WhatsApp Chat Links: How to Create a Click-to-Chat Link

For many customers, WhatsApp is the most natural way to get in touch with a business. Someone who sees your ad, lands on your website or scans a sign in your shop window would often rather send a short message than fill in a form or make a call. But if they have to copy your number, save it as a contact and then search for it in the app before they can write to you, some of them simply give up along the way.

The fix is simple: a direct chat link. One tap opens a conversation with your business, and you can even prepare the first message in advance. In this guide we cover:

• how a WhatsApp chat link is built and how to write the phone number correctly;
• how to add a pre-filled message to the link;
• how to create a QR code and a link to a group or channel;
• how to add a WhatsApp button to a website built on Webflow, WordPress or Wix;
• how to measure the enquiries that come from the link, and which mistakes to avoid.

What a WhatsApp chat link is and why it matters for your business

A chat link (officially called Click to Chat) is an ordinary web address that leads straight to a conversation with a specific number. On a smartphone, tapping it opens the WhatsApp app with a chat window already open to your business. The customer does not need to save your number in their contacts, and you do not need to save theirs.

On a computer, the link opens in the browser and offers to switch to the WhatsApp desktop app or continue in WhatsApp Web. If the app is not installed, the page offers to install it or to carry on in the browser.

Where to use the link

A chat link works anywhere you can place a link or a QR code:

• a button on your website or landing page, including a floating button in the corner of the screen;
• your bio on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook;
• your email signature, quotes and invoices;
• your Google Business Profile and listings on comparison and directory sites;
• paid ads on Meta's platforms;
• signage, flyers, business cards, packaging and service vehicles, via a QR code.

Why it affects the number of enquiries

Every unnecessary step on the way to contacting you loses some people. A direct link removes three of them: copying the number, saving the contact and finding it in the app. On top of that, a pre-filled message solves the "blank page" problem. The customer does not have to think about how to phrase their enquiry, and you get context straight away, such as which page or service the message came from.

How to create a direct chat link: the wa.me format

The base address of a chat link is https://wa.me/. To make it open a conversation with your business, you add your phone number in full international format after it.

How to write the phone number

This is where most mistakes happen. The number must be:

• written with the country code;
• without the leading zero (the trunk prefix) used when dialling inside the country, if your country has one;
• without the + sign, dashes, spaces or brackets.

For example, a Portuguese mobile number written as +351 912 345 678 becomes 351912345678, and the full link looks like this: https://wa.me/351912345678. A UK number written locally as 07700 900123 becomes 447700900123: the country code 44 replaces the leading zero.

If you keep the zero (4407700900123), add a + sign or use the local format (07700900123), WhatsApp will not find the account and the customer will see an error message instead of a chat.

The long version of the link

There is also a longer format: https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=351912345678. It works the same way, and the phone number follows the same rules. In most cases wa.me is the better choice: it is shorter, looks tidier in a signature or bio, and is easier to copy.

Which number to connect

Before you publish the link, decide which number it should lead to. If several people answer messages, or if enquiries need to end up in your CRM, use a dedicated business number with WhatsApp Business rather than the owner's personal mobile. That makes it easier to set response hours, hand the phone over to another team member and, later on, connect automations.

How to add a pre-filled message to the link

You can add text in any language to the link. When the customer taps it, a chat opens with the message already typed in the input field, and all they need to do is tap "Send". They can also edit it before sending.

The structure of a link with text

Add the text parameter to the link:

https://wa.me/351912345678?text=...

In the long version, join the text with &:

https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=351912345678&text=...

Encoding the text

A web address cannot contain spaces, and accented letters and non-Latin characters have to be URL-encoded. A space becomes %20, a line break becomes %0A, and characters outside basic Latin turn into a sequence of symbols and numbers. For example, "Hello there" becomes Hello%20there, and the word "café" becomes caf%C3%A9.

You do not need to do this by hand. There are several simple options:

• any online URL encoder: paste the text and get the encoded version back;
• in JavaScript, the encodeURIComponent function encodes text for exactly this purpose;
• in Google Sheets, the ENCODEURL function lets you generate dozens of links at once, for example one per service or branch.

Most browsers and apps will also accept plain text pasted as it is and encode it automatically. But if the link passes through an email platform, an ad builder or a link shortener, unencoded text can break. So it is safer to always publish the encoded version and test it on your phone.

