60 Best Greeting Messages for WhatsApp Templates That Actually Work

First impressions are everything in business. On WhatsApp, your first reply is not just a courtesy; it is the moment that defines whether a customer continues the conversation or drops off.

A well-crafted greeting message for WhatsApp makes your brand look professional, sets expectations, and drives the conversation forward.

In this guide, you will learn:

• Why greetings matter?
• How to design effective ones?
• Where do businesses often fail?
• How to optimize greeting messages using tools like Wati’s broadcast score calculator and AI video generator?

The ROI of a Greeting Message:  Why Small Talk Drives Big Impact?

A greeting message on WhatsApp is often the important touchpoint between your business and a customer. It sets the tone for the conversation and shapes how the customer feels about your brand from the start.

Research shows that 85% of consumers prefer to message brands directly, and WhatsApp is the most trusted platform for those conversations. 

With a 98% open rate on WhatsApp messages, greeting messages are the simplest way to acknowledge customers instantly and show them they have reached the right place.

When sales conversations or customer enquiries begin without a proper greeting, it leaves prospects uncertain about the tone and direction of the interaction. Inconsistent or absent greetings can cause hesitation and weaken confidence in your business. 

A well-crafted WhatsApp greeting message immediately establishes professionalism, builds trust, and guides the customer toward a clear next step, whether that is exploring your offerings, raising a query, or booking a demo.

What is a WhatsApp Business Greeting Message?

A greeting message for WhatsApp Business is an automated message triggered in specific scenarios:

• When a customer messages your business for the first time
  
• When they return after 14 or more days of inactivity
  
• When your business initiates a new conversation (via templates on WhatsApp Business API)

Unlike an away message, which signals unavailability, a greeting message is proactive. It acknowledges the customer, establishes context, and often routes them toward the next step.

Here are a few examples:

• “Hi there 👋 Thanks for contacting {Brand}. We will be with you shortly.”
  
• “Welcome to {Brand}! 🎉 How can we help you today?”
  
• “Hey {Name}, great to see you here! Let us know what you are looking for.”

The Science of an Effective Greeting Message

Humans form opinions within seconds, and the same applies to business conversations on WhatsApp. A greeting message is your chance to set expectations from the start.

An effective greeting is not random; it is deliberately structured using principles of psychology and conversational design to make customers feel acknowledged, guided, and ready to engage.

Formula: Clarity + Direction + Setting the Tone

This formula ensures your greeting is clear, purposeful, and aligned with your brand. It is also measurable. 

By tracking how many customers follow the suggested path, respond positively to your tone, or click on shared links, you can evaluate whether your greetings are meeting their objectives and adjust accordingly.

The Business Impact of WhatsApp Greeting Messages

Greeting messages are not just simple pleasantries. In a business context, they function as strategic touchpoints that influence customer perception and create a measurable impact on engagement and pipeline. Here are the key advantages for businesses:

Instant Acknowledgement

When a customer messages your business, they want to know you received it. A greeting message confirms their query has been noted, even if your team is offline. This reduces frustration and makes customers feel valued.

Trust and Reliability

Automated greetings reinforce operational reliability. When customers receive a prompt response, they perceive the business as structured, attentive, and trustworthy. 

Over repeated interactions, this consistency compounds into long-term trust equity.

Early Context and Information Delivery

Well-designed greetings provide functional value by embedding critical business information upfront. Examples include:

• Operating hours
  
• Product catalogs
  
• Quick-reply buttons
  
• FAQ links

By sharing details like operating hours or product catalogs, teams can cut down repetitive questions and focus on high-value interactions.

For customers, greetings make it easier to take action without waiting for an agent. Quick-reply buttons or FAQ links give them immediate clarity and faster resolution, improving their overall experience and keeping the conversation moving.

Conversion and Engagement Driver

Greeting messages can be designed with call-to-actions (CTAs) to get the desired outcomes. Whether it is directing customers to explore a catalog, applying a promotional code, or routing them to sales or support, greetings convert passive intent into measurable engagement.

