Summary
Wati makes it easy to automate Welcome Messages and Out-of-Office (OOO) Messages for Messenger Direct Messages (DMs) through the Rules Builder under Automations. When you connect your Facebook account to Wati for the first time, two default rules are automatically created. You should see the new rules under the Rules Overview page.
MSG Out-of-Office Message
MSG Welcome Message
Let’s explore these rules and how you can customize them to suit your needs.
Instructions
OOO and Welcome Message Guidelines
Default OOO Message Rule
By default, the Out-of-Office (OOO) Message Rule includes the following two filter conditions:
The incoming message timestamp is outside your working hours.
The contact initiates a new chat.
How It Works
This rule is triggered when a contact starts a new chat with your Facebook account outside your working hours. You can adjust your working hours in the settings, and these changes will also apply to both WhatsApp and Instagram integrations.
Important: If the same contact continues messaging you after the initial message, the OOO Rule will not trigger again. Only the first message that starts a new chat is considered.
Customizing the Rule
Yes, you can customize this rule! For instance, if you want the rule to apply only to brand-new contacts (and not existing ones), you can add a filter condition. For example:
Filter: The contact does not exist in your Wati Contact list. This ensures the OOO message is sent only to contacts that are not present in your contact list.
Here’s a quick video walkthrough for you:
Default Welcome Message Rule
The Welcome Message Rule has slightly different filter conditions. Here’s how it works:
Whenever a contact initiates a new chat, the rule checks if the message is received during your working hours.
Customizing the Welcome Message
You can personalize your Welcome Message Rule further using keyword filtering. For example:
If a new contact’s message contains specific keywords (e.g., products), you can set an automated response tailored to their inquiry instead of sending a generic welcome message.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Questions
What are the default automation rules in Wati? → Wati provides two default automation rules:
MSG Out-of-Office Message
MSG Welcome Message
These rules are designed to automate responses to Messenger DMs based on specific conditions, such as working hours or new chat initiations.
Can I customize the default rules? → Yes, you can fully customize the filters and actions of both rules to suit your specific needs. For example, you can add conditions to target only brand-new contacts or tailor responses using keywords.
OOO Messages Questions
When does the Out-of-Office (OOO) rule trigger? → The OOO rule triggers when a contact initiates a new chat with your Facebook account outside your set working hours.
Will the OOO message trigger for every message? → No, the OOO message only triggers for the first message that starts a new chat. Subsequent messages from the same contact will not trigger the rule.
Can I set the OOO rule to trigger only for new contacts? → Yes, you can add a filter condition to ensure the rule only applies to contacts who are not already in your Wati Contact list.
Welcome Messages Questions
When does the Welcome Message rule trigger? → The Welcome Message rule triggers whenever a contact initiates a new chat during your working hours.
Can I use keywords to customize Welcome Messages? → Yes, you can use keyword filtering to create tailored automated responses. For instance, if a contact’s message mentions a product, you can set the rule to respond with product-specific information instead of a generic message.
Can I have different Welcome Messages for different types of queries? → Yes, by using keyword filters, you can set up multiple automated responses tailored to different queries.
Working Hours and Settings Questions
How do I set my working hours in Wati? → You can set your working hours in the settings section of Wati. These hours will apply to both WhatsApp and Instagram integrations.
Will changing working hours affect both default rules? → Yes, updating your working hours will affect how both the OOO and Welcome Message rules are triggered.