How to Create a WhatsApp Operator Template and Submit it for Registration

Last updated: 12 September 2024

Operator templates for WhatsApp require registration in Meta. Based on the registered operator template, you can create a custom template and use it for broadcasts in edna Pulse.

How to Create a WhatsApp Custom Template

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To speed up the process of creating and registering an operator template, use template examples.

WhatsApp Template Examples

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You can’t edit the registered and submitted for registration operator templates.

Step 1. Specify Template Data

1. Go to the Settings → Templates section of your personal edna Pulse account.

2. Click Add template and select WhatsApp.

3. Select the Operator template type.

   

4. Select the channel name to which you want to register the operator template from the Register to this sender name drop-down list.

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   The operator template will be associated with the selected sender’s name and will be available to that sender when creating a custom template.

5. Select the language in which you want to write the template text from the drop-down list.

6. Specify the template name.

   For example, «3_0_version_announcement»

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   You can register templates with the same content for one or more WhatsApp business accounts.

   edna Pulse only checks the Language and Template name fields for uniqueness within the same WhatsApp business account selected from the Register to this sender name drop-down list.

7. Select the template category from the drop-down list:

   • Utility — notifications about bank transactions, information about account changes, order status, or loyalty program.
   • Authentication — one-time codes for secure access to your personal account or application.
   • Marketing — company news, offers with promotions and discounts, information about events and webinars.

8. If you selected the Utility or Authorization category in the previous step, select the message lifetime (TTL) if necessary:

   • for utility messages: from 30 seconds to 12 hours;
   • for utility messages: from 30 seconds to 15 minutes.

   To use the default TTL value, leave the field blank.

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   Registering two or more templates with the same content but different TTL values for the same business account will result in messages sent from your edna Pulse account or via the api/cascade/schedule API method being matched to the template created first.

   To avoid this, log in to your Facebook Business Manager account, send a template disablement log, and disable the unused template. Alternatively, you can send a request to edna support, explaining why.

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   If necessary, you can change the TTL value for an already registered template in Facebook Business Manager. After that, make sure that the information has been updated in edna Pulse.

9. Click Next.

Step 2. Add Template Text

Utility or marketing messages

1. Enter the template text.

2. Add emojis or placeholders if necessary.

   Placeholders in WhatsApp Templates

3. Make sure the text you entered looks correct in the preview window on the right.

4. Click Next to proceed to adding the template title and caption.

   

Authentication messages

1. From the drop-down list, select the type of the required one-time password copy button and specify the parameters:

   • Copy code — if necessary, change the button text in the Button name field.
   • One-tap autofill — works only for Android applications that support the secure connection setup protocol. Specify the package name and the hash of the application signature. If necessary, specify the text for the Copy code button, which will be used if the application doesn’t support the secure connection protocol.

2. If necessary, enable the Add security disclaimer checkbox to add a warning that the code shouldn’t be shared.

3. If necessary, enable the Add expiration warning checkbox to add a warning and set the password expiration date.

4. Click Submit.

   

After successful verification, the template will switch to the Active status.

Step 3. Add Template Header and Signature

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For the Utility or Marketing template category only.

1. If necessary, enable the Add a header checkbox and fill in the required fields.

2. If necessary, enable the Add a message signature checkbox and enter your signature. It is shown under the message.

3. Click Next.

   

WhatsApp Template Headers

Step 4. Add Buttons

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For the Utility or Marketing template category only.

1. Enable the Add buttons checkbox if you want to make your message interactive.

2. Select the required button types and configure them.

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   WhatsApp

   The unsubscribe button is added by default. We recommend using this button to reduce the chance of your WhatsApp channel being blocked.

   How to Add Buttons to WhatsApp Templates

3. Click Submit.

After successful verification, the template will switch to the Active status.

Examples of Template Variables and Media Files

If your template contains placeholders, video header, image header, or file header, the template should contain examples according to Meta rules. For example, if the template announces the release of a new version of the product, the values of the variables or attached media files should match the meaning.

To successfully register a template, add the required examples in the Add sample to message content window and click Submit.