If there has been no message initiated from user in past 24hrs the user will need to use a template to initiate a chat. Your templates can take up to 48hrs to be approved by Meta depending on the content of the message.
Setting Up a WhatsApp Template
Step 1 : Go to Settings -> WhatsApp -> Template tab -> Click on Create Template
Step 2 : A new section will open where you will need to fill in the Template Name, Category, Language and Header the information
Details around the fields available
Template Name - The name of the template should be set using lowercase characters.
Category - Select between the Marketing and Utility Category. Template Categorisation Guidelines.
Language - Select from the list of all the languages available.
Header (Optional) - You can add a static or a variable header. Only 1 custom variable is allowed in the header.
Step 3 : Fill in additional details Body and Footer
Details around the fields available
Body - The message that would be sent to the customer. You can add multiple custom variables while creating the template by clicking on Add Variable.
Footer (Optional) - You can add a static footer.
NOTE: Please fill sample value for all the custom variables added as Meta need examples to be sent while submitting the Template.
Step 4 : Verify the template message and hit on Create
Step 5 : Now we will send this template to Meta for approval and you can track the status in the Template Tab.
Once created, templates must undergo an approval process before they can be sent to customers. This process typically takes up to 24 hours. If approved, the template's status will be set to "Active - Quality pending," and you can start using it. If rejected, you have the option to edit and resubmit it for approval or appeal the decision.
Statuses for Templates
What's next?
Once your clients have a registered template they can start using ZipLeads to send/receive WhatsApp messages.
Common Template Rejection Reasons:
Submissions are commonly rejected for the following reasons, so make sure you avoid these mistakes.
Variable parameters are missing or have mismatched curly brackets. The correct format is
{{1}}.Variable parameters contain special characters such as a
#,$, or%.Variable parameters are not sequential. For example,
{{1}},{{2}},{{4}},{{5}}are defined but{{3}}does not exist.The message template contains content that violates WhatsApp’s Commerce Policy: When you offer goods or services for sale, we consider all messages and media related to your goods or services, including any descriptions, prices, fees, taxes and/or any required legal disclosures, to constitute transactions. Transactions must comply with the WhatsApp Commerce Policy.
The message template contains content that violates the WhatsApps Business Policy: Do not request sensitive identifiers from users. For example, do not ask people to share full length individual payment card numbers, financial account numbers, National Identification numbers, or other sensitive identifiers. This also includes not requesting documents from users that might contain sensitive identifiers. Requesting partial identifiers (ex: last 4 digits of their Social Security number) is OK.
The content contains potentially abusive or threatening content, such as threatening a customer with legal action or threatening to publicly shame them.
The message template is a duplicate of an existing template. If a template is submitted with the same wording in the body and footer of an existing template, the duplicate template will be rejected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we add custom variables in Header and Body of a Template?
Step 1 - Click on add variable available under Header or Body.
Step 2 - Click on tag icon and select the custom variable(as in this case it is contact name) and a sample text(Shubham Gupta in this case).
How do you submit a rejected template or edit a previously approved template?
Step 1 - Click on the accordion icon and hit Edit template
Step 2 - Fill in all the information again and hit Create.