Too Long? Didn’t Read ● A WhatsApp Business greeting message is an automated welcome message sent when a customer messages your business for the first time. ● A good greeting message makes your business look responsive, reduces customer wait-time frustration, and sets the tone for the full conversation. ● Greeting messages and away messages are different. Greeting messages welcome new or returning customers, while away messages reply when your team is unavailable. ● The blog gives 20 ready-to-use WhatsApp greeting message examples across ecommerce, restaurants, healthcare, education, real estate, travel, finance, after-hours replies, returning customers, and lead capture. ● The WhatsApp Business App works for basic greetings, but AiSensy helps businesses create personalized, automated greeting flows at scale using WhatsApp Business API, templates, chatbot automation, and live chat. |
When someone messages your business on WhatsApp for the first time, you get one chance to make a strong first impression.
Customers expect a quick response. A clear, helpful greeting makes your business look active, professional, and ready to help. No response - or a poorly written one - can make it appear unavailable or unreliable.
But how do brands respond the moment a customer messages them, even outside business hours?
They use an automated WhatsApp Business greeting message, or automate it with the WhatsApp Business API.
Through a platform like AiSensy, the WhatsApp Business API sends a pre-written welcome the instant someone messages you -no manual reply needed.
With WhatsApp messages seeing an open rate of 98%, that first automated greeting reaches customers while their attention is highest.
Below, you'll find 20 ready-to-use WhatsApp Business greeting message examples you can copy-paste. They're grouped by industry and scenario - pick the one closest to your use case.
What are WhatsApp Business Greeting Message Templates?
WhatsApp Business greeting message templates are automated WhatsApp template messages sent the moment a customer starts a conversation with your business - either for the first time, or after a gap of two weeks or more.
It typically opens with a friendly hello, gives a quick sense of what your business does, and points the customer toward their next step.
You can think of it as your digital receptionist: always on, always polite, and always consistent - no matter what time zone your customer is messaging from.
Read more: Types of WhatsApp Template Messages
Difference between ‘Greeting Messages’ and ‘Away Message’
These two are often confused, but they serve different jobs.
| Feature | Greeting Message | Away Message |
|---|---|---|
| When it sends | When a new user texts you, or an old one returns after 14 days. | Anytime someone texts you outside your business hours. |
| Who gets it | Only new or long-dormant contacts. | Everyone who messages you while you are closed. |
| Its main job | To welcome the customer and start a conversation. | To say you are closed and tell them when you will return. |
| The tone | Friendly, open, and ready to help right now. | Informational — “We are away, but we will reply tomorrow.” |
Know more: WhatsApp Automation: What is It, Benefits, Uses & Examples
Benefits of WhatsApp Business Greeting Message
Here's what a good WhatsApp Business greeting message actually does for your business:
They make your business feel instantly responsive.
Customers don't need to wonder if their message landed - they get confirmation in seconds.
They reduce perceived wait time.
Even if a live agent is busy, an automated greeting signals that help is on the way, which meaningfully lowers customer frustration.
They free up your support team.
Routine intros, FAQs, and "how can we help" moments get handled automatically, so your agents can focus on complex queries.
They open the door to lead capture and first impressions.
A well-designed greeting can nudge a new contact to share their name, interest, or email - turning a casual "hi" into a qualified lead.
Know more: WhatsApp Lead Generation Guide
Top 20 WhatsApp Business Greeting Message Examples
Here's each WhatsApp Business Greeting Message template examples with a lead-in sentence that sets up the scenario and gives the reader context for when to use it:
General / All-purpose
These work for almost any business - safe, warm, and flexible enough to fit any industry when you're just getting started.
1. A simple acknowledgement that reassures the customer their message landed and help is coming.
Hi {{1}}! 👋 Thanks for reaching out to [Business]. We've received your message and someone from our team will be right with you. In the meantime, how can we help?
2. Best when you want to sound welcoming and immediately invite the customer to open up about their need.
Hello and welcome to [Business]! 🎉 You're in the right place. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll take it from there.
3. Sets a clear expectation on response time, which lowers frustration when your team can't reply instantly.
Hey {{1}}! Great to hear from you. We usually reply within a few minutes during business hours. What can we do for you today?
Check: Essential WhatsApp Template Message
E-commerce / Retail
For online stores, the first message is a chance to guide shoppers toward browsing or buying - not just to say hello.
4. Nudges undecided shoppers by offering a quick path to either a specific product or new arrivals.
Hi {{1}}! 🛍️ Welcome to [Store]. Looking for something specific, or want to see what's new this week? Just reply and we'll point you in the right direction.
5. Ideal for stores that get a lot of order-related queries - it routes the customer to a solution immediately.
Hey there! Thanks for messaging [Store]. Need help with an order, a size, or a return? Reply with your order ID and we'll sort it out fast.
