Want to send one message to hundreds of people? Don’t want a messy group chat? WhatsApp broadcast lists solve this problem perfectly for you. It’s how businesses and regular people share updates, deals, or news without bothering everyone with group notifications that never stop. WhatsApp messages have a 98% open rate compared to ~20% for email.
This blog covers WhatsApp broadcast lists from start to finish. You’ll learn what they are and how to create a broadcast list step by step. We’ll talk about why they’re useful and what problems they have.
If a contact has not saved your number in their address book, they will not receive your broadcast messages. Teachers, marketers, and anyone reaching several contacts find this incredibly useful.
What is a WhatsApp Broadcast List?
A broadcast list sends one message to multiple contacts simultaneously. Group chats aren’t needed here at all. Businesses love this because you can share updates or promotions fast. Everything stays private between you and each person.
Broadcast lists WhatsApp differ from groups because individual chats stay separate from each other. Each person receives your message in their own chat with you. Lists hold up to 256 contacts maximum. Only contacts who have your number saved will receive your broadcast message, though.
Difference Between a WhatsApp Broadcast List and a Group
WhatsApp broadcast lists send one message to multiple contacts at the same time. Each recipient gets it as a regular chat from you personally. Their replies come back only to you. Other people can’t see anything. Perfect for announcements where group clatter drives everyone crazy.
WhatsApp groups work completely differently from broadcasts. Everyone sees what everyone else writes. Group chats are designed for interactive conversation, allowing all members to participate and communicate with each other, unlike broadcast lists.
WhatsApp Broadcast Vs. Group: How to Choose Between Them?Why and When to Use WhatsApp Broadcast Lists?
Broadcast lists help businesses send messages to multiple contacts without hassle. Customer interactions improve. Business communication stays professional. Here’s when they work best for you.
1. Launching Products or Services
Got new products or services? Broadcast list WhatsApp tells everyone instantly about them. Share details, features, and special promotions directly to customers. People feel special because it seems like you’re talking just to them. Group conversations make things messy and confusing.
2. Sharing Reports, Offers, and Event Invites
Promotional offers need quick delivery, event invites, and monthly reports, too. Broadcast lists handle all this fast. Messages arrive right in people’s WhatsApp chats where they actually check. Open rates go higher, and response rates improve. Everything stays simple and focused.
3. Customer Segmentation and Targeted Messaging
Different customer groups like different things. Send special deals to regular buyers who know you. Send welcome messages to new users who have just joined. This personal approach helps convert leads into actual customers. Relationships get stronger when communication feels tailored.
4. Sending Announcements and Company Updates
Company news needs sharing sometimes. Policy changes happen. Holiday greetings matter to people. Broadcast lists reach everyone directly without problems. Your brand stays consistent. Important information gets delivered. Group notifications spam people and annoy them.
How to Create a Broadcast List on WhatsApp?
Making broadcast lists takes just minutes. Works on Android phones, iPhones, and WhatsApp web on computers. Let me walk you through each one.
1. On the WhatsApp Android App
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone first.
- Find the chats screen showing all your conversations.
- Tap those three dots sitting in the top right corner. Pick “New Broadcast” from what pops up.
- Select the contacts you want included. Create broadcast lists based on different purposes if organizing helps you.
- Tap that checkmark icon or hit Create, Done. Start sending messages to contacts now.
2. On the WhatsApp iPhone App
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone to begin.
- Go to the chats tab at the bottom.
- “Broadcast Lists” sits at the top left. Tap it & then tap “New List” to start fresh.
- Add whichever contacts should get your messages. Double-check you picked the right people.
- Tap Create & Your list exists now. Send messages right away to everyone.
3. On the WhatsApp Web
- Open WhatsApp web in whatever browser you use. Scan the QR code using your phone.
- Look in the sidebar on the main screen. “Broadcast Lists” live there.
- Click “New Broadcast” to make something new.
- Pick contacts who need your messages in their individual chats.
- Click Create after checking your contact list. Messages from your computer work now.
Take your WhatsApp communication to the next level!
Use ControlHippo to automate broadcasts, measure engagement, and stay compliant; all without hassle.
How to Send a Broadcast Message?
Sending broadcasts isn’t complicated. Here’s everything you need to do it correctly.
1. Selecting Your Broadcast List
Pick whichever broadcast list fits what you’re doing. Those contacts better have your number saved, or messages won’t reach them. Edit lists by tapping them. Group people by interests or locations. Messages become more relevant this way.
2. Composing a Message
Write clearly and make it engaging. Friendly but professional and never spamming anyone. Add something asking people to take action. Send during business hours when response times improve. People engage more during daytime hours.
3. Sending to All Contacts
Individual message ready? Tap that send button that goes to everyone on your list. Each person gets it privately in their WhatsApp chats, and nobody sees who else received it. Check the checkmark icon to see who received and read your message.
4. Best Practices for Personalization & Timing
Make messages feel personal by using actual names when possible. Send broadcasts when people are usually active; mornings and evenings during business hours work well. Good timing leads to better open rates. Be consistent without overdoing it.
WhatsApp Broadcast Message SamplesFeatures of WhatsApp Broadcast Lists for Businesses
Broadcast lists offer businesses several useful features. Everything is free, and tools are built right in.
