What is the purpose of sending a test message during WhatsApp campaign creation?
⚡Quick answer -
Sending a test message allows you to preview the exact WhatsApp content—text, media, variables, and buttons—on a real device before the campaign reaches your audience, helping you identify and fix errors, verify layout, and confirm compliance.
When should I use this guide?
Use it anytime you build a new campaign and want to ensure that formatting, variables, and media appear correctly before launch.
1. Why send a test message?
• Verify formatting: view layout, buttons, and personalisation.
• Catch errors early: spot typos, broken links, or wrong variables.
• Confirm media: ensure images, videos, or PDFs render correctly.
• Compliance check: confirm tone and content match WhatsApp Business Policy.
2. How to send a test message
- In the Campaign Setup screen, click Send Test (or Preview Message).
- Enter your WhatsApp number (or a designated test number).
- Click Send.
- Review the message on your phone; check placeholders, links, and media.
Alt text: Sending a test message
3. Do vs. Don’t checklist
✅ Do | ❌ Don’t |
Test every campaign before launch | Skip testing because “the template worked last time.” |
Use a real WhatsApp device (mobile or web) | Preview only in the dashboard without checking the device view |
Enter sample values for variables (e.g., Name, Date) | Leave placeholders like |
Check media + buttons on mobile | Assume media renders correctly |
Share test results with teammates | Rely on one person’s glance |
4. Notes & limitations
• Test messages use live template content but do not deliver to audience contacts.
• Credit amount is deducted for test messages.
• Personalised fields may only populate if sample data is added.
5. Best-practices checklist
• Always send at least one test message per campaign.
• Verify all variables populate correctly.
• Check media formatting (size, type, resolution).
• Click links and CTAs to ensure they work.
• Test on both mobile and WhatsApp Web/Desktop.
• Have a colleague review the test message before launch.
• Treat test messages like a final dress rehearsal—two minutes now can save hours later.
Keywords: test message, campaign preview, WhatsApp template, send test
Related Articles
What are WhatsApp message templates and how do I create, submit, and track them in MyOperator?
⚡Quick answer - WhatsApp message templates are pre-approved message formats that businesses use to initiate conversations with customers outside the 24-hour service window. Templates are required for outbound messages sent more than 24 hours after a ...How can I cancel a scheduled WhatsApp campaign?
⚡Quick answer - You can cancel a scheduled WhatsApp campaign up to 5 minutes before its scheduled send time. Once the system begins preparing messages (Sending / In Progress), the queue is locked and the campaign can no longer be edited or cancelled. ...What happens if my WhatsApp campaign exceeds my daily messaging quota?
⚡Quick answer - If your campaign audience is larger than your remaining daily quota, WhatsApp only delivers messages up to your limit. The rest of the messages will fail, and you’ll see an error: “Audience size exceeding remaining quota, some ...What happens to my recipient list after a successful WhatsApp campaign—does MyOperator save the contacts automatically?
⚡Quick answer - If your upload file contains the mandatory Name and Phone headers (with international phone format), MyOperator automatically creates new entries or updates existing ones in Contact Book right after the campaign sends. Invalid rows ...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 ...