WhatsApp Integration

Add a floating WhatsApp chat button to your website, making it easy for visitors to contact you instantly via WhatsApp. Perfect for real estate agents who want to provide immediate responses and build relationships through the world's most popular messaging app.

Path: Integrations → WhatsApp

Overview

The WhatsApp integration adds a customizable floating chat button to your website. When visitors click it, they're directed to a WhatsApp conversation with you, with an optional pre-filled message.

What You Can Do with WhatsApp Chat:

• Enable instant messaging from your website
• Respond to inquiries in real-time via WhatsApp
• Continue conversations on mobile (WhatsApp app)
• Share property photos, videos, and documents easily
• Build personal relationships through chat
• Reduce friction in the contact process
• Capture leads who prefer messaging over forms

Why WhatsApp for Real Estate?

WhatsApp is the preferred communication method for many buyers and sellers, especially in international markets. It's more personal than email, faster than forms, and allows rich media sharing (property photos, virtual tours, documents).

Prerequisites

Before setting up WhatsApp integration, you'll need:

1. WhatsApp Account: Active WhatsApp account (personal or WhatsApp Business)
2. Phone Number: The phone number linked to your WhatsApp account
3. WhatsApp Installed: WhatsApp app installed on your phone (or WhatsApp Web access)

Recommended: WhatsApp Business

For professional use, consider upgrading to WhatsApp Business (free):

• Business profile with hours, location, and description
• Quick replies for common questions
• Away messages for after-hours
• Labels to organize conversations
• Catalog to showcase properties

Download: WhatsApp Business

Setup Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Your WhatsApp Number

Phone Number Format:

Your phone number must be in international format without any special characters.

Format: [Country Code][Area Code][Phone Number]

Examples:

• USA: 19175551234 (1 = country code, 917 = area code, 5551234 = number)
• UK: 447700123456 (44 = country code, 7700 = area code, 123456 = number)
• Spain: 34612345678 (34 = country code, 612345678 = number)
• Brazil: 5511987654321 (55 = country code, 11 = area code, 987654321 = number)

Important:

• No spaces, dashes, or parentheses
• No plus (+) sign
• Include country code
• Use the exact number linked to your WhatsApp account

Step 2: Configure WhatsApp in Panda IDX

1. Open Integrations: Navigate to Integrations in your Panda IDX dashboard
2. Find WhatsApp: Locate the WhatsApp integration card
3. Click Configure: Click on the card to open settings
4. Configure Options: Fill in the following fields

Configuration Options

Phone Number (Required)

Format: International format, numbers only (e.g., 19175551234)

What It Does: This is the WhatsApp number that will receive messages when visitors click the chat button.

How to Format:

1. Remove all spaces, dashes, parentheses: (917) 555-1234 → 9175551234
2. Add country code: 9175551234 → 19175551234 (for USA)
3. Final format: 19175551234

Country Codes:

• USA/Canada: 1
• UK: 44
• Australia: 61
• Spain: 34
• Mexico: 52
• Brazil: 55
• India: 91

Subject (Required)

Format: Text message (e.g., "Hi, I'm interested in your properties")

What It Does: Pre-fills the WhatsApp message for visitors. This helps you understand where the message came from and gives context.

Best Practices:

• Keep it short and professional
• Mention where they found you
• Make it easy to customize

Examples:

• "Hi, I'm interested in your listings"
• "Hello, I found you on your website"
• "Hi, I'd like to know more about [property type]"
• "Good day, I have a question about your services"
• "Hello, I'm looking for properties in [area]"

Position (Required)

Options:

• Bottom Left (leftside)
• Bottom Right (rightside)

What It Does: Controls where the WhatsApp button appears on your website.

Recommended: Bottom Right (default)

• Most common position for chat widgets
• Doesn't interfere with left-aligned content
• Familiar placement for users

Choose Bottom Left if:

• You have other widgets on the right side
• Your design benefits from left-side placement
• Cultural preference (right-to-left languages)

Open After 5 Seconds (Optional)

Options:

• Yes (true) - Auto-opens after 5 seconds
• No (false) - Only opens when clicked (default)

What It Does: Automatically opens the WhatsApp widget after 5 seconds to grab visitor attention.

