Blog / Automation & AI

Automatic WhatsApp welcome messages: ready-to-use examples

The first message a customer receives when they write to you on WhatsApp is worth more than you think. A well-written automatic WhatsApp welcome message greets the contact, makes them feel heard and immediately sets expectations about response times and methods. Together with the away message for closing hours, it's the easiest way to never leave anyone waiting in the void. In this guide you'll find ready-to-use examples to copy and adapt to your industry, plus the rules for writing them so they actually work.

Why you need a welcome message

On WhatsApp people expect quick replies, much more than via email. But you can't be online 24 hours a day. The welcome message bridges this gap: it confirms the message arrived, gives the conversation a human tone and, if well structured, guides the customer toward the information they're looking for even before an operator replies. The result is less frustration, fewer drop-offs and more conversations that turn into sales.

The rules of a good welcome message

• Keep it short: two or three lines are enough, no one reads long paragraphs
• Use a tone consistent with your brand, not robotic
• Set expectations: say when they'll get a reply
• Personalize with the name when possible, using the {name} variable
• Offer an immediate action: a menu, a link, a guiding question
• Avoid promises you can't keep about response times

Welcome message examples by industry

E-commerce

Hi {name}, welcome! I'm here to help you with orders, shipping and returns. Just tell me what you need and I'll reply as soon as possible. If you like, you can also send me your order number so I can check right away.

Restaurant or bar

Hi {name}! Thanks for writing to us. Would you like to book a table, see the menu or order takeaway? Tell me what you need and I'll take care of you.

Professional practice or clinic

Good morning {name}, thank you for your message. We'll reply within a few hours during opening hours. If you'd like to book an appointment, please let me know the service you're interested in and your availability.

Services and consulting

Hi {name}, welcome! Briefly tell me what you need and I'll direct you to the right person. We usually reply within an hour during office hours.

The away message: what to write outside business hours

The away message comes into play when no one can reply: in the evening, on weekends, during holidays. The key is to be honest about timing and still provide value. Here's a versatile example.

Thanks for writing to us, {name}! We're currently closed. We'll get back to you as soon as we reopen, tomorrow from 9:00. In the meantime, if you have a frequently asked question you can check our website. See you soon!

Always add the exact reopening time in the away message. Saying generically we'll reply as soon as possible leaves the customer in uncertainty. Saying we'll reply tomorrow from 9 reassures them and reduces follow-up reminders.

Automatic welcome vs AI reply

A fixed welcome message is useful, but it's static: it always says the same thing. The next step is an AI agent trained on your content, which doesn't just greet but actually answers questions, 24 hours a day, and hands the conversation to an operator when a human intervention is needed. This way the welcome isn't just a courtesy formula, but the beginning of a conversation that solves problems.

How to do it with SendApp

With SendApp you set up welcome and away messages in just a few minutes and personalize them with variables like {name}. You can connect WhatsApp through the official Meta API, with templates and the green checkmark, or via WhatsApp Web with QR at no per-message cost. The real leap in quality is the SendApp Agent AI agent, trainable on your content and active 24 hours a day, with automatic handover to the operator when the conversation requires it. Everything arrives in a single multichannel inbox that gathers WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Messenger, Email, SMS, widget and Voice AI. SendApp starts at 19 euros a month and is available in 6 languages.