How-to
How to Personalise Bulk WhatsApp Messages
Use variables and spintax to personalise bulk WhatsApp messages so each one feels written for the person. Examples and mistakes to avoid.
By the Beta Sender team · · 2 min read
A bulk message does not have to feel like a bulk message. Personalising each one makes people more likely to read it, and a message that differs from the next one is also less likely to look like spam to WhatsApp.
Why personalise?
- People respond to messages that talk about them.
- Identical messages sent to hundreds of people look automated. Variation looks human.
- Details such as a name, a date or a product make your message useful instead of generic.
Variables: fill in details for each contact
A variable is a placeholder in your message that is replaced with data from each contact. Say your contact list has these columns:
| Name | Number | Var1 |
|---|---|---|
| Rahul | 98765 43210 | Boring Road |
| Priya | 91234 56789 | Kankarbagh |
You write one message, using placeholders for the name and the area:
Hi [Name], a new flat in [Var1] matches your search. Want the details?
and each person receives their own version, with their name and area filled in. (The exact placeholder style depends on your software.)
In Beta Sender Desktop, the contact list has Name, Number and Var1 columns, and the message editor has an Insert Variables button. Beta Sender Cloud supports variables as well. See the help guide on personalising messages with variables.
Spintax: vary the wording
Spintax lets you write several alternatives for part of a message, and the software picks one for each recipient. The greeting could be one of “Hello”, “Hi” or “Hey there”, and the closing one of “Thanks” or “Regards”. Mixed together, the same offer arrives in many slightly different forms.
Beta Sender Cloud supports spintax. Check the software’s help for the exact syntax it expects.
Example
Before: Hello, we have a sale. Visit our store.
After: Hi Priya, thanks for shopping with us at Sharma Textiles. Our festive sale starts tomorrow, and as a regular customer you get first look from 10 am.
Mistakes to avoid
- Empty variables. If a contact has no name, the message says “Hi ,” which looks broken. Fill the gaps or use a fallback such as “Hi there”.
- Wrong data. A mix-up in columns can send the wrong name or amount, so check your list.
- Too personal. Use details the customer gave you, not details that feel like tracking.
- Skipping the test. Send a few test messages to yourself before the real campaign.
Personalisation is not permission
Variables and spintax make messages feel personal, but they do not replace consent. Message people who agreed to hear from you, and read our guide on sending bulk messages safely.