict policies around bulk or high-frequency messaging. Sending too many messages too quickly can result in your business number being flagged or blocked by Meta. Stick to a reasonable cadence and only message opted-in recipients.

Troubleshooting

  • Invalid Phone Number ID: Double-check the numeric ID in Meta for Developers → your app → WhatsApp → API Setup.
  • Token rejected: Ensure you're using a System User Token (not a User token or Page token) with WhatsApp Business Messaging permissions. Generate a new token set to "Never" expire.
  • Message not delivered: Check that the recipient's number is in E.164 format (e.g., +447700900000) and has an active WhatsApp account.
  • Template required error: If more than 24 hours have passed since the recipient last messaged your number, Meta requires an approved Message Template. Set up and get a template approved in Meta Business Manager.
  • Business number blocked: High-frequency sending or low-quality content can lead to Meta blocking your number. Review Meta's messaging policy and reduce sending frequency.
  • Schedule not running: Verify the Post Group is active, the interval is set, and your backend Lambdas are running without errors.

FAQ

Do I need the WhatsApp Business App or the API?
You need the WhatsApp Business Cloud API (via Meta for Developers), not the WhatsApp Business App. The app does not support API-based automation.
Can I send to multiple recipients?
The default setup sends to a single configured recipient. For broadcast lists or multiple recipients, contact support to discuss your use case and ensure compliance with WhatsApp's policies.
Can I attach images or documents?
Yes. Add an Image Prompt to generate and attach an image to your WhatsApp message. Document attachments depend on your plan.
Is this compliant with WhatsApp's policies?
FeedMyPost uses the official WhatsApp Business Cloud API. You are responsible for ensuring recipients have opted in to receive messages from your business, in compliance with WhatsApp's Business Policy.
How do credits work?
Credits are consumed for AI text and image generation. The WhatsApp message send itself does not consume FeedMyPost credits, though Meta may charge conversation fees depending on your WhatsApp Business API plan.