> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://reseller-docs.wamatrix.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Create and Manage WhatsApp Business Message Templates
> Submit WhatsApp Business message templates for Meta approval, manage variables and media, and track approval status — all from your WaMatrix workspace.
WhatsApp message templates are pre-approved message formats required for sending bulk campaigns and for initiating conversations outside the 24-hour messaging window. You create and submit templates directly inside WaMatrix, and Meta reviews them — typically within 24–48 hours. Once approved, templates are immediately available to use in campaigns and automation flows.
## Template Categories
Meta requires every template to be assigned to one of three categories. Choosing the right category matters — submitting a promotional message under "Utility" is one of the most common rejection reasons.
| Category | Purpose | Examples |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Marketing** | Promotional messages, offers, announcements, re-engagement | Sale announcements, product launches, discount codes, newsletter broadcasts |
| **Utility** | Transactional updates directly related to a customer action | Order confirmations, shipping updates, appointment reminders, payment receipts |
| **Authentication** | One-time passcodes for login or verification | OTP codes (not applicable to most marketing use cases) |
## Creating a Template
Go to **Templates → New Template**.
Select **Marketing**, **Utility**, or **Authentication** based on the purpose of the message.
Give the template a unique name using only lowercase letters and underscores — for example, `order_confirmation_v1`. The name is **permanent once submitted** and cannot be changed, so choose carefully.
Templates are language-specific. Select the language this version is written in. To send the same message in multiple languages, create a separate template for each language.
Write the message content. Use `{{1}}`, `{{2}}`, `{{3}}` etc. as placeholders for dynamic variables that will be filled in at send time. Add sample values for each variable — Meta requires them to evaluate the template.
Optionally add a header above the message body: a short text line, or a media attachment (image, video, or document). Media headers significantly increase engagement rates on marketing templates.
Add a footer line (often used for opt-out instructions) and interactive buttons — **Quick Reply** buttons (tap to send a predefined response) or **Call-to-Action** buttons (phone call or URL link).
Click **Submit for Approval**. The template status changes to **Pending** and enters Meta's review queue.
## Template Variables
Variables let you personalize a single template for every recipient. Here's an example of a Utility template using three variables:
```
Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} has been confirmed and will be delivered by {{3}}. Reply STOP to opt out.
```
At send time, variables are filled in — either automatically from mapped contact fields (e.g. `{{1}}` → First Name) or from campaign-level inputs you define when launching the broadcast. The delivered message looks like:
```
Hi Jane, your order #10482 has been confirmed and will be delivered by Friday, 18 July. Reply STOP to opt out.
```
## Approval Status
| Status | Meaning |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Pending** | Template has been submitted and is under review by Meta. No action required — review typically takes 24–48 hours. |
| **Approved** | Template passed Meta's review and is ready to use in campaigns and automation flows. |
| **Rejected** | Template was not approved. View the rejection reason in the template detail page, make the necessary edits, and resubmit under a new template name. |
| **Paused** | Meta has flagged the template due to a quality issue — typically low engagement rates or spam reports from recipients. Paused templates cannot be sent until the quality rating recovers or the template is revised. |
## Common Rejection Reasons
Meta requires all URLs used in templates to be registered in your Meta Business Manager before they can appear in approved templates. Log in to Meta Business Manager, navigate to **WhatsApp Manager → Message Templates**, and register your domain. Then resubmit the template.
Utility templates must relate directly to a transaction or customer-initiated interaction. If your message contains promotional language (discounts, offers, calls to action encouraging a purchase), it must be submitted as a **Marketing** template instead.
Meta requires Marketing templates to give recipients a way to opt out of future messages. Add a clear opt-out instruction — such as "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" — to the message footer. Utility and Authentication templates are exempt from this requirement.
Meta rejects templates where the purpose of a variable is ambiguous — for example, a template where `{{1}}` could contain anything. Always provide concrete sample values when submitting (e.g. `{{1}}` = "Jane", `{{2}}` = "10482"). This helps Meta's reviewers understand the context and intended use of each variable.
Reusing a rejected template name is not possible — once a name has been used, it is permanently associated with that submission. When resubmitting a rejected template after making edits, create a new template with a slightly different name (e.g. append `_v2` or `_v3`) to avoid conflicts.