WhatsApp message templates are pre-approved messages that businesses can use to start conversations with customers or continue conversations outside the customer service window. Before a template can be used, it must be submitted to Meta for review and approved.

SleekFlow’s WhatsApp Template Manager lets you create, organize, review, and delete templates for all connected WhatsApp Business Accounts (WABAs) from one place.

In this article, you’ll learn how to:

• Create a WhatsApp message template
• Configure template components
• Submit templates for Meta’s approval
• Manage existing templates

What are WhatsApp message templates?

WhatsApp message templates are pre-approved messages that businesses can use to communicate with customers through the WhatsApp Business Platform.

Unlike regular messages sent during an active conversation, message templates must be reviewed and approved by Meta before they can be used. Once approved, you can use them across supported areas in SleekFlow, such as Inbox, Broadcast, Flow Builder, and the API.

Common use cases include:

• Starting conversations with customers
• Sending order confirmations and shipping updates
• Sharing appointment reminders
• Delivering one-time passwords (OTPs)
• Sending promotional campaigns and announcements

Note: The type of message you send determines which template category you should use. For guidance on choosing the right category, see:

• Marketing message templates
• Marketing - Carousel message templates
• Utility message templates

Before you begin

Before creating a template, keep the following in mind:

• Each template belongs to a specific WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).
• Templates are shared across all phone numbers connected to the same WABA.
• Templates must be approved by Meta before they can be sent.
• Template availability and supported features depend on Meta’s WhatsApp Business Platform.

Accessing WhatsApp Template manager

You can follow the steps below to access WhatsApp Template manager:

1. Click on the icon in the left navigation bar
2. Select “WhatsApp Business API” on the left-sided panel
3. In the “WhatsApp Business API” page, click “Template manager” at the top menu
   

Create a WhatsApp message template

To create a new template:

1. In the “WhatsApp Template manager” page, select the Meta Business Account you would like to create template
   
2. Click the “Create new template” button 

Step 1: Enter basic information

The first section defines your template’s identity.

Template name

Enter a unique template name.

Template names:

• Should be within 512 characters
• Can only contain lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores (_)
• Cannot contain spaces or special characters
• Must be unique within the same language
• Can be reused across different languages
• not being used by an approved template deleted in the past 30 days

Examples: hello_1, beautyfest_vip_promo_202324, marketing_opt_out_with_privacypolicy

Category

Choose the category that best matches your template.

Language

Select the language your template is written in.

Your template content should match the selected language.

Meta has a list of supported languages (see the list below, or see this article for more). 

To select a language, click the drop-down list under “Language”, then select the language to be used. You will see a blue tick next to the language chosen. 

Labels

You can assign one or multiple labels to your template during the creation process to make it easier to find later.

To assign a label, click the "Labels" drop-down menu and select from your existing labels, or type to search for a specific label.

Step 2: Build your template

The Template content section defines what your customers will see when they receive your WhatsApp message. You can combine text, media, and interactive buttons to create a message that fits your use case. 

A template can include the following components:

• Header (optional)
• Message body (required)
• Footer (optional)
• Buttons (optional)

Header type (optional)

The header appears at the top of your template and helps draw attention to your message. Each template can include one header.

To select a header type, click the drop-down list under “Header” and choose the media type.

Choose one of the following header types:

If you use a media header (image, video, or document), you’ll be asked to upload a sample file when submitting the template for Meta’s review. If you use a text header with variables, you’ll need to provide sample values during submission.

Message body (required)

The message body contains the main content of your template and is the only required component.

Write your message in the language selected during Step 1: Enter basic information. Your content should match the selected language to avoid rejection during Meta’s review. 

Using variables in your message

Variables let you personalize your messages with customer-specific information, such as names, order numbers, or appointment dates.

To insert a variable, use double curly braces with a number:

• {{1}}
• {{2}}
• {{3}}

For example:

• Hello {{1}}, Your order {{2}} has been shipped.

Variables should not be used at the beginning or end of your message due to restriction from Meta.

When submitting the template, you’ll need to provide sample values for each variable so Meta can review the message correctly. 

Note: Meta does not allow variables at the beginning or end of a message.

Adding emojis to your message

You can include emojis in your message body using the emoji picker in the message editor. 

Footer (optional)

The footer is a short line of text displayed below the message body.

Use it to add supporting information such as:

• Terms and conditions
• Company information
• Opt-out instructions
• Promotional disclaimers

Footers:

• Support text only
• Can contain up to 60 characters
• Do not support variables 

To apply a footer, type the footer in the text box.

Buttons (optional)

Buttons let customers respond to your message or perform an action with a single tap.

You can choose from the following button types:

Quick reply

Quick reply buttons let customers respond with a predefined message by tapping a button.

After selecting Quick reply, configure the following settings:

• Button text – Enter the text displayed on each button. Button text can contain up to 20 characters and does not support emojis or variables.
• Add buttons – Click “+ Add button” to add more buttons. You can add up to 3 quick reply buttons to a template.
• Remove buttons – Click the Delete icon next to a button to remove it.

Call-to-action

Call-to-action buttons let customers open a website or call your business directly.

