WhatsApp Opt-In and Opt-Out Synced to Your Marketing Lists
WhatsApp opt-in and opt-out handling records who agreed to receive marketing messages from you on WhatsApp, and removes anyone who asks to stop. AeroChat collects the opt-in in the chat, writes the consent with its date and source to Klaviyo, Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign, and recognises a stop request however the customer words it.
What happens today
Opt-ins come from a checkbox at checkout, a sign-up form, a QR code at the counter, or a customer saying “yes, send me offers” in a chat. They end up in different places, and the WhatsApp list in the marketing tool is rarely complete.
Stop requests are worse. A customer writes “please don’t message me anymore” in reply to a broadcast, someone reads it, and the list may or may not get updated before the next campaign.
How it runs on WhatsApp
- A customer messages from a QR code, a link on your site or a click-to-WhatsApp ad, or agrees to offers during another conversation.
- AeroChat explains what they will receive and how often, and asks them to confirm.
- It looks the customer up in Klaviyo, Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign by phone number. If there is no number, it asks for their email.
- It creates or updates the contact and sets WhatsApp marketing consent to yes, with the date and the source, such as “counter QR” or “Instagram ad”.
- When a customer asks to stop, in any wording or language, AeroChat confirms and sets their WhatsApp marketing consent to no in the same tool.
- If the customer is upset about messages they received, it hands the conversation to a person.
The recipe
Copy this into AeroChat
When a customer asks to receive our offers on WhatsApp, or asks to stop receiving them, follow these steps.
- Find the customer in Klaviyo (example) by phone number. If there is no phone number, ask for their email.
- To opt in, say: “We send one or two messages a month (example) with new arrivals and offers. Reply YES to confirm.” When they confirm, create or update the profile, set WhatsApp marketing consent to subscribed, and record today’s date and the source, for example “counter QR” (example).
- To opt out, recognise any request to stop, such as “stop”, “unsubscribe” or “don’t message me”, in any language. Say: “Done. You won’t receive marketing messages from us on WhatsApp.” Set WhatsApp marketing consent to unsubscribed with today’s date.
- Tell them they can still message us any time for help with an order or booking.
- If they are upset about the messages they received, hand the conversation to the marketing team (example).
Never ask an opted-out customer to reconsider. Reply in the customer’s language.
Connect the systems behind it
- Klaviyo: stores WhatsApp marketing consent on the profile, so your segments only include customers who said yes.
- Mailchimp: adds or tags the contact as subscribed or unsubscribed for WhatsApp marketing.
- ActiveCampaign: updates the contact and the list they belong to, with the date and source in custom fields.
- Brevo: records consent on the contact for teams that run their campaigns in Brevo.
Shopify is built in, so AeroChat can also find the customer by their order details when they opt in after a purchase.
Using a different system? If it has a public API, it connects to AeroChat the same way: describe what you want, paste in its key, and it runs.
Can’t find your tool? Message us in the chat on this page and we’ll tell you how it connects.
What it costs on WhatsApp
Opting in and opting out both start with the customer’s message, which costs nothing. AeroChat’s confirmation is a service reply, free up to 1,000 a month per business phone number and then charged per message. When the customer comes from a click-to-WhatsApp ad on the Android or iOS app, a free window of up to 7 days opens, and messages in it are free. Rates vary by country and are set in Meta’s rate cards, and AeroChat passes Meta’s WhatsApp fees through at cost.
Also on Instagram, Messenger, TikTok and web chat
The same consent workflow runs on Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok (DMs and TikTok Shop buyer chat), Telegram, web chat and email, with the same marketing tool keeping one record of who agreed to what.
Who uses it
- Fashion stores building a WhatsApp list for new arrivals.
- Beauty stores building a list for launches and restocks.
- Restaurants and caterers collecting opt-ins from a QR code on the table.
Read more: collect WhatsApp opt-ins on Shopify.
Questions
Do I need opt-in to send WhatsApp marketing messages?
Yes. Send marketing messages only to customers who agreed to receive them on WhatsApp. Outside the 24-hour window that opens with the customer’s last message, you can only send an approved template.
How do customers opt out of WhatsApp messages?
They tell you in the chat, in any words or language. AeroChat confirms and updates their consent in your marketing tool, so the next campaign leaves them out.
What does it cost to collect opt-ins on WhatsApp?
The customer’s messages are free. Replies are service messages, free up to 1,000 a month per business phone number and then charged per message. Chats that start from a click-to-WhatsApp ad get a free window of up to 7 days.
Which plan do I need?
Workflows via Skills are on every plan, Free included. To send broadcasts to the list you build, you need Growth or Advanced.
Build a WhatsApp list you can trust
Start your 7-day free trial. No credit card needed.
On Shopify? Install AeroChat from the Shopify App Store.
Related: click-to-WhatsApp ad conversations and broadcasts to opted-in customers.