TL;DR: A WhatsApp Business greeting message is a pre-defined message customers receive when they first message your business, or if they haven't interacted with your business for 14 days. These messages confirm that a customer’s message is received, introduce your business, set expectations for response time, and prompt the customer to take the next action. Greeting messages are free and can be up to 140 characters long on the WhatsApp Business app. On the WhatsApp Business API, they can be more dynamic and include custom variables such as the customer's name or order number.

When it comes to online interactions, your only connection with your customers is the messages you send. Every time a new user signs up to your platform, sending welcome messages or personalized greetings can help you make a positive first impression. 

It doesn’t matter if you are a small business or a large enterprise, having constant communication with customers is crucial for long-term business success. One of the channels that enable you to have real-time interactions with your customers is WhatsApp. 

The great thing about WhatsApp is that you can send a variety of messages and craft tailored messages, whether you are greeting new customers or nurturing leads across the stages of the WhatsApp sales funnel. 

Having said that, it could cost you a lot of time to craft these WhatsApp Business greeting messages for different kinds of situations.

So, we've put together 40 greeting message templates across 9 different categories, with steps on how to set them up for the Business App and the Business API.

What are WhatsApp Business greeting messages?

On WhatsApp Business Platform, WhatsApp Business greeting messages are like automated messages that businesses send when you start chatting with them on WhatsApp.

Also, greeting messages on WhatsApp Business can be different based on what you want to achieve, but they usually start with a friendly hello, share information about what the business offers, and tell you what to do next. 

These messages are super important because they set the tone for your conversation and welcome you to the business.

Why do you need a WhatsApp greeting message?

WhatsApp greeting messages allow you to initiate a conversation on a positive note. These messages introduce you to users by informing them about your business, its products or services, and how they can reach out to you.

WhatsApp greeting messages are a building block for establishing a long-term connection with first-time customers, prompting them to keep coming back to your business.

What are the benefits of using WhatsApp Business greetings messages?

WhatsApp Business greeting messages offer several advantages for your business. Some important advantages are listed below:

Enhances customer experience 

When you greet customers warmly and professionally, it sets a positive tone right from the start. This makes the interaction more enjoyable for your customers and simplifies your sales process.

Perceives faster responses

With an automated greeting message, your customers feel acknowledged even if a live representative isn't available immediately. This gives the impression of quicker response times, which your customers appreciate.

Improves efficiency 

By automating responses to common questions, you can handle inquiries more efficiently. This frees up your team to focus on addressing more complex customer needs.

Opportunity for lead generation 

Greeting messages can help you collect valuable customer information, such as email addresses or preferences. This gives you the chance to generate leads and tailor your services to better meet customer needs.

What’s the difference between a WhatsApp greeting message and an away message?

Although both of these messages can be automated using WhatsApp automation tools, a greeting message is sent to new customers or sign-ups when they first interact with your business. It is typically used to make a lasting first impression and let customers know what they can expect from your business.

A WhatsApp away message, as the name implies, can be sent automatically after your business hours to let the customers know when you will be available or when they can expect a response from you. It is meant to inform customers first and foremost rather than interacting with them.

WhatsApp greeting message character limits

On the WhatsApp Business app, the character limit for a greeting message is 140 characters. Plus, you can't use dynamic variables (customer name, order information), and a static message is sent to all.

If you are using the WhatsApp Business API, you can send greeting messages as approved message templates, which can contain up to 1,024 characters and dynamic variables such as customer name, order ID, and custom field. So, a single template can be used for thousands of customers.

40 WhatsApp Business greeting messages examples

As I already said, greetings are like the open door to your business's virtual space. They set the tone and invite customers in for a chat. 

That is why, I’ve mentioned 40 friendly and effective greeting messages that work wonders for your WhatsApp Business. Whether you're welcoming new customers, sharing special deals, or just saying hello, these messages will build your customer engagement to level sales and build stronger connections. 

General Greetings

General greetings are essential as they set the tone for communication and establish a welcoming atmosphere for your customers. They help create a positive first impression and encourage your customers to engage further. Here are some examples for you:

1. “Hi there! We're happy you're here at [Your business name]. What can we help you with today?”
2. “Hey there! Looking for something awesome? You've come to the right place! Let us know how we can assist you.”
3. “Greetings! ✨[Your business name] is at your service. We offer exceptional [products/services]. How can we make your day better?”
4. "Hi! 😊 We’re glad you’re here. Our team at [Your Business Name] is ready to assist you. How can we help?"
5. “Hey there! Let's kick off this conversation with some positivity. How can we brighten your day?”
6. "Hello and welcome! We’re here to provide top-notch service. Let us know what you’re looking for."
7. “Greetings! We appreciate your interest. How can we be of service to you?”