After selecting Call-to-action, configure the following settings:

• Action type – Choose whether the button opens a Website URL or calls a Phone number.
• Button text – Enter the text displayed on the button. Button text can contain up to 20 characters and does not support emojis or variables.
• Add buttons – Click “+ Add button” to add another call-to-action button. You can add up to 2 call-to-action buttons to a template.
• Remove buttons – Click the Delete icon next to a button to remove it.

Website URL

Use this action type to direct customers to a webpage.

Choose one of the following URL types:

• Static URL – Enter the complete website URL.
• Dynamic URL – Enter the fixed portion of the URL. During template submission, you’ll be asked to provide a sample of the complete URL for Meta’s review.

Note: Meta does not accept shortened URLs (such as https://bit.ly/...) during the approval process. Use a full URL with a valid domain instead.

Phone number

Use this action type to let customers call your business directly.

Select the country or region code, then enter the phone number you want customers to call.

Tip: If you add two call-to-action buttons, they can use the same or different action types. For example, you can add one Website URL button and one Phone number button.

Request contact info

Use the Request contact info button to ask customers to share their phone number during a WhatsApp conversation.

After selecting Request contact info:

• Button text is automatically set to “Share Contact Info” and cannot be edited.
• You can add one Request contact info button to a template.
• This button type cannot be combined with other button types.
• When customers tap the button, WhatsApp prompts them to choose whether to share their phone number with your business.
• The “Request contact info” button is only available for supported template categories.

Learn more

To learn when to use the Request contact info button, how it works with BSUID-based contacts, what customers experience, and how SleekFlow updates Contact information after a phone number is shared, see Request a phone number from BSUID-based WhatsApp contacts.

Step 3. Review your template

The preview panel updates automatically as you configure your template, allowing you to review how it will appear to customers before submitting it for Meta’s approval.

Before submitting your template, make sure that:

• All text is accurate and complete.
• Variables are used correctly.
• Buttons link to the correct website or phone number.
• The template content matches the selected language and category.

Step 4. Submit your template for Meta review

When you’re ready, click “Submit for review” at the bottom of the page.

If your template contains variables or media, you’ll need to provide additional information for Meta’s review.

Sample values for variables

Provide an example value for each variable used in your template. These sample values help Meta understand how the variables will be used. For example:

Sample media

If your template uses an Image, Video, or Document header, upload a sample media file for Meta to review.

Sample media files must not exceed 15 MB.

If your template includes both a media header and variables, you’ll be asked to provide the sample media and variable values on the same submission screen before submitting the template.

Dynamic URL examples

If you use a Dynamic URL button, provide a sample of the complete URL.

For example:

• Static URL: https://www.example.com
• Dynamic URL: https://www.example.com/orders/12345

After you submit the template, Meta reviews it before it can be used. Review times vary, and the template status updates automatically in the Template Manager.

Reminder for marketing templates

When you submit a Marketing template, SleekFlow reminds you to include opt-out instructions in your message body or footer.

Including an opt-out message helps you comply with WhatsApp’s policies and gives customers a clear way to stop receiving marketing messages. Without one, customers may report or block your messages, which could affect your WhatsApp quality rating.

If you’ve already included an opt-out message, click Submit to continue. Otherwise, click Go back to update your template before submitting it for review.

Common opt-out messages include:

• “Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
• “Reply UNSUBSCRIBE to stop receiving updates.”
• “Reply STOP to opt out of future marketing messages.”

This reminder is shown only when submitting Marketing templates.

Manage your templates

Once you’ve created a template, you can use WhatsApp Template Manager to monitor its approval status, organize your templates, and manage existing ones.

View your templates

The template list displays all templates for the selected WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).

For each template, you can view:

• Template name – The name assigned during template creation.
• Category – The template category.
• Labels – Labels assigned to help organize your templates.
• Button type – The type of interactive button included in the template, if any.
• Language – The template language.
• Status – The current approval status.
• Last updated – The date and time the template was last created or updated.
• Bookmark – Indicates whether the template has been bookmarked for easier access.

Understand template statuses

After you submit a template, Meta reviews it before it can be used. The Status column shows the current review or availability status.

Bookmark a template

Bookmarks are shared across your workspace. When a template is bookmarked, it appears at the top of the Template Manager and is prioritized in the template selector, making frequently used templates easier to find.

Find templates

Use the search bar and filters to quickly find templates in your workspace.

Search templates

Enter a template name in the search bar to find matching templates.

Filter templates

You can filter templates by one or more of the following criteria:

• Category
• Labels
• Button type
• Language
• Status

Multiple filters can be applied at the same time.

To remove all applied filters, click “Reset”.

View template details

Click a template name to open its details.
 

Click a template name to open its details.

 

From the template details, you can:

1. Review the template content and configuration.
2. Copy the SleekFlow Platform API payload.
3. Copy the Zapier or Make.com payload.

After a template is submitted to Meta, it cannot be edited in SleekFlow. If you need to update the template, delete it and create a new one.

Delete a template

To delete a template:

1. Click the icon next to the template.
   
2. Select “Delete”.
3. A warning modal will appear
4. Click “Delete” to confirm