What is a WhatsApp chatbot?
A WhatsApp chatbot is an automated program that responds to customer messages on WhatsApp based on rules you set. When a customer sends a message, the chatbot can reply instantly, ask follow-up questions, show options with buttons, collect information, and even route complex cases to a human agent.
Chatbots handle repetitive tasks — answering FAQs, booking appointments, collecting order details — so your team focuses on conversations that actually need human judgment.
Step 1: Create your account
Go to watzlink.com and create a free account. The free plan includes 1,000 monthly conversations — enough to test and build your first chatbot without a credit card.
Step 2: Connect your WhatsApp number
In the "Connect" section of your dashboard, you will see a QR code. Open WhatsApp on your phone, go to Settings → Linked Devices, and scan the code. Your WhatsApp account is now connected to Watzlink.
This works with your regular WhatsApp number or a WhatsApp Business number. You do not need to apply for the WhatsApp Business API.
Step 3: Create a new flow
Go to "Flows" in the sidebar and click "New Flow". Give it a name (e.g., "Customer Welcome Flow"). You will see the visual canvas where you build your chatbot by adding and connecting nodes.
Step 4: Set a trigger
Every flow starts with a trigger — the condition that starts the conversation. You can choose:
- First message: fires when a customer messages you for the first time - Any message: fires for every incoming message (good for a fallback/default flow) - Keyword: fires when a customer sends a specific word (e.g., "Hello", "مرحبا", "Booking")
For a welcome chatbot, use "First message" or the keyword "Hello".
Step 5: Add conversation nodes
From the node panel on the left, drag nodes onto the canvas:
- Send Message: sends a text reply to the customer - Ask Question: sends a message and waits for the customer's reply, saving it as a variable - Send Buttons: shows 2-3 clickable button options (great for menus) - Condition: branches the flow based on a variable value - AI Reply: uses GPT/LLaMA to generate an intelligent response - Set Tag: adds a tag to the contact for future segmentation
Connect the nodes by dragging from one node's output to the next node's input.
Step 6: Use variables to personalize
When you use "Ask Question" nodes, the customer's answer is saved as a variable like {{name}} or {{city}}. You can then use these in later messages to personalize replies:
"Thank you, {{name}}! We will deliver your order to {{city}} within 2 days."
This makes the conversation feel personal even though it's fully automated.
Step 7: Activate your flow
Once your flow looks good, toggle the "Active" switch. Your chatbot is now live. Every time a customer sends a message matching your trigger, the flow will run automatically.
You can monitor conversations in the Inbox, see flow usage stats in Analytics, and update the flow anytime — changes apply immediately.
Tips for a great WhatsApp chatbot
Keep messages short — WhatsApp is a mobile chat app, not email. Use button nodes when you want the customer to choose from 2-3 options rather than type a free-text reply. Always add a fallback: if the customer says something unexpected, route them to a human or show a default message. Test your flow in the "Preview" tab before going live.