# Quick Start Guide

> Send your first WhatsApp campaign in 5 minutes with this step-by-step quick start guide for Waflow.

Source: https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/getting-started/quick-start

Get started with Waflow and send your first WhatsApp campaign in just 5 minutes. This guide assumes you already have a WhatsApp Business API connection set up. If not, see our [WhatsApp Setup Guide](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/getting-started/whatsapp-setup) first.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

- A Waflow account ([sign up here](https://app.waflow.com/signup))
- WhatsApp Business API connected to Waflow
- At least one approved message template (or use a default template)
- A few test contacts to message

## Step 1: Log in to Waflow

Visit [app.waflow.com](https://app.waflow.com) and sign in with your credentials.

After logging in, you'll see your dashboard with an overview of:
- Recent campaigns
- Message delivery stats
- Quick action buttons

If this is your first time, you'll see a welcome screen with setup prompts.

## Step 2: Create Your First Workspace

If you haven't created a workspace yet:

1. Click **Create Workspace** on the welcome screen (or go to Settings > Workspaces)
2. Enter a name for your workspace (e.g., "My Business")
3. Click **Create**

Your workspace is now ready. You can add team members later if needed.

> **Tip:** Use separate workspaces for different brands, clients, or departments. Each workspace has its own contacts, templates, and campaigns.

## Step 3: Connect WhatsApp

If you haven't connected WhatsApp yet:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Channels**
2. Click **Connect WhatsApp**
3. Click **Login with Facebook** and follow the OAuth flow
4. Select your WhatsApp Business Account and phone number
5. Click **Confirm**

Waflow will verify the connection and display your WhatsApp number.

> **Note:** You need a Meta Business Account and WhatsApp Business API access. See our [WhatsApp Setup Guide](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/getting-started/whatsapp-setup) for detailed instructions.

## Step 4: Add Test Contacts

Let's add a few test contacts to verify everything works:

### Option A: Add Manually

1. Go to **Contacts** in the sidebar
2. Click **Add Contact**
3. Enter the contact details:
   - **Phone Number**: Include country code (e.g., +1234567890)
   - **Name**: Contact's name
   - **Email**: (optional)
4. Click **Save**

### Option B: Import from CSV

1. Go to **Contacts** > **Import**
2. Download the sample CSV template
3. Fill in your contacts (phone, name, email)
4. Upload the CSV file
5. Map columns and click **Import**

For testing, add 2-3 contacts including your own phone number.

> **Warning:** Only message contacts who have opted in to receive WhatsApp messages from your business. Sending unsolicited messages violates WhatsApp policies and can result in account restrictions.

## Step 5: Create a Message Template

WhatsApp requires pre-approved templates for business-initiated messages. Let's create one:

1. Go to **Templates** in the sidebar
2. Click **Create Template**
3. Fill in the template details:
   - **Name**: `welcome_message` (lowercase, underscores only)
   - **Category**: Marketing, Utility, or Authentication
   - **Language**: Select your language
4. Write your message content:

```
Hello {{1}}!

Welcome to our business. We're excited to have you here.

Reply HELP for assistance or STOP to unsubscribe.
```

5. Click **Submit for Approval**

> **Note:** Template approval typically takes a few minutes to a few hours. While waiting, you can use any existing approved templates.

### Using Variables

Variables let you personalize messages. Use `{{1}}`, `{{2}}`, etc. as placeholders:

- `{{1}}` - First variable (often the customer's name)
- `{{2}}` - Second variable (could be order number, date, etc.)

When sending, you'll map these to contact fields or provide values.

## Step 6: Send Your First Campaign

Once you have contacts and an approved template, you're ready to send:

1. Go to **Campaigns** in the sidebar
2. Click **Create Campaign**
3. Configure your campaign:

### Campaign Settings

| Setting | Description | Example |
|---------|-------------|---------|
| **Name** | Internal name for this campaign | "Welcome Campaign - Dec 2024" |
| **Template** | Select your approved template | "welcome_message" |
| **Recipients** | Choose who to message | "All Contacts" or a segment |

4. **Select Recipients**
   - Choose "All Contacts" for your test
   - Or select specific tags/segments
   - Review the contact count

5. **Map Variables**
   - For `{{1}}`, map to "First Name" field
   - Preview a sample message

6. **Review & Schedule**
   - Click **Preview** to see sample messages
   - Choose "Send Now" or schedule for later
   - Review the estimated cost (WhatsApp conversation fees)

7. Click **Launch Campaign**

Your campaign is now sending!

## Step 7: Monitor Your Campaign

Track your campaign's progress in real-time:

1. Go to **Campaigns** and click on your campaign
2. View the live dashboard showing:

| Metric | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **Sent** | Messages sent to WhatsApp API |
| **Delivered** | Messages delivered to recipient's device |
| **Read** | Messages opened by recipient |
| **Failed** | Messages that failed to deliver |
| **Replies** | Incoming responses from contacts |

### Understanding Delivery Status

- **Sent**: Message accepted by WhatsApp
- **Delivered**: Message reached the recipient's phone
- **Read**: Recipient opened the message (if read receipts enabled)
- **Failed**: Message couldn't be delivered (invalid number, blocked, etc.)

> **Tip:** Most messages are delivered within seconds. If you see many failures, check that phone numbers include the correct country code.

## What's Next?

Congratulations! You've sent your first WhatsApp campaign. Here's what to explore next:

### Expand Your Contacts

- [Import contacts from CSV](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/contacts/import-contacts)
- [Organize with tags and segments](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/contacts/tags-segments)
- [Add custom fields](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/contacts/custom-fields)

### Improve Your Templates

- [Create templates with media](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/templates/create-template)
- [Use variables effectively](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/templates/variables)
- [Understand the approval process](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/templates/approval-process)

### Advanced Campaigns

- [Schedule campaigns](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/campaigns/scheduling)
- [Track engagement](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/campaigns/tracking)
- [Set up automation](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/automations)

### Grow Your Team

- [Create additional workspaces](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/workspaces/create-workspace)
- [Invite team members](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/workspaces/team-management)

## Troubleshooting

### Template Not Approved

- Check that your template follows [WhatsApp's guidelines](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/message-templates)
- Avoid promotional language in utility templates
- Include opt-out instructions for marketing messages
- Resubmit with corrections if rejected

### Messages Not Delivering

- Verify phone numbers include country code (+1, +91, etc.)
- Check that recipients haven't blocked your number
- Ensure the contact has WhatsApp installed
- Review your sending limits (new accounts have lower limits)

### Connection Issues

- Try disconnecting and reconnecting WhatsApp
- Verify your Meta Business Account is in good standing
- Check that your WhatsApp Business API access hasn't expired

### Getting Help

If you run into issues:

1. Check our [FAQ and troubleshooting guide](https://edesy.in/docs/waflow/settings)
2. Contact support at support@waflow.com
3. Join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/waflow)

## Summary

In this quick start guide, you learned how to:

1. Create a Waflow workspace
2. Connect WhatsApp Business API
3. Add contacts manually or via CSV
4. Create and submit a message template
5. Launch your first campaign
6. Monitor delivery and engagement

You're now ready to scale your WhatsApp marketing! Start by importing your full contact list and creating templates for different use cases.