Creating message templates is key to automating and personalizing your customer interactions on WhatsApp. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create and configure message templates using the WhatsApp Cloud API and BotCommerce.
Log into Facebook Business
Visit business.facebook.com and log in to your account.
If you have multiple business accounts, select the appropriate one from the drop-down list.
Click on the All Tools menu and select WhatsApp Manager.
Create a New Message Template
In the WhatsApp Manager, locate your WhatsApp account and click on the three dots menu.
Select Manage Message Templates.
Click on Create Template to start a new template creation.
You will see three categories to choose from:
Marketing: For promotions or product/service information.
Utility: For messages related to existing orders or accounts.
Authentication: For sending verification codes or login confirmations.
For this tutorial, select Utility to send order updates.
Configure the Message Template
Name the Template: Enter a unique name for your message template.
Select a Language: Choose the language in which the message will be sent.
Click on Continue to proceed.
You can add a header to your message, which can be either Text or Media.
If you choose Text, a form will appear for you to enter the header text.
If you select Media, you can choose from three options: Image, Video, or Document.
For this tutorial, let’s select Image. You will have the option to upload the image when using this template.
Compose the Message Body: Write the body of your message. You can use variables to personalize the content.
Example message body: “Your order {order_number} has been shipped and is expected to arrive by {delivery_date}.”
If you want, you can include a footer for additional information.
You can add Call to Action or Quick Reply buttons to your message.
For this example, let’s add Quick Reply buttons:
Write the text for the button (e.g., “Track Order”).
To add another button, click on Add Button.
These buttons can be linked to postbacks when using the message template.
Provide Sample Data
Before submitting the template, you need to add sample data:
Header Sample Data: If you used an image, provide a sample image.
Variable Sample Data: Add sample data for any variables used in the message body.
Submit the Template
Once all fields are filled out, click on the Submit button.
The template will be sent to WhatsApp for approval. It will be marked as pending until verified.
Refresh the page to check the status. Once approved, you can proceed to the next step.
Integrate the Template in BotCommerce
Go to BotCommerce’s Message Templates section.
Click on Check Status to fetch the message template you created on the WhatsApp Cloud API.
Once the template appears, click on Map Variables.
Select the corresponding variables from the list or create new ones if necessary.
Finally, click on the Save button.
Your Message Template is Ready: The template is now integrated and ready to be used within BotCommerce.
Send the Template to a Customer
Go to the Live Chat panel in BotCommerce.
Select the user to whom you want to send the template.
Click Send flow or message template, choose the created template, and assign personalized values to the variables.
Send the message and verify that it was successfully delivered.
Now you know how to create and customize message templates using the WhatsApp Cloud API and BotCommerce. If you need additional help, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team. We are here to help you optimize your messaging strategy!
