Prepare a template

Pastors and admins write templates in Templates and submit them to Meta. Meta reviews each one before ABMTC can use it to message people outside the 24-hour window. See What templates are first if this is new.

Start a template

1. Open Templates in the menu.
2. Select New template.
3. If you look after more than one line, choose the Line the template belongs to. A pastor's template belongs to a line and appears in that line's broadcasts. Use it for your events and outreach.
4. Pick a layout card: Invitation, Countdown, Today or tonight, Live now or Announcement. Select With an image or With a video on the card for a flyer or clip on top. Live now has only With an image. Or select Start blank to write your own.

Fill in the editor

1. Title: a name for your own use.
2. Name in Meta: the name Meta sees. It is locked once you submit. Use lowercase letters, numbers and underscores.
3. Category: Marketing or Utility. Pick the one that matches what the message really does. See Rules that keep templates from being rejected.
4. Language.
5. Header: None, Text, Image or Video. Header text is limited to 60 characters, with no emoji, formatting or fill-ins.
6. For an image or video header, use Upload example under Example for Meta: a JPEG or PNG under 5 MB, or an MP4 under 16 MB. Meta reviews the template with this example. You choose the real flyer or video each time you send.
7. Message: up to 1024 characters. Select Add fill-in where a name, date or time should go. Fill-ins appear as {{1}}, {{2}} and so on.
8. Footer: up to 60 characters.
9. Buttons: up to 10. Select Add button, then choose a Type: Quick reply, Link, Call or Copy code. You can have up to 2 links, 1 copy-code button (Marketing only), and 10 buttons in all. A button label can be 25 characters. Links must start with https and may end in {{1}}.

Describe each fill-in

Each fill-in has a row with a Label, a Sample, a Kind (text, date, time, countdown or link), a Max length, and Counts down to for countdowns. Real samples help Meta approve the template.

Check the preview

The preview shows how members see this in WhatsApp, with your samples filled in. Read it as a member would.

Save and submit

1. Select Save draft to keep working later (on an approved template the button is Save changes).
2. When you are happy, select Submit to Meta. The portal saves the template and opens Will Meta approve it?
3. Read the score, the reasons and the fixes. See The approval score.
4. If the score is high enough, select Submit to Meta in that window. You will see "Sent to Meta for review". If not, select Edit template, make the changes, and submit again to get a new check.
5. The page says "Meta is reviewing this. It usually takes a few minutes and can take up to a day."
6. The status changes by itself when Meta decides, usually within minutes and at most a day. Admins can also select Check Meta for updates on the list to catch up straight away.

Tip: Once the status is Approved, select Use in a broadcast. See Send a broadcast.

If a template comes back rejected, see Fix a rejected template.

Important: Meta allows one edit a day and ten a month for an approved template. Submitting sends the changes to Meta for review.