At a broader level, these micro-interactions directly influence pipeline generation and revenue attribution.

 Businesses that want to expand the impact of their greetings can use WhatsApp Broadcasts to share consistent messages with larger groups, test different approaches, and strengthen overall customer engagement.

Brand Differentiation

The tone and style of a greeting communicate brand personality.  A lifestyle brand might use emojis and informal language, while a financial services firm may adopt a more concise and professional approach.

Greetings serve as an extension of your brand positioning in conversational commerce.

60 Greeting Message Templates (Organized by Goals)

Most blogs stop at dumping generic lists. We have reorganized these templates by business intent, so you can pick the greeting that best matches your goal.

Build Trust

1. Hi {Name}, welcome to {Brand}. We will respond shortly. In the meantime, you can check our FAQs here: [link].

2. Hello 👋 You have reached {Brand}. Thank you for contacting us today.

3. Hi there! We are happy to have you here at {Brand}. Our team will get back to you soon

4. Welcome to {Brand}, {Name}. We are here to make your experience smooth and simple.

5. Thanks for reaching out to {Brand}. Your message is important to us, and we will reply shortly.

6. Hi {Name}, this is {Brand}. We appreciate you getting in touch with us today.

Drive Sales

7. Hi {Name}, are you interested in {Product A} or {Product B}? Let us know so we can share details right away.

8. Welcome to {Brand}! 🎉 Use code WELCOME10 to get 10% off your first order.

9. Hello {Name}, thank you for connecting. Click here to see our latest offers: [link].

10. Hi there 👋 Our new arrivals are live. Tap here to explore: [link].

11. Hey {Name}, shopping today? Check out our most popular products: [link].

12. Welcome to {Brand}. Did you know we offer free delivery on orders above {amount}?

Looking for even more pre-built template messages? Check out Wati’s WhatsApp Template Library for ready-to-use templates you can customize for your business.

Customer Support

13. Hello {Name}, thanks for reaching out. Our support team is reviewing your request and will reply soon.

14. Hi 👋 For faster help, please select one of these options: [Button: Track Order] [Button: Product Inquiry] [Button: Speak to Support].

15. Hi {Name}, we have received your query. Our team will respond within {X} hours.

16. Hello there! To save you time, you can also visit our Help Center here: [link].

17. Hi {Name}, thanks for contacting {Brand}. Can you please share your order number to help us assist you better?

18. Welcome to {Brand} Support. We are here to answer your questions quickly and clearly.

Reactivation and Seasonal

19. It has been a while since we heard from you, {Name}. Here is a new collection we thought you might like: [link].

20. Happy Diwali ✨ Celebrate with a special offer from {Brand}: [link].

21.Hi {Name}, we miss you. Here’s a 15% off voucher to welcome you back: [code].

22. Hello 👋 This season, discover our latest collection here: [link].

23. Merry Christmas 🎄 Thank you for being part of the {Brand} family. Enjoy this gift: [link].

24. Hi {Name}, we are celebrating {Festival/Event}. Join us for exclusive deals: [link].

​​Personalized Moments

25. Happy Birthday, {Name}! 🎂 We appreciate you and have a gift waiting here: [link].

26. Thanks for being a loyal customer. Here is an exclusive preview of our upcoming collection.

27. Hi {Name}, congratulations on your anniversary with us 🎉 We value your support.

28.Hello {Name}, thank you for completing {X years/months} with {Brand}. Here is a token of our gratitude.