1. Personalized Messaging at Scale
Send personalized messages to tons of people simultaneously, each customer receives it in their own chat, and it feels like you’re talking only to them. Marketing campaigns love this, and product updates work great this way. A recent Meta study found that marketers employing business messaging solutions reported a 58% increase in leads.
2. Message Statistics & Delivery Reports
See who got your message. See who read it. Platform tools show this information clearly. Understanding message performance becomes easier. Track how many contacts actually engaged with what you sent.
3. Contact Labeling & Segmentation
Organize your contact list by different things: interests, purchase history, and location. Send appropriate messages to specific groups. The organization has significantly improved communication with everyone.
4. Rich Media Support (images, videos, files)
Text alone doesn’t cut it sometimes; send images, videos, PDFs, whatever communicates best. Show products off, share tutorials, send entire catalogs. Pictures and videos grab attention fast, increasing customer interactions with visual content.
5. Privacy and Compliance Features
Nobody sees each other’s information in broadcasts. Replies stay private between you and recipients. WhatsApp encrypts everything, protecting business and customer data. Secure communication following privacy rules properly.
6. Integration with WhatsApp Web for Desktop Use
Manage broadcasts from computers using WhatsApp Web, as typing goes faster than on phones. File sharing becomes easier, and multitasking improves dramatically. It works on all supported devices, making running campaigns simpler for businesses.
Limitations of WhatsApp Broadcast Lists
Broadcast lists aren’t perfect solutions. Several limits exist that you should know about.
1. Contact Limit
Each list maxes out at 256 contacts only. If you have thousands of customers, you’ll need multiple separate lists. Managing takes more time, and keeping consistency across different lists gets tricky fast.
2. Recipients Must Have Your Number Saved
Big problem here is that broadcasts only reach people who have already saved your phone number; if they haven’t saved it, your message disappears into nothing. Get customers to save your contact details before broadcasting anything.
3. Lack of Two-Way Interaction
Broadcasts don’t let people talk together; they reply privately to you in individual chats only. Group discussions don’t happen. Need collaboration or feedback discussions? WhatsApp groups beat broadcast lists for those purposes.
4. Limited Personalization Options
Names don’t insert automatically, and content doesn’t change per person, so everyone receives identical messages. Personalization limits exist, and engagement sometimes suffers because messages feel generic.
5. No Scheduling or Automation
Can’t schedule future messages; everything sends manually, which makes time-sensitive promotions annoying. Want automation? Need external tools. WhatsApp Business service handles scheduling.
6. Limited Analytics and Tracking
Basic delivery information exists, and read receipts exist, but that’s everything. There is no click tracking, no conversion data, and no detailed analytics. If you want deeper insights, you need third-party platforms or the WhatsApp Business API.
7. Risk of Spam Labeling
Send too frequently or irrelevant content? People mark you as spam, so your reputation gets damaged. WhatsApp might restrict your account permanently. Keep messages valuable always by controlling sending frequency and ensuring content matters to your audience.
8. Regulatory & Policy Compliance Issues
WhatsApp has rules, and data protection laws exist regionally, so breaking them brings penalties, and you might lose your account completely. Always respect privacy, give people opt-out options, and follow guidelines to stay legally safe.
9 Simple Steps to Set Up a WhatsApp Broadcast List in ControlHippo
Creating a WhatsApp Broadcast Campaign in ControlHippo is a straightforward process that can help you reach your contacts effectively. To get started, log in to your ControlHippo account and follow these steps:
Step 1 – Click on the campaign option in the side menu to access the campaign dashboard.
Step 2 – On the campaign dashboard, click the “Create Campaign” button to begin setting up your campaign.
Step 3 – Give your campaign a name and select the WhatsApp Business API number you want to use for the campaign.
Step 4 – Choose the type of message you want to send (Template selected).
Step 5 – Select the template message you want to send from the drop-down menu.
Step 6 – Upload your contact spreadsheet, ensuring it follows the format of the sample file provided (2000 contacts limit per campaign).
Step 7 – Schedule your campaign by selecting a date, day, and time for sending messages.
- For immediate sending, select the “Send now” option.
- For scheduled sending, choose the “Send on intervals” or “Schedule for a specific time” option and set the date and time accordingly.
Step 8 – Click the submit button to finalize your campaign. You can track its progress from the campaign list page.
Step 9 – By following these steps, you can easily create and manage WhatsApp broadcast campaigns in ControlHippo to engage with your contacts effectively.
Conclusion
Broadcast list WhatsApp gives businesses simple ways to reach multiple customers with updates, promotions, and announcements easily, and professional communication continues. Time gets saved compared to texting everyone individually or managing crowded group conversations.
Remember limitations, though, as contact caps exist, and automation doesn’t exist, so privacy rules matter. Use broadcast lists smartly with clear, useful messages, and engagement improves. Combine them with tools like ControlHippo to handle customer service and communication even better.
Updated : October 17, 2025
Bharat Baghel is a Demand Generation Manager with 8+ years of professional experience. He specializes in brand awareness campaigns across WhatsApp, Telegram, and Email, developing engaging content that builds audience reach and enhances brand visibility through strategic conversational marketing. He has also contributed insights to industry publications, including Smaily, Linkody, and SoftwareSuggest.