6. Turns a first "hi" into a sale by rewarding new contacts with an instant incentive.
Welcome to [Store]! 🎁 First time here? Reply "NEW" to get your welcome offer and start shopping.
Check: WhatsApp Template for E-Commerce
Restaurant / Food
Diners usually message with one of three intents - booking, menu, or ordering - so give them all three upfront.
7. Covers every common request in one message so the customer can pick their path instantly.
Hi {{1}}! 🍽️ Welcome to [Restaurant]. Want to book a table, see today's menu, or place an order? Just let us know.
8. Great during service hours when you want to drive orders fast with a single keyword reply.
Hello! Thanks for messaging [Restaurant]. We're taking orders now - reply "MENU" to see what's cooking today. 🔥
Check: WhatsApp Templates for Restaurants
Healthcare / Clinic
Here the tone matters most - patients want to feel cared for, not sold to, so keep it calm and reassuring.
9. Offers clear options while keeping a warm, professional tone suited to a medical setting.
Hi {{1}}, thank you for contacting [Clinic]. 🩺 Would you like to book an appointment, ask about a service, or speak to our team? We're here to help.
10. Leads with empathy, which builds trust before you ask the patient for any details.
Hello and welcome to [Clinic]. Your health matters to us. Reply with what you need and our care team will get back to you shortly.
Read Also: WhatsApp Templates for Healthcare
Education / EdTech
Prospective students and parents usually message with questions about programs, fees, or admissions - so surface those instantly.
11. Prompts the three most common queries, helping you qualify the lead from the first reply.
Hi {{1}}! 🎓 Welcome to [Institute]. Curious about courses, fees, or admissions? Tell us what you'd like to know and we'll guide you.
12. Uses a keyword shortcut to move interested prospects straight into your course catalogue.
Hello! Thanks for reaching out to [Institute]. Reply "COURSES" to explore our programs, or ask us anything - we're happy to help.
Check: WhatsApp Templates for Education
Real estate
Buyers, renters, and sellers all need different handling - so segment them from the very first message.
13. Instantly qualifies the lead by intent, so your team knows how to respond before replying.
Hi {{1}}! 🏠 Thanks for contacting [Agency]. Are you looking to buy, rent, or sell? Share a few details and we'll find the right match for you.
Read now: WhatsApp Template for Real-Estate
Travel / Hospitality
Travellers respond well to warmth and a sense of possibility - open with excitement, then gather the essentials.
14. Collects the two details you need to start planning while keeping the tone inviting.
Hi {{1}}! ✈️ Welcome to [Travel Co]. Planning a trip? Tell us your destination and dates, and we'll put together the perfect plan.
15. Presents the guest's main options clearly, which works well for hotels and stays.
Hello and welcome to [Hotel]! 🏨 Want to check availability, book a room, or ask about our amenities? We're at your service.
Check : WhatsApp Templates for Travel Agencies
Finance / Services
Trust and professionalism are everything here - keep it composed and make it clear a real team is ready to help.
16. Reassures the customer that both routine and new requests are handled by a capable team.
Hi {{1}}, thanks for reaching out to [Company]. 💼 Whether it's a query about your account or a new service, our team is ready to assist. How can we help?
Read: WhatsApp Templates for BFSI
After-hours / Outside business hours
When your team is offline, a good greeting manages expectations so the customer doesn't feel ignored.
17. Sets a specific return time, which turns a silent wait into a clear, reassuring promise.
Hi {{1}}! 🌙 Thanks for your message. Our team is offline right now, but we've noted your query and will reply first thing at [time]. Talk soon!
18. Invites the customer to leave their query so no lead is lost overnight.
Hello! You've reached [Business] after hours. Leave your question here and we'll get back to you the moment we're back - usually by [time] tomorrow.
Read: WhatsApp Template Messages for Offline and Retail Businesses
Returning customer (after 14+ days)
When a past contact returns, acknowledging that history makes the conversation feel personal from the start.
19. Recognises the returning customer and smoothly reopens the conversation.
Welcome back, {{1}}! 👋 Good to see you again at [Business]. Picking up where you left off, or something new today? We're ready either way.
Lead capture-focused
When your main goal is qualifying leads, use the greeting to gather the details your sales team needs.
20. Politely captures the customer's name and intent, turning a casual message into a usable lead.
Hi {{1}}! 👋 Thanks for messaging [Business]. To help us serve you better, could you share your name and what you're looking for? We'll take it from there.
WhatsApp Business Greeting Message Best Practices
The templates above are a great starting point, but following a few best practices can help you create greeting messages that feel more personal and encourage customers to reply. Whether you use the WhatsApp Business App or the WhatsApp Business API, these tips will help you make a great first impression.
Keep It Short and Clear
WhatsApp is designed for quick conversations. Keep your greeting message brief, introduce your business, and get straight to the point. Most customers scan messages, so shorter greetings are more likely to be read and answered.
