WhatsApp opt-in: how to collect it, and why it protects your number

Before a business messages someone on WhatsApp, Meta requires that the person agreed to receive WhatsApp messages from that business. It's also the single best protection against getting your number restricted: people who asked to hear from you don't block and report you.

What counts as opt-in

Good opt-in is:

• Clear — the person knows it's WhatsApp, and knows it's you.
• Active — they tick a box, tap a button, or message you. Not a pre-ticked box buried in your terms.
• Specific enough — "order updates on WhatsApp" is clearer than "communications".

Ways to collect it

At checkout or sign-up. Add an unticked checkbox next to the phone field: "Send me order updates on WhatsApp." Store the answer with a timestamp.

A click-to-chat button. A "Chat with us on WhatsApp" button on your site or ads opens a conversation. People who message you first can be answered right away — and you can ask whether they'd like future updates.

QR codes in store or on packaging. Scanning opens WhatsApp with a pre-filled message such as "Hi, I'd like updates" — the message itself is the opt-in.

In an existing conversation. At the end of a support chat: "Want us to message you here when it ships?"

Email or SMS you already send. Invite subscribers to switch to WhatsApp with a link.

What doesn't count

• Buying or scraping lists.
• Assuming that having someone's phone number means they agreed.
• Reusing consent given for email marketing.

Keep the permission

• Make stopping easy. Say how to unsubscribe ("Reply STOP to opt out") and honour it everywhere, immediately.
• Send what they signed up for. Order-update opt-in isn't permission for daily promotions.
• Don't over-send. Relevance and frequency matter more than volume.
• Keep a record of when and how each person opted in, in case you're ever asked.

How SendFromChat helps

Opt-out is built in and always on: a STOP reply marks the person opted out, sends a confirmation, and blocks them from every future bulk send, sequence and template until they reply START. Together with new-number warm-up and pacing under your messaging limit, it keeps your quality rating healthy. More in sending in bulk without getting banned.