Meta Business Portfolio
Your WhatsApp Business account sits inside your Meta Business Portfolio. I connect it to Klaviyo and verify the portfolio, which Meta recommends and requires for some options, like its free phone number.
Klaviyo WhatsApp marketing
WhatsApp marketing in Klaviyo for Shopify and WooCommerce brands
I set up WhatsApp inside Klaviyo, next to your email and SMS: your Meta business account and number, WhatsApp consent, approved templates, flows, campaigns, and two-way conversations. It's the channel your customers already use every day in markets like the UK, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and India.
5.0 on Fiverr and Upwork · 190+ projects delivered · Klaviyo Product certified
Brands I've worked with
- Afritude
- Pestle & Pods
- KUGELLAGER24
- MagneCHEF
- LipoTek
- MantaSocks
- Flushhh
- G_CERO
- Love Coco
- Always Friday
- + more under NDA
Is it right for you?
WhatsApp works where
your customers already chat.
A strong fit
- You sell to the UK, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, India, or other markets where WhatsApp is the main messaging app
- Your customers ask questions before they buy
- You want rich messages with images, buttons, and replies, not just text
- You already run email, and want a second channel for your best moments
Not the right channel
- Most of your customers are in the United States: Meta blocks WhatsApp marketing messages to US phone numbers
- You don't have a way to collect WhatsApp consent yet
- You want to text everyone who ever gave you a phone number
Selling mostly in the US? Since April 1, 2025, Meta hasn't delivered WhatsApp marketing messages to US numbers. For a US audience, I set up Klaviyo SMS instead, and use WhatsApp only for your international customers.
Three channels
WhatsApp, SMS, and email
each have a job.
All three live in the same Klaviyo profiles, so I can choose the right channel for each customer and each moment.
| SMS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Images, buttons, and two-way chat | Short text, MMS in some countries | Fully designed emails |
| Consent | Its own WhatsApp opt-in | Its own SMS opt-in | Email opt-in |
| Messages | Meta-approved templates to start a chat | Free text within the rules | Free design |
| Cost | Per delivered template, by country | Per message segment, by country | Included in your Klaviyo plan |
| US marketing | Not delivered by Meta | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Conversations and high-intent moments | Urgent, short nudges | Detail, stories, and newsletters |
The setup
What I set up
before the first message.
WhatsApp runs through Meta, so there are a few more pieces than with SMS. I handle them in the right order.
Your sending number
You can use an existing business number, as long as it isn't connected to a personal WhatsApp account. A number can only be active with one WhatsApp provider at a time, so if it's already in use elsewhere, I migrate it. Numbers from providers like Twilio or Infobip work too.
Display name
This is the name customers see instead of your phone number. Each number has its own display name, and Meta has to approve it, so I set it up early and follow Meta's naming rules.
Mobile Messaging plan
WhatsApp needs a Klaviyo Mobile Messaging plan. Your WhatsApp spend comes out of the same plan as SMS, so I plan the budget across both channels.
Keywords and opt-out
I set up subscribe and opt-out keywords, add opt-out instructions to your templates, and make sure opt-outs sync to the customer's profile straight away.
Quality monitoring
Meta rates the quality of your account and templates. I use Klaviyo's WhatsApp deliverability hub to watch account quality, message performance, and policy risks.
Consent
SMS consent isn't
WhatsApp consent.
Someone who signed up for SMS, or gave you their phone number at checkout, hasn't agreed to WhatsApp messages. WhatsApp needs its own explicit opt-in that names your business.
Signup forms
A WhatsApp step in your popup, including a form that only shows to existing email subscribers.
- Phone number with a WhatsApp opt-in
- Clear business name and message types
Tap-to-text
A button that opens WhatsApp with a pre-filled message. The customer sends it, and they're subscribed.
- Works well on mobile
- No phone number field to type
Keywords, links, and QR codes
Customers message a keyword like “JOIN” to subscribe, from a link, a QR code on packaging, or a store display.
