How Status works
Status is the broadcast-like layer above chats.
- Posts disappear after 24 hours
- Only contacts see them, in their Status feed
- Viewers can reply to a status, which opens a chat
- No template or opt-in is needed to post
Glossary
WhatsApp Status: What It Is and How Businesses Use It
What Status is, how merchants use it, and why it is the spam-free marketing channel.
The short answer
WhatsApp Status is the ephemeral updates feed where contacts see your photos, videos, and text for 24 hours. It is one of the few WhatsApp surfaces where a business can reach customers without sending them a message — no opt-in, no template, no conversation fee, and no inbox interruption.
What merchants post
Status works best for content that is fresh, visual, and low-stakes.
- Daily offers and flash deals
- New product arrivals with photos
- Behind-the-scenes and social proof
- Delivery times and temporary announcements
- Reposts of customer unboxing and reviews
Why Status is a safe channel
Status carries almost none of the compliance risk of broadcasts.
- No opt-in needed: the viewer chooses to open the feed
- No opt-out mechanics needed
- No conversation fees or template approvals
- Reply-to-status opens a service conversation — free and valuable
The strategy behind it
Status is the top of the funnel that feeds the paid channel.
- Post consistently: the feed rewards frequency
- End statuses with a nudge: 'reply to order' or a catalog link
- Coordinate with broadcasts: status warms, broadcast converts
- Track replies into the inbox with the contact record
Last updated 5 August 2026
Common questions
No. Status is viewer-initiated: the contact opens your update themselves.
No. Posting Status is free; it is not a conversation and Meta does not bill it.
Yes, and the reply lands in your inbox as a normal service conversation.
24 hours, like WhatsApp's personal Status feature.
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