WhatsApp Link with Pre-Filled Message: Create and Use It

What is a WhatsApp link with a pre-filled message?

A WhatsApp link with a pre-filled message is a URL that, when tapped, opens a WhatsApp chat with a message already typed in. This saves your client the effort of writing the first message and makes it more likely that they actually send it. For anyone who works by appointment, it is an organized way to receive booking requests, questions, or quote requests.

The standard format is https://wa.me/CountryCodeAreaCodeNumber?text=MESSAGE. The number must be in international format: the country code (for example 1 for the US and Canada, 44 for the UK, 61 for Australia, or 91 for India) followed by the number, without the leading zero, and without spaces, brackets, plus signs, or dashes. The message after `text=` must be URL-encoded, which means spaces become `%20`, line breaks become `%0A`, and special characters are replaced with their codes.

How to build the link step by step

1. Write the number in international format

   Start with the country code, then the area code and the number. For example, a UK mobile number that starts with 07 becomes 447 followed by the rest of the digits, without the 0. Do not include spaces, brackets, plus signs, or dashes.

2. Decide the message your client will send

   Think about what you want to receive. It can be a booking request, a question about your services, or a quote request. Example: "Hi, I found you on Instagram and would like to book an appointment."

3. Encode the message for a URL

   Replace spaces with %20, line breaks with %0A, and special characters with their codes. The message above becomes: Hi%2C%20I%20found%20you%20on%20Instagram%20and%20would%20like%20to%20book%20an%20appointment.

4. Put everything together

   Combine https://wa.me/ + the number + ?text= + the encoded message. With a placeholder number, it looks like this: https://wa.me/[country code][area code][number]?text=Hi%2C%20I%20found%20you%20on%20Instagram%20and%20would%20like%20to%20book%20an%20appointment.

5. Test the link

   Tap the link on your phone and check that it opens the chat with the message filled in. If something is wrong, review the number format and the encoding.

Ready-to-use message examples by profession

The best message depends on what you want the client to do. For anyone who works by appointment, the most common request is a booking. You can also adapt the message to ask a question, request a quote, or confirm details. Here are examples by field. They are only examples, so adjust the wording to your own voice and services.

Where to put your WhatsApp link

The most common place is your Instagram bio. You can paste the link in the links area of your profile (Edit profile > Links) or use the multiple links feature, which allows up to 5 addresses. Menu names change with app updates, so look for the equivalent option if the labels are different. If you already have a page that gathers all your links, you can add the WhatsApp link there as a button. Before you decide, it helps to understand what a link in bio is and how to use yours to get clients.

On TikTok, the website field in the bio may not be available for every account, since it depends on account type and requirements that TikTok changes over time. If you don't see the option under Edit profile, consider switching to a business account or checking the current settings in the app. You can read more in how to add a link to your TikTok bio.

Beyond social media, you can add the link to business cards, email signatures, a QR code at the counter, or any printed material. This way, the client only needs to point the camera and tap to start the conversation.

When a pre-filled link helps and when it gets in the way

A pre-filled WhatsApp link works very well for quote requests, quick questions, or contacts that don't require choosing a time slot. For example, a lawyer can use it to receive initial inquiries, and a personal trainer can use it to explain services.

However, if your goal is to fill appointment slots, the WhatsApp link can slow you down. The client arrives with a generic message, and you end up exchanging several messages to find a time that works. This creates manual work and increases the chance of double bookings or forgotten appointments.

For those cases, an online calendar is more efficient. You place the booking link in your bio, and the client chooses the service, the day, and the time on their own. The confirmation is automatic, and you only need to show up on time. Many professionals use both: WhatsApp for questions and the calendar for bookings. To see how this works in practice, read about booking appointments through Instagram without answering DMs.

Common mistakes when creating the link

• Leaving out the country code. Without it, WhatsApp cannot recognize the number.
• Including the leading zero, brackets, spaces, or dashes in the number. Use digits only.
• Not encoding the message. Spaces and accents can break the link.
• Using a number that does not have WhatsApp. WhatsApp shows an error message and the chat does not start.
• Placing the link somewhere it can't be tapped, such as an image without a clickable link.

How to check whether the link is working

You can use URL shorteners with statistics, such as Bitly, to see how many people tapped the link. However, this only shows clicks, not conversations that started. To find out whether the link generates contacts, watch how many messages you receive with the standard text.

If you use a link in bio page with analytics, such as Via6, you can see how many people opened your page and clicked, and where they came from (Instagram, Google, or QR Code). This helps you understand whether the page is being seen and whether your message is compelling enough. Learn more in where your clients come from: how to track link clicks.

Another option is to ask clients how they found you. A simple question at the start of the conversation gives you a good idea of which channel is working best.

Next step: build your link and share it

Now that you know how to create the link, choose the message that fits your profession and build yours. Then add it to your Instagram bio, to your TikTok bio if the field is available, or to any other place that makes sense for your business.

If you want to bring all your contact points together in one place, consider creating a page on Via6. There you can add your WhatsApp link, your online calendar, a payment link or the payment details you already use, and other important links. The free plan lets you set up your page in minutes.

If you are still organizing your online presence, also read how to add a link to your Instagram bio, step by step and Instagram story link: when to use it instead of your bio.

Frequently asked questions

Written with AI assistance, checked against product data, and published by Via6 on Oct 12, 2026.How we write→