Sending campaigns and automations to contacts without a phone number
Contacts who haven’t shared a phone number are still reachable on WhatsApp, so they’re included in your campaigns and automations. There are two exceptions: authentication templates and SMS fallback.
3 min read·Updated
What reaches them
Contacts without a phone number are included in marketing and utility campaigns, in both Campaigns (Bulk sender) and Automations. They receive these messages through WhatsApp, like everyone else.
What the campaign wizard shows
Before you send, the wizard shows how many of your recipients have no phone number:
A count labelled “WhatsApp, no phone number”A line that reads “Reachable on WhatsApp without a phone number: N”A separate row in the cost estimate: “No phone number (WhatsApp ID)”
The wizard explains: “These contacts are reachable on WhatsApp but have not shared a phone number. Marketing and utility messages reach them; authentication messages cannot.”
Authentication templates (one-time codes)
Authentication templates can’t be sent to contacts without a phone number. That’s WhatsApp’s rule, not a Mersal setting. Mersal checks for this and stops the message before it’s sent, so it never fails in front of you.
Authentication templates also can’t be used in campaigns at all, whoever the recipients are. To send one-time codes, use the Inbox or a chatbot flow, or send them from your own system connected to Mersal.
No SMS fallback for these contacts
Contacts without a phone number can’t receive the SMS fallback, because there’s no number to text.
Before you send
1
Check the countLook at “WhatsApp, no phone number” to see how many recipients have no number.
2
Pick a marketing or utility templateBoth reach contacts without a phone number. Authentication templates can’t be used in campaigns.
3
Don’t count on SMS for themIf your plan relies on SMS fallback, remember these contacts can’t receive it.
Key takeaways
Marketing and utility messages reach contacts without a phone number on WhatsApp.Authentication templates need a phone number, and Mersal stops them before sending.There’s no SMS fallback for contacts without a phone number.
Frequently asked questions
No. They’re included, and marketing and utility messages reach them on WhatsApp.
The conversation doesn’t have a phone number, and WhatsApp only allows authentication templates to be sent to a phone number.
Automations that send marketing and utility messages include them, with the same limits as campaigns. Chatbots and automatic replies don’t respond to these customers for now, so your team replies to them from the Inbox.
Was this helpful?
Still need help?The Mersal team can review your setup and guide you through the next step.
Sending campaigns and automations to contacts without a phone number
Contacts who haven’t shared a phone number are still reachable on WhatsApp, so they’re included in your campaigns and automations. There are two exceptions: authentication templates and SMS fallback.
3 min read·Updated
What reaches them
Contacts without a phone number are included in marketing and utility campaigns, in both Campaigns (Bulk sender) and Automations. They receive these messages through WhatsApp, like everyone else.
What the campaign wizard shows
Before you send, the wizard shows how many of your recipients have no phone number:
A count labelled “WhatsApp, no phone number”A line that reads “Reachable on WhatsApp without a phone number: N”A separate row in the cost estimate: “No phone number (WhatsApp ID)”
The wizard explains: “These contacts are reachable on WhatsApp but have not shared a phone number. Marketing and utility messages reach them; authentication messages cannot.”
Authentication templates (one-time codes)
Authentication templates can’t be sent to contacts without a phone number. That’s WhatsApp’s rule, not a Mersal setting. Mersal checks for this and stops the message before it’s sent, so it never fails in front of you.
Authentication templates also can’t be used in campaigns at all, whoever the recipients are. To send one-time codes, use the Inbox or a chatbot flow, or send them from your own system connected to Mersal.
No SMS fallback for these contacts
Contacts without a phone number can’t receive the SMS fallback, because there’s no number to text.
Before you send
1
Check the countLook at “WhatsApp, no phone number” to see how many recipients have no number.
2
Pick a marketing or utility templateBoth reach contacts without a phone number. Authentication templates can’t be used in campaigns.
3
Don’t count on SMS for themIf your plan relies on SMS fallback, remember these contacts can’t receive it.
Key takeaways
Marketing and utility messages reach contacts without a phone number on WhatsApp.Authentication templates need a phone number, and Mersal stops them before sending.There’s no SMS fallback for contacts without a phone number.
Frequently asked questions
No. They’re included, and marketing and utility messages reach them on WhatsApp.
The conversation doesn’t have a phone number, and WhatsApp only allows authentication templates to be sent to a phone number.
Automations that send marketing and utility messages include them, with the same limits as campaigns. Chatbots and automatic replies don’t respond to these customers for now, so your team replies to them from the Inbox.
Was this helpful?
Still need help?The Mersal team can review your setup and guide you through the next step.