The standard WhatsApp survey feature enables users to efficiently share survey links through WhatsApp. Surveys can be sent to individual contacts or groups, guiding recipients to a mobile-friendly form for easy and seamless completion. Distribution can be done either on an ad-hoc basis or through automated triggers. This article focuses on the ad-hoc distribution method.

Business Use Cases

• Getting feedback from a Community with standard WhatsApp survey: The standard WhatsApp distribution feature makes it easy to collect detailed feedback by sharing survey links through WhatsApp. These links direct participants to a mobile-friendly form, allowing comprehensive surveys to be distributed to individuals or groups. This approach offers a smooth, interactive experience outside the chat, while keeping the process simple and familiar. Participants can respond seamlessly on their mobile devices, providing valuable insights in an engaging and user-friendly way.

A standard WhatsApp survey distribution is one approach to conducting surveys via WhatsApp, and it shares the same core values and benefits as other WhatsApp survey methods. However, it offers key advantages over conversational WhatsApp surveys. One major benefit is that it supports rich surveys with unlimited questions. Unlike conversational formats—which are limited by character restrictions and minimal media support, the standard method allows you to share a link to a mobile-friendly survey form. This enables the inclusion of multiple questions, rich media (like images and videos), and advanced question types, creating a more comprehensive and engaging survey experience. Additionally, it offers a streamlined user experience, respondents can complete the survey at their own pace, without the interruptions typical of back-and-forth messaging. Accessing a dedicated survey form through a shared link ensures a clearer experience, minimizes distractions, and allows participants to review and revise responses before submitting.

Prerequisites

In order to access the WhatsApp distribution, you must have access to the following View and Edit Distribution permissions at Survey Level.

Setting up Adhoc Standard WhatsApp Survey Distribution

Let's have look at detailed steps:

1. Go to Distribution tab and select WhatsApp distribution.

2. Click + Create Distribution.

3. Select Standard Distribution.

   

4. Go to Distribution Details section and fill in the details:

   

   1. Distribution Name: Add a meaningful name of the distribution.

   2. Distribution Description: Add a meaningful description.

   3. Click Next.

5. Go to Create Template Section and fill in the details:

   

   1. Message Header: Add the message header that you would want to show to the respondent. It supports up to 60 characters. You can also choose to use no header or replace it with an audio, video, or document file.

   2. Message Body: You can add a message to the main body and can add up to 1,024 characters. You can use formatting options like emojis, bold, italics, and strikethrough as supported. In the bottom-right corner of the box, you'll find the Sprinklr AI+ feature, a generative AI assistant that can help review and enhance your content.

      

   3. Message Footer: You can add a WhatsApp footer that would include a default, editable unsubscription message containing the keyword "STOP." While it's not mandatory to include this message, adding an opt-out option is strongly recommended to respect respondents' privacy and comply with regional regulations.

   4. Survey Link Button: You can customize the link button text that redirects recipients to the survey. By default, the button is labeled "Give Feedback".

   5. Click Next.

6. Go to Link Settings section and fill in the details:

   

   1. Start Date: Define start date (the survey can be accessed after the start date and time).

   2. Expiration Type: Select the duration for how long the survey link should remain active after it is sent. You can select these options:

      1. Static Expiry (Default): Set a fixed expiration date and time for the survey link. Select the options:

         1. Scheduled distributions

         2. Send Now distributions

      2. Dynamic Expiry: Applies to trigger-based distributions only. Expiration is calculated from the time the link is sent to each respondent. Example: If dynamic expiry is set to 1 day and a user receives the link at 10 AM on June 4, their link will expire at 10 AM on June 5 , regardless of when the distribution was created.

         • Hours (1–24)

         • Days (1+)

           Note: This setting overrides any fixed end date, ensuring each respondent has an equal time window to complete the survey based on when they receive the link.

   3. End Date: You can define the end date.

   4. Limit submissions per respondent: You can toggle to enable or disable submission limits per respondent, and set the allowed number of submissions. By default, each recipient is limited to one response. Enable or disable the option to reset submission limits after a set time interval, and specify the reset period in days.

   5. Response custom fields: You can pre-fill any survey response field for all responses received through the survey link sent via this distribution. This supports better analytics and streamlines response workflows. Multiple fields can be configured using the plus (+) icon.

7. Go to Create Thank You Template page and fill in the details:

   

   You can toggle to enable or disable the Thank You template.

   1. Message Header: Add the message header that you would want to show to the respondent. It supports up to 60 characters. You can also choose to use no header or replace it with an audio, video, or document file.