Recommended: No (false)

Pros of Auto-Open:

• Catches visitor attention immediately
• May increase engagement
• Makes chat feature highly visible

Cons of Auto-Open:

• Can be annoying to visitors
• May distract from content
• Lower quality leads (accidental clicks)

Best Practice: Start with auto-open disabled. Enable only if you're not getting enough chat engagement.

Bubble Color (Optional)

Format: Hex color code (e.g., #25D366)

Default: #25D366 (WhatsApp's official green)

What It Does: Changes the background color of the floating chat button.

Recommended Colors:

• #25D366 - WhatsApp green (default, most recognizable)
• #128C7E - Darker WhatsApp green
• #075E54 - WhatsApp dark green
• Your brand color (if you want consistency with your website)

Best Practice: Keep the default WhatsApp green for instant recognition. Visitors know to click green = WhatsApp.

How It Works

Visitor Experience

1. Button Appears: Visitor sees floating WhatsApp button on your website (bottom left or right)
2. Click Button: Visitor clicks the WhatsApp icon
3. WhatsApp Opens:
   • Mobile: Opens WhatsApp app with pre-filled message
   • Desktop: Opens WhatsApp Web with pre-filled message
4. Send Message: Visitor can edit the message and send
5. Conversation Starts: You receive the message on your WhatsApp

Your Experience

1. Receive Notification: WhatsApp notification on your phone
2. View Message: Open WhatsApp to see the inquiry
3. Respond: Reply instantly with text, photos, voice, or video
4. Continue Conversation: Chat naturally like any WhatsApp conversation
5. Follow Up: Save contact, set reminders, move to transaction pipeline

Best Practices

Response Time

Be Fast: WhatsApp users expect quick responses.

• Aim for under 5 minutes during business hours
• Set up away messages for after-hours
• Use WhatsApp Business auto-replies for common questions

Recommended:

1. Enable WhatsApp Business
2. Set business hours
3. Create away message: "Thanks for your message! I'll respond within [timeframe]."
4. Turn on read receipts so visitors know you saw their message

Professional Communication

First Response Template:

Hi [Name]! Thanks for reaching out via my website. I'd be happy to help you with [their question].

Are you available for a quick call, or would you prefer to chat here?

Keep It Personal:

• Use their name if they provide it
• Respond with voice notes for a personal touch
• Share property photos and videos directly
• Use WhatsApp Status for market updates

Lead Qualification

Qualifying Questions via WhatsApp:

1. "Are you looking to buy or sell?"
2. "What areas are you interested in?"
3. "What's your timeline?"
4. "What's your budget range?"
5. "Are you pre-approved for a mortgage?" (buyers)

Transition to CRM:

• After qualifying, add the contact to your Panda IDX CRM
• Tag the source as "WhatsApp - Website"
• Continue relationship through both WhatsApp and CRM

Using WhatsApp Business Features

Quick Replies (for common questions):

• Property availability
• Showing schedules
• Price ranges
• Neighborhood information

Labels (to organize conversations):

• New Lead
• Hot Lead
• Buyer
• Seller
• Nurture
• Closed

Catalog (showcase properties):

• Add listings to WhatsApp Business catalog
• Share catalog with prospects
• Easy browsing within WhatsApp

Advanced Tips

Segment by Page

Set up different WhatsApp subjects for different pages:

Example:

• Buyer page: "Hi, I'm interested in buying a property"
• Seller page: "Hi, I'd like to sell my property"
• Luxury listings: "Hi, I'm interested in luxury properties"

How to Implement: Currently, the integration uses one subject site-wide. For page-specific messages, manually update the subject based on your primary audience.

Track WhatsApp Leads

In Panda IDX CRM:

1. Manually add WhatsApp contacts to CRM
2. Tag source as "WhatsApp - Website"
3. Create a segment for WhatsApp leads
4. Track conversion rates

In Google Analytics:

• WhatsApp clicks are tracked as events (if event tracking enabled)
• Review event data to see how many visitors clicked WhatsApp button

Combine with Other Integrations

WhatsApp + Facebook Pixel:

• Track which Facebook ads lead to WhatsApp conversations
• Build audiences of people who clicked WhatsApp button
• Retarget WhatsApp clickers with ads

WhatsApp + Google Analytics:

• Analyze which pages have highest WhatsApp click-through rates
• Optimize pages based on WhatsApp engagement

Troubleshooting

Button Not Appearing

Problem: WhatsApp button doesn't show on your website.

