How to Set Up WhatsApp Business Greeting & Welcome Messages

Greeting and welcome messages in WhatsApp Business are simple but powerful tools that can help you make a professional first impression, keep customers engaged, and set expectations about your services. Whether you are a small business owner or part of a larger team, knowing how to configure these features correctly on Android, iOS, and WhatsApp Web will ensure that customers always feel acknowledged, even when you cannot reply straight away.

In this guide, you will learn what greeting and welcome messages are, why they matter for your UK business, how to set them up across devices, and how a UK virtual mobile number from gosimless can make the whole process smoother.

What Are WhatsApp Business Greeting and Welcome Messages?

A greeting message is an automated message sent to a customer the first time they contact you or after 14 days of no interaction. It ensures no message goes unanswered, even outside your business hours.

A welcome message - often used interchangeably with greeting messages - serves the same purpose: it provides an immediate response that reassures customers they have reached the right business. Examples include:

"Hello and thank you for contacting us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible."
"Welcome to Your Business Name. Our team will be with you shortly."

For UK businesses, these automated replies set the tone for trust and professionalism, which is crucial in competitive markets.

Why Do UK Businesses Need Greeting Messages?

Customers today expect instant replies. Research consistently shows that delayed responses can lead to lost sales opportunities. A greeting or welcome message bridges that gap by letting customers know their enquiry is acknowledged.

For service providers, online retailers, and tradespeople, these messages:

Build immediate trust by confirming receipt of the enquiry.
Provide useful information, such as opening hours or links to FAQs.
Reduce the pressure to respond instantly, giving your team time to craft a proper reply.

If you are using a gosimless UK virtual mobile number, you can set up greeting messages with the reassurance that your business communication remains consistent, professional, and independent of any personal mobile numbers.

How to Set Up Greeting Messages on WhatsApp Business for Android

If you are an Android user, follow these steps to configure greeting messages:

Open the WhatsApp Business app on your Android device.
Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
Go to Business Tools.
Select Greeting Message.
Toggle the setting to On.
Tap Edit Message to customise your text. Keep it polite, concise, and professional.
Under Recipients, choose who should receive the message. You can apply it to everyone, everyone not in your contacts, or specific contacts.
Save your settings, and the greeting message will be active immediately.

Your message will now be automatically sent whenever a new or inactive customer contacts you. Android users can also add emojis, links, or directions, making the experience even friendlier.

How to Set Up Greeting Messages on WhatsApp Business for iOS

The process on iPhone is very similar, with slight differences in navigation:

Launch the WhatsApp Business app on your iPhone.
Tap Settings in the bottom-right corner.
Select Business Tools.
Tap Greeting Message.
Turn the toggle On.
Edit the default text to include your chosen greeting or welcome message.
Adjust the Recipients setting to determine who receives it.
Tap Save.

On iOS, formatting is clean and simple. You might also want to include a link to your website or booking system, which customers can click directly from the message.

Can You Set Up Greeting Messages on WhatsApp Web?

Currently, WhatsApp Web and the desktop app do not allow you to configure or edit greeting messages directly. These settings must be set up from your Android or iOS device.

However, once configured on your phone, greeting messages will continue to send automatically regardless of whether you are responding via mobile, WhatsApp Web, or the desktop application. This makes it easy for teams to work from their laptops while still benefiting from automation.

For businesses using gosimless numbers, this means that once your virtual number is verified on WhatsApp Business, you can confidently use WhatsApp Web in the office while automated greetings handle first contacts in the background.

Best Practices for Crafting Effective Greeting Messages

A poorly written greeting message can feel cold or robotic. To avoid this, keep these best practices in mind:

Keep it human: Use natural, friendly language rather than stiff corporate jargon.
State your business name: Always remind customers they've reached the right place.
Set expectations: Tell them when you'll reply or where they can find help in the meantime.
Include a call to action: Direct them to book a service, visit your website, or check your FAQ page.
Keep it short: Customers don't want to read a long essay when they first get in touch.

Example for a UK cleaning business: "Hello, you've reached BaseLink Cleaning via WhatsApp. Thanks for your message. Our team will reply during business hours (9am–6pm, Mon–Sat). In the meantime, you can get an instant quote on our website here: link."

Troubleshooting Common Issues With Greeting Messages

While greeting messages are straightforward to set up, businesses sometimes encounter issues. Here's how to resolve the most common ones:

Message not sending: Check that greeting messages are toggled on under Business Tools. Ensure the recipient falls within your selected audience group.
Duplicate messages: This can happen if the customer deletes and reopens a chat. Keep greetings simple so duplicates don't feel awkward.
Message not updated: If you edit your message but customers still see the old one, log out and back into WhatsApp Business to refresh.
Number problems: If your greeting message isn't sending at all, confirm your gosimless number is verified and active.

How Greeting Messages Differ From Away Messages

Many UK businesses confuse greeting messages with away messages. While both are automated, their purpose differs:

Greeting messages: Trigger when a customer first contacts you or after 14 days of inactivity.
Away messages: Trigger outside business hours or when you manually set your status to "Away".

Using both ensures customers always feel acknowledged, no matter when they message you. For instance, a greeting message can say hello, while an away message can explain your hours.

Why a gosimless UK Virtual Number Helps With WhatsApp Business

Setting up WhatsApp Business greeting messages requires a verified number. Using your personal mobile number can cause confusion and mix personal with business communication.

A gosimless UK virtual mobile number solves this by:

Providing a dedicated, professional number for business use.
Keeping your personal number private.
Allowing you to separate work and personal messages.
Giving you the flexibility to manage WhatsApp Business on any device, without needing a second SIM.

This approach is particularly helpful for freelancers, small businesses, and growing companies that want a polished presence without extra phone contracts.

FAQs About WhatsApp Business Greeting Messages

Do greeting messages work on both Android and iOS?

Yes, both platforms support greeting messages, though the steps to set them up differ slightly.

Can I schedule different greeting messages for different times of day?

No, greeting messages cannot be scheduled by time. However, you can pair them with away messages for more flexibility.

Will greeting messages send if I reply instantly?

Yes, they will still trigger automatically, even if you type back quickly.

Can multiple team members manage WhatsApp Business greeting messages?

Yes, as long as they are logged into the same WhatsApp Business account (using Linked Devices), the greeting message will still send.

Do I need a SIM card for a gosimless number to use greeting messages?

No. gosimless provides UK virtual mobile numbers that work without a SIM card, perfect for WhatsApp Business verification and automation.

Taking Your Customer Communication to the Next Level

Greeting and welcome messages are not just polite extras; they are a vital part of building professional, reliable customer communication in WhatsApp Business. By setting them up correctly on Android or iOS, your customers will always feel acknowledged from the first interaction.

For businesses in the UK, pairing these features with a gosimless UK virtual number is the smart choice. You keep your personal number private, maintain professionalism, and ensure your WhatsApp Business account is always backed by a reliable and dedicated line.

If you're ready to set up greeting messages and take control of your customer conversations, start today with a gosimless number.