Campaigns send pre-approved WhatsApp templates. You write a template once, submit it, and WhatsApp reviews it. Once it's approved it appears in the template gallery when you create a campaign. You need a connected WhatsApp channel first. See Connect WhatsApp.

Create a template

Step 2 of a new template: write the body, add a variable with its sample text, and watch the preview.

1. 1Add variable
2. 2Sample content

1. Open WhatsApp and select Template messages, then New Template.

2. Step 1, Details & category: enter the Template Name, choose the Language and the Channel. Pick a category (below).

3. Select Continue to content. Step 2, Message content: build the message. The preview on the right updates as you type.

4. Select Save Template. You'll be told you'll be notified when the template is reviewed.

Template names are lower-cased and spaces become underscores as you type.

Categories

Category	Use it for
Marketing	Promotions and information about your products, services or business.
Utility	Messages about an existing order or account.
Authentication	Sending codes to verify a transaction or login.

For Marketing and Utility you also choose a type: Default (media and custom buttons) or Carousel (several products in a scrollable format). The checkbox Allow template category change lets Meta assign the category it considers appropriate, to avoid a rejection for miscategorisation.

Message content

A standard template has these parts:

• Header (optional format): none, text, image, video or document.
• Body: the message text, with bold, italic, strikethrough and emoji.
• Footer: short optional text.
• Buttons: up to 10. If you add more than three, they appear as a list.

An Authentication template is simpler: you can add a security recommendation, a code expiry (1 to 60 minutes, 30 by default) and a button label (default "Copy Code").

Variables

Select Add Variable to insert a numbered placeholder in the body. Write them like this:

Hello {{1}}, your order {{2}} ships on {{3}}.

For every variable you must provide sample content, so reviewers can see a real message.

Validation rules

Rule	Limit
Body variables	Up to 16. Numbered 1, 2, 3… starting at 1 with no gaps.
Header text	Up to 60 characters and at most one variable.
Footer text	Up to 60 characters.
Body text	Up to 1,024 characters.
Button text	Up to 20 characters.
Visit Website buttons	Up to 2. A dynamic URL can contain one variable.
Phone Number and Copy offer code buttons	1 each.
Carousel cards	Up to 2 buttons per card; every card must have the same button count, types and order.

Any problem is shown on the field, and Natiq returns you to step 1 if the error is there.

Approval statuses

Each template card shows a status:

Each template shows where it is in Meta’s review: Approved, Pending or Rejected.

Status	Meaning
Pending	Submitted and waiting for review.
Approved	Ready to use in campaigns.
Rejected	WhatsApp declined it.

Only Approved templates can be picked for a campaign. Open a card's View to see its content, status, category, language and channel. Use the channel selector at the top of the Template messages page to switch between WhatsApp channels.

Editing isn't available

Editing a submitted template isn't available yet. To change one, create a new template and delete the old one with the trash icon (confirm "Delete this template?"; this can't be undone).

Create a campaignSend an approved template to your audience.