Subscription Messaging Deadline Dec 31. What To Do !

There are big changes coming to the use of Facebook Messenger as a marketing tool. From the 31st of December, you will not be able to take advantage of “Subscription Messaging“ unless you have successfully gone through an application process for each of your Facebook business pages.
If you are a Page admin then you must act now! But fear not, this page will explain how to apply for subscription messaging yourself, or you can contact FB‑Chatbots for professional help. Even if you do not feel ready to build chatbots, or to have them built for you by FB‑Chatbots (our contact details are at the bottom of this page), you should still go through the application process for each Facebook Page to ensure that this option remains open to you. It offers huge marketing advantages.

Subscription Messaging Explained

There are numerous forms of messaging when using Messenger chatbot accounts. Facebook has defined 17 types of messaging, most of which are relevant only to certain businesses. Standard messages are only allowed within 24 hours of the last communication back from the user!! This is why subscription messaging is so important for business. Without it, you have only a short window of response time and only to those that wrote to you first. Everything else will basically have to be paid advertising messages.Here you can read Facebook’s Messenger Policy Platform Overview, which will open at the section on Subscription Messaging.

The Benefits of Subscription Messaging

Subscription messaging is the messaging type that allows you to send regular content to your contacts as “news-blasts“. It gives the ability to send push notifications for free at any time. These are similar in nature to sending mail-shots from your e-mail marketing list.
There are more restrictions on content than for standard messages as your e-mails as messages must be “non promotional“, meaning that they are intended for informative content and news and cannot be used for sending commercialized messages. On the other hand, the ‘opening rate’ of Facebook Messenger is much higher than for e-mail and so are the Click-Through-Rates for any links placed there. Messenger enjoying something like 70%-80% opening rates and a 20% click-through-rate compared with 15%-20% opening rates for well crafted e-mails and only a 2% click-through-rate.

How to Apply for Subscription Messaging on Facebook Messenger.

There’s some good news!!!
Applying for subscription messaging permission is not complicated.

In your Facebook Page (admin user), go to the following

=> Settings => Messenger Platform => Advanced Messaging Features
Now find Subscription Messaging and click Request

Now you will see three information requests

1. Select the type of messages your Page will send :
   a. News
   b. Productivity
   c. Personal Tracking
2. Provide additional details: => Describe the kind of messages you will send and how often.
3. Give examples of messages your Page will send: => Write at least two example messages.

The requests are not processed electronically, your Page and the subscription messaging request will be reviewed by human employees of Facebook.The example messages that you submit must be of the same type as selected message type.“News“ is the relevant choice for most businesses, so make sure that your examples are news items.

Example Messages for Your Application

Here are the two example messages, one good and one bad.It seems that the majority of Page admins are having to apply several time before gaining approval. Bearing this in mind, I recommend that you start applying right now. There also seems to be no limit to the number of times that you can apply.

GOOD Example
Travel advisory for northeast winter weather:
scheduled flight service may be disrupted.
Check the website for details.
Do provide helpful information

BAD Example
Flights to Hawaii as low as $499 round trip.
What are you waiting for?
Don't provide deals and promotions

What To Do If My Request is Refused

APPLY AGAIN – and make sure you are in time !It seems that the majority of Page admins are having to apply several time before gaining approval. Bearing this in mind, I recommend that you start applying right now. There also seems to be no limit to the number of times that you can apply.