WhatsApp lead follow-up for businesses in Canada

• The consent basis on every contact

  The intake flow writes its answers, including the consent basis, to contact fields, and the conversation's own timestamp shows when the person first got in touch, so every later message can be traced back to when and why.

  Source:Automation builder guideContacts guide

• A follow-up sequence with a fixed end

  Delays space the follow-up templates from the moment of the inquiry, conditions branch on answers, and a wait-until step holds a message for a fixed date and time. Build the sequence so its last commercial message goes out well before six months.

  Source:Automation builder guideWhatsApp Business setup guide

• An express-consent request as the last step

  The final template asks whether the person wants to keep hearing from you, with "Yes" and "No thanks" buttons. A yes is stored as the contact's express-consent answer and moves them into the segment future campaigns use. Have your adviser check the request's wording against CASL's rules for seeking express consent.

  Source:Automation builder guideCampaigns guide

• Unsubscribes that block the contact

  When a reply matches one of your opt-out keywords, Slide blocks the contact, and blocked contacts are skipped on every channel. The keyword list starts empty, so you add STOP and its French equivalents yourself.

• English and French templates

  French is in Slide's template editor alongside English, so each follow-up can be approved in both and sent according to the language the lead chose.

• A salesperson takes the warm leads

  A handoff step puts the conversation in the shared inbox with the collected answers and emails the team. HubSpot can sync contacts both ways if your pipeline lives there.

  Source:Automation builder guideGetting started guideIntegrations guide

Requirements

• Meta business portfolio and verification

  Your +1 number sits in a Meta business portfolio, and Meta verifies the business before it can send at scale. Allow several business days.

  Source:Meta Business Manager guide
• A number not registered on the WhatsApp apps

  The number you connect cannot also be in use on the WhatsApp consumer or Business app.

  Source:WhatsApp Business setup guide
• Templates that identify you and offer an unsubscribe

  Every follow-up after the window is a template Meta approves. Under CASL each commercial message identifies the sender and includes an unsubscribe, so write both into the template text.

  Source:WhatsApp Business setup guideCanada's Anti-Spam Legislation (S.C. 2010, c. 23) (opens in a new tab)
• Opt-out keywords in English and French

  The WhatsApp opt-out keyword list starts empty. Add the words leads will use in both languages before the first follow-up goes out.

• Fields for the consent basis

  Create contact fields for the consent basis (inquiry, purchase or express) and the express-consent answer, so the flow can fill them in. The conversation's timestamp shows when each answer was given; where you need a date in a field, the team records it.

  Source:Contacts guide
• A confirmed payment method and a funded wallet

  The workspace is billed in US dollars; confirm the payment method with the Slide team before you subscribe. Per-message charges come from a prepaid wallet, and sends stop when it is empty.

  Source:Billing and wallet guideBilling and wallet guide

Launch sequence

1. 1

   Start Meta business verification and connect the number (setup guide).

2. 2

   Create the consent fields in contacts.

3. 3

   Build the intake flow and the follow-up automation in the automation builder, with delays that end before six months and the express-consent request as the last step.

4. 4

   Write each follow-up in English and French, name the business, include the unsubscribe line, and submit for Meta approval.

5. 5

   Add opt-out keywords in both languages, and name who checks the inbox for unsubscribes written in other words.

6. 6

   Point future campaigns only at contacts with express consent or a purchase in the last two years; a segment on a purchase-date field compares with a fixed date, so move its cut-off forward before each send. Then go live.

• CASL covers commercial WhatsApp messages

  Section 6 of CASL requires consent, sender identification and an unsubscribe in every commercial electronic message, and the Act's "electronic address" includes instant messaging and telephone accounts as well as email.

  Source:Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (S.C. 2010, c. 23) (opens in a new tab)

• Implied consent has an end date

  An inquiry gives implied consent for 6 months; a purchase or contract gives it for 2 years. After that, express consent is needed. Slide does not calculate these periods for you, which is why the consent basis belongs on the contact and the follow-up sequence, timed from the inquiry, should end before the limit.

  Source:Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, s.10(10) (opens in a new tab)Contacts guide

• Unsubscribes take effect within 10 business days

  CASL requires an unsubscribe request to be given effect within 10 business days. Keyword replies are acted on by Slide once you have added the keywords; a request in other words needs a person to act on it in time.

  Source:Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (S.C. 2010, c. 23) (opens in a new tab)

• No business-initiated WhatsApp calls from +1 numbers

  Meta lists Canadian business numbers among those that cannot place business-initiated WhatsApp calls. Customers can still call the business, but a salesperson who wants to talk has to use an ordinary phone line.

  Source:Meta: WhatsApp Business Calling (opens in a new tab)

• French for Quebec, and Law 25 for Quebec data

  Quebec's Charter of the French language gives consumers the right to be served in French, though whether it reaches individual chats is not settled in official guidance; French is in Slide's template editor. Law 25 requires an assessment before Quebec residents' personal information is communicated outside Quebec, so ask the Slide team where data is hosted.

  Source:OQLF: Language of commerce and business (opens in a new tab)Commission d'accès à l'information: Law 25 (opens in a new tab)

This is a summary of public rules for orientation, not legal advice. Slide does not certify that any business's messaging complies with local law; check your own obligations with a qualified adviser.

• CASL requires consent, sender identification and an unsubscribe in every commercial electronic message

  Section 6: express or implied consent; identify the sender; include an unsubscribe. An "electronic address" includes email, instant messaging and telephone accounts. Section 11(3): unsubscribes take effect within 10 business days.

  Official source·Checked 11 October 2026·Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (S.C. 2010, c. 23) (opens in a new tab)
• Under CASL, implied consent from a business relationship lasts 2 years after a purchase and 6 months after an inquiry

  An existing business relationship gives implied consent for two years from a purchase or contract and six months from an inquiry or application. After that, express consent is needed.

  Official source·Checked 11 October 2026·Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, s.10(10) (opens in a new tab)
• Business-initiated WhatsApp calls are unavailable for business numbers in some countries

  Meta lists countries where a business number cannot place calls: Nigerian, Egyptian, Canadian and US business numbers are on it; Kenyan and South African numbers are not. Customers can still call the business where the Cloud API is available. Calling needs a messaging limit of at least 2,000.

  Official source·Checked 11 October 2026·Meta: WhatsApp Business Calling (opens in a new tab)
• Canada is priced in Meta's "North America" group with the United States

  Canada (+1) shares the North America line. Utility and authentication rates for this market were lowered on 1 January 2026. There is no CAD rate card.

  Official source·Checked 11 October 2026·Meta: WhatsApp pricing (opens in a new tab)
• WhatsApp leads can come from Click-to-WhatsApp ads, QR codes and links, website chat, WhatsApp forms and Meta or Google lead forms

  Ad referrals are captured with their source, QR codes and links start a flow, native WhatsApp forms collect fields, and lead-form submissions trigger automations.

  Verified in the product·Checked 11 October 2026·Meta Ads guide

• WhatsApp automation in CanadaHow Canadian businesses use Slide for WhatsApp support and follow-up in English and French, with CASL consent and unsubscribes, and no outbound calls from +1 numbers.
• Sales conversion: all channelsFollow up every open lead on time with WhatsApp campaigns and delayed follow-ups, email sequences that stop on reply, and in-chat payment requests in India.
• WhatsApp Business setup guideStep by step, from connecting the account to the first send.
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