Greetings for new customers

Welcoming new customers is crucial for building strong relationships and building loyalty. These greetings make your new customers feel valued and appreciated, building the base for a long-term partnership and boosting your business sales efficiency. Below are some helpful instances for you which you can share with your new customers.

1. “Welcome to the [Your business name] family, [Your customer name]! We are so happy to have you join us.”
2. "Welcome to [Your Business Name]! We appreciate you choosing us. How can we assist you today?"
3. “Hi [Your Customer Name], thanks for joining us on WhatsApp! We're here to make your shopping experience super easy.”
4. "Hi there! 👏 Thanks for joining us. We’re committed to giving you the best experience possible!"
5. “Hey, there [Your customer name]!🙋🏻‍♂️ New to [Your business name]? We're here to answer any questions and help you find what you're looking for.”

Greetings with a special offer

Special offer greetings are powerful tools for driving sales, increasing your customer engagement, and enhancing your WhatsApp marketing strategy. They create a sense of exclusivity and urgency, prompting your customers to take advantage of the offer and make a purchase. So for your ease, I’ve mentioned examples of special offers in WhatsApp Business greeting messages.

1. "Hey there! It's flash sale time! Get [Add percentage like 50%] off select items for the next 24 hours. Shop now: [Add link].”
2. "You’re in luck! 🍀 We have an exclusive deal for you: [Enter offer details]. Grab it before it’s gone [Add link]!"
3. “Hi there! Thinking of treating yourself? Use code [Add your code like TREATME] at checkout for [Add percentage like 20%] off your entire order.”
4. "Good news! Get [X% off] on your first order with us. Don’t miss out! [CTA link]"
5. “Hello! Happy to inform you about our limited-time offer available exclusively through WhatsApp. Interested? Let's chat!”
6. Special for you! Get [Add X% discount] on your next purchase. Limited time offer only. Don’t wait shop today: [CTA button]

Proactive engagement greeting

Proactive engagement greetings present a commitment to your customer satisfaction and provide personalized assistance before your customers even reach out for help which helps in sales engagement. They show initiative and dedication to meeting your customer needs proactively. So here are the best greetings messages for WhatsApp Business:

1. “Good [morning/afternoon/evening]! We noticed you've been exploring our products/services. Are you in need of help with anything in particular?”
2. “Hey there! We are available to assist you at every stage. Please don't hesitate to ask for help or advice if you need it!”
3. “Hi! Just checking in to see if there's anything we can do to enhance your experience with us. Let us know how we can assist you further.”

Season's greetings (modify for specific holidays)

Season's greetings allow your business to connect with your customers on a personal and emotional level, celebrating special occasions and building a WhatsApp community. They help strengthen relationships and create memorable experiences for your customers during festive seasons. You can consider the below-given examples:

1. “Happy Holi! May the vibrant colors of this festival fill your life with joy, prosperity, and love. A day as vibrant and vivid as you are what I'm wishing for!”
2. “Happy Independence Day! Together, let us honor the spirit of liberty and harmony. May our nation continue to prosper and shine brighter with each passing year. Jai Hind!”
3. “Happy Raksha Bandhan! Celebrating the lovely relationship of love and defense that exists between siblings. May this special day bring you joy, laughter, and cherished memories with your loved ones.”

Customer service messages 

Greeting messages are not limited to new customers. You can greet customers who are simply looking for assistance. The messages here need to be drafted to provide reassurance that you are looking into the matter and will respond with a solution quickly. 

1. "Hi there! Thanks for reaching out to [Your business name] Support. How can we assist you today?"
2. "Hey! You’ve reached [Your business name] Support. Tell us what’s on your mind, and we’ll do our best to help!"
3. "Thanks for contacting us. We are here to provide the best solutions for you!"
4. "Hi! We're happy to assist you. Please share your concern, and our team will get back to you shortly!"
5. "Hello! We’re sorry to see that you ran into an issue. Tell us more about it and we will get back to you very soon.

