0 · Secure your account

• Default login is admin / admin123. Set a strong password before going live — use the ADMIN_PASSWORD env var on first run, or change it later via the change-password API.
• Everything is stored on your own server — no third-party SaaS, no monthly fee.

1 · Connect WhatsApp + Meta Lead Ads (one-time, ~5 min)

Go to Settings → WhatsApp Cloud API and follow the ⚡ Guided setup card — every step there deep-links to the exact Meta page:

1. Create a Meta app (type Business) and add the WhatsApp product to it in the app dashboard.
2. Paste the App ID & App Secret into the wizard → Save.
3. Create a Facebook Login for Business configuration (User access token, tick all permissions) and paste its Configuration ID → Save.
4. Add the OAuth redirect URI shown in the wizard to Facebook Login → Settings.
5. Click Connect with Facebook. Done — access token, WABA ID, Phone Number ID, verify token, webhook and your lead-ads Pages are configured automatically. The Dashboard shows ● Connected.

After connecting, new Meta lead-form submissions auto-import as contacts (tagged by campaign) and are re-checked every 5 minutes. To pull old leads once, open while logged in.

2 · Turn on the AI assistant (optional, free)

1. Get a free API key from Google AI Studio (Gemini) or Groq. Paste it in Settings → AI assistant.
2. In the Business info / FAQ box, paste everything the AI should know: what you sell, prices, timings, policies, common questions. The AI answers only from this.
3. Keep AI enabled and AI auto-reply ON checked. Now every WhatsApp message gets an instant reply, even at night.
4. In any chat, tick AI paused to take over manually for that one person.
5. No key? It still works with a built-in basic auto-reply — just less smart.

3 · Sending messages

• Replies in a chat are free within 24 hours of the customer's last message. The green/amber banner shows the window.
• Broadcasts & sequences need an approved template. Create templates in Meta Business Manager → they appear in the Templates tab once approved.
• Broadcast: pick an audience (paste numbers / all / by tag), enter the template name, send. Optional schedule for later.
• Sequences: set up a drip of template messages auto-sent over days; auto-enroll anyone with a chosen tag.
• Marketing template messages are billed by Meta on your own account (~₹0.8 each in India). Set your rate in Settings to track spend.

4 · Capturing website leads (optional)

Point any website contact form at this endpoint to collect leads here too:

POST 
Content-Type: application/json

{ "source": "website", "name": "...", "phone": "...", "email": "...", "message": "..." }

5 · Daily use

• WhatsApp → Chats: live inbox. A sound + badge alerts you to new messages from any tab.
• WhatsApp → Contacts: your audience, with tags. Import/export CSV.
• Leads: every enquiry (website, Meta, WhatsApp) in one list. Export to CSV anytime.
• Analytics: delivery/read rates and per-campaign performance.