How do I connect WhatsApp Business to ButterGrow for a drip campaign?

Create a WhatsApp Business Platform app in Meta, add a phone number, and generate a permanent token. In ButterGrow, open the getting started section and add the token as a secret for the OpenClaw WhatsApp connector. Then select the number in your channel settings before creating your first flow.

What triggers can start a WhatsApp drip sequence in OpenClaw?

Common triggers include new lead form submissions, a Shopify checkout event, or a manual CSV upload. In OpenClaw you attach the trigger to a playbook that enqueues the first WhatsApp template message and schedules follow-ups with delays and conditional branches.

How do message templates work for WhatsApp drip campaigns?

WhatsApp requires approved templates for business-initiated messages. Draft your text with variables (for example, {{first_name}}), submit it for approval in Meta, and reference the template name in your OpenClaw action. Use variables mapped from the trigger payload so each step personalizes correctly.

How can I stay compliant with opt-in and opt-out rules?

Collect explicit opt-in on the lead form and store a consent flag on the contact record. Include an opt-out instruction such as 'Reply STOP to opt out' in your first message. In your OpenClaw workflow, branch on the consent flag and stop the sequence if the contact sends STOP or if the 24-hour customer-service window has elapsed.

What metrics should I track to evaluate a WhatsApp drip?

Track delivery rate, read rate, reply rate, and conversions tied to a campaign ID. Use ButterGrow's analytics to compare cohorts and tune delays and copy. Bandit tests or A/B splits on timing and templates help you converge on higher reply and purchase rates.

Build WhatsApp drip campaigns in ButterGrow with OpenClaw for lead generation

TL;DR

This tutorial shows how to build a WhatsApp drip campaign using OpenClaw inside ButterGrow for lead generation. You will connect the WhatsApp Business Platform, prepare approved templates, and wire triggers that start a multi step sequence with delays and conditional branches. We cover consent handling, opt out logic, and testing the flow in a sandbox number before going live. By the end, you will have a repeatable workflow that moves leads from first contact to conversion with clear metrics. A short pre launch checklist helps you confirm consent storage, template approval, and tracking.

Prerequisites and setup

Before you design the flow, connect your WhatsApp Business Platform account and add a sending number. In ButterGrow, you can review what the product offers on the AI marketing automation features page. For background on building flows, the companion post on idempotency and retries for OpenClaw workflows explains how to make message sends reliable.

Choose the trigger

Start with an event that represents intent, such as a lead form submit or paid signup. In OpenClaw, define a playbook that listens for the trigger and enqueues the first template message. Add a short delay, then branch on attributes like country or product interest to personalize the second step.

Template messages and variables

WhatsApp requires approved templates for business initiated messages. Draft templates with variables like {{first_name}} and {{product}}, submit for approval in Meta, and reference the template name in your action. Include a clear value proposition and a reply friendly call to action, for example asking the user to choose a number.

Compliance and conversation windows

Respect explicit opt in, and offer opt out instructions in the first message. Keep follow ups within the 24 hour customer service window for user initiated chats, and use approved templates for business initiated sequences. Store a consent flag and branch to stop the sequence if consent is missing or revoked.

Testing and analytics

Send test messages to a sandbox number and validate variables render correctly. Track delivery, read, and reply rates with campaign IDs. Use small cohort tests on timing and copy to improve response rate. When you need a quick comparison across channels, see our ButterGrow vs alternatives comparison to decide where WhatsApp fits in the mix.

If you have policy questions during rollout, review answers to common questions.

Set aside 30 minutes, and build a small two message sequence first. Add branches and additional steps only after you confirm baseline engagement.

To close the loop on attribution, attach a campaign parameter to any links you include in messages so downstream conversions roll up to the drip sequence report.

To ensure you meet platform requirements, read the official WhatsApp Business Platform documentation, and confirm your message quality rating periodically in Meta.

When comparing legal boundaries and consent standards across regions, consult the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy and your counsel.

Build carefully, and favor clarity over frequency.

We built this tutorial because teams often ask for a reliable way to combine product events with human friendly messages without writing glue code. OpenClaw gives you the primitives to do this with versioned playbooks and safe retries.

ButterGrow is the hosted surface for OpenClaw teams. It gives you guardrails, observability, and a faster path to production.

Create your first WhatsApp drip in ButterGrow today. The onboarding guide walks through connector secrets, triggers, and tests.

References

WhatsApp Business Platform documentation - official overview and requirements for templates, messaging, and access tokens.
WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy - policy baseline for consent, templates, and acceptable use.