Service unavailable message

These days, all the business processes run online. What this means is that sometimes systems go down and services might become unavailable. During this time, you have to inform your customers about the issue and when they can expect them to resume. 

1. "Hi! We’re currently experiencing a temporary issue with [specific service]. Our team is working hard to resolve it. We’ll update you soon!"
2. "Hello! 🚧 We’re aware of the issue affecting [service name] and are working on a fix. We appreciate your patience!"
3. "Hey there! Due to an unexpected issue, [service] is currently down. We’re on it and will provide updates shortly!"
4. "Hi! We’re experiencing an outage at the moment. We’ll notify you once everything is back to normal. Thank you for your patience!"
5. "Apologies for the disruption! We’re working hard to restore full service ASAP. We’ll keep you posted!"

Response to out-of-office hours message

Responding to out-of-office hours messages is crucial for maintaining your customer satisfaction and trust. It shows your customers that their inquiries are important and you will be addressed promptly, even during non-business hours. So you can select any of the below-mentioned greetings messages for your WhatsApp marketing needs_._

1. “Hello! Thank you for reaching out. We're sorry, but our team is temporarily unavailable. Please check back with us when we come back up. Do not hesitate to leave a message in the meantime!”
2. “Hi there! We're currently away from the desk but don't worry, we'll attend to your inquiry as soon as we return. Your patience is highly appreciated!”
3. “Good [morning/afternoon/evening]! We're not available at the moment, but your message is important to us. We'll respond to you promptly once we're back. Thank you for your understanding!”

Personalized greeting

Personalized greetings present a genuine interest in each of your customers and their unique needs. They help build sales rapport and strengthen relationships by making your customers feel valued and understood on an individual level. To write this kind of greeting message you can consider the below examples: 

1. “Hello [Your customer name]! It's great to see you here. How can we assist you today?”
2. “Hi [Your Customer Name]! Welcome back! Is there anything we can do to assist you with today?”
3. “Hey [Your customer name]! Thanks for reaching out. We're here to provide you with personalized assistance. How may we serve you?”

How to create your WhatsApp Business greeting messages?

The secret to crafting engaging greetings messages for WhatsApp is determining what you wish to achieve with them. Having said that, here are some of the aspects you have to think about to effectively craft your messages: 

Define clear goals

The objective of your greetings messages is to inform customers about the next steps they can take, what to expect from your business, and when you are going to contact them again. For example, make sure that the tone of your messages gives a clear indication of what will happen next. 

• We will get in touch within 12 hours.
• We are looking into your issue and let you know of a resolution within 2 business days.

These examples give solid ideas to customers about what you are doing and when they can expect to hear back from you. 

Set expectations early

The largest source of frustration for customers is when they do not know when or how they will get a response from a business. That should be sorted out at the very beginning of your greeting. Include your working hours or estimated time of response, such as “we tend to respond in 12 hours or 2 hours”.

This minor detail helps form realistic expectations and prevents users from feeling neglected in the case of a delay. It also makes your business appear reliable and well-organized.

Give genuine information

Most of the time, businesses give vague or false information about how long it will take to resolve your issue. Customers don’t like to wait a long time but what they dislike even more is you promising 24 hours but fail to deliver on it. 

So, it is better to be upfront with your customers, telling them that your support teams are busy or will require more time. Ensuring you provide a satisfactory response the first time is extremely crucial. That’s why, giving your team enough time to go over the customer query and find the right solution while also telling customers the exact time for a response. 

Use a human tone

Since a customer can reach out to you at any time, most of these greetings messages will be sent automatically via a workflow or a WhatsApp chatbot. This fact makes your messages sound robotic and distant. 

However, by incorporating a human-like approach and setting up personalized messages, you can make your greetings more personable. This way, your customers will feel connected with your business, allowing you to build solid relationships to help you generate long-term business success. 

Add a simple CTA

A greeting is not meant to be just a hello; it is an introduction. The majority of people will not be aware of the next step until they are directed in the right direction. Include follow-up questions that would prompt a response from the recipient. For example, a simple “let us know how we can help today?” maintains the flow of the conversations and alters drop-offs since no one is left to guess anymore.

Personalize your messages

Personal touch matters. In case you can obtain the name of the user, make sure to use it in your greeting message. A simple “Hi Bulbul” is even more engaging than a “Hi”.

