Connect WhatsApp to Mailchimp

Introduction

In this article, you'll learn how to connect a WhatsApp Business Account to Mailchimp.

Mailchimp uses Meta's guided signup to connect your account. You'll sign in to Meta, choose or create the business assets you want to use, add a phone number, and grant Mailchimp access. After Meta finishes processing, you'll be ready to create your first WhatsApp template.

Before you start

Here are some things to know before you begin this process.

• This feature is included with the Essentials plan or higher.
• You'll connect through Meta, so you'll need a Meta account and the permission to manage your business's assets.
• You can send from a phone number you own, a number provided by Meta, or a display name only. To use your own number, it must be able to receive a text message or phone call for verification, and it can't already be in use on a personal WhatsApp account.
• Each WhatsApp Business Account connects to one Mailchimp audience, and each audience can have one WhatsApp Business Account connected.
• WhatsApp messages use credits, which are shared across your messaging channels.
• You're responsible for making sure every contact you message on WhatsApp has given appropriate consent. To learn more, review our Terms of Use.

How connecting works

When you connect WhatsApp, Mailchimp opens Meta's guided signup in a secure window. There, you'll do the following.

• Sign in to your Meta account.
• Choose an existing Meta business portfolio and WhatsApp Business Account, or create new ones.
• Add and verify the phone number you want to send from.
• Review and confirm the access you're granting to Mailchimp.

Meta creates your WhatsApp Business Account and shares it with Mailchimp. After signup, Meta reviews your account, which can take up to 24 hours.

Connect your WhatsApp Business Account

To connect WhatsApp, follow these steps.

1. In the left navigation menu, click WhatsApp.
2. On the WhatsApp page, click Connect WhatsApp.
3. Review the connection steps, then click Continue to open Meta's guided signup.
4. In the Meta window, sign in to your Meta account.

5. Choose the business assets to share with Mailchimp.

   • Select an existing Business portfolio, or create a new one.
   • Select an existing WhatsApp Business Account, or create a new one.

6. If you're creating a new account, enter your business information, including name, category, country, website, and time zone.

7. Add and verify your phone number. For details, see the next section.

8. Review the access Mailchimp is requesting, then click Confirm. Meta will connect your account and return you to Mailchimp.

9. Back in Mailchimp, confirm which audience you're connecting this WhatsApp account to, if prompted.

Add and verify your phone number

During signup, you'll choose how to send WhatsApp messages. Depending on your region, you may have these options:

• Use a display name only, so recipients see a display name instead of a number.
• Add a new number that you own and verify it.
• Use a number provided by Meta.

To verify a number you own, choose to receive a verification code by text message or phone call, enter the code, and set your display name. Meta reviews display names to make sure they follow WhatsApp's guidelines.

Add messaging credits

WhatsApp messages use credits that are shared across your messaging channels. As part of setup, you can add credits to cover your sending. The exact steps depend on whether you already have a messaging account set up. If you don’t already have an active credits plan, then you’ll need to add one before WhatsApp setup is complete.

To learn more about how credits work, check out our credits article.

What happens after you connect

After you finish signup, you'll return to the WhatsApp page, where you'll see that your account is being connected. Meta's review can take up to 24 hours. We'll email you when your account is ready, or if there's an issue.

Next steps

When your account is connected, you're ready to build your first message. To learn how, check out our credits article.

Related links

Create a WhatsApp Message Template About Integrations Mailchimp Terms of Use