Leadstr + WhatsApp Business
WhatsApp Business is the highest-engagement channel in most international markets and the channel many residential and consumer-facing leads already prefer. Leadstr's WhatsApp integration runs qualification conversations, sends contextual nurture messages, and handles handoff to human reps — all while respecting WhatsApp's 24-hour customer-service window and template rules.
What syncs
How to connect WhatsApp Business
- 1
Set up WhatsApp Business API access
Through Meta Business Manager, connect a WhatsApp Business Account and verify your phone number. Use a dedicated business number — personal numbers can't run WhatsApp Business API.
- 2
Connect Leadstr to your WhatsApp Business Account
From Leadstr settings, authenticate with Meta Business Manager. Leadstr requests permissions to send and receive messages on your business number.
- 3
Submit message templates for approval
WhatsApp requires pre-approved templates for outbound messages outside the 24-hour customer-service window. Leadstr provides a starter library of qualification and nurture templates; submit them through Meta's review process (typically 24-48 hours).
- 4
Configure channel routing
Set rules for when WhatsApp is used vs. email vs. chat. Most teams set WhatsApp as the default for leads who originally engaged on WhatsApp and as a fallback after 2 unanswered email touches.
- 5
Test with a sample conversation
Send a test qualification message to your own WhatsApp number. Verify inbound replies route correctly into Leadstr and update the lead record.
What you can build
- Qualify inbound WhatsApp inquiries automatically in 60 seconds
- Run multi-touch nurture sequences via WhatsApp templates
- Handle 24-hour customer-service window with native template fallback
- Hand off live conversations to human reps with full context
- Multi-language support — Leadstr matches the lead's language
- Group / list messaging support for high-volume residential trades
WhatsApp Business integration FAQ
Do I need WhatsApp Business API access?
Yes. The free WhatsApp Business app doesn't expose API access for third-party integrations. You'll need to set up WhatsApp Business API via Meta Business Manager. We walk you through this during onboarding — typically a 1-2 day approval process.
How does the 24-hour customer-service window work?
WhatsApp allows free-form messages within 24 hours of the customer's last message. Outside that window, you must use a pre-approved template. Leadstr handles this distinction automatically — free-form replies while the window is open, template messages otherwise.
What does it cost?
Meta charges per WhatsApp conversation (varies by country, typically $0.005-$0.08 per conversation initiated). Leadstr itself doesn't add per-message fees — your Leadstr plan covers the qualification logic and routing.
Which industries benefit most from WhatsApp qualification?
Real estate (especially international), home services, residential trades, hospitality, and any B2C or international B2B motion where leads expect to communicate on messaging rather than email. Most US B2B SaaS still defaults to email; international SaaS often skews WhatsApp.
Can WhatsApp do voice or video?
Leadstr handles text qualification on WhatsApp. Voice and video calls aren't part of the Business API integration. For voice/video, hand off to a human rep via Calendly or your scheduling tool.