WhatsApp welcome message templates you can copy
A welcome message is the only one every customer reads. It sets whether they treat the thread as a shop or as spam, and it should do one job: tell them who they are talking to and what to do next.
First enquiry from a website or ad
Use these inside the 24-hour service window, when someone has just messaged you. They can be free-form, so they do not need template approval.
- Hi {{name}}, thanks for reaching out to Hillside Interiors. I can help with quotes, timelines or booking a site visit. What are you looking for?
- Hello, you have reached Kirti Motors on WhatsApp. Happy to help with availability, test drives or finance. Which model were you looking at?
- Hi there, this is the team at Bloom Dental. Ask me anything about treatments, timings or costs, or say "book" and I will find you a slot.
Welcome after opt-in
These are sent first, so they need to be approved templates in the utility or marketing category depending on what they say.
- Hi {{name}}, welcome to Anand Traders on WhatsApp. You will get order updates and occasional offers here. Reply STOP any time to opt out.
- Thanks for subscribing, {{name}}. Aurora Studio will send you class schedules and booking reminders on this number. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
Marketing templates need an opt-out line. Utility templates tied to something the customer did, like a purchase, do not.
Group welcome messages
For community or class groups, a pinned welcome does more than a sent one, because new members arrive at different times.
- Welcome to the Saturday Runners group. Route and timing go out every Friday evening. Keep chat to runs, please.
- Welcome to Batch 2026 Parents. Fee reminders and exam dates are posted here. For anything personal, message the office number directly.
What makes a welcome message work
Name the business in the first line. On WhatsApp people often do not have you saved, so an unattributed message reads as a wrong number.
Offer one clear next step rather than a menu. "What are you looking for?" outperforms a numbered list of five departments, because the customer already knows why they messaged.
Frequently asked questions
Does a welcome message need Meta approval?
Only if you send it first. A reply inside the 24-hour window after a customer messages you can be free-form.
Should I use the customer's name?
Yes where you have it, but never start the template with the placeholder. Templates that open on a variable are commonly rejected.
More templates
See it answer, in your own words
Tap the mic on our homepage and talk to the same AI your customers would. No form, no scheduling, no sales call first.