- Great for packaging inserts
- Works offline too
Click-to-WhatsApp ads
Meta ads that open a WhatsApp chat with a “Subscribe” keyword ready to send.
- Templates in the first 72 hours after the chat starts are free
Double opt-in
After signup, the customer gets a confirmation message and replies with the exact keyword, like YES, to join.
- Cleaner, confirmed list
- Confirmation messages in the customer's language
Importing contacts
Existing WhatsApp subscribers can be uploaded to Klaviyo, but only with documented WhatsApp consent.
- I never import numbers without it
Templates
Every first message
is approved by Meta.
WhatsApp only lets a business start a conversation with a template Meta has approved in advance. Approval usually takes a few minutes and can take up to 24 hours, so I create and submit templates well before a launch.
| Part | Rules |
|---|---|
| Header | Optional. Text up to 60 characters, or a JPG or PNG image up to 5 MB |
| Body | Required. Up to 1,024 characters, with personalization like name or product |
| Footer | Optional. Up to 60 characters. I use it for opt-out instructions |
| Quick replies | Up to 10 buttons, like “Yes, hold it” or “Talk to us” |
| Website buttons | Up to 2, with trackable links |
| Other buttons | Call your phone number, or copy a discount code |
| Button labels | Up to 25 characters each |
Why templates get rejected
- Vague messages with no clear purpose
- Duplicates of existing templates
- Spelling and grammar mistakes
- Asking for sensitive information
- Breaking WhatsApp's Business Policy
Approved templates get a quality rating from Meta: high, medium, or low. Templates that people block or report drop in quality, so I write them to be useful first.
Flows and campaigns
Where I use WhatsApp
in your customer journey.
Welcome
TriggerWhatsApp opt-in
Deliver the signup offer straight away and invite the first question.
Abandoned cart
TriggerAdded to Cart
A friendly reminder with the product, and a button to ask a question before buying.
Browse abandonment
TriggerViewed Product
Only for repeat viewers, so it helps rather than feels like being watched.
Post-purchase
TriggerPlaced Order
Thank-you, how-to-use tips, and a review request later on.
Order and shipping updates
TemplateTransactional
Order confirmations and delivery updates, sent with transactional templates.
Campaigns
AudienceWhatsApp segments
Launches, restocks, VIP early access, and sales, including multilingual sends with Klaviyo's Smart Translations.
One channel per moment. I don't send the same message on email, SMS, and WhatsApp. For each flow, I pick the channel the customer is most likely to respond to, and I use Smart Sending so no one gets messaged too often.
Conversations
The biggest difference:
customers reply.
WhatsApp is a conversation, not a broadcast. That's what makes it powerful, and it's why the setup needs a plan for answering.
How the reply window works
- Customer writesA 24-hour service window opens
You can reply freely, without an approved template.
- Every replyThe window restarts
Each new message from the customer gives you another 24 hours.
- After 24 hours of silenceBack to templates
To continue, you send an approved follow-up template.
Who answers
- Keyword replies and quick-reply buttons for common questions
- Klaviyo's inbox, or your Gorgias helpdesk through the integration
- A follow-up template to extend conversations past 24 hours
- Klaviyo's AI Customer Agent, if you want replies around the clock
Service replies inside the window, keyword replies, and inbox messages don't cost extra.
Costs
What WhatsApp
actually costs.
Meta sets the prices, and Klaviyo passes them on through your Mobile Messaging plan.
ChargedEach delivered marketing or transactional template, at Meta's rate for the recipient's country. Rates differ a lot between countries, and you can see every rate in Klaviyo under Settings, Billing, Account Usage.
FreeReplies inside the 24-hour service window, keyword and inbox replies, templates in the first 72 hours after a Click-to-WhatsApp ad chat, and failed deliveries.
Shared budgetWhatsApp spend comes out of the same Mobile Messaging plan as your SMS, so I report both channels together.
