WhatsApp Template Message Guide
This is a complete guide on what are Template Messages & how to create WhatsApp Template messages easily using Aicubix.
What exactly are WhatsApp Template Messages?
If you’re using WhatsApp Business API, to initiate a conversation with a user, you need to send WhatsApp Message templates approved by WhatsApp.
You can create WhatsApp Templates for Promotional Offers, Order Confirmation, Abandoned Cart recovery, Product Launches, Weekly Newsletters & much more depending on your Industry.
Now, each template message goes under the careful eye of WhatsApp to ensure that it fits the WhatsApp Message Template Guidelines.
WhatsApp Template Messages help you Spark 3x-5x more engagement by initiating conversations with users.
How?
Well, Messages sent on WhatsApp have 👇
About 98% Read-rate
45- 60% Click-through rate
Steps to create WhatsApp Template Messages with Aicubix
1) Go to manage
Go to Manage 👉 Template Message and click on the “+ New” button on the top right corner.
You can also choose a pre-approved Template message from the WhatsApp Template Message Library and submit it for approval.
2) Fields you need to fill!
Following are the fields and the format of the input text –
1. Template Category*
2. Template Type*
3. Template Language*
4. Template Name*
5. Template Format*
6. Interactive Actions (Optional)
Let’s dive deep into how you need to fill each of these fields 👇
3) Select Template Message Category
Given the pricing update coming to WhatsApp API starting June 1, 2023, templates in Aicubix will now be classified under Utility, Authentication & Marketing.
- Utility – Transaction-focused messages used to confirm/ cancel a transaction or a subscription.
- Authentication – OTPs & login code messages used to authenticate a user.
- Marketing – All messages that relate to a business’s products & services (except for transactional messages)
4) Choose Template Message Type & Language
Template Type- Specify the type of WhatsApp Message you want to send. It can be TEXT, IMAGE, VIDEO & FILE. The template type needs to be sent with the message for approval.
If media type is chosen, don’t attach a sample!
You cannot just send images. You must add text along with the images, videos or files you want to send.
Template Language- English is the default Template Message language. You can choose the language of your WhatsApp template message from all the global languages and vernacular as well.
For each template message, you can only pick one language.
5) Name the WhatsApp Template Message
Template Name- It is the unique name you need to give to the Template message.
FORMAT – The template name can only be in lowercase alphanumeric characters and underscores. Special characters and white spaces are not allowed.
6) Add the Template Message Format
The template format is your WhatsApp template message content. The template message can have various dynamic values, unique to every user such as Name, OTP Number, Order ID, Payment Links etc.
These dynamic values are depicted by {{1}}, {{2}}, {{3}} and so on and so forth as shown in the image on the right.
If you want to make some text bold, use the same rules applied in the WhatsApp App – putting asterisks (*) at the start and end of the phrase (*Bold Text*) and underscores for Italics (_Italics Text_).
FORMAT – The template message can be non-promotional but should not be more than 1024 characters.
7) Add Interactive Actions
There are two types of Interactive Actions you can add to your message:
1. Call to Action
2. Quick Replies
You can either add “CTAs” or a “Quick Replies” to a WhatsApp Template Message. You can’t have both in one Template Message.
8) Call to Actions
There are 2 types of Call to Action buttons:
1. URL– URL must begin with ‘https://’ & have a valid domain name
2. Phone Number– The phone number should include the country code
A template message can have a URL or a Phone Number or a URL & a Phone Number both as it’s Call to Action.
9) Quick Replies
Quick Replies are canned responses that allow your users to reply with the click of a button. Using these, you’re more likely to receive a response from customers
There can be a maximum of 3 Quick Replies that can be sent with a template message (limitation by Facebook itself) and can have a maximum of 20 characters.
10) Edit & Submit
Finally, proofread the template message for mistakes or grammar errors before clicking the submit button. Once submitted, you can’t make changes to the same WhatsApp Template Message.
Once you’re sure the message is ready to be reviewed, click ‘Submit‘.
11) Aicubix with WhatsApp to know approval status
WhatsApp Template Messages typically take 1 minute – to 24 hours to get approved!
After submitting template messages, hit the “sync with WhatsApp” button to update the status of the Template Message after submitting.
If it still doesn’t show, refresh the tab once & then check the approval status.
Types of WhatsApp Template Messages
There are multiple types of WhatsApp Template Messages you can create. These include:
1. Simple Text/Media-based WhatsApp Template Message – You can include text, images, videos & other rich media in Template Messages.
