How to Avoid a WhatsApp Number Ban: Consent, Frequency and Reporting

Why numbers get restricted

WhatsApp restricts business accounts that generate complaints. A customer can block or report a business, and a pattern of blocks and reports lowers your number's standing. The causes are almost always messaging people who did not expect it, or messaging too often.

Get opt-in right

• Ask clearly and say what you will send.
• Record the source and time of each consent.
• Never use purchased or scraped lists.
• A customer who messages you first has opened a conversation, but that is not blanket permission for marketing.

Control frequency

• Set a ceiling on marketing messages per contact per month.
• Spread sends rather than hitting everyone together.
• Pause sending to contacts who never respond.
• Watch for rising block rates and slow down when you see them.

Use templates honestly

Submit templates in the category that matches their purpose and keep wording truthful. Disguising promotions as utility messages can lead to rejected templates and flagged accounts.

Make leaving easy

Offer a visible opt-out in marketing messages and process it immediately. A customer who can unsubscribe politely is less likely to report you.

A pre-send checklist

• Is every recipient opted in?
• Is the template approved and in the right category?
• Is this message relevant to this segment?
• Have we sent them something recently?
• Is there an opt-out?