Create Your First Template

Templates are reusable message blueprints that enable consistent, personalized communication across SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS.

What you'll accomplish: Create a template → Customize content → Submit for approval → Get template ID

⏳ Time required: ~5 minutes

Using light onboarding? You already have access to 6 pre-built OTP and verification templates — no custom template needed to get started. Find them in your dashboard under Templates. Create a custom template here when you're ready to go beyond those defaults (requires completed account setup).

Learn how to create, customize, and manage message templates effectively across SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS channels.

Templates

Playlist

What is a Template?

A template in Sent is:

A reusable message format with dynamic variables
Automatically adapted for SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS
Submitted for channel approval (WhatsApp via Meta, RCS via your RCS sender profile)
Referenced by ID when sending messages

Navigate to Templates

Go to the Templates page in your Sent Dashboard.

Choose Creation Method

You have several options:

Method	Best For
Create from Sample	Quick start with pre-designed templates
Create from Scratch	Full customization control
Import from Meta	Using existing WhatsApp templates
From JSON Definition	Programmatic template creation

For this guide, we'll use "Create from Sample".

Select a Sample Template

Choose a template that matches your use case:

Recommended for beginners:

"Hello with SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS" - Simple greeting template
"Order Confirmation" - E-commerce notification
"Appointment Reminder" - Service business reminder

Click "Use Sample" to proceed.

Customize Your Template

Modify the template content for your business:

Template Components

Component	SMS Support	RCS Support	WhatsApp Support	Description
Header	❌	✅	✅	Title or introduction (60 chars max)
Body	✅	✅	✅	Main message content (1028 chars max)
Footer	❌	✅	✅	Disclaimers or context (60 chars max)
Buttons	❌	✅	✅	Interactive elements

Dynamic Variables

Use variables for personalized content:

Hello {{customerName}}, your order {{orderNumber}} has been shipped!

Variables are shown in yellow boxes in the editor.

Submit for Review

Once satisfied with your template, click "Submit for Review":

WhatsApp templates require Meta approval (typically 24-48 hours). You can still send SMS messages using the template while waiting for approval.

Template statuses:

Draft - Editing in progress
Pending - Submitted for review
Approved - Ready to use
Rejected - Needs modifications

Get Your Template ID

Once created, copy your template ID:

You'll need this ID when sending messages via the API:

{
  "to": ["+1234567890"],
  "template": {
    "id": "YOUR_TEMPLATE_ID"
  }
}

Template Best Practices

Content Guidelines

✅ Do:

Keep messages concise and clear
Use variables for personalization
Include clear call-to-action
Test on SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS

❌ Don't:

Use promotional language in utility templates
Include excessive punctuation (!!!)
Use all caps
Include URLs in the body (use button links instead)

Character Limits

Channel	Limit	Notes
SMS	160 chars per segment	Longer messages split into multiple SMS
RCS Body	1028 chars	Rich formatting supported
RCS Header	60 chars	Optional
WhatsApp Body	1028 chars	Rich formatting supported
WhatsApp Header	60 chars	Optional
WhatsApp Footer	60 chars	Optional

What's Next?

Now that you have a template:

Send your first message - Use your template to send a message
Learn more about templates - Advanced template features
Set up webhooks - Track template approval status

Troubleshooting

Template rejected? Common reasons:

Violates Meta's commerce policy
Contains promotional content in utility category
Poor grammar or spelling
Missing context

Template stuck in "Pending"?

Normal for WhatsApp approval (24-48 hours)
Use SMS in the meantime
Check template status in dashboard

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