If you have more information about the use, you can go further and pull out something, such as “Welcome back” or “Hope you enjoyed your last order”. That will demonstrate that you are paying attention to customers and will strengthen the bond in the long term.

Common mistakes to avoid when creating your WhatsApp Business greeting messages

Even with all the right content, greeting messages can be ineffective if they contain the following:

• The content is too long. There's a reason apps can't send greetings longer than 140 characters. It appears to be spam or overly promotional. Try sticking to only the most crucial information.
• Making false promises. "We will get back to you in 5 minutes" is a promise you might not be able to keep. If not, use "as soon as possible" or provide an estimated time frame.
• Lack of next step. No CTA in the greeting message is confusing. Always include an action for customers to take, reply with a keyword, view a menu, or click a link.
• Forgetting opt-in compliance. If you use the WhatsApp Business API, you can't send marketing-focused messages to users without their opt-in.

How to send WhatsApp greeting messages?

Now that you have your WhatsApp greeting message ready and verified, below are the steps to send it:

WhatsApp Business app

• Launch the WhatsApp Business app and tap the three dots in the upper-right corner
• Click on the Business Tools option and choose the Greeting Message
• Turn on the feature and enter your WhatsApp greeting message
• In the following screen, select the recipients by selecting either Everyone, New Customers, or Specific Contacts
• After everything is done, click Save

The greeting message you set up will automatically be sent to new users who send you a message and existing users who contact you after 14+ days of inactivity.

WhatsApp Business API (via a provider like Zixflow):

• Sign in to your WhatsApp Business API provider's dashboard
• Go to the template builder
• Build a new template with the type "UTILITY" (greetings usually fall into the Utility category)
• Enter the text of the message using variables like {{1}}, where the customer's name would go
• Submit this template to Meta for approval
• Once approved, you can automate the greeting based on customer actions. For example, when a contact is added, after filling out a form, or when a user first contacts you

You will need to use the API method if you want to personalize and schedule the greeting messages using advanced automation logic.

Elevate your WhatsApp Business with impactful greeting messages

I hope these 40 awesome WhatsApp Business greeting messages provide you with a wide range of choices to connect with your customers in a meaningful way. Whether you're saying a warm hello, offering special deals, or simply reaching out to engage, these messages are designed to help you build strong relationships and make a positive impression. By using these greetings, you can boost customer satisfaction, drive sales, and create memorable experiences. 

And to take your WhatsApp Business interactions even further, consider exploring Zixflow. Zixflow is a powerful marketing and engagement platform that offers various WhatsApp templates and other marketing tools. With its intuitive template builder, you can easily create and customize templates tailored to your specific needs. 

Ready to get started? Create your free account on Zixflow today and elevate your WhatsApp Business!

Frequently asked questions about WhatsApp Business greeting messages

Here are some of the commonly asked questions about WhatsApp Business greeting messages:

What is a WhatsApp Business greeting message?

A WhatsApp Business greeting message is an automated message that is sent to users when they reach out to your business or sign in for the first time. It is a great way to create a strong first impression and set the tone for the future conversation.

Why should I use WhatsApp Business greeting messages?

Using a greeting message helps you appear professional and approachable, even outside business hours. It can also:

• Acknowledge new messages instantly
• Share basic information (like support hours or FAQs)
• Guide users to the right next step for prompt conversion

Can I personalize my WhatsApp greeting message?

Yes, it allows you to customize your WhatsApp Business greeting message with dynamic variables to include the customer’s name or order details when integrated with platforms that support personalization. Personal messages tend to increase engagement and trust.

How do I set up a greeting message on WhatsApp Business?

To set up a greeting message:

• Open the WhatsApp Business App
• Tap More options (⋮) > Business tools
• Select Greeting message
• Turn it on and type your custom message
• Choose the recipients

What is the difference between a WhatsApp Business greeting message and a WhatsApp away message?

WhatsApp Business greeting message is sent to someone who messages you for the first time or after 14 days of no contact. In contrast, an away message is sent automatically during the off-hours or when you are unavailable.

Can I use WhatsApp API to send dynamic greeting messages?

Yes. With the WhatsApp Business API and a platform like Zixflow, you can send personalized greeting messages at scale. This is ideal for you if you have a large team or if you are handling higher message volumes.