How to create a WhatsApp Channel [+12 best WhatsApp Channels]

WhatsApp Channels let brands broadcast news and offers to large numbers of people at the same time. Here's how to create a WhatsApp Channel in easy steps, the 12 best Channels and an explainer of their role compared to the WhatsApp API. 

There are never enough places to read about football

3. Netflix | 32.2M followers

Unexpected WhatsApp embodiment of this streaming giant. A great example of doing something different. Netflix posts as "cutie patootie pookie bear" (named by a follower suggestion) and talks a lot of nonsense, with some rubber gloves and Netflix program suggestions thrown. 

Consistently unhinged. Consistently brilliant. The Netflix WhatsApp Channel.

4. FC Barcelona | 29M followers

Soccer updates about soccer.

Soccer, popcorn, video games, soccer

5. Man City | 27.4M followers

Soccer, live game commentary (this actually works very well), competitions, soccer. 

6. Katrina Kaif | 22.5M followers

First actual person on the list. Katrina is a British actress who works on Hindi-language films and is hugely popular in India.

Remarkable followership considering she's only posted 4 times.

7. Liverpool Football Club | 19.4M followers

⚽️⚽️⚽️

8. BAD BUNNY | 18.7M followers

Puerto Rican rapper and singer. He has only posted on one day about a new song, with each short text post getting around 200K emoji reactions. Proving it's not about quantity in Channels.

It's a good idea to talk in Channels like it's a private WhatsApp.

Keep it simple, lo-fi and personal, and you get a lot of engagement. For very little work. 

9. Mark Zuckerberg | 17.1M followers

Just makes the top 10 😅 Mark posts (rarely) about himself and his Meta empire. 

Mark's making a play for the huge Indian WhatsApp audience

Mark posts about his portfolio, this one sharing news about new WhatsApp formatting options

10. Akshay Kumar | 13.1M

WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business are huge in India. So when a Bollywood celebrity gets a WhatsApp Channel, it gets followed in big numbers. Akshay shares music videos and inspiring posts.

Akshay's Channel is a positive dreamy space

11. WWE | 11.3M

The first non-soccer sporting feed. Expect tight muscles, faux-angry faces, event updates and words like RAW and SLAM. 

No picture here. Your imagination can fill this in for you.

12. Manchester United | 11.1M followers

No. We're back with football (interesting that City is ahead of United 🫣)

After this come a few more personalities (Olivia Rodrigo, Shakira, but not many more high up), and news outlets, charities, games and apps topping the pops.

We asked the charles team and they recommended: Tageschau and Der Postillion as good Channels to follow. 

What we would say is that WhatsApp Channels could be an interesting way to run a low-maintenance feed and build a fanbase if you do something creative and fun. Netflix is a great example. It posts like it's a WhatsApp conversation from your funnest, weirdest friend and is totally compelling as a result.

Obviously none of these Channels can ever replace being in "Chats" next to friends and family, with the chance for 2-ways conversations, high open rates, automated flows, data collection, relationship building and revenue generation.

But, if you have the capacity, they're a fun add-on and a chance to push news out there quickly (if it gets seen). 

How to get verified on a WhatsApp Channel

Verification (getting a green tick) on a WhatsApp Channel is important for trust and to signal authenticity and that you're worth following.

The process of exactly how to get your WhatsApp Channel verified is still unknown, however, we imagine the usual rules apply: large number of followers, high engagement, regular posts. 

There's nothing like one of these ticks to increase trust and build your followership fast

Troubleshooting common WhatsApp Channel problems

Problem: can't create Channel 

Scenario: You're trying to create a WhatsApp Channel, but the option isn't available, or the process doesn't complete as expected.

Solution:

• Update your WhatsApp: Ensure that your WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app is updated to the latest version. Channel features might not be supported in older versions.
• Check availability: WhatsApp Channels is being rolled out gradually. If it's not available in your region yet, joining the waitlist or checking the official WhatsApp Channels information page for updates can keep you in the loop.
  
  

Problem: engagement metrics not appearing

Scenario: You've launched your channel and started broadcasting updates, but you're not seeing any engagement metrics.

