Step 1: Create Your WhatsApp Templates

Goal:

Set up the WhatsApp message templates your AI Agent will use — especially the Welcome template which will be the first message every lead receives after they opt in.

This step ensures your messages are approved by Meta and formatted correctly for Intellia automation.

Step 1.1 — Open WhatsApp Template Builder inside Meta/Intellia

1. Log in to your Intellia account

2. Go to Settings → WhatsApp

3. Click Templates

4. This will take you to the WhatsApp Template management screen

Step 1.2 — Choose the Template Type

For your automation, you will create at least these templates:

Welcome Template – sent immediately after opt-in
(You can create others later if needed — e.g., reminders, follow-ups)

Step 1.3 — Create the “Welcome” Template

1. Click Create New Template
   

2. Choose Template Category: Customer Care (or as Meta suggests)
   

3. Template Name: Use a clear, short identifier
   Example:
   1CC_AI_Welcome
   

4. Language: Choose your primary language (e.g., English)

Step 1.4 — Write the Template Content

Header: (optional)
If including a header, choose:
Text or Image (recommended if you want brand logo)

Body:
Write your welcome message in a short, conversational way.
Example (replace variables as needed):

Hi {{1}}, thanks for registering for the 1CallClose!

I’m here to help get you started — can I ask a quick question?

(leave placeholders {{1}} for dynamic data like first name)

Footer: (optional but recommended)
Add a line like:

Reply with your questions anytime.

Create Custom Values for {{1}}, {{2}}, and {{3}}

Custom values are placeholders that auto-fill the template with the right information for each contact.

• {{1}} = the contact’s name (e.g., First Name)

• {{2}} = the webinar date & time

• {{3}} = the webinar location/link (e.g., Zoom link)

So instead of manually typing these every time, the system inserts the correct values automatically when the message is sent.

 Personalize these fields

Edit and update:

• AI name

• Company / Team name

• Wording to match your offer + voice

Add Footer

Set your footer to:
Reply "STOP" to unsubscribe!

Add a Custom Button

• Add a Custom Button

• Choose a button text that fits your question flow (based on what you want them to click/respond with)

Rules:

• Keep it short (WhatsApp-friendly)

• Ask 1 question at a time

• Don’t overwhelm with paragraphs

Step 1.5 — Review + Submit for Meta Approval

1. Once the template is complete, click Submit
   

2. Meta will show a preview — check formatting
   

3. Click Submit for Review

Templates must be approved before they can be used in automation.

Step 1.6 — What Happens After Submission

• Meta will review your template

• Approval typically takes a few minutes to a few hours (sometimes up to 24 hours)

• Once approved, you can select this template inside your workflows

Step 6 — Key Rules (so trainees don’t get rejected)

Use simple, clear language — avoid ALL CAPS, salesy tone, emojis in the middle of sentences, or symbol spamming.
The template must match the automation use case — greeting + next step ask.
Don’t include links in the first message — Meta may reject templates with unsafe or spammy URLs.

Example WhatsApp Welcome Template (Copy-Paste)

Template Name: 1CC_AI_Welcome

Body:

Hi {{1}}, thanks for registering for our webinar!

We’re glad you joined — just a quick question:

Are you here to SCALE your deals or to SYSTEMATIZE selling?

Reply with a short answer below!

Step 1 — Checkpoint (Before Moving On)

Ask participants to confirm in chat:

“I have created & submitted my Welcome WhatsApp template”
AND

“Template approval is received (or is pending review)”

If template is still pending review, you can continue the rest of the setup — but you cannot use it yet inside workflows until it’s approved.