WhatsApp broadcast list: what it is, how to create it and how to use it to sell

A WhatsApp broadcast list lets you send the same message to several contacts at once, without creating a group: each person receives the message as if it were a one-on-one conversation with you. It works on WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, but it has a rule many people don’t know about: only people who saved your number in their contacts receive the message.

It’s a channel with a guaranteed audience. WhatsApp has passed 3 billion monthly users, according to Meta, in data published by Social Media Today, and it is part of the routine of 7 in 10 marketing teams in Brazil, according to the RD Station Panoramas 2026.

Below, we explain how the list works, its rules and limits, how it differs from groups, communities and channels, the step-by-step to create yours, and how to use the feature to sell digital products and launch an online course.

What is a WhatsApp broadcast list?

In practice, a broadcast list is a shortcut to send the same message to several individual chats at once. The message appears to each recipient in the chat with you, as if it had been sent only to them, and recipients don’t see the other contacts on the list.

Replies are private too: if someone responds, the message shows up only in the one-on-one chat between the two of you. That’s why, unlike a group, there is no side conversation among participants.

A digital entrepreneur can use the list to tell customers about a promotion without forwarding the message one by one. The feature also works for personal situations, such as passing along an event invitation or updates about a group trip.

How a broadcast list works: rules and limits

A broadcast list follows four main rules, set by the WhatsApp Help Center and by how the app works:

• only people who saved your number in their contacts receive the message;
• each list can have up to 256 contacts;
• you can create as many lists as you want, which lets you split a base of more than 256 contacts into several lists;
• replies appear only in your one-on-one chat with each person.

The saved-number rule explains the most common question: “why is my broadcast list not delivered?”. If a contact doesn’t have your number saved, the message isn’t delivered to them, and the app doesn’t warn you. It’s a WhatsApp measure against spam.

So that more people receive your messages, ask them to save your number from the first contact. Sending your contact card in the chat, putting your number in your bio and on capture pages, and explaining what the person will receive all help with this step.

Broadcast list, group, community or channel: which one to use?

A broadcast list is the best option for one-on-one messages to up to 256 contacts; a group is for conversation among participants; a community is for organizing several groups; and a channel is for announcements to a large audience that doesn’t need to be in your contacts. The choice depends on how much interaction you want and how many people you want to reach.

VIDEO: How to sell on WhatsApp #1: List or group? | Hotmart (in Portuguese)

How to create a WhatsApp broadcast list: step by step

To create a broadcast list, follow five steps:

1. Open WhatsApp on your phone and go to the Chats tab.
2. Go to the “Broadcast lists” or “New broadcast” option.
3. Select, from your contacts, who will receive the messages, up to 256.
4. Confirm the creation of the list.
5. Write the message and send it.

The option names vary slightly between devices and app versions. Below, we show the particulars of each one.

How to create a broadcast list on Android

On Android, the list is in the more options menu of the Chats tab, under “Broadcast lists” or “New broadcast”. After choosing the contacts, confirm to create the list. It will appear among your chats, ready to receive messages.

How to create a broadcast list on iPhone

On iPhone, the “Broadcast Lists” option is in the Chats tab; there, tap “New List” and select the contacts. Once created, you can reach the list through the same path to send new messages or edit participants.

How to create a broadcast list on WhatsApp Business

On WhatsApp Business, the path to create the list is the same as on personal WhatsApp, and the 256-contact limit applies too. The advantage is that you can use the app’s labels to organize customers before building each list, for example, separating leads, students and affiliates.

Broadcast list on WhatsApp Web and on a computer

Broadcast lists are created in the phone app. Set up the lists on your device and use the computer to follow the conversations and reply to those who engage with your messages.

How to edit or delete a broadcast list?

To edit or delete a list, open the list on your phone and go to its info. On that screen, you can:

• change the list name, to identify the audience of each one;
• add or remove contacts;
• delete the whole list when it’s no longer used.

What are the advantages of a broadcast list?

A broadcast list is widely used by companies and professionals who need to talk to several people at the same time, such as personal trainers, nutritionists and other professionals who send guidance and tips to their clients. Here are the main benefits.

Segmented messages

You choose who goes on each list and, this way, send each message only to the people it interests. This is useful in digital marketing campaigns, for example, with separate lists for leads, customers and students.

Saving time and effort

Instead of sending the same message to each contact, you just send it to the list and it’s delivered to everyone at once. This helps especially people who work in sales and need to talk to many customers regularly.

