Sales workflows
WhatsApp lead qualification questions for export sales
A practical question set for qualifying WhatsApp leads: quantity, specifications, destination, lead time, payment terms, and the decision maker.
A first WhatsApp message often contains a product name and little else. Quoting too early wastes time; asking too many questions at once can end the conversation.
A short, ordered question set keeps the exchange moving. Ask one group at a time, confirm the answer in your own words, and use translation to read the reply, not to automate the conversation.
Ask in a fixed order
Start with what the buyer wants to buy, then move to how much, where it goes, and how the deal is paid. Each answer changes what you quote next.
Do not send all five questions at once in a wall of text. Send two or three lines, then wait. The order matters more than the wording.
- What product and model do you need?
- What quantity and packaging?
- Which destination and delivery date?
- Which trade term and payment method?
- Who confirms the order?
Quantity and specifications
Quantity is not only a number. Ask for the unit, the packaging, and whether the buyer needs a sample first. A request for 500 pieces can mean 500 retail units or 500 cartons.
Specifications should be confirmed in writing: material, size, tolerance, certification, and labeling. If the buyer sends a photo or a PDF, read it and repeat the key points back.
Destination, delivery, and payment
Ask for the destination city or port, the target delivery date, and the trade term the buyer expects. These three answers decide whether your price is comparable to another supplier's.
Payment terms belong in the first conversation, not the last. Ask whether the buyer works with a deposit, a letter of credit, or another method, and say that the formal quotation will confirm the details.
Find the decision maker without pressure
Ask who will confirm the specification and who signs off on payment. A procurement assistant may collect quotes while a manager makes the decision.
Phrase it as a practical question, not an interrogation. 'Who should I copy on the quotation?' is easier to answer than 'Are you the decision maker?'
Cross-language questions need term checks
When you ask in a second language, confirm the terms that carry commercial weight: quantity unit, trade term, payment method, and date format. A translated word can be correct and still mean something different in the buyer's market.
Use translation to read the reply and to draft your question. Then review the wording before sending. The extension does not send messages or run an automatic sales sequence; every message is yours.
Machine translation is a reading aid. Do not rely on it for contract terms, legal wording, or final pricing. Confirm those in writing with the buyer.
Do it on your device
Web
- Open the inquiry in WhatsApp Web in desktop Chrome 120 or later.
- Use the dropdown arrow beside the message from the buyer to translate it, and check units, trade terms, payment method, and dates against the original.
- Draft the next two or three questions in the side panel, then review the wording.
- Send the message yourself from WhatsApp; the extension does not send messages or run follow-ups.
Ask one group at a time and confirm commercial terms in writing.
iPhone
- Long-press the message from the buyer, image, or voice note in WhatsApp and share it to the inWind shortcut.
- Read the translation and copy the terms you need.
- Draft your questions in WhatsApp and send them yourself.
The shortcut translates one shared item. It does not read the chat or reply.
Android
- Long-press the message from the buyer, single image, or audio file and choose Share.
- Select inWind from the Android system share sheet and read the result.
- Copy the terms, return to WhatsApp, and type your questions yourself.
Machine translation is a reading aid. Confirm quantity units, trade terms, and payment methods in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions should I ask at once?
Two or three. A long list feels like a form and lowers the reply rate.
Should I quote before I have all the answers?
Only as a range with stated assumptions. Confirm quantity, destination, and trade term before a firm price.
Can translation handle technical terms?
It helps you read, but confirm model numbers, standards, and units with the buyer. Keep the original wording in the thread.
Does the extension reply automatically?
No. It helps you read and draft. You send every message yourself.
Give your next WhatsApp message to inWind
Understand foreign-language messages from your customers and prepare a reply in the language you know best. Text, images, and voice notes included.