Summary
Drip campaigns in Wati help you send a series of WhatsApp messages automatically over time. Instead of manually sending follow-ups, you can schedule multiple message steps with delays between them, track performance in one place, and manage the entire campaign from a single view.
Note: Drip campaigns are available on all Wati plans.
Instructions
What problem does drip campaigns feature solve?
Drip campaigns solve the challenge of managing multi-step customer communication manually. Instead of sending follow-up messages one by one, businesses can automate the entire sequence with predefined timing. This reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, ensures consistent messaging, and makes it easier to track performance across every step of the campaign.
Drip Campaigns vs. Sequences
Both Drip Campaigns and Sequences let you send multiple messages automatically over time, but they are designed for different use cases.
Use a Drip Campaign when you want to:
Send a multi-step WhatsApp campaign to a specific audience.
Choose recipients using filters, segments, or a CSV file.
Schedule the campaign to start immediately or at a specific date and time.
Track campaign performance and step-level metrics such as Read, Ignored, Replied, Failed, and Clicked.
Manage the entire campaign from the Campaigns page.
Drip Campaigns are available on all Wati plans.
Use a Sequence when you want to:
Send a predefined series of messages as part of an automation workflow.
Start the message series automatically when an automation rule is triggered.
Configure delays and sending schedules for individual messages.
Use the sequence as an action within an automation rule.
Stop the sequence when a customer replies.
Sequences are available only on Pro and Business plans.
Key differences between Drip Campaigns and Sequence feature
A Drip Campaign is designed for audience-based campaigns where you select recipients, schedule the campaign, and track campaign performance.
A Sequence is designed for automation-based messaging where an automation rule triggers the message series for a customer.
Feature | Drip Campaign | Sequence |
Primary use | Audience-based campaigns | Automation-based messaging |
How it starts | Published/scheduled as a campaign | Triggered by an automation rule |
Audience selection | Filters, segments, or CSV | Contacts that meet the automation rule conditions |
Scheduling | Campaign start date/time | Delay and sending schedule for each message |
Performance tracking | Campaign and step-level metrics | Not specified in the Sequence article |
Stop on customer reply | Yes | Yes |
Availability | All Wati plans | Pro and Business plans |
In short: Use Drip Campaigns when you want to run and measure a structured campaign for an audience. Use Sequences when you want to trigger a series of messages as part of an automation workflow.
How to create a drip campaign
Prefer a visual walkthrough? Watch our video on how to send a drip campaign in Wati:
Follow these steps to set up and launch a drip campaign:
Go to the Campaigns page.
Click Create Campaign.
Enter a campaign name.
Choose Drip Campaign (instead of a single message).
Add message steps
Create a new drip.
Note: You can also create drips from Automations page in Wati by selecting Drip Campaign under the Actions Library.
Add multiple message steps.
Define the delay between each step (for example, 1 day after the previous message).
Optional settings
Enable Stop campaign on customer reply to automatically stop sending further messages if a customer responds.
You can preview your selected messages or templates, along with their schedule, in the preview panel on the right.
Define your audience
You can choose who receives the campaign by:
Applying filters to select contacts
Using an existing segment (e.g. All valid, Highly engaged etc)
Creating a custom segment
Importing contacts via a CSV file
Note: Custom segments and pre-defined segments are available only for Business and Pro Wati plans.
Schedule the campaign
Send immediately, or
Schedule for a specific date and time
Enable auto retry (optional)
Auto retry helps resend failed messages.
Important
Credits are deducted only after a message is successfully sent
For drip campaigns, each step is retried for up to 7 days
Delays between steps are preserved, even during retries
Tip: Avoid enabling auto retry for time-sensitive campaigns.
Launch the campaign
Click Publish to start the drip campaign. Messages will be sent automatically based on your defined schedule.
Track and manage drip campaigns
View campaign performance
You can monitor your campaign from the Campaigns Overview page.
View all drip campaigns in one list
Check campaign status, progress, and next send date
Open any drip campaign to track step-level performance:
Read
Ignored
Replied
Failed
Clicked (if you included CTAs in your campaign)
Tip: Click Delivery stats to view detailed delivery logs, including failure reasons for any messages that were not successfully sent.
Important notes
Contacts added to a static segment after the campaign has already started will not be enrolled in the drip.
Contacts who leave a segment or opt out will not receive future messages
For dynamic segments, you don’t need to manually add new contacts to a campaign - any matching contact is included automatically.
When a contact’s attributes are updated and they meet the segment criteria, they’ll start receiving drip messages from that point onward. However, if the drip campaign has already completed all its steps by then, they won’t receive any messages.
Drip campaigns make it easier to run structured, multi-step communication without manual effort, while giving you full visibility and control over performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Drip Campaign Basics
1. What are drip campaigns in Wati?
Drip campaigns in Wati let you send a series of WhatsApp messages automatically over time. You can define multiple message steps, set delays between messages, schedule the campaign, and track its performance from one place.
2. What problem do drip campaigns solve?
Drip campaigns automate multi-step customer communication that would otherwise require manual follow-ups. They reduce manual effort and errors, provide consistent messaging, and make it easier to track campaign performance.
3. Which Wati plans support drip campaigns?
Drip campaigns are available on all Wati plans.
Drip Campaigns vs. Sequences
4. What is the difference between a drip campaign and a Sequence in Wati?
A drip campaign is designed for audience-based campaigns where you select recipients, schedule the campaign, and track campaign performance. A Sequence is designed for automation-based messaging where an automation rule triggers a predefined series of messages for a customer.
5. When should I use a drip campaign instead of a Sequence?
Use a drip campaign when you want to run and measure a structured campaign for a specific audience using filters, segments, or a CSV file. Use a Sequence when you want an automation rule to trigger a series of messages for a customer.
6. How are drip campaigns and Sequences triggered?
A drip campaign starts when you publish it and can be sent immediately or scheduled for a specific date and time. A Sequence starts when an automation rule meets its configured conditions and triggers the Sequence.
Creating and Configuring Drip Campaigns
7. How can I choose recipients for a drip campaign?
You can choose recipients for a drip campaign by applying filters, using an existing segment, creating a custom segment, or importing contacts through a CSV file. Custom segments and predefined segments are available only on Business and Pro Wati plans.
8. Can I stop a drip campaign when a customer replies?
Yes. You can enable Stop campaign on customer reply to automatically stop sending further messages to a customer after they respond.
9. What does auto retry do in a drip campaign?
Auto retry resends failed messages in a drip campaign. Each drip campaign step can be retried for up to 7 days. Delays between message steps are preserved during retries, and credits are deducted only after a message is successfully sent.