   2. Message Body: You can add a message to the main body and can add up to 1,024 characters. You can use formatting options like emojis, bold, italics, and strikethrough as supported. In the bottom-right corner of the box, you'll find the Sprinklr AI+ feature, a generative AI assistant that can help review and enhance your content.

   3. Message Footer: You can add a WhatsApp footer that would include a default, editable unsubscription message containing the keyword STOP. While it's not mandatory to include this message, adding an opt-out option is strongly recommended to respect respondents' privacy and comply with regional regulations.

   4. Buttons: You can select the button type. You can select Call to Action and Quick Reply buttons.

      1. Call to Action: You can add custom text and configure the action button to either open a URL or initiate a call. Once you choose an option, enter the corresponding URL or phone number.

      2. Quick Reply: You can add labels to the buttons and include upto 3 buttons.

         Post selecting the button options click Next.

8. Go to Create Reminder Template page and fill in the details:

   

   You can toggle to enable or disable the Reminder template.

   

   1. Message Header: Add the message header that you would want to show to the respondent. It supports up to 60 characters. You can also choose to use no header or replace it with an audio, video, or document file.

   2. Message Body: You can add a message to the main body and can add up to 1,024 characters. You can use formatting options like emojis, bold, italics, and strikethrough as supported. In the bottom-right corner of the box, you'll find the Sprinklr AI+ feature, a generative AI assistant that can help review and enhance your content.

   3. Message Footer: You can add a WhatsApp footer that would include a default, editable unsubscription message containing the keyword "STOP." While it's not mandatory to include this message, adding an opt-out option is strongly recommended to respect respondents' privacy and comply with regional regulations.

   4. Survey Link Buttons: You can customize the link button text that redirects recipients to the survey. By default, the button is labeled "Fill Survey".

   5. Reminder Frequency: You have the option to adjust the frequency of the reminder: it can be set to Not Repeat, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. You can also determine the gap between reminders (for instance, every X days, weeks, or months) and indicate how many times the reminder should be sent in total.

      

      Click Next.

9. Go to Transalation Details page:

   Go to Translation Condition page and click + Translation.

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   1. Language Selector: Click Add Language from the language dropdown to include additional languages in the distribution.

   2. Transalation Condition: Select the language in which you would like the message to be translated.

      Set up translation conditions using profile-level custom fields. These fields are evaluated for each profile before the message is sent. The language of the WhatsApp message is determined based on the conditions configured here.

      

      

      Note: Add translations for different message types on the right side. You can use Sprinklr AI+ to reword content, correct spelling and grammar, adjust length, modify tone, simplify language, or translate text.

   3. Click Next.

10. Go to Schedule Distribution page:

    

    You have the option to select distribution type:

    1. Schedule: It is called as ad-hoc distribution. This allows you to schedule the distribution for a specific time. Example: You might choose to send an event feedback survey two days after the event ends.

       1. Select Date and Time: You can select the date and time when you can schedule.

       2. Sender Account: Select the sender account.

       3. Recipients: Select profiles, profile lists and profile samples.

    2. Send Now: This allows you to send the distribution immediately after you complete and save the configuration. Enter the sender account and select the recipients; these can be individual profiles, profile lists, profile segments, or profile samples. To understand how to choose recipients from profiles, profile lists, segments, or samples, refer to the linked articles for more detailed guidance on recipient selection.

    3. Trigger Based: The Trigger Survey Distribution action node allows workflows to automatically distribute surveys through WhatsApp once predefined conditions are satisfied by selecting the sender account details.

Manage Distribution

Navigate to the Record Manager and click the Vertical Ellipses(3 dots) against the distribution. Let's have a look at the options:

• Edit Distribution: You can make changes to the distribution.

• Clone: You can clone the distribution.

• Distribution Report: Monitors responses and manage follow-ups using WhatsApp distribution Report.

• Delete: You can delete the distribution.

• View: You can view the distribution details by clicking the eye icon.

Preview

You can use the Preview feature to see how your message will appear in the WhatsApp chat interface for respondents. While the survey builder lets you test the survey experience, you'll need to create a test distribution targeting a specific test account to fully test the WhatsApp distribution, including message delivery, timing, and reminders. Once you're satisfied with the results, clone the distribution and make any necessary changes before sending it to your actual audience.

Best Practices

• Clear and Concise Messaging: Use simple, direct language to ensure your message is quickly understood.

• Optimal Timing: Schedule messages strategically to reach recipients when they’re most likely to engage.

• Smart Use of Multimedia: Incorporate images, videos, or GIFs to make your messages more engaging and impactful.

• Compliance with WhatsApp's Terms of Service: Respect user privacy and avoid sending unsolicited or spammy messages.