Part 4: Creating and Testing Template Messages
Understanding WhatsApp Template Messages
Now that your payment method is set up, let's talk about what template messages actually are.
A WhatsApp Template Message is a pre-written message format that you submit to Meta for approval. Once approved, you can use this template to send messages to customers even after the 24-hour conversation window has closed. The template can include variables (like customer name or appointment time) that you fill in each time you send it.
Think of it like a mail-merge email template—you have a standard format with blanks you can fill in with personalized information.
Where to Create and Manage Templates
All WhatsApp template messages are created and managed in a tool called WhatsApp Manager. Let's navigate there now.
- In your browser, go to https://business.facebook.com/
- Sign in if you're not already logged in
- Switch to your business portfolio (the one containing your WhatsApp Business Account)
- On the left sidebar, click "Settings"
- Click "Accounts", then "WhatsApp accounts"
- Click on your WhatsApp Business Account (the one connected to Exabloom)
- Look for a button or link labeled "WhatsApp Manager" and click it
- A new tab will open—this is the WhatsApp Manager dashboard
WhatsApp Manager is Facebook's official tool for managing your WhatsApp Business Account settings, viewing analytics, and creating template messages. It's separate from Facebook Business Manager but connected to it.
Using a Pre-Approved Template (The Fast Way)
Here's where we'll save some time. Normally, when you create a brand-new template message from scratch, you have to wait for Meta to review and approve it—this can take several hours or even up to a few days.
But Meta provides a Template Library with pre-approved templates you can copy and use immediately. For this guide, we'll copy one of these to quickly test that you can send template messages through Exabloom.
Follow these steps carefully:
- In WhatsApp Manager, look for "Message templates" in the left navigation menu
- Click "Template library" (not "Manage templates"—that's where we'll go later)
- You'll see templates organized by category. Under the "Utility" category, find a template called
appointment_reminder - Click on the
appointment_remindertemplate to select it - A dialog box will appear asking you to name your copy of this template
- In the name field, type
appointment_reminder(you can use the same name as the original) - Click "Submit"
Templates from the library are already approved by Meta, so you can use them immediately. This lets us test your setup right away. Later, you can create your own custom templates tailored to your business needs—just know that those will need approval and will take some time.
The template will be copied to your account and will be ready to use immediately!
Finding Your New Template
Now let's confirm that your template is active and ready.
- In WhatsApp Manager, click "Message templates" in the left navigation
- Then click "Manage templates"
- You should see your newly copied template:
appointment_reminder - Check the status column—it should say "Active" with a green indicator
This "Manage templates" page is where you'll manage ALL your WhatsApp template messages going forward. You can create new ones, edit existing ones (and resubmit for approval), and see which templates are active, pending approval, or rejected.
Testing Your Template Message in Exabloom
Now for the exciting part—let's send this template message through Exabloom to prove everything is working!
For this test, you'll need to send a message to a contact who HASN'T messaged you in the last 24 hours. If all your contacts are recent, you can create a brand-new contact.
Creating a Test Contact
- Open Exabloom in your browser and log in
- Go to the "Contacts" page
- Click "Create New Contact" or the "+ Add Contact" button (wording may vary)
- Enter a phone number that:
- Has WhatsApp installed
- Has NOT sent a message to your WhatsApp Business in the past 24 hours
- You have access to (so you can verify the message arrived)
- Save the contact
Use your personal WhatsApp number on another phone, or ask a friend or colleague who hasn't recently messaged your business account. This way you can verify that the template message actually arrives.
Sending the Template Message
- Click on the test contact you just created to open their conversation
- Since this contact hasn't messaged you recently (or at all), you won't be able to send a free form message. Instead, look for a button that says "Send template message" or something similar, and click it
- A list of available templates will appear. You should see
appointment_reminderin the list - Select
appointment_reminderand click "Next"
The appointment_reminder template has placeholders (variables) where you can insert custom information—like the customer's name, appointment date, or appointment time. These make the template feel personal even though it's pre-formatted.
- You'll see several text boxes for variables (things like name, date, time). Fill in each box with any text you like—this is just for testing, so you can type "Test Name," "Tomorrow," "3 PM," or anything else
- Once all required fields are filled in, click "Send Message"
Did It Work?
Now check the phone number you used for the test contact.
On that phone, you should receive a WhatsApp message with the appointment reminder template, filled in with the information you typed.
- ✅ Yes, I received the template message! → Congratulations! Your WhatsApp Business Account is now fully set up and connected to Exabloom. You can send both free form messages (within 24 hours) and template messages (anytime) to your customers.
- ❌ No, the message didn't arrive → Check the following:
- Is your payment method properly added and verified in Facebook Business Manager?
- Did you fill in all required variable fields in the template?
- Is the test phone number correct and does it have WhatsApp?
- Wait a minute or two—sometimes messages take a moment to deliver
- Check the "Sent" status in Exabloom's interface—does it show "Delivered" or "Failed"?
If you've double-checked everything and template messages still aren't sending, your WhatsApp Business Account may have a restriction or your payment method may not be properly verified. Go back to Facebook Business Manager > Settings > WhatsApp accounts > [Your Account] and look for any warning messages or restrictions noted at the top of the page.
🎉 You Did It!
Congratulations! If you made it through all five parts and successfully sent both a free form message and a template message, your WhatsApp Business is now fully integrated with Exabloom.
Here's what you can now do:
- ✅ Receive all WhatsApp messages in Exabloom's unified inbox
- ✅ Send free form replies within the 24-hour conversation window
- ✅ Send template messages to any contact, even outside the 24-hour window
- ✅ Access your last 6 months of conversation history
- ✅ Collaborate with your team on customer messages
What's Next?
Now that you're set up, here are some recommended next steps:
- Create custom template messages for your specific business needs (order confirmations, shipping updates, appointment reminders, etc.)
- Update contact names in Exabloom to match your phone's contact list (optional, but helpful)
- Explore Exabloom's other features like automated responses, conversation assignment, and analytics
- Train your team on using Exabloom so everyone can benefit from this centralized inbox
If you have questions about creating custom templates, updating contacts, or using advanced Exabloom features, check out our other guides or reach out to Exabloom support. You've mastered the hardest part—the initial setup!
Thank you for your patience and attention throughout this guide. Happy messaging! 💬