Short answerA WhatsApp button is a link that starts with https://wa.me/ followed by your number in full international format, with no plus sign, spaces or leading zeros, and an optional ?text= with a ready-written message. For a UAE mobile number that means 971 followed by the number without its first zero. Put the button on every page, write a different first message for each page, and test it on a real phone.
A customer in Deira reads your menu at eleven at night. She has one question about allergies and wants an answer before she orders. A button that opens WhatsApp with her question half written is a shorter route than a form, an e-mail or a call during opening hours.
The link format
WhatsApp calls this feature click to chat. The link has three parts.
- The start: https://wa.me/
- Your number in full international format. In the UAE that is the country code 971 followed by the number without its first zero. Leave out the plus sign, spaces, dashes and brackets. A mobile number written locally as 05x xxx xxxx becomes 9715xxxxxxxx.
- An optional message, added with ?text= and written with spaces replaced by %20. Characters such as apostrophes also need encoding. Example: https://wa.me/9715xxxxxxxx?text=Hi%2C%20I%20have%20a%20question%20about%20the%20menu
Always include the number. A link that starts with wa.me/?text= and has no number opens a list of contacts to choose from instead of your business, so the message never reaches you.
Write the first message for the customer
The ready-written text is your chance to get a useful enquiry. A generic “Hello” gives you a conversation to restart. A specific text gives you everything you need.
- On the menu page: “Hi, I would like to order from the menu.”
- On a clinic's doctor page: “Hi, I would like to book an appointment with Dr. …” with the doctor's name added automatically.
- On a property page: “Hi, I would like to view the villa in Dubai Hills.” with the listing name added automatically.
- On a class page: “Hi, I would like to book the 7 pm boxing class.”
Where to put the button
- A fixed button at the bottom of the screen on phones, visible on every page.
- A text link in the contact section and in the page footer.
- A button on each service, class, room or listing page, with its own first message.
- Next to your phone number, because some people prefer to call.
What to promise and what to keep
Say when you answer. “We reply within an hour between 10 am and 11 pm” tells the customer what to expect. If you cannot reply at night, say so, and use an automatic away message in your WhatsApp Business app. Keep the number on the website the same as on your Google profile.
A WhatsApp message contains a phone number and a name. Under the UAE personal data law you should be open about what you do with it. Tell customers in your privacy page that you reply by WhatsApp, and keep the conversations only as long as you need them. See what your business website needs by law in the UAE.
Test it on a real phone
Open your website on a phone that has WhatsApp installed and tap the button. The chat should open with your business and the message. Try it on an iPhone and an Android phone, and on a computer, where WhatsApp Web or the desktop app opens. Fix any link that opens a blank chat or a contact list.
This week
- Write your number in international format and build the link.
- Add a button that stays on screen on phones.
- Write a different first message for your three most visited pages.
- Send yourself a test enquiry on an iPhone and on an Android phone.
- Add your reply hours next to the button.
Questions
How do I create a WhatsApp link for my website?
Use https://wa.me/ followed by your number in full international format without a plus sign, spaces or leading zeros. Add ?text= and a URL-encoded message if you want a ready-written first message.
What is the WhatsApp number format for the UAE?
The country code 971 followed by the number without its first zero. A mobile number 05x xxx xxxx becomes 9715xxxxxxxx in the link.
Why does my WhatsApp button open a list of contacts?
The link has no number. A link that starts with wa.me/?text= lets the user pick a contact. Use wa.me/ followed by your number.
Do I need the WhatsApp Business API for a button?
A click to chat link works with a normal WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app number. The API is a separate product for businesses with large message volumes. Check Meta's documentation for the current options.
Can I show different messages on different pages?
Yes. Each button is a separate link, so each page can have its own ?text= message, such as the name of the class, the room or the listing.