29. Hi there! It’s your membership renewal month. Enjoy these special rewards: [link].

30. Dear {Name}, thank you for your continued trust. We have reserved a special surprise just for you.

Business Hours & Away Messages

31. Hi {Name}, thanks for reaching out. Our business hours are {X to Y}. We will reply during this time.

32. Hello 👋 We are currently offline. Please leave your query, and we will respond once we are back.

33. Thanks for your message, {Name}. Our team is away right now, but your query is noted.

34. Hi there! We are closed at the moment. You can still browse our catalog here: [link].

35. Hello {Name}, our support hours are {X to Y}. Expect a response during that time.

36. Thank you for contacting {Brand}. We will get back to you as soon as we reopen.

Lead Collection

37. Hi {Name}, welcome to {Brand}. Could you share your email address so we can send updates?

38. Hello 👋 To serve you better, may we know which product category interests you most?

39. Thanks for reaching out to us, {Name}. Please share your location so we can connect you with the nearest branch.

40. Hi there! We would love to keep you updated. Can you provide your preferred contact details?

41. Hello {Name}, are you looking for {Service A} or {Service B}? This will help us assist you faster.

42. Welcome to {Brand}. Please tell us your budget preference so we can recommend the right products.

Event-Based Messages

43. Hi 👋 Thanks for signing up for {Event}. We are excited to have you join us.

44. Hello {Name}, this is a reminder that {Event} starts on {Date}. We look forward to seeing you.

45. Welcome to {Brand’s Event}. Please share your email to receive event updates and materials.

46. Thanks for your interest in {Event}. Register here to secure your spot: [link].

47. Hi {Name}, your seat for {Event} is confirmed 🎉 Stay tuned for details.

48.Hello 👋 The countdown to {Event} has begun. Get ready for an exciting experience.

Special Offers & Promotions

49. Hi {Name}, welcome to {Brand}. Enjoy 10% off on your first order with code WELCOME10.

50. Hello 👋 Thanks for connecting. Here’s a special deal for you: [link].

51. Welcome to {Brand}! 🎉 Get a free gift on orders above {amount}.

52. Hey {Name}, unlock your exclusive discount here: [link].

53. Hi {Name}, shop today and get free shipping on all orders above {amount}

54. Hello 👋 Limited-time deal: Buy 1, get 1 free on selected items.

General Welcome Messages

55. Hi 👋 Welcome to {Brand}. How can we help you today?

56. Hello {Name}, thanks for reaching out to {Brand}. We are happy to assist you.

57. Hey there 🎉 You have reached {Brand}. Tell us what you need, and we will guide you.

58. Welcome to {Brand}. Our team is ready to support you.

59. Hi {Name}, thank you for contacting {Brand}. We look forward to serving you.

60. Hello 👋 You are now chatting with {Brand}. Let us know how we can assist you today.

Greeting Message Pitfalls That Hurt Your Customer Engagement

Many businesses set up greeting messages once and never update them. This leads to greetings that feel cold, irrelevant, or robotic. Here are the most common mistakes:

If a greeting feels generic, customers quickly lose interest and may even drop off before engaging further. 

On the other hand, a clear and timely greeting shows that your business is attentive, builds trust from the start, and encourages customers to take meaningful action such as browsing products, asking questions, or connecting with sales. 

How to Test and Improve Your Greeting Messages

Setting up a greeting message once and leaving it untouched is a missed opportunity. To maximize impact, businesses should treat greetings as assets that can be tested, measured, and refined over time.

Take It Further with Wati

Sending greeting messages manually is time-consuming and inconsistent. For teams handling dozens or even hundreds of inquiries every day, this often leads to missed opportunities and weak first impressions.

Wati solves this by enabling automated and personalized greeting messages through the WhatsApp Business API. Every lead or customer is greeted instantly and professionally, without adding extra load on your team.

With Wati, you can:

• Personalize greetings with customer data.
  
• Add quick-reply buttons for faster responses.
  
• Automate next steps with chatbots and workflows.
  
• You can even create short videos with Wati’s AI Video Generator and share them directly in WhatsApp greeting messages.
  
• Access prebuilt WhatsApp templates from Wati’s Template Library to get started quickly.

Where Greeting Automation Adds Value

• Sales: Automatically greet new leads, qualify them with Astra AI, and route them to the right rep.
  