Personalize Every Greeting
A personalized greeting feels more genuine than a generic one. If you're using the WhatsApp Business API, you can use variables like {{1}} to automatically include the customer's name. Even a small personal touch can improve engagement and response rates.
Set Clear Response Expectations
Let customers know when they can expect a reply. If your team usually responds within a few minutes, mention it. If responses take longer, be transparent. Setting realistic expectations helps build trust and reduces customer frustration.
Always Include a Next Step
Every greeting should encourage customers to take action. Ask them to share their order ID, choose a service, browse your products, or simply tell you how you can help. A clear call to action keeps the conversation moving.
Match Your Brand's Tone
Your greeting should reflect your business. A fashion brand can use a friendly, casual tone, while a healthcare provider or financial service should sound professional and reassuring. Make sure your greeting feels consistent with your brand voice.
Avoid Sounding Robotic
Automated messages do not have to sound automated. Use simple, natural language that feels like a real conversation. A warm and friendly greeting makes customers feel more comfortable reaching out.
Keep Your Greeting Up to Date
Review your greeting message regularly to ensure it reflects your latest business hours, promotions, support options, or contact details. An updated greeting provides customers with accurate information from the moment they start a conversation.
By following these best practices, you can create a WhatsApp Business greeting message that welcomes customers, sets the right expectations, and encourages meaningful conversations from the very first interaction.
You can also use AI WhatsApp Message Template Generator.
Common WhatsApp Business Greeting Message Mistakes to Avoid
A well-written greeting message creates a great first impression, but a few common mistakes can reduce its impact. Here are the ones to avoid.
Writing Long Messages
Your greeting message should be short and easy to read. Avoid including your company story, product catalog, business policies, and every service you offer in one message. A greeting is meant to start a conversation, not provide every detail upfront.
Sounding Too Robotic
Customers prefer messages that feel natural and conversational. Instead of using overly formal or generic language, write your greeting the way a real support agent would speak. A friendly tone helps customers feel more comfortable reaching out.
Forgetting a Call to Action
Every greeting should guide customers on what to do next. Ask them to place an order, share their query, browse your products, or simply tell you how you can help. A clear call to action encourages customers to reply.
Using the Same Greeting for Every Customer
Not every customer is the same. A first-time visitor and a returning customer should receive different greetings whenever possible. With the WhatsApp Business API, you can personalize greetings based on customer data to create a more relevant experience.
Setting Unrealistic Response Expectations
Only promise response times your team can consistently deliver. If you say you'll reply within five minutes but take several hours, customers may lose trust. Setting realistic expectations leads to a better customer experience.
Forgetting to Update Your Greeting Message
Your greeting message should reflect your current business information. Update it regularly to match your business hours, seasonal campaigns, promotions, or support details. An outdated greeting can confuse customers and make your business appear inactive.
Avoiding these common mistakes will help you create a WhatsApp Business greeting message that feels professional, encourages replies, and leaves customers with a positive first impression.
💡 Pro Tip: Use AiSensy's pre-approved Template Library, which contains 100+ templates already approved for multiple industries. Simply customize them for your needs.
How to create WhatsApp greeting messages
Using the WhatsApp Business App
Setting up a greeting message in the free WhatsApp Business App takes under two minutes:
- Open the WhatsApp Business App and go to the Tools tab
- Tap Greeting message
- Turn on Send greeting message
- Tap Greeting message to write or edit your text, then tap OK
- Tap Recipients and choose who should receive it: Everyone, Everyone not in address book, Everyone except selected contacts, or Only send to selected contacts
- Tap Save
Your phone needs an active internet connection for greeting messages to send. The app fires the greeting when a customer messages you for the first time, or when they return after 14 days of inactivity in that chat.
This works fine for very small businesses, but it caps out fast: no name personalization, one static message for every contact, and no automation logic beyond on and off. Here's a detailed breakdown of the WhatsApp Business App vs API if you're deciding between the two.
Why your greeting message might not be sending
If you've enabled the feature but customers aren't receiving your greeting, run through these checks:
Meta Business Agent is connected.
WhatsApp automatically disables greeting messages when Meta Business Agent is active. To use greeting messages, you'll need to remove the agent first.
Your recipient settings exclude them.
If you've chosen "Only send to" or "Everyone except," some contacts may be filtered out without you realizing it. Review the list.
The 14-day rule.
Greetings only go to first-time contacts or customers returning after 14 or more days of chat inactivity. Someone who messaged you last week won't trigger one, and that's by design, not a bug.
A simple refresh fixes it.
Toggle the feature off and on under Tools, update to the latest version of WhatsApp Business, or restart your device. Temporary delivery glitches usually clear with one of these.
