How to get your WhatsApp templates approved
On the WhatsApp Business Platform, a business can reply freely within 24 hours of a customer's last message. Anything else, such as an offer, a reminder or a message to someone who hasn't written lately, must use a template that Meta has reviewed and approved. Approval usually takes minutes, sometimes up to a day.
Pick the right category
Utility is for something the customer is expecting: an order update, a booking reminder. Marketing is for anything that promotes, even gently. A promotion submitted as utility is a common reason for rejection.
Rules that avoid most rejections
- No absolute or misleading claims, such as “best in Dubai” or “guaranteed”.
- No pressure or threats: avoid “last chance” or “your account will be closed”.
- Variables such as {{1}} are numbered in order, each with a realistic example, never at the very start or end, and never two side by side.
- One clear offer and one clear action. Shorter templates perform better.
- At most one emoji, and no wall of exclamation marks.
Arabic and English
Each language is its own template, approved separately. Write the Arabic as natural Gulf Arabic rather than a word-for-word translation; customers notice.
How Heyozo helps
Heyozo suggests what to send, from coming occasions to customers who have gone quiet, writes a draft that follows these rules, and checks it before you submit it. You edit and approve every word; nothing is sent until Meta has approved the template and you start the campaign.