Delivered, not just sentMeta limits how many marketing messages one person receives from all businesses, and may hold yours back if they've had too many. I measure delivered messages and revenue per recipient, not just sends.
How I set it up
Five steps,
from eligibility to optimization.
Step 1
Check the fit
Where your customers are, which markets WhatsApp suits, and what it will cost per message there.
Step 2
Meta and number
Business Portfolio, verification, phone number, display name, and the connection to Klaviyo.
Step 3
Consent
Forms, tap-to-text, keywords, QR codes, and double opt-in, plus opt-out handling.
Step 4
Templates and flows
Approved templates, then welcome, cart, browse, post-purchase, and order updates.
Step 5
Campaigns and review
Segmented campaigns, reply handling, and monthly reporting on cost, delivery, and revenue.
Rules differ by country. I follow Meta's WhatsApp Business Policy and Klaviyo's recommended practices, but I don't give legal advice. For privacy law questions in your markets, I recommend checking with qualified counsel.
Results
Mobile messaging
that earns its place.
LipoTek · ItalyFrom €161K to €600K in email + SMS revenue, including €90K in a single BFCM weekendRead the case study →
Kugellager24 · SwitzerlandSpam complaints from over 0.4% to 0.01%, and email revenue share from 6% to 34% in 11 weeksRead the case study →★★★★★
Fiverr
"
Our post-purchase flow was a single thank-you email. Obaid turned it into a 5-part sequence that now generates repeat orders on autopilot. Genuinely impressive work.
Emmanuel
CEO, Lipotek
★★★★★
Fiverr
Obaid U is a stellar freelancer in email marketing, showcasing STRATEGIC thinking and meticulous attention to detail. Working with him is a breeze thanks to his quick responses, politeness, and deep understanding of the project needs. Highly recommend! 👏
★★★★★
Fiverr
Working with Obaid U in the realm of Email Marketing was an EXCEPTIONAL experience. The professionalism and attention to detail in his work exceeded expectations, while his proactive communication and cooperation made the process smooth and efficient. Highly recommend for anyone looking to elevate their email marketing efforts! 🙌
FAQ
WhatsApp in Klaviyo,
straight answers.
Yes. Klaviyo connects to your WhatsApp Business account, so you can send WhatsApp campaigns, add WhatsApp to flows, and reply to customers, all from the same profiles as your email and SMS.
No. Since April 1, 2025, Meta has blocked WhatsApp marketing messages to US phone numbers. For US customers, I use Klaviyo SMS instead, and keep WhatsApp for your international audience.
No. SMS consent, or a phone number given at checkout, isn't WhatsApp consent. Customers need to opt in to WhatsApp specifically, for example through a signup form, tap-to-text button, keyword, or double opt-in.
Admin access to Klaviyo, access to your Meta Business Portfolio, a phone number that isn't connected to a personal WhatsApp account, an approved display name, and a Klaviyo Mobile Messaging plan. I set up and connect all of it.
You pay per delivered marketing or transactional template, at Meta's rate for each recipient's country, from your Klaviyo Mobile Messaging plan. Replies inside the 24-hour service window and keyword replies don't cost extra.
WhatsApp only lets businesses start a conversation with a template Meta has approved. Approval usually takes minutes and can take up to 24 hours. Once a customer replies, you can chat freely for 24 hours.
Yes, and that's the point. Replies can be handled with keywords and quick-reply buttons, in Klaviyo's inbox, through your Gorgias helpdesk, or by Klaviyo's AI Customer Agent.
It depends on where your customers are. WhatsApp suits markets where it's the main messaging app, like much of Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and India. SMS suits the US. Many brands use both, one per market.
Let's talk
Let's start the conversations
your customers want.
Tell me which countries you sell to and what you're sending today. The first conversation is free, and I'll tell you honestly whether WhatsApp is worth it for your store, or whether SMS or email will do more.