Create Template
This guide walks you through creating a new WhatsApp template, including all required fields, validation rules, and best practices.
Accessing the Template Creator
- Navigate to the Conversational section
- Click on Templates in the sidebar
- Click the New Template button in the top-right corner
Required Fields
The template creation form has two tabs: Required and Optional.
Required Tab
| Field | Description | Validation |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Technical identifier (used internally) | Lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores only |
| Label | Display name shown in the interface | Any text |
| Description | Brief explanation of the template's purpose | Any text |
| Category | Template classification | MARKETING, UTILITY, or AUTHENTICATION |
| Segment | Target audience for this template | Select from available segments |
| Periodicity | How often this template will be sent | Event-based, Once, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seasonal |
| Language | Template language | en, es, pt_BR, fr, de |
| Body Text | Main message content | Minimum 32 characters |
Body Text Rules
The body text has specific validation requirements:
- Minimum length: 32 characters
- Cannot start with a variable:
{{1}} Hello...❌ - Cannot end with a variable:
...your code is {{2}}❌ - Variables must be numeric:
{{1}},{{2}}✅ |{{name}}❌ - Variables must be consecutive: Start from
{{1}}and increment - Minimum text ratio: Approximately 20 characters of fixed text per variable
Valid example:
Invalid example:
Optional Fields
Header Section
Choose a header type to add visual context to your template:
| Header Type | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| None | No header | - |
| Text | Text header | Plain text, no variables |
| Image | Image header | URL to image file |
| Video | Video header | URL to video file |
| Document | Document header | URL to document file |
Footer Section
Add a small text at the bottom of the message:
- Maximum length: 60 characters
- No emojis allowed
- Typically used for: Unsubscribe instructions, company name, legal disclaimers
Buttons Section
Add interactive buttons to your template (maximum 10 buttons):
Button Types
| Type | Configuration | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| URL | Button text + URL | Opens the specified URL in browser |
| Phone | Button text + Phone number | Initiates a phone call |
| Quick Reply | Button text + Action | Sends response and can trigger a flow |
Quick Reply Actions
Quick reply buttons can be configured with special actions:
- Agent Transfer: Routes the conversation to a human agent
- Flow Trigger: Starts a specific conversational flow
Button Ordering
- Use drag-and-drop to reorder buttons
- If you have 2+ buttons, the first button must be a Quick Reply type
- Buttons appear in the order you define
Variables
When you add variables like {{1}}, {{2}} to your body text, a Variables section appears where you must provide sample values:
| Variable | Sample Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
{{1}} | John | Used for Meta's approval review |
{{2}} | 2024-02-15 | Shows in preview |
{{3}} | 10:30 AM | Demonstrates personalization |
Sample values are required because:
- Meta reviews templates with sample data
- The WhatsApp preview shows realistic messages
- They help validate the template makes sense
WhatsApp Preview
As you fill out the form, a live preview on the right side shows exactly how your template will appear in WhatsApp:
- Header: Displays at the top
- Body: Shows with variables replaced by sample values
- Footer: Appears at the bottom with timestamp
- Buttons: Rendered as interactive buttons
Validation Errors
Common validation errors and how to fix them:
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Name must be lowercase" | Uppercase letters in name | Use only a-z, 0-9, _ |
| "Body text too short" | Less than 32 characters | Add more content |
| "Variables must be consecutive" | Skipped a number (e.g., {{1}} then {{3}}) | Use sequential numbers |
| "Too many variables" | Excessive placeholders | Reduce personalization |
| "Footer too long" | More than 60 characters | Shorten footer text |
| "Invalid variable format" | Using {{name}} instead of {{1}} | Use numeric placeholders |
Saving the Template
After completing all fields:
- Review the WhatsApp preview
- Check for any validation errors (highlighted in red)
- Click Create Template
- The template is saved with Draft status
Next Steps
After creating your template:
- Publish Template - Submit for Meta approval
- Test Template - Send a test message
- Manage Templates - View and edit templates
Tips for Approval
Meta reviews all templates before approval. Increase your chances:
- Be clear about the purpose - Vague messages may be rejected
- Avoid promotional language in UTILITY - Use MARKETING category instead
- Don't include shortened URLs - Use full URLs
- Ensure proper grammar - Typos can cause rejection
- Match category to content - Authentication templates should only contain OTP logic