How to Create Message Template for WhatsApp Broadcasting? | WhatChimp Basics

Understanding Message Templates in WhatsApp Business

Introduction to Message Templates

• Anand introduces the topic of message templates, explaining their necessity when initiating conversations with customers on WhatsApp.

• Conversations initiated by users are free for 24 hours, allowing unlimited messaging. However, businesses must use approved message templates if they initiate contact.

Importance of Message Templates

• After the 24-hour window expires, businesses can only send template messages to customers.

• These templates are crucial not just for one-on-one chats but also for broadcasting messages to multiple users who haven't previously engaged.

Creating and Approving Message Templates

• To create a message template, navigate to the Bot Manager and select "Message Template."

• Users can view existing approved templates and have options to delete or review them. Approval from Meta typically takes 30 seconds to 1 minute if no suspicious content is present.

Guidelines for Template Creation

• It's essential that templates do not contain spammy or suspicious elements; otherwise, they may be rejected by Meta.

• The tutorial focuses on creating simple message templates first before exploring personalized options in future videos.

Steps for Creating a New Template

• Click "Create" in the Bot Manager and choose "General Template," following specific naming conventions (all lowercase with underscores).

• Examples include naming conventions like "marketing_message" or "webinar_reminder" based on the context of communication.

Localization and Header Options

• Users can localize their templates in various languages such as English, Hindi, or German.

• There’s an option to add headers which could be text-based or multimedia (images/videos), enhancing engagement with promotional content.

Broadcasting Templates and Message Types

Understanding Image Variables in Broadcasting

• Images used in broadcasting are treated as variables, allowing for flexibility during broadcasts. Users can change images each time they broadcast without fixing them in the template.

Choosing Message Formats

• Users have the option to select different file types (videos, etc.) or choose a plain message format with no header for their marketing messages.

Template Categories Explained

• There are three main categories of templates: Marketing, Utility, and Authentication.

• Marketing is suitable for promotional content.

• Utility is for transactional messages like acknowledgments.

• Authentication is used for OTP or verification messages.

Cost Implications of Template Types

• Marketing templates tend to be more expensive but easier to get approved compared to utility templates, which are cheaper but harder to gain approval due to stricter guidelines.

Exploring Utility Templates

• Users can explore examples of utility templates through Meta's template library. This resource provides insights into what qualifies as a utility message and how it looks visually.

Navigating the Template Library

Accessing Meta's Official Template Library

• To access the template library, users should visit whim.com/SLT/templateDasLibrary. This site contains various categories including utility and authentication.

Finding Specific Message Examples

• The library allows users to filter by industry or message type (e.g., event reminders or payment confirmations), providing tailored examples that can inspire personalized messaging strategies.

Application Process for Templates

• Users can apply for multiple templates; however, rejections may occur. It's encouraged not to worry too much about rejections since reapplications are possible.

Crafting Effective Marketing Messages

Utilizing AI Tools for Copywriting

• A prompt template has been created for use with ChatGPT, an AI tool that assists in generating high-quality marketing messages by simply replacing specific variables related to the user's business.

Best Practices in Copywriting with ChatGPT

• By inputting clear instructions into ChatGPT (e.g., writing a professional WhatsApp API marketing message), users can generate effective copy that highlights features and benefits relevant to their business needs.

Customizing Generated Messages

• After generating a message using ChatGPT, users have the freedom to customize it further according to their preferences while ensuring it maintains personalization elements such as addressing recipients by name.

Finalizing Your Marketing Message

• Once satisfied with the generated output from ChatGPT, users can copy this text back into their chosen platform (like WhatsApp Business API), ensuring all necessary call-to-action buttons are included before sending out communications.

Personalization in Messaging

Understanding User Personalization

• The speaker discusses a method to create a tag for user personalization, emphasizing the importance of using the user's WhatsApp name settings for tailored communication.

• If a user's name is stored differently in the database, it can be updated to enhance personalization further, ensuring messages feel more relevant and engaging.

Crafting Message Templates

• A message template under the marketing category is introduced as an easy-to-get-approved option. The speaker plans to modify this template for better engagement.

• The speaker demonstrates how to add elements like headers (e.g., "special offer Black Friday") and call-to-action (CTA) options such as URLs or phone numbers within the message.

Effective Call-to-Actions

• The process of adding a demo booking link is explained, showcasing how users can easily access services through embedded links in messages.

• An alternative CTA method using quick replies is highlighted. This approach allows users to engage directly by replying with specific actions (e.g., "book demo"), which opens a conversation window.

Advantages of Quick Replies

• Quick replies not only confirm user engagement but also keep conversations open for 24 hours, allowing businesses to follow up without additional costs.

• Unlike traditional CTAs that lead users away from messaging platforms, quick replies maintain interaction and provide opportunities for ongoing dialogue.

Template Approval Process

• To check if a message template has been approved, users must sync with Meta. Immediate approval indicates compliance with guidelines when no suspicious content is present.

• The tutorial concludes with encouragement to utilize these strategies effectively while managing templates and understanding their approval status.