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The WhatsApp template in Meta

To write to a customer from your WhatsApp Business number, Meta requires an approved template. Here we build it together: a short message, with the product photo, the customer’s name, their order number and a button that opens their form.

  1. 1
    Header: imageThe product photo. It comes from data.products[0].image_url.
  2. 2
    Variable {{v1}}: the nameFrom data.customer.name. If it's empty, send “there” or use another template without the name.
  3. 3
    Variable {{v2}}: the orderFrom data.order.name, as the customer sees it: #1042.
  4. 4
    Button with a dynamic URLIn Meta: https://reviews.leadit.tech/r/ and type Dynamic. When sending, data.token goes in its {{1}}.
Section titled “Before you start: the button is a dynamic link”

Each order has its own link. In the template you don’t write a full link: you pick a button with a dynamic URL, write only the fixed part and Meta leaves a slot at the end, {{1}}. When each message is sent, the order’s token goes in that slot. We send it to you ready in the webhook, in data.token.

Fixed. You type it once in “Website URL”. When you pick Dynamic, Meta adds {{1}} on its own.Variable. The token: it changes with every order and comes ready in data.token.
  1. Open WhatsApp Manager.

    In business.facebook.com: WhatsApp Manager → Message templates → Manage templates → Create template.

  2. Pick Utility and Default.

    The request is about an order your customer already placed: that’s Utility, not Marketing. Below, leave Default selected (“Send messages about an existing order or account”) and tap Next.

    The Set up your template screen, with the Utility category and the Default type selected.
    Category Utility, type Default. The screenshots are from Meta in Spanish.
  3. Give it a name, a language and the image.

    • Name: lowercase, for example review or review_request.
    • Language: your customers’ language, for example English (US). If you sell in other languages, create one template per language with the same name.
    • Type of variable: Name.
    • Media sample: Image, and upload a sample photo of one of your products. When sending, your system puts in the photo of what each customer bought.
    • Header: leave it empty; the image already works as the header.
    Template name review, Spanish (MEX) language, Name variable type and a sample image uploaded.
  4. Write the body with two variables.

    Write the text and, where the name and the order go, tap + Add variable. Meta names them {{v1}} and {{v2}}:

    Hi *{{v1}}* 👋 We'd love to hear what you think of your order *{{v2}}*. Could you leave us a review?

    The asterisks make the text bold. In Variable samples, use examples that aren’t a real customer: Maria for {{v1}} and #1042 for {{v2}}.

  5. Add the footer.

    It takes less than a minute. Reply STOP to opt out.

    The opt-out part is optional, but we recommend it: telling your customer how to stop getting messages is good practice and helps you comply with privacy laws. It fits in the footer’s 60 characters.

    The variable samples with a sample name and order number, and the footer.
  6. Add the button with a dynamic URL.

    In Buttons, tap + Add button and pick Visit website. Fill it in like this:

    Field What you enter
    Type of action Visit website
    Button text Leave my review
    URL type Dynamic
    Website URL https://reviews.leadit.tech/r/
    Sample URL A sample link, below

    In Add sample URL, paste a made-up link that isn’t a real customer’s:

    https://reviews.leadit.tech/r/8Kj2mQx7RrT0vLw3Hn5ZpA1cYb9EuS6dGf4qWk2NtJo
    The Visit website button with its text, a dynamic URL with the Leadit Reviews base, and Meta adding {{1}} at the end.
    When you pick Dynamic, Meta adds {{1}} on its own, to the right of the field.

    The link tracking checkbox is optional: if you leave it checked, Meta shows you how many people tapped the button.

  7. Submit it for review.

    Leave the Validity period as it is. Tap Submit for review: Meta usually answers within minutes, sometimes in a few hours. When the template says Active, you can use it.

When the notice from your webhook arrives, your platform fills in the template like this. Everything comes ready in the notice: you don’t have to cut or build anything.

In the template What you put Notice field
Image The product photo data.products[0].image_url
{{v1}} The first name data.customer.name
{{v2}} The order number data.order.name
Button, {{1}} The token data.token
Recipient The phone data.customer.phone
Template language es, en… data.locale (if it’s empty, your store’s)
  • Talk only about the order. No discounts, offers, “buy again” or new products: that turns it into Marketing.
  • Send it only to people who bought, and once per order. Reminders, with days between them.
  • No shortened links (bit.ly and the like): Meta rejects them. The Leadit Reviews link is already short and on its own domain.
  • If it’s rejected or moved to Marketing, remove anything that sounds promotional and submit it again. You can request a review from WhatsApp Manager itself.