In today's fast-paced digital world, staying connected with your audience is essential for building strong relationships and driving conversions. With Manychat's powerful broadcasting tools, you can deliver timely, personalized messages at scale across multiple channels like Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Email and SMS. Whether you're sharing updates, promoting offers, or engaging with followers, broadcasting cuts through the noise and reaches your audience exactly when they need to hear from you.
More than just a messaging tool, Manychat Broadcast is a dynamic marketing solution designed to help you grow your business by tapping into your existing customer base. It allows you to reactivate contacts, uncover their needs and interests, and create tailored upsells and offers based on their responses. You can deliver content to specific contact lists using targeted filters, ensuring that your messages are relevant and timely. What’s more, you can seamlessly engage contacts across various channels and guide them between platforms – for instance, reactivating inactive users by sending an Email that directs them back to Messenger.
Manychat also makes it easy to get to know your audience better by segmenting them with tags based on their responses, allowing you to personalize future interactions and create more meaningful engagement. This isn’t just about sending messages – it’s about starting conversations, building relationships, and driving real business results. This article will cover:
- How to create a broadcast in Manychat
- How to navigate the broadcast setup page
- How to broadcast outside the 24-hour window
- How to send or schedule a broadcast
- How to check broadcast statistics
- Limitations and troubleshooting
- Tips and tricks
How to create a broadcast in Manychat
There are two primary ways to create a broadcast in Manychat: you can either start from scratch or use an existing automation and send it out as a broadcast. Let’s take a closer look at each option below.
Creating a broadcast from scratch
To create a broadcast from scratch, go to the Broadcasting section and click the New Broadcast button in the upper-right corner.
This will display a list of channels connected to your Manychat account. As shown in the screenshots below, the available channels may vary depending on which ones are connected. Make sure to connect a channel first for it to appear in the list of available options.
⚠️ Note: After selecting a channel, you'll be directed to the Basic Builder, where you can start crafting your broadcast.
If you’d like to elevate your experience and add some flair, simply click the Go to Flow Builder button in the upper-right corner.
This will take you to the Flow Builder, where you can continue designing your broadcast with more interactive options.
Creating a broadcast from an automation
To use an existing automation for your broadcast, click the Broadcast From Automation option in the upper-right corner.
This will open the automation picker in a pop-up window, where you can browse through your available automations. You can preview each one in the right sidebar and, once you've found the right fit, simply click the Pick This Automation button to select it for your broadcast.
Once you select the automation, you'll be redirected to the Flow Builder, where you can edit and customize your broadcast as needed.
Don’t worry—your changes won’t impact the original automation, as you'll be working on an automatically generated copy. These copies are stored exclusively within the Broadcasts section, keeping your original automation intact.
Now that you know how to create a broadcast in Manychat, let's move on to the next step: building your broadcast and crafting the perfect message to engage your audience.
How to navigate the broadcast setup page
The broadcast setup process is divided into two key parts: Content and Target Audience. In the Content section, you'll design and build your broadcast, while in the Target Audience section, you'll define who will receive it.
Let's explore each part in detail to ensure your broadcast reaches the right people with the right message.
Content
The Content section serves as the primary workspace when creating a broadcast, allowing you to design and customize the content of your broadcast.
When you choose Messenger, Telegram, Email, or SMS, you’ll be directed to the Flow Builder, where a message node for the selected channel will automatically appear as the first step following the starting step.
Just like an automation, a broadcast can consist of a single message node or multiple linked messages and other steps. These messages can be sent across any channel in any sequence, as long as the channel is activated in your Manychat account.
If you're already familiar with the Flow Builder, you'll find the process intuitive. For more guidance on working with the Flow Builder, check out our detailed guide here.
For WhatsApp, the process is similar, but due to the channel's complexity, there are a few unique considerations. We recommend reviewing our dedicated Broadcasting in WhatsApp article for more details.
Target audience
The Target Audience section allows you to refine your audience and ensure your Broadcasts reach the right people. You can target each of your Broadcasts based on various conditions, such as gender, tags, name, activity, language, timezone, and more.
As you add targeting conditions, you’ll instantly see the number of contacts who will receive the message, making it easy to tailor your communication effectively.
By combining a well-crafted message in the Content section with precise audience targeting in the Target Audience section, you can ensure your broadcasts deliver the right message to the right people, maximizing their impact and engagement.
How to broadcast outside the 24-hour window
⚠️ Note: The 24-hour rule applies exclusively to Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, ensuring compliance with platform-specific messaging policies. Channels like Telegram, Email, and SMS are not subject to these restrictions, allowing more flexibility in communication.
