WhatsApp templates

Template library

WhatsApp welcome message templates

The first message sets the tone. A WhatsApp welcome message greets a new customer, says what they can expect from you and how to reach your team. Below are WhatsApp welcome message templates for new subscribers, new accounts and new leads, with the category each one falls in, approval tips and how to send them with BelloSend.

WhatsApp welcome message template examples

Welcome messages with an offer are Marketing. A message that only confirms an account the customer created can be Utility.

welcome_subscriber · Marketing
Welcome {{1}}, and thank you for joining {{2}} on WhatsApp. You will hear from us about new arrivals and offers. Reply STOP at any time to unsubscribe.
  • Stop promotions
welcome_offer · Marketing
Hello {{1}}, welcome to {{2}}. As a thank you, here is {{3}} off your first order with the code {{4}} at checkout. We are happy to have you.
  • Shop now
welcome_lead · Marketing
Hi {{1}}, thank you for your interest in {{2}}. Our team is here to answer your questions. What would you like to know first?
  • Prices
  • Book a demo
  • Talk to us
account_created · Utility
Hello {{1}}, your account at {{2}} has been created with this phone number. If you did not request this, please reply to this message.
membership_activated · Utility
Hi {{1}}, your {{2}} membership is now active until {{3}}. You can reach our team in this chat for any question about your account.

Is a welcome message Marketing or Utility?

Most WhatsApp welcome messages are Marketing templates. A greeting that introduces your brand, mentions offers or includes a first-order discount is promotional in Meta's guidelines.

A message can be Utility when it only confirms something the customer just did, such as creating an account or activating a membership, with no promotion inside. If Meta disagrees during review, it can change the category.

Meta charges per delivered template message by category and country. If the new contact wrote to you first, you are inside the 24-hour customer service window and can reply with a normal message, no template needed. Replies inside the window are billed as service messages after the first 1,000 per number each month. BelloSend adds no fee per message.

Tips to get your welcome message template approved

  • Do not start or end the body with a variable. "Welcome {{1}}," opens with a word, and the body ends with a full sentence.
  • Keep words between variables and number them in order.
  • Tell people how to stop messages, especially in Marketing welcomes.
  • Send only to people who opted in, for example by ticking a WhatsApp box on your signup form.
  • Keep the first message short, and invite a reply so the conversation can continue inside the service window without a template.

How to send WhatsApp welcome messages with BelloSend

  1. Create the template

    Create the welcome template in BelloSend or sync it from WhatsApp Manager, choosing Marketing or Utility as described above.

  2. Greet people who write first

    When someone messages you, the chatbot can answer with a keyword reply or a flow, inside the 24-hour service window, where replies are billed as service messages after the first 1,000 per number each month. The chatbot and AI are included from the Pro plan.

  3. Welcome new signups automatically

    Your website or CRM can call BelloSend's API to send the welcome template to each new opted-in contact. The API and webhooks are in the Max plan.

  4. Welcome a group of new contacts

    Import new contacts by CSV, tag them, and send the welcome as a WhatsApp campaign on the Max plan.

Facts checked on 2026-10-05. https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/business-management-api/message-templates · https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/updates-to-pricing/new-template-guidelines · https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing

Frequently asked questions

Is a WhatsApp welcome message Marketing or Utility?

Usually Marketing. It can be Utility only when it confirms an action the customer took, such as creating an account, with no promotion.

Do I need a template to greet someone who messaged me?

No. If the customer wrote first, you can reply freely within 24 hours. Templates are needed when you start the conversation.

Can BelloSend send an automatic greeting?

Yes. Chatbot workflows can reply to incoming messages with keywords, a flow or AI, and hand off to a person with the full history. The chatbot is included from the Pro plan.

Can I welcome new followers on Instagram?

No. On Instagram a business can only reply to people who wrote to you first, inside a 24-hour window. Instagram campaigns, in the Max plan, reach only people who messaged you on Instagram in the last 24 hours, so they can't reach a new follower who has not written.

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