Glossary / WhatsApp

Industry terms

Message template

A message template is a pre-approved WhatsApp message format a business must use to start a conversation with someone on the WhatsApp Business Platform.

Also called: WhatsApp template, HSM, template message

By Aulto · Last reviewed

Why are templates needed?

They stop businesses from sending anything they like to anyone. Meta reviews each template before it can be used.

What kinds are there?

Meta groups templates into categories such as marketing, utility and authentication, and the category affects how the message is priced.

Can templates be personal?

Yes. Templates have placeholders for things like a name, a song title or a link, filled in for each person.

Example

"Hi {{1}}, {{2}} is out now. Listen here: {{3}}", approved once, then sent to every opted-in fan with their own details.

Doing it with Aulto

Aulto runs approved templates from your connected number for release messages, so you don't write them from scratch.

See how it works →

  • WhatsApp broadcast

    A WhatsApp broadcast is one message sent to many opted-in contacts at once, each receiving it as a private chat rather than in a group.

  • 24-hour customer service window

    On the WhatsApp Business Platform, when someone messages a business, the business can reply freely for 24 hours; after that it must use an approved template.

  • Release flow

    A release flow is a set of messages sent automatically around a release: an announcement before it, a reminder the day before, an out-now message and a follow-up.

  • WhatsApp Business Platform

    The WhatsApp Business Platform (the WhatsApp Business API) lets businesses message customers at scale through software, using Meta-approved templates and opted-in contacts.

  • WhatsApp Business app

    The WhatsApp Business app is WhatsApp's app for small businesses, with a business profile, catalogue, quick replies, labels and broadcast lists, run from a phone.

Sources

Turn every click and comment into a fan you can reach

Smart links, pre-saves, bio pages and Reply Drop for Instagram, in one place.

Start free trial