## What Are WhatsApp Message Templates?

WhatsApp Message Templates are pre-approved message formats that let you initiate conversations with customers outside the 24-hour messaging window. Meta must approve every template before it can be sent.

Voxys Connect includes a full template management system so you can create, submit, and track templates without needing Facebook Business Manager.

## Template Categories

Meta organises templates into three billing categories:

| Category | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| **Marketing** | Promotional content, offers, campaigns | Flash sale announcements, product launches |
| **Utility** | Transactional or account updates | Order confirmations, appointment reminders |
| **Authentication** | One-time passwords | Login OTP, verification codes |

## Template Components

A template can contain up to four component types:

- **Header** — Optional. Text, image, video, or document at the top of the message.
- **Body** — Required. The main message text. Supports named variables like `{{customer_name}}`.
- **Footer** — Optional. A short line of text at the bottom.
- **Buttons** — Optional. Up to 10 buttons: quick replies, call-to-action URLs, or phone numbers.

## Named Variables

Variables in templates use double curly braces. Voxys Connect supports **named variables** such as `{{customer_name}}` or `{{order_id}}`, which makes templates easier to read and manage compared to positional variables like `{{1}}`.

When sending, you map each variable name to a value — either manually or automatically via campaign contact lists or automation workflows.

## Template Statuses

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Draft** | Created locally, not yet submitted to Meta |
| **Pending** | Submitted, awaiting Meta review |
| **Approved** | Ready to send |
| **Rejected** | Meta rejected the template — review the reason and resubmit |
| **Paused** | Meta has paused the template due to low quality |

## Next Steps

- [Creating and Managing Templates](#) — Step-by-step guide to building templates in Voxys Connect
- [Carousel Templates](#) — Rich interactive templates with scrollable cards
- [Running a Campaign](#) — Sending approved templates at scale