How to Generate Your WhatsApp Link for Free!

For customer-focused businesses across industries, the importance of leveraging the WhatsApp Business Platform is well-established by now. No business serious about winning and keeping its customers can remain in denial about WhatsApp’s ability to generate and qualify leads, offer presales and post-sales support, and nurture customer relationships. WhatsApp marketing is a proven way of increasing sales. Conversational messaging is on the rise and customers invariably prefer businesses that have a messaging option available. They want to be able to quickly and easily reach out to businesses to ask questions about a product or service, and expect prompt responses. Having an authenticated WhatsApp Business account as a customer communication channel gives businesses a clear edge. WhatsApp facilities high quality, one-to-one interactions over a secure pathway. Helping brands meet customers “where they are”, the WhatsApp Business API generates greater engagement than many other channels.

If you are leveraging WhatsApp Business to increase customer engagement and want to make the most of this platform, you need to share your WhatsApp chat link over multiple platforms (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, company website, etc.) in order to let your customers know you are available to chat on WhatsApp.

What is a WhatsApp Link?

A WhatsApp link is a chat link that makes it easy for customers to initiate chats with your business with a single click -– they don’t need to save your WhatsApp number. You do not need to have their numbers saved either. It is a URL that you can share with customers on various platforms to help them start a conversation with your business. You can embed this link in an image, customer banner, or widget on your website. When users click on the link they can directly start a conversation with you. You can add this link to your email signature, newsletter, social media profile and posts, or via some other messaging platform.

Designed to initiate a conversation, a click-to-chat link starts with a wa.me/ followed by your businesses’ WhatsApp number. You can also add a URL-encoded, pre-filled message if you wish.

What Are the Benefits of Having a WhatsApp Link?

Usually, to initiate a chat, people need to first have the recipient’s number saved on their phones. The WhatsApp link makes it simpler for customers – they need not have the brand’s number saved in their contact list – they only need to click once on the wa.me link shared by the business in order to be led to the chat window and start chatting. It creates an avenue for your customers to reach out to you directly.
It is absolutely free and requires no technical know-how to implement.
It boosts lead generation. You can easily save phone numbers of your potential customers for further follow-up when they initiate a chat with you.
By using the option of a pre-filled message, for example, “I am seeking more information about your services”, you can help customers kickstart the conversation without any hesitation.
The different forms in which the link can be embedded (hyperlinks, images, widgets, logos, banner ad CTAs, etc.) make it highly convenient for use.
WhatsApp chat links are available for both WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business Platform users. To learn about the added benefits of having a WhatsApp Business Platform, API, read this.

What Does a WhatsApp Link Contain?

The link can have your brand’s WhatsApp number and a unique welcome message that can be placed on your Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Gmail account.

How to Create a WhatsApp Link?

You can create wa.me link directly from WhatsApp. There are a couple of simple steps involved in generating a link for your business.

Type in https://wa.me followed by your phone number. So if your phone number is +62 123456789, you need to type in in https://wa.me/62123456789

If you want to add a customized message which will appear on your customer’s input field once they click on your chat, in addition to your phone number you need to add text in the format https://wa.me/62123456789?text=[TEXT]. In case your text is longer than one word, you can add space by adding %20.

So if your message is “Hi, I need more information”, your WhatsApp click-to-chat link will be: https://wa.me/91902234598?text=Hello%2C%20I%20need%20more%20information.

Are There Any Limitations to Using a WhatsApp link?

A WhatsApp link will only work in a country that has WhatsApp available.

Also, WhatsApp links only work to make online customers a part of your WhatsApp contact. For turning your offline customers to WhatsApp, you will need the help of a QR code that be scanned and lead potential customers to your WhatsApp account.

Odelia Jacob

Staff Writer

Odelia is a staff writer at edna. She creates engaging as well as informative content for webpages, email marketing, as well as social media platforms. She loves to read up on the latest industry trends and new technologies as well as on changes in the digital landscape. In her free time, she loves to hone her pottery skills.