Create and submit your template(s) for approval

Neelke Stadler Updated by Neelke Stadler

With Turn.io, it’s easy to create message templates and send it for approval by WhatsApp.

Let’s take a look at how this is done:

  1. Step 1: Log in to your Turn.io account and navigate to the “Content” tab on the left-hand side. 
  2. Step 2: Click on the “Templates” tab at the top of the page (next to “Content”).
  1. Step 3: Click on the “Add template” button top right.
Add the template details
  1. Step 4: Complete template details such as category, name and language.
  • Select the category. Categories are pre-defined by WhatsApp.
  • Give your template a descriptive name.
The template name can only contain lowercase letters, numbers and underscores. No other characters or empty spaces are allowed. Names need to be unique per language.
  • Select the language. The language you select must match the content of your template.
Add the message details
  1. Step 5: Complete the message details such as header, body, footer and buttons. The preview on the right will help you visualise the template.
  • Header - this is optional. You have three options:
    • None. When you don't want to use a header.
    • Text. Think of it as a heading or title for your template that will be displayed in bold. You can use one placeholder variable to personalise a text header.
    • Media. Select this option if you want to send an image, video or document with your template. We have a separate article on how to add media to a template.
What is a placeholder variable?
Placeholder variables allow you to personalise a template when you send it.

For example in the message "Hi {{1}}! We look forward to chatting to you on WhatsApp." the placeholder is the {{1}} and you can fill in the user's name when you send it.
  • Body - all templates need to have body content. This is the main part of the message. You can use multiple placeholder variables to personalise the body.
Placeholders should always start with {{1}}. If you add multiple placeholders they need to follow consecutive ordering – in other words, placeholder {{1}} must be followed by placeholder {{2}}, which must be followed by placeholder {{3}}, and so forth. You will be prompted to complete placeholders when you send the template.

Make sure the body contains no newlines, tabs or more than four consecutive spaces, and that it meets WhatsApp’s length restrictions (a maximum of 1,024 characters is allowed).

  • Footer - this is optional. You can add a short line of text at the bottom of your message template.
Add buttons
  1. Step 6: You can add buttons - this is optional. Buttons allow users to respond without having to type. We have a separate article on how to add buttons to make your template interactive.
Add sample content
  1. Step 7: WhatsApp needs to be clear on what content goes into a specific parameter, especially for media templates. To help them understand what you will send to your users you need to provide sample content for each placeholder variable.
Submit and wait for approval feedback
  1. Step 8: Submit your template.

Your templates will show in the “Templates” section of Turn.io. Depending on where your templates are in the approval process, they’ll have one of the following labels: “pending”, “rejected” or “approved”.

Well done! 🙌 Templates are the only way in which to initiate conversations with users after the 24-hour window period has lapsed, which is why we encourage you to set them up as early as possible.

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