How to write a good message

The pre-filled message is part of your marketing, not just a technical detail. A few rules:

• Short and in the first person. "Hi, I'd like a quote for a new website" works better than a whole paragraph.
• A different message for each source. On the "Web design" service page the message mentions design; in the summer campaign ad it mentions the offer. That way you know where the enquiry came from, even without an analytics setup.
• No personal data. Never put a customer's name, phone number or order number into the link: links can be stored in browser history and server logs.
• An open question for your team. If the message ends with a clear question ("When can we talk?"), it is easier to keep the conversation going.

QR codes and chat links for signage, print and in-store

A QR code turns the link into an image that can be scanned with a phone camera. It is the bridge between the physical world and the chat: on the checkout counter, on a business card, on product packaging, on a service van or on a sign at a building site.

The QR code built into WhatsApp

Every WhatsApp account has a built-in QR code. In the app settings, next to your name, there is a QR code icon: tap it and you can share the code or save it as an image. In WhatsApp Business, the code leads to your business profile, with the name, opening hours and description you have set up.

A QR code from your own link

The more flexible option is to take a wa.me link, with a pre-filled message if you like, and turn it into a QR code with any QR generator. That way you can prepare a separate code for each channel: one for the flyer, one for the sign and one for the packaging, each with its own message.

A few things to check before you print:

• A static code, not a dynamic one. Some generators create "dynamic" codes that redirect through their own servers. If the subscription ends or the service shuts down, the printed code stops working. For permanent signage, use a code that contains the link itself.
• Size and contrast. A dark code on a light background, with a white margin around it, at a size that suits the scanning distance.
• A line of explanation next to the code. Something like "Scan to message us on WhatsApp" increases the number of scans.
• Testing on several phones, both iPhone and Android, before sending anything to print.

Links to WhatsApp groups, communities and channels

Sometimes the goal is not a one-to-one conversation but getting people into a group: a group for workshop participants, a members' community or an updates channel.

Group invite links

WhatsApp creates an invite link for every group. Open the group info (tap the group name), choose "Invite via link", and from there you can copy the link, share it or get it as a QR code. Only group admins can share the link, unless the group settings allow members to do so as well.

Keep in mind that anyone who has the link can join. If the link ends up somewhere it should not, an admin can choose "Reset link", and the old link stops working immediately. For business groups it is also worth turning on the option to approve new members, so an admin sees who is asking to join before they get in.

Communities and channels

A community brings several groups together under one roof, and it has an invite link too. A channel is a one-way broadcast tool: only admins post, and followers cannot see each other's phone numbers. Every channel has its own link that you can put on your website, in a newsletter or in a QR code. For updates, offers and content for followers, a channel is usually a better fit than a group, because it protects your customers' privacy and does not create a flood of replies.

How to add a WhatsApp button to your website

On many business websites a WhatsApp button has become almost standard, alongside a phone number and a contact form. You build the link itself as described above; the question is how and where to display it. General principles of button design are covered in our guide to website button design.

Webflow

In Webflow, add a Link Block or a Button and enter the wa.me address in the link settings. For a floating button, build a component with fixed positioning in the corner of the screen and use it across all pages. You do not need an external script: an SVG icon, a link and a few lines of styling are enough. If each service page needs a different pre-filled message, you can store the link as a field in a CMS collection and bind it to the button in the template. Building a new site? Take a look at our Webflow services.

WordPress

In WordPress you can add a standard button block with a wa.me link, or an Elementor button. For a floating button there are dedicated plugins, such as Joinchat. Before installing one, check how much weight it adds to the page and make sure it is actively maintained.

Wix

In Wix and Wix Studio, add a button or an icon and set its link to a web address. To get a floating button, pin the element to a corner of the screen with Pin to screen.

Placement, accessibility and speed

• Placement. A floating button should not cover content, the cookie banner or an accessibility widget. If your site already has a widget in one corner, put the WhatsApp button in the opposite one.
• Accessibility. An icon-only button needs a text label for assistive technology (aria-label), such as "Message us on WhatsApp". The button must be reachable with the keyboard and have sufficient contrast, in line with WCAG, the standard that European accessibility requirements also build on.
• Speed. Heavy chat widgets slow down loading, especially on mobile. A simple button with a link adds almost nothing to the page weight. More on this in our guide to website speed optimisation.
• An alternative. Not every visitor wants to use WhatsApp, especially from a work computer. Keep a phone number and a short form next to it.

How to track WhatsApp enquiries and what to do with them next

The usual problem with WhatsApp is that the conversation leaves your website. UTM parameters do not carry over into the chat, and Google Analytics does not know whether the customer actually sent a message. Still, you can measure quite a lot.

Tracking clicks in GA4

The first step is to measure clicks on the button:

• in Google Tag Manager, create a Just Links click trigger with a condition that the link URL contains wa.me or api.whatsapp.com;
• send an event to GA4 with a clear name, such as whatsapp_click, with a parameter for the page or the button position;
• mark the event as a key event in GA4 and, if you run campaigns, import it into Google Ads.