Using the WhatsApp Business API with AiSensy
Here's how to create a WhatsApp Business greeting message template with AiSensy.
For personalized, automated greetings at scale, the WhatsApp Business API through a platform like AiSensy is the next step. Trusted by 210,000+ businesses across 68+ countries, here's how to set it up:
Step 1: Open Template Messages
Log in to your AiSensy dashboard , go to Manage, then Template Messages, and click + New.
Step 2: Select the right category
Greeting templates can be Utility or Marketing depending on content. If your greeting confirms a specific customer action, like an account signup or subscription, choose Utility. If it's a general welcome or includes an offer, choose Marketing. Pick honestly, because Meta reclassifies miscategorized templates as Marketing anyway.
Step 3: Configure type, language, and name
Choose Text, Image, Video, or File (text is mandatory). Select one language and stick to it, since mixed languages like Hinglish get rejected. Name the template in lowercase with underscores, like welcome_new_customer.
Step 4: Write your greeting
Draft the message with variables for personalization: "Hi {{1}}! Welcome to {{2}}. Tell us what you're looking for." Any of the 20 examples above can be adapted here.
Step 5: Add sample values
Give realistic samples for each variable, like "Priya" for the name. This helps Meta review the template in context.
Step 6: Submit for approval
AiSensy forwards the template to Meta and most approvals come through within a few minutes to 24 hours. Here's how the WhatsApp template approval process works if you want the full picture.
Step 7: Automate the trigger
Use AiSensy's no-code chatbot builder to fire the greeting on first contact, after a Click-to-WhatsApp ad, or when a customer returns after 14+ days. When a customer messages you first, the chatbot replies free within the 24-hour service window, no template needed. The approved template covers business-initiated greetings outside that window.
Step 8: Hand over to your team
Connect AiSensy's Live Chat inbox so an agent can take over whenever a conversation needs a human. Here's a full guide on using WhatsApp for customer support.
Because AiSensy is an official Meta Business Partner, template approvals and account setup tend to move faster, and you get access to a green-tick verification pathway alongside your greeting automation - useful if brand trust matters for your customer base.
Read this complete guide: How to create WhatsApp Template messages in AiSensy?
Conclusion
A great WhatsApp business greeting message is a small piece of copy that does a lot of work - it reassures, it informs, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Use the 20 templates above as a starting point, adapt the tone to match your brand, and keep testing what resonates with your audience.
If you're ready to move beyond the basic WhatsApp Business App and start sending personalized, automated greetings at scale, AiSensy makes it straightforward - from template creation to chatbot automation to a shared team inbox, all in one place.
Get started with AiSensy and turn your very first WhatsApp message into a great one, every time.
FAQs
A WhatsApp Business greeting message is an automated welcome message sent when a customer messages your business for the first time, or after 14 days of no activity. It helps you acknowledge the customer instantly, make a good first impression, and guide them toward the next step.
A greeting message is usually sent when a new customer starts a conversation with your business on WhatsApp. It can also be sent when an existing customer messages you again after 14 days of inactivity.
WhatsApp greeting messages make your business look active, responsive, and professional. They confirm that the customer’s message has been received, reduce waiting frustration, and help your team start conversations faster.
A greeting message welcomes new or returning customers when they start a conversation. An away message is sent when someone messages your business outside working hours. Greeting messages start conversations, while away messages manage expectations when your team is unavailable.
Open the WhatsApp Business App, go to Business Tools, select Greeting Message, turn it on, write your message, choose the recipients, and tap Save. This works well for small businesses, but it has limited personalization and automation options.
In the WhatsApp Business App, greeting messages have a 140-character limit. This means your message needs to be short, clear, and useful. For longer or more personalized greeting flows, businesses usually use the WhatsApp Business API through a platform like AiSensy.
Yes, but not properly inside the basic WhatsApp Business App. To personalize greeting messages with customer names, order details, lead source, or custom fields, you need the WhatsApp Business API and a platform like AiSensy that supports dynamic variables.
Yes. With AiSensy, you can automate WhatsApp greeting messages using the official WhatsApp Business API. You can create approved templates, add variables, trigger messages based on customer actions, connect chatbot flows, and let your team take over through live chat when needed.
Yes. A good greeting message can ask customers to share their name, requirement, email, location, budget, course interest, order ID, or any other useful detail. This helps turn a simple “Hi” into a qualified lead for your sales or support team.
A good WhatsApp greeting message should include a warm hello, your business name, a quick acknowledgement, and a clear next step. For example, you can ask the customer whether they need help with pricing, orders, appointments, support, or product recommendations.
You can find WhatsApp greeting message examples in this blog across different use cases like ecommerce, restaurants, healthcare, education, real estate, travel, finance, after-hours replies, returning customers, and lead capture. Pick the example closest to your business, replace the placeholders with your brand details, and adjust the tone to match how your team speaks.