A customer who messages you and doesn't hear back within minutes is a customer who cools off. But nobody can be in the chat 24/7. NotifyBulk autoresponders reply for you instantly: a welcome, your hours when you're closed, or a reply to a keyword — on the right channel, without lifting a finger.
In this guide
How an autoresponder works
When an inbound message arrives, NotifyBulk checks your active rules in priority order and fires the first one that matches (the rest are skipped). Rules are set per channel, so you can have different replies for WhatsApp and SMS.
The 4 available triggers
| Trigger | When it fires |
|---|---|
| Always | On every inbound message (within the cooldown) |
| First contact | Only the very first time a contact messages you |
| Keyword | When the message contains, exactly matches, or starts with a word |
| Off hours | When a message arrives outside your business hours |
For keyword you pick the match mode (contains / exact / starts with). For off hours you set your weekly schedule (open and close per day + timezone); days with no hours are treated as closed.
Messages with variables, per channel
The reply message is personalized with variables that are replaced on send:
| Variable | Replaced with |
|---|---|
{{contact_name}} | Contact's name (or "Cliente" if unknown) |
{{store_name}} | Your store's name |
{{current_time}} / {{current_date}} | Current time / date in your timezone |
{{business_hours}} | Your schedule (useful in off-hours messages) |
Each rule applies only to the connected channels you choose: all at once or a specific few.
Priority, delay and cooldown
Rules are evaluated top to bottom and the first match wins — drag to reorder. On top of that, each rule has:
- Delay: wait X minutes before sending (0 = immediate). A 1–2 minute delay makes replies feel more natural.
- Cooldown: minimum minutes between firings of the same rule in a conversation. It prevents spam if the customer sends several messages in a row, and it also respects when a human on your team is already replying.
An example setup
2. First contact → welcome message
3. Off hours → "We're closed. Hours: {{business_hours}}"
4. Always → "Hi {{contact_name}}! We'll be right with you." (catch-all)
With that stack you cover opt-out, welcome, hours and a general fallback — and since the first match wins, every message gets exactly the right reply.
Never leave a message unanswered
Create a free account and set up your first welcome or off-hours autoresponder in minutes.
Start free →Frequently asked questions
What is an autoresponder?
It's a rule that sends an automatic reply when a customer messages you. It's great for covering off-hours, welcoming new contacts or responding to specific keywords.
What can trigger an automatic reply?
Four triggers: always, first contact (the first time someone messages you), keyword (contains, exact or starts with) and off hours (based on your business-hours schedule).
Can I have different replies per channel?
Yes. Each rule applies to the channels you choose among the ones you have connected, so you can have one message for WhatsApp and another for SMS.
Will the autoresponder interfere if a human is already replying?
No. The cooldown prevents the rule from firing too often, and it also applies when a member of your team has recently sent a message in that conversation, so it won't interfere with human support.
Keep reading: WhatsApp vs SMS vs Email · campaigns that react to opens and clicks.