To learn more about how the 24-hour rule works for Messenger and Instagram, check out this article. For detailed information on how it applies to WhatsApp, refer to this article.
You can configure your broadcast to be sent outside the 24-hour messaging window as illustrated in the screenshot below:
When broadcasting outside the 24-hour messaging window, there are two main types of broadcasts you can send: non-promotional and promotional. Each type requires specific methods to comply with Meta's policies, which we will discuss in detail below.
Non-promotional broadcasts
Non-promotional broadcasts are designed to provide value without any sales or marketing intent. These include updates like order confirmations, appointment reminders, or urgent notifications. Manychat offers tools such as Message Tags to help you send these types of messages outside the 24-hour window while staying compliant with Meta's guidelines.
To gain a deeper understanding of all Message Tag types and ensure you're using the appropriate ones for your non-promotional broadcasts, refer to the article referenced above.
Promotional broadcasts
Promotional broadcasts are focused on marketing, sales, or other activities aimed at driving conversions. Sending these messages outside the 24-hour window requires leveraging Messenger or DM Lists and One-Time Notifications. This ensures that your promotional content reaches the right audience while adhering to platform rules.
For additional insights and helpful guidance on using Messenger Lists in Broadcasting, we recommend checking out the following blog post: Re-engage your customers by sending Broadcasts to your messenger list.
This resource, along with the articles linked above, provides insightful tips to enhance your broadcasts and boost customer engagement.
How to send or schedule a broadcast
Once your broadcast is fully prepared and ready to go, you have two options for delivery: sending it immediately or scheduling it for a later time.
If you're ready to send the broadcast immediately, simply click the Send Now button located in the upper-right corner of the broadcast setup page. This will instantly deliver the broadcast to the selected audience.
Alternatively, if you prefer to send the broadcast at a specific time, click the clock icon positioned next to the Send Now button. This opens a pop-up window where you can select the exact date and time for the broadcast to be sent. Once scheduled, Manychat will automatically deliver the broadcast to your audience at the designated time.
⚠️ Note: When you schedule a broadcast for contacts tagged with a specific tag (e.g., "Newsletter Subscriber"), the recipient list is finalized when the broadcast is sent—not when it’s scheduled.
For example, if you schedule a broadcast for next Monday and currently have 200 subscribed contacts tagged with "Newsletter Subscriber," but by Monday, the number grows to 2,500 as more people are tagged through your automations, the broadcast will be sent to all 2,500 contacts.
Both options give you the flexibility to manage your communication effectively, ensuring your broadcasts reach your audience at the optimal moment.
How to check broadcast statistics
In the Broadcasts > History section, you can review detailed statistics for all broadcasts that have been sent.
You can also check the statistics for each message node by selecting it while reviewing the broadcast, as illustrated in the screenshot below.
Here is what each metric represents:
Sent: The total number of contacts to whom the broadcast was sent.
Delivered: The number of contacts who opened the respective messaging platform but did not read the message.
Read: The number of contacts who opened and read the message.
Clicked: The number of contacts who clicked a button within the message.
⚠️ Note: In broadcasts, CTR is calculated based on unique contact clicks and is recorded exclusively for the initial message node; if it lacks clickable buttons or consists of actions, conditions, or similar elements, clicks will not be counted.
These insights help you analyze the performance of your broadcasts and refine your communication strategies accordingly.
Limitations and troubleshooting
If a broadcast fails to send as expected, several factors could be responsible, such as platform-specific policy violations, incorrect broadcast configurations, or other potential issues.
In this section, we’ll explore some of the most common causes, along with resolution options and best practices to ensure successful delivery.
Meta’s messaging policy violations in Messenger Broadcasting
A common cause of broadcast deliverability issues is often related to violations of Meta's platform-specific messaging policies. Let's explore some common scenarios that may occur.
- One possible reason for issues in broadcast delivery is the use of a non-promotional broadcast to send promotional content.
Non-promotional broadcasts are intended for messages that provide value without a sales or marketing focus, such as order confirmations, appointment reminders, or urgent notifications. These broadcasts cannot include promotional materials, like advertisements, buy buttons, or links.
Furthermore, they must comply with the relevant non-promotional Message Tags selected when creating a broadcast, which are used to help ensure compliance with Meta's guidelines when sending messages outside the 24-hour window.
For a comprehensive understanding of the various Message Tag types and to make sure you're selecting the correct ones for your non-promotional broadcasts, refer to the "How to broadcast outside the 24-hour window" section of this article.