2. WhatsApp Template Message with CTA Buttons – Using WhatsApp Business API-based platform Aicubix, create Template Messages with Clickable Buttons. Add Links or Mobile Number to make your Templates more actionable.
3. WhatsApp Template Message with Quick replies – Quick Replies are buttons which allow your users to send a message without typing it out.
E.g. For taking customer feedback, you can add Quick Replies at the end of the message such as, “I am very happy”, “I am Satisfied”, “Not Happy”
WhatsApp Template Message Examples
Here are references of how Businesses are using WhatsApp Templates to 3x their sales and automate important Business Updates.
Broadcast Promotional Messages (Officially)
Well, WhatsApp recently allowed Businesses to Broadcast and Automate Promotional Messages via Whatsapp Business API
You can Now create promotional WhatsApp template Messages & Send Exciting Offers, Discount Coupon codes and Festival Wishes to boost your sales 3x.
We have created 100+ pre-approved High-converting WhatsApp Templates which you can view in the link below 👇
Key Points while drafting WhatsApp Template Messages
- You can Use *Bold*, _Italics_, ~Strikethrough~ in the template text along with emojis to make it more effective.
- The formatting of the message should be correct otherwise WhatsApp rejects the message.
- You can add Call to Actions or Quick Reply Buttons in a message with a character limit of 20 characters.
- It’s recommended that you don’t use a URL shortener while adding links.
- You can use emojis to personalize your messages.
WhatsApp template Message FAQs
What are WhatsApp Template Messages?
All the messages that are sent to both, inactive and active users using any of the pre-approved message templates are known as template messages. These messages are sent once the 24-hour window of session message is closed and you wish to initiate a conversation again.
Also, you can use these template messages to send transactional messages (delivery alerts, appointment reminders, etc.) to users who have opted in to receive messages from you viz. You can Initiate a Conversation with users on WhatsApp using these template messages. (These users should have given you permission to receive messages on WhatsApp)
What are the guidelines for WhatsApp Template Message?
WhatsApp Template Message gives Businesses to reach out to their customers by sending them notifications on WhatsApp. In order to send these templates to users, we need to get them approved from WhatsApp.
In case your template messages are getting rejected, here are a few reasons why:
WhatsApp doesn't allow spamming and harmful content. So, these are four things on what Business cannot send a Template Message:
- No threatening content
- No data collection
- No contests or quizzes
WhatsApp Template Messages cannot contain threatening or abusive content. For example, Template Messages that threaten customers with legal action if they don't pay back their loans are not allowed.
Moreover, businesses can't collect data using WhatsApp Template Messages. Though you can certainly conduct polls and surveys, you can't ask for sensitive personal information such as credit card numbers through Template Messages.
In addition to the content constraints above, you need to comply with WhatsApp Template Message formatting rules.
What kind of Template Messages does WhatsApp approve?
Since October 2021, WhatsApp now approves all messages including Promotional & Offer Messages. This includes Transactional, Non-transactional, Notifications, Updates and Follow Up Messages.
We have created a Template Message Library with 100+ pre-approved Templates which you can check out here.
How much time does WhatsApp take to approve a template message?
In 2022, WhatsApp Template messages take 1 minute - 24 hours to get approved in AiSensy Dashboard. WhatsApp might take some time to approve some WhatsApp Templates, but it won't take more than 6-24 hours.
Can I edit any approved WhatsApp Message Templates?
No! Once a WhatsApp Template Message is approved, one can not make changes or edit the Template Message. Only the dynamic values in the Template Message can be edited which is set while submitting it.
Is there any size limit of the media files attached in WhatsApp Template Messages?
Yes, there is a size limit of the media file in the WhatsApp template messages. The following is the size limit of different media files –
Video- 16 MB
Image- 5 MB
Document- 100 MB
Sticker- 100 KB
Do I need to also send media files for approval?
Please note that the media file needs to be sent along with some text. It is not like you can send only Images, Files or Videos. TEXT is mandatory because, based on Text, WhatsApp Approves or Rejects a WhatsApp template message.
Why did my WhatsApp Template Message got rejected?
The major reason for rejection of WhatsApp Template Messages is your content not being in alliance with the WhatsApp Commerce Policy
Another reason is your Template Message Content might not be in line with the WhatsApp Template Message Guidelines.