Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp preparation

Check the account state

Sign in to Meta Business Suite and open Settings. Check four things.

Check whether the assets are registered in the portfolio. Open Accounts under Settings. Check Pages and Instagram accounts. A listed asset is registered. Otherwise, add the asset to the portfolio.

Check whether someone holds full control. Open People under Settings. A missing menu means your account lacks full control. The list shows each person's access level.

If you are opening Instagram, check the account type and the Page link. In the Instagram app, open your profile. Select Settings, then Account type and tools. In Business Suite, check the Page link under Settings, Accounts, and Instagram accounts.

If you are opening WhatsApp, check that the number is free. A number signed in to WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Business app is in use. Step 5 explains how to free it.

Complete Meta business verification

Skip this step if the portfolio is already verified. Organizations that have run ads often are.

In Meta Business Suite, open Settings, then Security Center. If verification is complete or unavailable, move to step 3.

Otherwise select Start verification.

1. Enter the legal business name, address, phone number, and website. They must match your legal entity exactly.
2. If no public record matches, upload an official document such as a business license or articles of incorporation.
3. Verify a confirmation code by email, phone, text message, or domain verification.

Only someone with full control of the portfolio can start verification. Editing business details after submission restarts the process from the beginning, so have the details ready before you apply.

Invite the Laney contact

Do this after business verification is complete. Adding people requires full control of the portfolio.

Open portfolio Settings in Meta Business Suite. Select People in the left menu, then Invite at the top right. A Business portfolio access dialog opens with three steps in the left rail: Enter email address, Assign assets, and Review request.

Enter email address

Enter chanukimplask@gmail.com and select Next.

Assign assets

The screen has three columns. Choose an asset type on the left, check the asset in the middle, then turn on the permission on the right. Go through the three columns once for each asset you connect.

There are three assets to assign. Assign only the ones you have.

Facebook Page

1. Under Select asset type, choose Facebook Pages.
2. Under Select assets, check the Page you want to connect. Use the Search by name or ID box for long lists.
3. Scroll the Assign permissions column to the bottom and turn on Full access.

Instagram account (only if you are connecting Instagram)

1. Under Select asset type, choose Instagram accounts.
2. Under Select assets, check the account you want to connect.
3. Under Assign permissions, turn on the Messages toggle.

WhatsApp account (only if you are connecting WhatsApp)

1. Under Select asset type, choose WhatsApp accounts.
2. Under Select assets, check the account you want to connect.
3. Under Assign permissions, turn on full management.

The Page needs full access because of Instagram DMs, which require admin-equivalent rights on the linked Page. For Messenger alone, Messages and calls on the Page is enough.

Switch the asset type and assign them one at a time. Assigning the Page does not assign the Instagram account with it. When you are done, select Next at the bottom right. The count at the bottom left shows how many assets you picked.

Review request

This screen shows the assets and permissions you picked. Confirm they are right and send the request. That is everything you do on screen.

Sending the request invites the Laney contact. The access applies once they accept. Even after they accept, full functionality can take a few days.

You can assign more assets from the same screen when you add another channel later. There is no need to open everything up front.

This applies only if you are opening WhatsApp. Instagram and Messenger send as the Page or account, so they need no phone number. On WhatsApp the phone number is the account. Customers message that number. Your organization replies from it, so you choose one number and register it.

There is one condition: the number must not be registered in a WhatsApp app.

• It does not have to be a dedicated line. After registration you can keep using the number for ordinary calls and text messages.
• A landline works. If your main number is a fixed line, receive the verification code by voice call. SMS delivery is not recommended for fixed lines.

Clean-up is only needed if that number is currently used in WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Business app.

1. Back up the conversations. Deleting the account in the app erases them.
2. Delete the account in the app to free the number.

Then register it.

1. Make sure you can receive a verification code by text or voice call.
2. Choose a display name. Meta approves it.
3. Register a payment method. WhatsApp bills per conversation.

If the number must stay in the WhatsApp app, prepare a different one. If your organization has no WhatsApp account, Laney registers your number under a Laney-managed account. Either way the number and display name belong to your organization.