This shows you which pages, traffic sources and campaigns the clicks come from. A click is not yet an enquiry, but it is a stable metric for comparison. How to bring all your sources together into one picture is explained in our guide to end-to-end marketing analytics.

Identifying the source inside the chat

This is where the pre-filled message comes in. If every page, ad or sign uses slightly different wording, the person replying immediately sees where the customer came from and can record it in the CRM. In WhatsApp Business you can tag chats with labels, such as "Website lead" or "Campaign lead".

Ads that lead to WhatsApp

In Meta Ads you can run ads whose destination is a WhatsApp conversation (Click to WhatsApp). In that case Meta measures conversation starts itself, and you can set a greeting and ready-made questions. It is a strong format for businesses that sell through conversation: services, renovation, clinics and real estate.

From link to automation

As enquiries grow, you can move forward in two stages:

• The WhatsApp Business app. An automatic greeting, an away message outside business hours, quick replies, a product catalogue and labels. It is free and suits a small business.
• The WhatsApp Business Platform (API). CRM integration, several agents on one number, bots and automated messages via n8n, Make or Zapier. The differences between the two and the terms of use are covered in our guide to WhatsApp and messenger marketing.

One important point: when a customer contacts you through the link, you can of course reply. But that is not permission to send them marketing messages later. Proactive marketing messages require clear opt-in consent, both under WhatsApp's own policies and, in the EU, under the ePrivacy rules on electronic marketing. The contact details of people who message you are personal data, so the GDPR applies to how you store and use them. This is general information, not legal advice; check the rules that apply in your country.

Common mistakes with WhatsApp links

The number in the wrong format

A leading zero, a + sign or dashes inside the link. The result is an error message instead of a chat. Test every new link on your phone before you publish it.

Text that breaks along the way

A message that has not been encoded can reach the customer as gibberish or be cut off after the first word, especially when the link passes through email platforms and ad builders. Use the encoded version.

Nobody answers

A WhatsApp button creates an expectation of a quick reply. If messages wait for hours without an answer, the button damages trust. Set up an away message with an estimated response time, and decide who is responsible for replying.

Links via third-party services

Link shorteners, "link in bio" pages and dynamic QR generators are convenient, but if the service shuts down or changes its terms, every printed and published link stops working. For permanent signage and your website, use the direct wa.me link.

A button that covers content

A floating button that is too large hides text, purchase buttons or the cookie banner, especially on small screens. Check the site on several mobile screen sizes.

No tracking

Without a click event in GA4 and different messages for each source, you cannot tell whether WhatsApp brings in customers or just conversations. If you have a campaign landing page, our guide to landing page design helps you place the button in the right spot.

How RJL Studio connects WhatsApp to your website and sales

We build websites on Webflow, WordPress and Wix, and we integrate WhatsApp as part of the funnel rather than as an icon in the corner: links with tailored messages for every page and service, an accessible, lightweight button that does not slow the site down, click tracking in GA4 and Google Ads and, as the next step, routing enquiries into your CRM and automations through the WhatsApp Business Platform, n8n or Make.

Want every WhatsApp enquiry to arrive with its source and be logged in your system? Have a look at our automation and integration services or get in touch, and we will build it together.

Frequently asked questions

Does the link work for people who don't have my number saved?

Yes. That is exactly the advantage of a chat link: it opens a conversation with any number registered on WhatsApp, even if the person has not saved it. You do not need to save the customer's number to reply either.

How do I write a phone number in a wa.me link?

Start with the country code, drop the leading zero used for domestic dialling if your country has one, and write the remaining digits without +, spaces or dashes. For example, the UK number 07700 900123 becomes 447700900123, and the link is wa.me/447700900123.

Can the pre-filled message contain accents or non-Latin characters?

Yes. Add ?text= to the link followed by the URL-encoded text. You can encode it with any online encoder, with the ENCODEURL function in Google Sheets or with encodeURIComponent in JavaScript. After encoding, test the link on your phone.

Do I need WhatsApp Business to create a chat link?

No. A wa.me link works with any WhatsApp account, including a personal one. But for a business it makes sense to use WhatsApp Business: it gives you a business profile, greeting and away messages, quick replies and labels, and later you can move to the Business Platform and connect a CRM.

How do I know how many customers came from the website button?

Track clicks on the button as an event in GA4 through Google Tag Manager and mark it as a key event. To see which page or campaign each conversation came from, use a different pre-filled message for each source and tag the chats with labels or in your CRM.