Every campaign starts from a template: the message model, with text, image and buttons, which Meta must approve before you can send. The parts that change from person to person — the name, the city — go in as variables, filled in when you build the campaign. Camila created the promo_black_friday template for Loja Bem Viver: a banner image, a greeting with the customer's name and a button to the deals page.
Information
In Templates, click New template. The screen has the form on one side and the Preview on the other, shaped like a WhatsApp chat.
- Template name — lowercase letters, numbers and underscore (_) only; the field converts as you type. When it goes to Meta, the name gets the _sendfast ending — promo_black_friday becomes promo_black_friday_sendfast. There cannot be two templates with the same name in the same language.
- Language — the language the message is written in (Brazilian Portuguese comes selected). To send the same message in another language, create another template.
- Category — Marketing for promotions, news and invitations; Utility for notices tied to something the customer already did, such as an order confirmation or appointment reminder. Meta may reclassify the category during review, and the list then shows the category Meta set.
Name, language and category cannot change once the template goes to Meta. Check them before submitting.
Header
Optional. In Header type, choose:
- None;
- Text — up to 60 characters. Accepts a variable, such as Hello, {{1}}!;
- Image — PNG or JPG, up to 5 MB;
- Video — MP4, up to 16 MB;
- Document — PDF, up to 100 MB.
For media, upload the Sample file or click Select from library. The sample is what Meta sees during review. In the campaign, you can use that same media or swap it for another of the same type — this year's Black Friday banner can be replaced by next year's without creating another template.
Message body
Required, up to 1,024 characters. The bar above the field applies Bold, Italic, Strikethrough and Monospace, and the Add variable button inserts the next variable at the cursor: {{1}}, {{2}} and so on. Camila's body read:
Hi, {{1}}! Loja Bem Viver's Black Friday is on: 30% off the whole tea line. Free shipping to {{2}} until Sunday.
Each variable opens an Example for {{1}} in the body field. Fill it with a realistic value (Marina, Goiânia): it is what Meta uses to understand the message during review, and empty or generic examples are a common reason for rejection. Each contact's real value is only chosen in the campaign.
Footer
Optional, up to 60 characters. A good place for a sign-off (Loja Bem Viver — Setor Bueno).
Buttons
Click Add and choose the Type:
- Quick reply — a short text the person taps to reply.
- Link (URL) — opens an address starting with http or https. It can have tracking on under Track clicks on this link.
- Phone — calls a number, entered with the country code.
- Copy code — copies a code, such as a discount coupon.
The limits count the SAIR button: up to 2 links, 1 phone and 10 quick replies, with at most 25 characters in each button's text. Quick replies must come after link and phone buttons.
The SAIR button
Every template sent to Meta gets the SAIR quick reply button at the end ("SAIR" means "leave" in Portuguese; the button keeps this text in every template). It shows locked in the editor and in the preview (Added automatically) and cannot be removed: it is how a contact asks to stop receiving messages, and whoever taps it is opted out right away.
Save or submit
- Save as draft — keeps it only in SendFast. Nothing goes to Meta, and name, language and category stay editable. Useful for reviewing with someone first.
- Create template — sends it to Meta. The status becomes Under review ("Template created. Awaiting Meta approval.").
A draft is sent later with the Submit for approval button, on the form itself or in the list row menu. What happens next is in the Template approval and management article.
Who can create
Members and Admins.
Where to go next
- Template approval and management — statuses, editing, duplicating and syncing.
- Click tracking — what you need to turn on tracking in a link button.
- Media library — where image, video and PDF samples live.
- Campaigns — fill in the variables with each contact's data.
In short: in New template, set name, language and category (which cannot change after submitting), build header, body with variables and realistic examples, footer and buttons within the limits, count on the automatic SAIR button and click Create template to send it to Meta's review.