What is a WhatsApp Template Message?
A WhatsApp Template Message is a pre-approved message format that businesses use to initiate conversations with customers outside the 24-hour service window. These templates help maintain compliance with WhatsApp’s rules while ensuring messages are professional, secure, and consistent.
📌 When Do You Need a Template Message?
- When you start a new conversation with a customer.
- When more than 24 hours have passed since the customer’s last message.
- For sending transactional alerts, OTPs, reminders, or promotional campaigns.
💡 Inside the 24-hour window, businesses can reply freely without templates.
🧩 Parts of a Template Message
- Header (optional) → Can include a short title, image, or document.
- Body (required) → Main content of the message, supports placeholders like
- Footer (optional) → Extra notes or disclaimers.
- Buttons (optional) → Call-to-action (e.g., “Visit Website”) or quick replies.
✅ How Templates Are Approved
- Templates are created and submitted in Meta Business Manager (WhatsApp Manager).
- Meta reviews them against policies.
- Approval usually takes 24–48 hours.
- Once approved, they appear as Active and ready to use.
⚠️ Why Templates Get Rejected
- Content is overly promotional or spam-like.
- Placeholders (
- Unsupported languages are selected.
- Content violates Meta’s Commerce & Messaging Policies.
📊 Example Template
Template Name: order_update_2025
Category: Transactional
Language: English
Body:
Hi , your order #has been shipped and will arrive by . Track it here:
🎯 Benefits of Template Messages
- Keep conversations compliant with WhatsApp’s rules.
- Ensure faster delivery beyond the 24-hour response window.
- Personalize messages with placeholders for better customer experience.
🔗 Related FAQs
📞 Need Help?
If your templates are rejected or you need setup guidance, contact MyOperator Support at support@myoperator.com or check your Meta Support Inbox.
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How to submit a New WhatsApp Template Message?
To send proactive messages such as alerts, OTPs, or promotions via WhatsApp, you need to create and submit a template message. These templates must be approved by Meta before they can be used in business-initiated conversations. ? Prerequisites ...
What media formats are supported in a WhatsApp Template Message?
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Can I edit an approved WhatsApp Message Template after it’s live?
⚡Quick answer - No. Once a template is approved, every part of its content—name, body text, header, footer, and buttons are non-editable. You can get "n" number of templates approved, it has no limit and no cost. Any wording or layout change requires ...
What are the official WhatsApp Template Message guidelines I must follow?
⚡Quick answer - Meta reviews every template. Keep the tone polite, use correct {{1}}, {{2}} variables, match the selected language, avoid shortened URLs, and respect button limits to avoid rejection. When should I use this guide? Use it right before ...
Formatting rules you should know before creating a WhatsApp Template Message
Before you submit a WhatsApp Template Message for approval, you must follow Meta’s formatting and compliance rules. WhatsApp applies automated checks plus manual review. Even small mistakes (like spacing, wrong variables, or unapproved URLs) can ...