Setup: WhatsApp

Llamenos supports WhatsApp Business messaging via the Meta Cloud API (Graph API v21.0). WhatsApp enables rich messaging with support for text, images, documents, audio, and interactive messages.

Prerequisites

  • A Meta Business account
  • A WhatsApp Business API phone number
  • A Meta developer app with WhatsApp product enabled

Integration modes

Llamenos supports two WhatsApp integration modes:

Connect directly to the Meta Cloud API. Offers full control and all features.

Required credentials:

  • Phone Number ID — your WhatsApp Business phone number ID
  • Business Account ID — your Meta Business Account ID
  • Access Token — a long-lived Meta API access token
  • Verify Token — a custom string you choose for webhook verification
  • App Secret — your Meta app secret (for webhook signature validation)

Twilio mode

If you already use Twilio for voice, you can route WhatsApp through your Twilio account. Simpler setup, but some features may be limited.

Required credentials:

  • Your existing Twilio Account SID, Auth Token, and a Twilio-connected WhatsApp sender

1. Create a Meta app

  1. Go to developers.facebook.com
  2. Create a new app (type: Business)
  3. Add the WhatsApp product
  4. In WhatsApp > Getting Started, note your Phone Number ID and Business Account ID
  5. Generate a permanent access token (Settings > Access Tokens)

2. Configure the webhook

In the Meta developer dashboard:

  1. Go to WhatsApp > Configuration > Webhook
  2. Set the Callback URL to: 
    https://your-domain.com/api/messaging/whatsapp/webhook
  3. Set the Verify Token to the same string you’ll enter in Llamenos admin settings
  4. Subscribe to the messages webhook field

Meta will send a GET request to verify the webhook. Your server will respond with the challenge if the verify token matches.

3. Enable WhatsApp in admin settings

Navigate to Admin Settings > Messaging Channels (or use the setup wizard) and toggle WhatsApp on.

Select Meta Direct or Twilio mode and enter the required credentials.

Configure optional settings:

  • Auto-response message — sent to first-time contacts
  • After-hours response — sent outside shift hours

4. Test

Send a WhatsApp message to your Business phone number. The conversation should appear in the Conversations tab.

24-hour messaging window

WhatsApp enforces a 24-hour messaging window:

  • You can reply to a user within 24 hours of their last message
  • After 24 hours, you must use an approved template message to re-initiate the conversation
  • Llamenos handles this automatically — if the window has expired, it sends a template message to restart the conversation

Media support

WhatsApp supports rich media messages:

  • Images (JPEG, PNG)
  • Documents (PDF, Word, etc.)
  • Audio (MP3, OGG)
  • Video (MP4)
  • Location sharing
  • Interactive buttons and list messages

Media attachments appear inline in the conversation view.

Security notes

  • WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption between the user and Meta’s infrastructure
  • Meta can technically access message content on their servers
  • Messages are encrypted on receipt and stored in the database
  • Webhook signatures are validated using HMAC-SHA256 with your app secret
  • For maximum privacy, consider using Signal instead of WhatsApp