Solution:

• App updates: First, make sure your app is up to date. New features and fixes are regularly added to the app, which could resolve your issue.
• Contact support: If updating doesn’t help, reaching out to WhatsApp support can provide more direct assistance. There might be a glitch or a need for account-specific adjustments.
• Check internet connection: Sometimes, a poor internet connection can hinder the syncing of data, including engagement metrics. Ensure you have a stable connection.
  
  

Problem: broadcast limitations

Scenario: You find yourself restricted from sending broadcasts or your content isn't reaching your audience as expected.

Solution:

• Stick to content guidelines: WhatsApp has specific guidelines for content broadcasted through channels to ensure a safe and respectful environment. Review these guidelines and ensure your content complies to avoid restrictions.
• Reassess broadcast frequency: Sending too many updates in a short period can overwhelm followers, leading to reports and restrictions. Consider pacing your broadcasts more strategically.
• Review blocked links or keywords: Sometimes, specific links or keywords might be flagged by WhatsApp's system. Review your content for anything that might be considered spammy or inappropriate and adjust accordingly.
  
  

Problem: don't have admin rights and control

Scenario: You or your co-admins are having trouble accessing certain administrative features within the channel.

Solution:

• Review admin rights: Make sure that all admins have been correctly assigned their roles and that no one's admin rights have been accidentally revoked.
• Consult WhatsApp help: The WhatsApp Business Help Center has specific sections addressing admin roles and permissions. Review these resources for guidance.

Problem: difficulty following Channels

Scenario: Potential followers report trouble finding or following your channel.

Solution:

• Share direct links: Make sure you're sharing a direct link to your channel through your website, social media, or other communication platforms.
• Promote channel widely: Increase visibility by promoting your channel's existence across all your marketing materials and platforms.

How to hide Channels on WhatsApp

WhatsApp users often ask how to remove Channels on WhatsApp. The "Updates" tab turns blue when there's a new status update from a friend or new post on a Channel you follow, which can be annoying if you just want to use WhatsApp for its "Chats" feed.

Unfortunately you can't hide Channels from your WhatsApp app right now (Android users could go back to an old version of WhatsApp, but few people want to do that).

We expect an update in future. WABetaInfo is a good place to stay up with WhatsApp updates before anyone else hears about them.

In a world in which we have so many notifications, this blue "Updates" tabs irritates some people, calling attention and forcing them to engage with yet another feed

How to remove Channels from WhatsApp Status

WhatsApp Channels and Status are separate features. Channels don't appear in or need to be removed from WhatsApp Status​​.

However, they both appear beside each other in your "Updates" tab of your WhatsApp app. Right now, as mentioned, these are a permanent fixture in your WhatsApp app. 

For more details and updates, always check the official WhatsApp Channels FAQ and WhatsApp Blog.

Talk to us about charles x WhatsApp Channels

We’re excited by WhatsApp Channels as they give an extra boost for brands in addition to the API, conversation-based foundation.

Channels is not for everyone. It's best for companies with a strong personality, that have a human embodiment or have regular news to share. Or, like Netflix, find a totally different way to use Channels and gain followers just for the fun factor.

It's incredibly quick to create a WhatsApp Channel: you just go to your app (on your phone or desktop), tap "Create Channel" and add a photo and description. Posts are also easy: you can add text, images and polls. You don't even have to moderate comments because there aren't any, just emoji reactions of which the top 4 show up on each post in your feed.

But Channels are of course totally different from using the WhatsApp Business API to keep customers with you in the long-term with ongoing, 2-way, automated conversations.

They can never be a replacement. They can't generate the revenue of being in a customer's "Chats" feed, you can't collect data about customers for future personalization and you can't guarantee that anyone will see your update because there are no notifications (compared to 90% open rates in the normal WhatsApp feed). 

So Channels can complement your WhatsApp strategy but can never be as big a part of your retention strategy as WhatsApp Business with charles' platform.

If you have questions about how charles with WhatsApp Channels could boost your sales and customer relationship, talk to us – our team of experts are ready to help you make the best out of both channels.

So you know: Channels is not connected to the WhatsApp API and can't be set up within the charles platform or any other WhatsApp software. You will need a separate phone number and person to manage the Channel.