How to Plan Messages

Overview

Planning messages in Chatfuel means scheduling a broadcast to be sent at a specific date and time. This is done through the Re-engage feature — it lets you pick an audience, choose a WhatsApp template, and set a delivery time in the future.

How to Plan a Message

1. Open the Broadcasts tab in the main menu.
2. Click Create re-engage.
3. Choose a WhatsApp template — this is the message your contacts will receive. Templates must be pre-approved by Meta before they can be used.
4. Connect a payment method — Meta charges per template message sent. Make sure your payment method is active in your billing settings.
5. Choose your audience — select which contacts should receive the message. You can target specific segments or your full contact list.
6. Set the date and time — pick when you want the message to go out. You can also send it immediately if you don't need to schedule it.

Good to Know

• Planned message = broadcast = re-engage — these are all the same thing in Chatfuel. If you see "broadcast" or "re-engage" mentioned elsewhere, it refers to this exact feature.
• Templates must be approved first — you can't plan a message until your template is approved by Meta, which can take up to 24 hours. Create your templates ahead of time so they're ready when you need them.
• Only works outside the 24-hour window — planned messages use WhatsApp templates, which are designed for reaching contacts after the 24-hour messaging window has closed. If your contact is still actively chatting, you don't need a broadcast — the AI handles the conversation automatically.
• Messages not arriving? — check Problems with sending messages on WhatsApp for troubleshooting steps.
• Want automatic nudges instead? — if you'd rather have the AI follow up with quiet contacts on its own, use follow-ups instead of planning a manual broadcast.