How to create a WhatsApp link with a pre-filled message
A WhatsApp link with a pre-filled message — also called a 'Click-to-Chat link' — lets you embed a one-tap CTA anywhere (Instagram bio, ad, email signature) that opens WhatsApp and types the message for the user. They only have to hit Send.
This is the single highest-converting CTA format for mobile-first audiences. Here's the exact format, encoding rules, and attribution tricks.
- 1
Use the base URL format
https://wa.me/<phone>?text=<message>. Phone = country code + number, no +, no dashes, no spaces. Message = URL-encoded text.
- 2
URL-encode special characters
Space = %20, newline = %0A, ! = %21, # = %23, & = %26. Use a free encoder (encodeURIComponent in JS) to avoid manual errors.
- 3
Add a source attribution token
Append the source to the text: ?text=Hi%20%5Bsource%3Dinstagram-bio%5D. The token shows up in your inbox so you can attribute every lead.
- 4
Shorten the link
wa.me links are already short, but for printed materials use bit.ly or a custom-domain shortener so analytics + branding stay in one place.
- 5
Test on Android, iOS, desktop
Some encoders trip on emoji. Test the link on all three platforms before publishing.
Pro tips
- → Keep the pre-filled text short (under 100 characters) — long text gets truncated.
- → Use one link per channel (instagram, fb-ad, email-sig) for clean attribution.
- → Try LandinChat's free WhatsApp Link Generator to build and QR-encode links visually.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add an image to a click-to-chat link?
No — pre-filling supports text only. Send the image as the first reply.
Do shortened wa.me links still work?
Yes, but use trusted shorteners — some block traffic from Meta.
Can I make the link open WhatsApp Business specifically?
On Android, if both apps are installed users get a chooser. iOS opens the default WhatsApp.
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Official references
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