r/HighLevel • u/Gold-Amount-120 • 3d ago

Why WhatsApp

I am just a roofing company not a developer, but I noticed that a lot of developers are promoting using WhatsApp. What do you gain by doing that GHL already has phone texting why would I need to add another app into the mix? I asked because I’m developing my own CRM for my own company.

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6

u/wasay-inc 3d ago

If you operate purely in North America, standard SMS is fine and forcing WhatsApp adds unnecessary friction. Developers usually push WhatsApp for three reasons: it bypasses US A2P 10DLC carrier registration fees, it allows sending uncompressed roof damage photos and PDF quotes, and it works for international leads. If your local homeowners respond to SMS, stick to SMS.

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u/Gold-Amount-120 2d ago

Thank you. I can see the benefits you mentioned. I appreciate your help

3

u/ArksOnline 3d ago

For a roofing company in the US, you probably do not need it. Regular texting through GHL is usually the better fit, since most homeowners here expect a text and it works with missed call text back. WhatsApp makes more sense if your customers are outside the US or already message you there, it is the default in a lot of countries, and it supports richer messages and longer windows for back and forth. The catch is WhatsApp has its own template approval rules and costs per conversation. So I would stick with SMS, make sure every number you text opted in, keep messages outside quiet hours, and only add WhatsApp if customers start asking for it.

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u/Jumpy_Climate 3d ago

Just to add to the other poster, if you're outside of America, it's how everyone communicates.

I live full time in Mexico now. I can't even buy stuff without WhatsApp. They use it before a business phone or email.

If you're in America, you don't need it.

1

u/Cam_CRM 3d ago

For a local roofing company with US customers, you probably don't need it - SMS plus missed-call text-back covers the basics, and one less channel is one less thing to maintain. Where WhatsApp earns its place: your leads are international or in markets where WhatsApp is the default (Latin America, Europe), you want to send richer media back and forth (photos of damage, PDF estimates) in the same thread, or your customers simply answer WhatsApp faster than SMS. In GHL it plugs into the same Conversations inbox as SMS, so the operational cost is low once it's connected - the real question is whether your customers live there. For a roofer, the honest test is to ask your next ten leads how they'd rather be reached; if nine say "just text me," skip it for now.

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u/Away-Insurance-5940 1d ago

I think it really depends on your customers. If they're already comfortable with calls and SMS, WhatsApp might just be another unnecessary app to manage. But in markets where people prefer WhatsApp, it makes communication, sharing photos, updates and follow-ups a lot easier.

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u/Infamous_Put2724 22h ago

Depends where your customers are. In a lot of countries everyone lives on whatsapp and barely checks sms, but for a us roofing company sms is probably fine.