Solutions:

1. Check Integration: Confirm you saved the integration in Panda IDX
2. Verify Phone Number: Ensure phone number is in correct format (numbers only, with country code)
3. Clear Cache: Clear browser cache and reload your website
4. Check Subject: Subject field cannot be empty
5. Wait 5 Minutes: Changes can take a few minutes to propagate

WhatsApp Not Opening

Problem: Clicking button doesn't open WhatsApp.

Solutions:

1. WhatsApp Installed: Ensure WhatsApp is installed (mobile) or accessible (WhatsApp Web)
2. Check Phone Format: Verify phone number format is correct (no spaces, dashes, +)
3. Browser Compatibility: Some older browsers may not support WhatsApp links
4. Try Different Device: Test on both mobile and desktop

Wrong Number or Message

Problem: WhatsApp opens with wrong number or wrong pre-filled message.

Solutions:

1. Update Configuration: Go to Integrations → WhatsApp and update
2. Clear Cache: Clear browser cache after updating
3. Hard Refresh: Press Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)
4. Check Typos: Ensure no extra spaces in phone number or subject

Auto-Open Too Aggressive

Problem: WhatsApp widget auto-opens and annoys visitors.

Solutions:

1. Disable Auto-Open: Go to Integrations → WhatsApp
2. Change Setting: Set "Open After 5 seconds?" to "No"
3. Save Changes: Click Save
4. Test: Visit your website to confirm it no longer auto-opens

Button Position Wrong

Problem: WhatsApp button appears on the wrong side or overlaps content.

Solutions:

1. Change Position: Go to Integrations → WhatsApp
2. Select Different Side: Choose "Bottom Left" or "Bottom Right"
3. Save Changes: Click Save
4. Test on Mobile: Ensure position works on mobile devices too

Privacy & Compliance

Important Considerations:

• WhatsApp conversations are subject to WhatsApp's privacy policy
• Messages are end-to-end encrypted
• Keep records of important conversations (screenshots, exports)
• Comply with local communication and privacy laws
• Obtain consent before adding contacts to broadcast lists

Best Practice:

• Only message people who initiated contact
• Don't spam or send unsolicited messages
• Respect opt-out requests
• Maintain professional communication

WhatsApp vs Contact Forms

Use WhatsApp For:

• Quick questions and immediate responses
• Casual, conversational communication
• Sharing photos, videos, and documents
• Voice and video calls
• Mobile-first audiences
• International clients

Use Contact Forms For:

• Formal inquiries
• Detailed information collection
• Automated lead routing
• CRM integration
• Email-preferring audiences
• Data organization

Best Approach: Offer both! WhatsApp for instant communication, forms for detailed inquiries.

Quick Tips

💡 Use WhatsApp Business: Get professional features like away messages, quick replies, and business profile

💡 Respond Quickly: WhatsApp users expect fast responses - aim for under 5 minutes

💡 Share Rich Media: Send property photos, virtual tours, and videos directly in chat

💡 Save Contacts: After a conversation, save the contact in your phone with tags (buyer, seller, area)

💡 Use Status Updates: Share market updates, new listings, and open houses on WhatsApp Status

💡 Voice Notes: Use voice messages for a personal touch - faster than typing, more personal than text

💡 Create Broadcast Lists: Group qualified leads into broadcast lists for property alerts

💡 Test the Button: Click your own WhatsApp button to verify it works correctly

Quick Reference Table

Real Estate Use Cases

Property Inquiries:

• Quick questions about specific listings
• Availability and showing schedules
• Pricing information

Buyer Communication:

• Share new listings instantly
• Send property photos and videos
• Coordinate showings
• Answer questions on the go

Seller Communication:

• Quick market updates
• Share listing performance
• Send showing feedback
• Coordinate access for showings

Transaction Management:

• Document sharing (contracts, disclosures)
• Schedule coordination
• Quick status updates
• Celebrate closings with photos/videos