---
title: "Templates"
description: "Save messages you send again and again, for SMS and WhatsApp."
url: "https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/help/templates"
docs_index: /llms.txt
lastUpdated: 2026-11-12
section: "Engagement"
related:
  - /docs/help/messages
  - /docs/help/broadcasts
  - /docs/help/placeholders
  - /docs/help/sender-ids
  - /docs/help/sms-bundles
---

> For an index of all documentation, see [/llms.txt](https://docs.goomzo.africa/llms.txt). Any page is also available as Markdown by adding .md to its URL.

# Templates

> Save messages you send again and again, for SMS and WhatsApp.

A template is a message you saved to use again: a welcome text, an order update, a monthly newsletter. When you
write a [message](https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/help/messages?utm_source=llms&utm_medium=ai) or a [broadcast](https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/help/broadcasts?utm_source=llms&utm_medium=ai), pick a template to fill it in, change
anything you like, and send.

## Make a template

1. In **Engagement → Templates**, select **New template**.
2. Name it, and choose its **Channel**: SMS or WhatsApp.
3. Choose its **Category**: what it's for.
4. Write the message.
5. Save.

| Category       | For                                                    |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Marketing      | Offers, news and anything promotional.                 |
| Utility        | Things a customer needs to know: orders, appointments. |
| Authentication | One-time codes.                                        |

These are WhatsApp's three categories, used for every channel. A WhatsApp template takes the category Meta gave
the template it uses.

Fill in each customer's name and details with [placeholders](https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/help/placeholders?utm_source=llms&utm_medium=ai), such as `{{name|there}}`.

## WhatsApp templates

WhatsApp has its own rules: outside the 24-hour window, and for broadcasts, you can only send a template Meta
approved. Write it in Goomzo, and Goomzo submits it to Meta for you.

1. In **New template**, choose **Channel** WhatsApp.
2. Choose its **Category** (marketing or utility) and **Language**.
3. Write the message, with placeholders as above, and optionally a header, a footer and up to 3 quick replies.
4. Select **Save**. Goomzo sends it to Meta for review, and it shows **In review** until Meta approves it, usually within minutes, then it's ready.

Meta's rules: the message can't start or end with a placeholder, or have two side by side; the header and footer are
one line of up to 60 characters, and the footer can't have placeholders. A template you made in WhatsApp Manager can
be used too: select it under **Integrations → WhatsApp → Templates**.

A WhatsApp template can't be sent while Meta is reviewing or has paused it, or once it's deleted from your WhatsApp
account. Templates shows why, and it's ready again once Meta allows it.

## Use a template

In **Compose** or **New broadcast**, choose **Template** in the Message section. Only templates for the channel
you chose, and ready to send, are listed.

Templates can also be managed through the API: `GET`, `POST`, `PATCH` and `DELETE` on `/v1/templates`.
The template library, Goomzo's published templates to start from, is `GET /v1/templates/library`, filtered by
`channel`, `category`, `industry`, `usecase` and `q`; `POST /v1/templates/library/{id}` with `{ "name" }` saves you
your own copy of one. A template the library doesn't have can be asked for from the library page's **Contact us**.

---

For an index of all available documentation, see [/llms.txt](https://docs.goomzo.africa/llms.txt)