The basic wa.me link format
The simplest form is https://wa.me/ followed by the number. If you want a message to be prefilled, add ?text= and then the message.
Example with a sample number: https://wa.me/6281234567890?text=Hello%20I%20have%20a%20question%20about%20your%20product
Writing the number correctly
A wrong number format is the most common reason a link does not work. Follow these rules:
- Use the country code in international format: for Indonesia, start with 62.
- Remove the leading zero from the local number: 0812-3456-7890 becomes 6281234567890.
- Do not use a plus sign, spaces, hyphens or parentheses.
Writing a URL-encoded message
Certain characters cannot appear as they are in a URL. A space becomes %20, a new line becomes %0A, and a question mark becomes %3F. Typing these one by one is error-prone, so it is easier to use WhatsApp Link Generator, which builds and encodes the message for you.
Tips for writing the opening message
A good opening message saves time for you and your prospective customers:
- Keep it short and clear, for example by naming the product or service being asked about.
- Mention where the visitor came from, such as “from the website”, so you know which channel works.
- Use a different message for different pages, so you immediately know the context of the question.
Adding the link in different places
A wa.me link can be added as a button on a website, in an Instagram bio, in an email signature and on printed materials. For print such as brochures, business cards or banners, turn the link into a QR code with QR Code Generator so it can be scanned directly.
If you use the same link across many ad channels, add campaign parameters to the landing page with UTM Builder so you can measure where visits come from.