5 WhatsApp chat flows that qualify leads while your team sleeps

Short answer: build short chat flows that greet the lead, ask two or three questions with buttons, tag the answers and hand over to the right person. A good flow takes under a minute for the customer and saves your team the first five messages of every chat.

A flow is a WhatsApp chatbot drawn as steps: a message, a question with buttons, a condition, a tag, a hand-over. In Upgrow Connect you build them by dragging steps, and choose which flow starts for new chats, keywords or ad clicks.

1. The course or service enquiry flow

For institutes, agencies and service businesses. Ask what they are interested in with buttons, then send the right brochure and tag the lead with the course or service. Your counsellor opens the inbox in the morning and already knows what each person wants.

2. The budget and location check

For real estate, travel and high-value services. Ask budget range and preferred location with buttons. Leads outside your range get a polite reply and stay in your contacts for later offers; leads inside it are tagged "Hot lead" and assigned to sales.

3. The appointment booking flow

For clinics, salons and consultants. Ask which service and which day suits them, confirm, and tag "Booked". Send a reminder the day before using an approved utility template.

4. The brochure and price request

The most common question is "price?". Instead of typing it again and again, reply to the keyword with the price list or brochure, then ask one question that moves the lead forward, such as "Would you like a call today?".

5. The after-hours capture

Outside business hours, say honestly when your team will reply, then collect the essentials: name, what they need and a good time to call. The lead feels answered, and your team calls back prepared.

Rules that keep flows working

• Use buttons, not open questions, wherever you can. People tap faster than they type.
• Keep it to three questions. Every extra step loses people.
• Hand over early. When someone types a real question, pass the chat to a person.
• Let the bot step back. In Upgrow Connect, when your team replies, auto-replies go quiet in that chat for 24 hours.
• Respect STOP. People who opt out must not get marketing messages.

Do automatic replies cost money?

Replies sent within 24 hours of a customer’s message are free-form messages, which Meta does not charge for. Templates you send to start a conversation or after 24 hours are charged per message by Meta.