> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blubash.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start a new conversation with a contact

> Learn how to proactively open a new conversation with a contact in BluBash, even before the customer has sent you their first message.

You can start a conversation with a contact at any time, even if they have not yet sent you a message. This is useful when you need to reach out proactively, as long as the contact is already registered on the platform. If the contact has not been added yet, register them first before following the steps below.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Conversations">
    Log in to BluBash and click **Conversations** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new conversation">
    In the conversation queue, click the **+** button to open a new conversation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search for the contact">
    Type the contact's **name, phone number, or email address** and select them from the results.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a team (if applicable)">
    If you belong to more than one team or department, choose the team that should be responsible for this conversation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a channel">
    Select the **WhatsApp number** you want to use to reach the customer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the conversation">
    Click **Start conversation**. The conversation will open and appear on your screen immediately.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  If your company uses the Official WhatsApp API and the customer has not sent any message in the last 24 hours, your first message **must** be a template. See [Send a WhatsApp template in a conversation](/conversations/send-templates) to learn how.
</Info>