• Marketing: Combine greeting messages with WhatsApp Broadcasts to nurture prospects and share campaigns.
  
• Support: Acknowledge customer queries instantly, share FAQ links, and reduce ticket backlog.

Instead of just saying hello, your greeting messages with Wati become strategic touchpoints. They set the right tone, guide customers to the next step, and create measurable outcomes, whether that is exploring products, booking a demo, or raising a support ticket directly inside WhatsApp.

Run A/B Tests

Do not assume one version will work for all. Test variations in tone (formal vs. conversational), call-to-actions (shop now vs. learn more), and format (plain text vs. quick reply buttons). 

With the WhatsApp Business API, A/B testing can be automated, allowing you to see which version drives higher engagement.

Measure Engagement at Multiple Levels

Look beyond delivery rates. Track key performance indicators such as:

These metrics show you whether your greeting is simply being seen or if it is actively driving business outcomes.

Iterate Continuously

Customer expectations change with seasons, campaigns, and industry trends. Review your greetings regularly and update them to stay relevant. A message that performed well last quarter may not perform the same today.

By combining A/B testing, engagement tracking, and quality scoring, businesses can turn greeting messages into a reliable growth lever rather than a static courtesy.

Best Practices Checklist

When building your WhatsApp greeting message, always check:

• Is it short, clear, and aligned with your brand tone?
  
• Does it personalize based on customer data or context?
  
• Does it include a clear next step (CTA)?
  
• Is it updated for campaigns or seasons?
  
• Have you tested and optimized it for performance?

Make Every Greeting Count

On WhatsApp, the way you greet a customer sets the tone for the entire relationship. The businesses that succeed on WhatsApp are the ones that treat greetings as part of their customer journey, not an afterthought. 

This is where Wati adds value. With Wati, you can create automated and personalized greeting messages that welcome customers, answer FAQs instantly, share catalogs or offers, and guide conversations toward the right next step.

If you are ready to turn first impressions into lasting relationships, try Wati today for free and make every customer conversation count.

Frequently Asked Questions About WhatsApp Business Greeting Messages

1. What is a WhatsApp Business greeting message?
A WhatsApp Business greeting message is an automated welcome note that is sent when a customer messages your business for the first time, returns after 14 days of no activity, or when you reach out to a new lead.

2. Why should I use greeting messages on WhatsApp Business?
Greeting messages help you create a good first impression, build trust, reduce waiting stress, and guide customers toward the next step. They also make your business look more professional and responsive.

3. How do I set up a greeting message on the WhatsApp Business app?
Go to Settings → Business Tools → Greeting Message, turn it on, and write your message. You can also choose when and to whom it should be sent.

4. Can I personalize WhatsApp Business greeting messages?
Yes. You can include the customer’s name, mention your brand, and even customize the greeting for different scenarios like new customers, support requests, or festivals.

5. What is the difference between a greeting message and an away message?
A greeting message is sent automatically when someone starts a chat with you, while an away message is sent when customers message you outside your business hours.

6. How often should I update my greeting messages?
Update them regularly to reflect new campaigns, product launches, or special events. Refreshing greetings during festivals or sales seasons can make them more engaging and relevant.

7. Can greeting messages help with lead generation?
Yes. With tools like Wati and Astra AI, you can qualify leads directly from greeting messages by asking questions or sharing quick reply options.

8. Can I send different greeting messages to different customers?
On the WhatsApp Business app, customization is limited. With the WhatsApp Business API and Wati, you can create multiple greeting flows based on customer type, behavior, or intent.

9. Do greeting messages work if my team is offline?
Yes. Greeting messages are automated, so they will reply instantly even when your team is away. This ensures customers always feel acknowledged.

10. How many characters can a WhatsApp greeting message have?
While there is no strict character limit, it is best to keep messages short and simple, ideally under 250 characters, so customers can read them easily.