Message straight in the individual chat

The message appears in each contact’s individual chat, in the same place where they talk to friends and family. This makes communication closer than an impersonal blast. According to CX Trends 2026, WhatsApp is the post-purchase contact channel for 59% of Brazilian consumers.

Closer and more effective communication

Because replies appear in individual chats, you can ask for feedback and get answers quickly. The list also works for quick satisfaction surveys, with one question per message. That lets you adjust products, offers and support based on what customers say.

VIDEO: How to SELL ON WHATSAPP, the most used messaging platform in Brazil (in Portuguese)

Limitations and when to use the WhatsApp Business Platform

The main limitations of a broadcast list are the 256-contact limit per list, the saved-number requirement, the lack of performance reports, the absence of automation and the inability to personalize each message with the contact’s name. For small bases, this isn’t a problem. For hundreds or thousands of contacts, it’s worth considering other options.

The first is the WhatsApp Business Platform, Meta’s official API. It lets you send messages to people who opted in, even without your number saved, with approved message templates, integration with other systems and per-message pricing. Access is usually through Meta partner companies.

The second is business broadcasts, a paid feature Meta began offering in the WhatsApp Business app in some countries, according to the company’s official announcement. In the same announcement, Meta said it started limiting the number of marketing messages each person can receive, to avoid message overload in chats.

Best practices so your broadcast list doesn’t become spam

To keep your broadcast list from becoming spam, send messages only to people who asked for them, at a moderate frequency and with useful content. Misuse can get your number blocked. For more on this, see what spam is and how to avoid it. In practice:

• send marketing messages only to people who agreed to receive them, as the WhatsApp Help Center advises;
• separate lists by interest and stage, instead of sending everything to everyone;
• keep a frequency your audience accepts, without messages every day;
• prefer short messages, with a clear goal and a single link;
• introduce yourself at the start, especially in the first messages;
• offer a simple way to leave the list and respect the request;
• avoid rest hours, such as late at night and early morning.

Phone numbers are also personal data. In Brazil, the General Data Protection Law (Law 13,709/2018) requires a legal basis to use them, and the consent of people who join the list is the simplest way to ensure it. Also check the data protection rules in your own country. For more strategies, see how to sell on social media.

40 message templates for a broadcast list

A good broadcast message starts with a greeting and your identification, delivers something useful in a few lines and ends with a single call to action, such as replying, clicking a link or saving the contact. Besides the best practices above, it’s worth following these writing guidelines:

• write to one person only, because each contact receives the message in an individual chat;
• use at most one link per message;
• avoid writing [name] in the text: the list sends the same message to everyone and doesn’t personalize each contact’s name.

The templates below are organized by goal and can be adapted to your tone of voice. Replace the fields in brackets with your business information.

Welcome and request to save your number

1. “Hi! This is [your name], from [brand]. Save this number to receive [type of content] here. If you’d rather not receive it, just reply STOP.”
2. “So glad to have you here! From now on, I’ll send [tips, news or notices] about [topic] once a week. To make sure the messages reach you, save this contact.”
3. “Hi! You signed up for [name of material or class] and will receive the next notices here. Save this number as [brand] so you don’t miss anything.”
4. “Thanks for your trust! This is [brand]’s official WhatsApp channel. Here you get [benefit] and can ask questions whenever you want.”

Content and relationship

5. “I put together 3 quick tips about [topic] you can apply today: [link].”
6. “New content on the blog: [title]. A 5-minute read: [link].”
7. “A question I get a lot: [question]. The short answer is [answer]. Want me to go deeper on this topic?”
8. “Behind the scenes this week: I’m preparing [news]. Which part interests you most? Reply here.”
9. “Do you know [tool or method] yet? I recorded a short video showing how to use it: [link].”
10. “Quick tip of the day: [tip in one sentence]. If it works for you, let me know!”

Invitations to classes, events and lives

11. “On [day], at [time], I’m giving a free class about [topic]. Want the link? Reply YES.”
12. “I’m organizing a live to answer questions about [topic]. Send your question here by [day].”
13. “Starting in 1 hour: [class name]. Here’s the access link: [link].”
14. “We’re live now! Join through the link: [link].”
15. “Missed yesterday’s class? The recording is available until [date]: [link].”

