Template

Introduction

When you click on the WhatsApp API templates sub-module, you will be able to view a page as below. WA API is a bit more on the strict side so in order to send a WA API Broadcast or Campaign, you will need to have a template approved to use it. At the first glance, you will be able to see the template name, category, preview, quality rating, languages and status. There is no column for the status but if you see the languages column you'll be able to see a colored dot. Green means it is approved, yellow means pending while red means rejected. You are able to delete the template but you will not be able to edit that you have submitted.

Before we go through the WA API Template, want to know a secret on how to save time when replying the messages? You can set up chatbot for quick replies buttons. You can set the chatbot type to keyword based and configure your reply for the message. This way, it will send the reply on your behalf instead of you having the need to type it out. How to set up the chatbot you ask? Head over to More Info and watch the tutorial on How to Setup WA API Chatbot.

Create WA API Template

Now we will jump into how to create a WhatsApp API template.

Step 1 : Click on the Create Template at the center top of the page that is highlighted in green.

Step 2 : Select which phone number that you would like to use to save the template at the top right corner of the page.

This only applies if you have more than one number registered. The templates you saved under the phone number is only usable by the phone number.

Step 3 : Type in the template name.

The template name you entered is only visible to you.

Step 4 : Select the template category either Marketing, Transactional or OPT.

Step 5 : Select the language that you would like the message to be. Then click on the Add Language button below the language selection. By default, the message language is English(US).

Step 6 : Click on the delete icon to delete the language if required.

Step 7 : Select the message header either None, Text or Media at the green highlighted header section.

It is a must to add in your sample if you have included variable/dynamic field for your text header or any media header. Variable/dynamic fields are fields that will be custom suited based on your contact audience. The sample type that you will need to attach is based on the media type you have chosen.

To add the sample, click on the Add Sample button that will be available on the right side of the Draft message status. View step 11 to learn more about adding the sample.

Step 8 : Type in your message content in the Body section that is in the green box. You may add in variable/dynamic fields to make your message more personalized to your contact audience.

Step 9 : Add in message footer if desired.

Step 10 : If you wish to include buttons in your message, choose Call to Action, Quick Replies, or None. If not, choose None.

If you have chose Call to Action button, you will be able to see the set of fields below. Do note that you may add a maximum of two Call to Action buttons.

There are two action type for this button.

The first action type is Visit Website where you will need to add in the text for the button, URL type to be either Static or Dynamic and the Website URL. Static URL means that the Website URL that you typed is an unchangeable website. Dynamic URL means the Website URL that you entered but at the end of it, there will be a customizable field that will be changed according to the field that you will choose when sending out the message. If you chose Dynamic URL, you will need to add sample for it before submitting for approval.
Your contact audience will be redirected to the website you have set, upon clicking on the button text.

The second action type is Call Phone Number. You will just need to add in the text for the button, the country of the phone number and the phone number. Your contact audience will be redirected to their phone dailer upon clicking on the button text.

If you chose to use Quick Reply buttons, you will just need to write out the text for your buttons. You can add a maximum of three quick reply buttons.

Step 11 : To add your sample data, click on the Add Sample button that is located on the right of the Draft message status.

The image below shows an example of a filled in draft message.

Based on the filled in draft message, the sample input that is required will be shown here. From the image above, I have set a image media type as the header and has a variable in the message body content. Thus, in the add sample, I will need to insert a sample .jpg/.png file and sample variable that depicts that I will be adding a name in the variable. Do note that these are just sample data so you do not need to include any real information.

When you click on the Close button, you will be able to view the changes in the preview that is located at the right section of the page.

Step 12 : Click on Submit button once you are satisfied with the message template that you had crafted out.

The template review might take from a few minutes to a few hours. The rights of the approval is based on WhatsApp.

View WA API Template

For WA API Template, once the template is submitted for approval, approved, pending or rejected, you will not be able to edit the template. This action is according to WhatsApp's rules and regulation.

To view on the template, click on the pencil icon in the Actions column.

An example of the view for an approved template can be found below.

You may not edit the template that has been sent for approval but you may select another language to craft your template and submit for approval.