How to create a custom WhatsApp link with a pre-filled message

WhatsApp is one of the most popular communication channels globally. For businesses, freelancers, and marketers, it provides a direct line to clients. However, asking users to manually save your phone number and search for it inside WhatsApp creates friction.

A custom click-to-chat link solves this issue. It allows visitors to start a conversation with you with a single tap, even if they do not have your number stored in their contacts list. Adding a pre-filled message can guide the conversation and improve your conversion rates.

Direct Communication: Creating a custom link is done through WhatsApp's official API link structure. All you need is the correct format and URL encoding.

The standard API structure

WhatsApp provides a standardized URL format for opening chats directly:

https://wa.me/<number>?text=<encoded_message>

Steps to build a WhatsApp link manually

Format the Phone Number: Use the complete international format. Omit any zeros, brackets, or dashes. For example, if the country code is +1 and the number is (555) 019-2834, the formatted string is: 15550192834.
Write and Encode Your Message: URL query parameters cannot contain raw spaces or special characters. You must encode them. For instance, spaces must become "%20". A message like "Hello, I am interested" becomes: Hello%2C%20I%20am%20interested.
Combine into a Single Link: Join the formatted phone number and encoded text together following the standard structure.

Why pre-filled messages matter

Pre-filled messages help prompt the user to start the conversation. It reduces the effort required to write the first sentence. You can set up links for specific products or campaigns, letting you know exactly which page or post brought the user to your chat.

Use the NetEasy WhatsApp link generator

Instead of encoding strings and formatting numbers manually, you can use our free online tool. It formats the international phone number and encodes the custom message in real-time, completely in your browser.

Ready to build your link? Open the WhatsApp Link Generator