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WATI connects your coaching business to the official WhatsApp Business API, enabling automated session reminders, onboarding sequences, and broadcast messages. This tutorial walks through the complete setup — from creating your account to sending your first automated WhatsApp message.
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Related: Complete Guide to Coaching Automation
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A WATI account (free trial available), a WhatsApp Business phone number (not your personal number), and 30 minutes.
Start Your WATI Free Trial
Open your account now and follow this tutorial to have WhatsApp automation live in 30 minutes.
Try WATI Free → →Step 1: Create Your WATI Account
Go to WATI and start a free trial. During signup, you will connect your WhatsApp Business phone number. This must be a number not already registered as a personal WhatsApp account — use a dedicated business number or a new SIM.
Your personal WhatsApp number cannot be connected to the Business API without first migrating it. Use a separate number for your coaching business to avoid disrupting your personal WhatsApp.
Step 2: Connect WhatsApp Business API
After creating your account, WATI guides you through the Facebook Business Manager verification process. This takes 1-3 business days. During this time, you can build your automation flows and prepare your contact lists — you just cannot send messages until verified.
| Verification Step | Time Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Create Facebook Business account | 15 min | Required for API access |
| Submit business documents | 10 min | Business registration or utility bill |
| Facebook review | 1-3 days | Usually faster for established businesses |
| Phone number verification | 5 min | SMS or call verification |
Step 3: Import Your Contacts
Once verified, import your client contacts via CSV upload. Include at minimum: name, phone number (with country code), and any tags you want to use for segmentation — for example, 'active-client', 'discovery-call', 'programme-name'.
Tags enable you to send targeted broadcasts and trigger specific automation flows. Tag clients by programme, start date, or engagement level on import rather than adding tags manually later.
Step 4: Build Your First Automation — Session Reminder
In the WATI dashboard, go to Automation → New Flow. Build a simple session reminder: trigger on a date/time field → send WhatsApp message '24 hours until your session with [coach name]. See you at [time].' This single automation saves approximately 2 minutes per client per week.
Build This Reminder in WATI Free
Session reminders are the fastest ROI automation for coaches. Set up in 10 minutes, save hours every week.
Try WATI Free → →Step 5: Send Your First Broadcast
Broadcasts let you send one message to your entire contact list or a tagged segment. Go to Broadcasts → New Broadcast, select your recipient tags, write your message, and schedule it. Use broadcasts for programme announcements, group session reminders, or monthly newsletters.
Step 6: Connect Make.com for Full Automation
Connect Make.com to WATI to trigger WhatsApp automations from external events — new Stripe payment, new booking in your calendar, new form submission. Make.com's WATI module is native, so no custom API setup is required. See the full WhatsApp automation workflow guide for detailed Make.com scenarios.
Follow these 6 steps and your coaching business will have automated session reminders, a broadcast system, and Make.com integration running on WhatsApp in under 30 minutes of active setup time.
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