TL;DR: WhatsApp delivers 98% open rates vs. 20% for email, a 3-5x higher conversion rate on abandoned cart recovery, and is the fastest-growing direct marketing channel for Shopify brands in 2026. This guide covers everything you need - from your first opt-in to advanced AI-powered flows. Why WhatsApp Has Become the #1 Channel for Shopify Brands Email open rates are declining. SMS is expensive and impersonal. Paid ads are getting pricier every quarter. Meanwhile, WhatsApp - t