- Another potential reason is including links in a non-promotional broadcast, as Facebook treats any links in such broadcasts as promotional content by default, which may affect deliverability.
- Sending messages that are reported as spam by contacts or experience an unusually high block rate from Facebook can also result in reduced performance and hinder the successful delivery of broadcasts.
In the cases outlined above, Facebook may take the following actions:
- Block the broadcast for either a portion of your contacts or for all of them, and potentially unsubscribe them from Messenger.
- Block specific messages within the broadcast that violate platform-specific messaging policies or other guidelines.
- Temporarily disable your ability to send broadcasts on your account for up to 24 hours. During this time, you will be unable to send any broadcasts, even those that comply with all policies and guidelines.
How Manychat safeguards you in these situations
Manychat automatically blocks any untagged message sent to a Facebook contact outside the 24-hour messaging window, ensuring compliance with Meta's platform-specific messaging policies.
Moreover, inside the Flow Builder, you will be notified of any setup errors in your broadcasts, allowing you the opportunity to fix them before the broadcast is sent.
Broadcast delivery timing considerations
The delivery of broadcasts may take some time to complete. The larger the recipient list, the longer it may take for the broadcast to reach all contacts.
If you notice that the broadcast appears to be stuck at a certain percentage, it is recommended to allow additional time for the system to finish sending the messages to all recipients.
This delay is a normal part of the process, especially with large lists of eligible contacts to receive the broadcast, and will resolve as the broadcast continues to be delivered.
Tips and tricks
When creating a broadcast, it's essential to approach it thoughtfully to ensure the best engagement and response. Below are some key tips and strategies to consider when setting up your broadcast:
- Define your target audience and communication purpose
Start by considering the target audience and the goal of your communication. What action do you expect from your contacts, and how can you design your Broadcast to guide them toward this goal in the fewest steps? Keep your message relevant, clear, and focused on achieving the desired outcome.
- Personalize your broadcast
Personalization significantly improves engagement. Use variables such as First Name, Full Name to make your messages feel more personal and tailored to each contact.
To insert variables into your messages, click the {} icon and select the desired System or Custom User Field.
- Engage with valuable content or incentives
Reward your engaged contacts with useful, interesting content or an incentive. Providing something of value not only encourages interaction but also strengthens the relationship with your audience.
- Ensure easy unsubscribing options
Always make it clear how contacts can unsubscribe from your broadcast messages. This transparency helps prevent contacts from blocking your page or reporting to Facebook, which can negatively affect your business's reputation.
- Consider alternative channels for promotional broadcasts
If you need to send promotional content outside the 24-hour messaging window, you can use alternative channels like SMS, Email, or Telegram. These options allow you to reach your audience while staying compliant with platform rules.
- Provide clear reply options for contacts
Avoid overwhelming your contacts with open-ended replies. Instead, provide them with clear, actionable options. Keep the conversation simple and focused to guide the contact through the desired actions.
- Evaluate the reach and effectiveness of your chosen channel
As a marketer, it’s important to consider how many people you can reach through your chosen channel and how likely they are to respond to your message in the way you intend. Choosing the right channel is crucial for maximizing engagement.
- Understand the cost implications
Facebook Messenger or Telegram allow you to send non-promotional messages at no cost. However, SMS messages come with a fee, which can add up quickly if you're targeting a large audience. Consider the costs when planning your campaign and select the most cost-effective channel for your message.
- Channel responsiveness varies by industry
Different channels perform better for different types of businesses. For instance, Messenger and SMS generally demonstrate higher open and click-through rates compared to Email. However, Email communication remains vital for certain industries like E-commerce, where it plays an essential role in customer engagement.
- Comply with regulations and policies
Communication channels are subject to regulations, especially in regions where SMS is heavily regulated. Violating these regulations can lead to substantial fines. Be sure to research the legal requirements, such as message content restrictions, sending times, and quantity limits, in the country of your target audience.
- Content and formatting limitations by channel
Each communication channel has its own limitations. SMS is restricted to 480 characters per message, while Email offers more flexibility in terms of text and graphics. Messenger, on the other hand, provides the greatest level of interactivity, making it ideal for conversations and engagement-focused messages. Choose the right channel based on the content you want to share and how you want your audience to engage with it.
By considering these factors, you can optimize your broadcast strategy, engage effectively with your audience, and avoid common pitfalls.
If you're experiencing issues with the Broadcasting feature, please contact our Support Team.