Launch and product promotion

16. “News: [product name] is coming, for those who want [result]. Want to be notified when it opens? Reply YES.”
17. “Enrollment for [course name] is open. All the details are here: [page link].”
18. “What you’ll learn in [course name]: [3 main topics]. See the full content: [link].”
19. “I received some questions about [course name] and answered the main ones on this page: [link].”
20. “A student from the last class told how she applied [method]: [excerpt from testimonial]. Meet the course: [link].”
21. “Enrollment for [course name] closes today, at [time]. If you still have questions, reply here.”
22. “Enrollment has closed. Want to join the waiting list for the next class? Reply YES.”

Promotions and special dates

23. “Until [date], [product] comes with [special offer]. See the details: [link].”
24. “For existing customers: I’ve prepared an exclusive offer for [product]. It’s valid until [date]: [link].”
25. “Happy [special date]! To celebrate, [benefit or special content]: [link].”
26. “Today our [topic] week begins. Every day, a new tip or offer here.”
27. “Thanks for following [brand] in [year]! I put together a summary with the best content: [link].”

Reminders and notices

28. “Reminder: tomorrow, at [time], [event] takes place. See you then!”
29. “Notice: our support will have special hours on [date], from [time] to [time].”
30. “Your access to [product or material] expires on [date]. To renew, just go here: [link].”
31. “We changed [important information]. Starting [date], [new rule or channel].”

After-sales and students

32. “So glad to have you in [course name]! Your access is at [members area link]. Start with module 1.”
33. “Have you watched the first class yet? If you have any trouble accessing it, reply here.”
34. “New class is live: [title]. It’s already available in your members area.”
35. “Congratulations on completing [course name]! Your certificate is available at [link].”
36. “As a [course name] student, you get early access to [news]. See it here: [link].”

Surveys and feedback

37. “How is your experience with [product] going? Reply with a score from 0 to 10.”
38. “I’m planning the next pieces of content. Which of these topics interests you most: [option 1], [option 2] or [option 3]?”
39. “Would you recommend [product] to a friend? Tell me why: your answer helps me improve.”
40. “May I use your message as a testimonial on the course page? Reply YES or NO.”

How to use a broadcast list to sell digital products?

To sell digital products with a broadcast list, build lists with people who asked to receive your messages, segment by interest, deliver content before the offer and send each sales message to a page with a checkout. The list works better as a relationship channel than as a storefront.

Build the list with people who asked to receive your messages

The ideal base is made up of people who showed interest in your topic, such as those who signed up for a free class, downloaded a material or messaged you on WhatsApp. Use the capture page or your bio to invite these people and ask them to save your number.

Segment by interest and moment

Separate those who are still getting to know your work from those who have already bought. Leads receive content and invitations; students receive course news and complementary offers. That way, each message makes sense to whoever receives it.

Deliver content before the offer

A list that only receives promotions quickly loses interest. Alternate tips, answers to frequent questions and behind-the-scenes with sales messages, so people have a reason to open each message.

Send the sales message to the right page

Each sales message should have a single link, to the sales page or straight to the checkout. On Hotmart, the all-in-one platform for creators who want to create, sell and scale digital products, you build the sales page with Hotmart Pages and receive payments through the platform’s checkout.

Combine the list with email

A broadcast list has a contact limit and depends on the saved number; email doesn’t have those restrictions. Using both together, with email marketing for the full base and WhatsApp for the closest contacts, extends your reach. Hotmart Send, Hotmart’s email marketing tool, has a free plan to get started.

Broadcast list for an online course launch

In an online course launch, the broadcast list helps remind interested people of each stage: the warm-up classes, the sales opening, questions during the open cart and the closing. Because the message appears in the individual chat, it’s a good complement to email and to launch groups.

In the closing phases, use real deadlines: a launch that “closes” and reopens the next day breaks the trust of those who followed it. To plan every stage, see how to sell online courses and how to run a product launch.

Broadcast list for students and affiliates

After the sale, the broadcast list helps keep in touch with students and with your affiliate network. In both cases, the goal is to inform, not to sell all the time.

For students

With students, the list is used to announce new classes, live meetings, activity deadlines and certificates. Exchanges among students can happen in the communities of Hotmart Club, and the list is kept for the most important notices.

For affiliates

With affiliates, the list helps you quickly send promotional materials, campaign dates and changes to commission rules. See more about affiliate marketing.

Make the most of the features and go further!

The broadcast list is a simple but useful feature for those who want to get closer to their audience and sell more, as long as it’s used with consent and consistency. Start with a small, well-segmented list, follow the replies and adjust your messages.

On Hotmart, you create your free account and have a sales page, checkout and members area ready for your next launch. Create my free account

Frequently asked questions about WhatsApp broadcast lists