WhatsApp is overtaking Messenger for younger Filipino buyers. Setting up WhatsApp Business takes 10 minutes (free tier) to 1 week (verified tier). Itong guide na ito ay covers all 4 tiers + how to embed it on your website.
WhatsApp Business has 4 different setups. Pick based on your needs:
The free WhatsApp Business app — separate from regular WhatsApp. 10-minute setup. Best for: solo operators, micro-biz, no chatbot needed.
A simple wa.me link customers tap on your site. Works whether you've installed WhatsApp Business or not (uses your regular WhatsApp). Best for: get started today.
Apply via Meta Business Manager. Get the green-check verified badge. Customers see "verified biz" badge in WhatsApp. Takes ~5 business days for Meta review.
Full Meta Cloud API access for chatbot integration. We auto-handle inquiries 24/7 with your trained Taglish chatbot. Best for: clinics with high inquiry volume, restaurants doing pre-orders, salons taking bookings via WA.
lods.ai/your-biz/ URL)Hi! Thanks for reaching out po sa {biz_name}. Magtetext o tatawag na kami within X hours.
Pwede po niyo i-share:
- Yung kailangan po niyo
- Preferred date/time (if booking)
- Locality kayo?
Salamat!This is the link customers tap on your website to start a WhatsApp conversation with you. Works on any phone.
The format: https://wa.me/63XXXXXXXXXX — replace the X's with your phone number, no leading 0, no spaces, no dashes.
Example: If your phone is 0917 123 4567, your link is https://wa.me/639171234567.
With a prefilled message (helps customers start the convo): https://wa.me/639171234567?text=Hi%20po,%20interesado%20ako%20sa%20cleaning%20appointment. URL-encode spaces as %20 and special chars normally.
Test it: Open the link on your phone. Should launch WhatsApp with the prefilled message ready to send.
The green-check verified badge increases trust by 20-40% for first-time customers. Free but requires biz documentation.
Heads up: Meta will reject if the biz documents don't match the WhatsApp Business name exactly. Make sure your DTI/SEC name = your WhatsApp Business name = your Google Business name. Mismatches = automatic rejection + 30-day cooling-off before you can resubmit.
Tiers 1-3 are manual — you reply to each WA message yourself. Tier 4 is automated — your Taglish chatbot handles 70%+ of inquiries 24/7 via WhatsApp, just like it does on your website.
What it involves:
DIY cost: Free in WhatsApp Cloud API for <1,000 conversations/month. ~$0.005 per conversation after.
We set it up for you: ₱2,500/year add-on. We handle Meta API approval, webhook setup, chatbot training, monitoring. Most clients prefer this — Meta API approval is fiddly + needs JSON config you probably don't want to touch.
No — same phone number can only have ONE app at a time (either personal WA or WhatsApp Business). Use different SIMs if you want both.
The app is for humans replying manually (Tier 1). Cloud API is for chatbots / automated systems (Tier 4). They use different setups but both work on the same WhatsApp ecosystem — customers don't see a difference on their end.
Free for legitimate businesses with proper documentation. Anyone charging you for "verification" is a scam.
Technically yes — but customers will look for a website to verify you're real before clicking your WA link. Most owners we work with see a 40-60% lift in WhatsApp inquiries within 30 days of launching a proper website that links to WA.
WhatsApp Business app has a built-in "Catalog" feature where you can list products with prices and photos. Set this up if you sell physical products (salon products, food, retail). Skip for service biz (clinics, salons doing appointments).