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Dynamic Button URL Variables 1

WhatsApp template Website URL buttons support a 1 placeholder in the link. WhatsCloud lets you fill this placeholder with a static value or a merge field (like {contact_id}) so every recipient gets a button pointing to thier own page -- automatically.

Template URL:  https://yoursite.com/invoice/{{1}}
You enter:     {contact_id}
Sent to John (ID 42):   https://yoursite.com/invoice/42
Sent to Sarah (ID 91):  https://yoursite.com/invoice/91

How It Works End to End

Step What happens
1. Create template in Meta (or WhatsCloud) Add a Website URL button with {{1}} in the URL.
2. Sync in WhatsCloud WhatsCloud detects buttons that contain URL placeholders.
3. Select template anywhere A Button URL Variables input appears automatically.
4. Enter a static value or @ merge field Type a fixed value, or pick a contact field from the dropdown
5. WhatsCloud resolves and sends Each recipient's merge field is replaced with their real data before delivery.

Part 1 - Create the Template

Step 1: Add a Website URL Button with 1

In Meta WhatsApp Manager (or inside WhatsCloud template creation), add a Website URL button and place 1 where the dynamic value should go.

Pattern Example
Path segment https://yoursite.com/invoice/1
Query parameter https://yoursite.com/track?id=1
Subdomain https://1.yoursite.com/portal

Step 2: Submit and Wait for Approval

Submit the template to Meta. Once approved, WhatsCloud syncs it and the template becomes available in supported send flows.

Part 2 - Fill the Variable in Send Flow

Step 3: Select Template

When you select a template containing a Website URL button with {{1}}, a Button URL Variables section appears.

Dynamic Button URL Variables Input

Step 4: Enter Static Value or Use @ Merge Field

  • Static value: -- Type any fixed text. Example: ORD-2024-001. Every recipient gets this same value.
  • Merge field: Type @ to open the merge field picker, then select a field (e.g., {contact_id}). WhatsCloud replaces it with each recipient's real data at send tim

Combine both:

You can mix static text and a merge field. For example, entering USER-{contact_id} in a URL

Like: https://site.com/ref/1
produces: https://site.com/ref/USER-42
for John (ID 42)

Required field:

WhatsCloud will not let you send if the Button URL Variables input is empty — it prevents broken links from reaching customers.

Step 5: Send - WhatsCloud Resolves and Delivers

On send, WhatsCloud:

  1. Reads the entered value (e.g., {contact_id}).
  2. Looks up the real value for each contact from the database.
  3. Passes the resolved value to WhatsApp API as the 1 parameter.
  4. WhatsApp builds the final URL and delivers the message with each recipient's unique button link.

Available Merge Fields

Type @ in Button URL variables input to open merge field suggestions.

Contact Fields

Field label Key Resolves to
Contact First Name {contact_first_name} Contact first name
Contact Last Name {contact_last_name} Contact last name
Contact ID {contact_id} Unique contact ID in WhatsCloud
Contact Email {contact_email} Email address
Contact Phone Number {contact_phone_number} Phone number
Contact Company {contact_company} Company name
Contact Website {contact_website} Website URL
Contact Type {contact_type} Lead, Customer, or Guest
Lead Status {lead_status} Current lead status
Lead Source {lead_source} Lead source
Lead Assigned {lead_assigned} Assigned staff name
Assigned By {assigned_by} Creator name

Company and System Fields

Field label Key Resolves to
Company Name {company_name} Tenant / business name
Base URL {base_url} WhatsCloud app base URL
Dark Logo {dark_logo} Dark logo image URL
Light Logo {light_logo} Light logo image URL

Where This Feature Is Available

Area How to use
Initiate Chat Button URL Variables appears in template send modal.
Contact Initiate Chat Same input when sending a template directly from the Contacts page.
Bot Flow Configure once in the Template Message node — resolved per contact at runtime.
Template Bot Set the variable once in the bot setup — applied when the bot triggers for any contact.
Bulk Campaign Use merge fields so each of the hundreds of recipients gets their own unique link.
CSV Campaign Same as Bulk Campaign — the variable applies to each row.
Ecommerce Set the variable in template mapping — links customers to their order/invoice/tracking page.

Real-World Examples

Invoice Link

Template URL:  https://billing.yoursite.com/invoice/{{1}}
Variable:      {contact_id}
Result (ID 42): https://billing.yoursite.com/invoice/42

Order Tracking

Template URL:  https://track.yoursite.com/?order={{1}}
Variable:      ORD-2024-885   (static per send)
Result:        https://track.yoursite.com/?order=ORD-2024-885

Personal Portal

Template URL:  https://portal.yoursite.com/login?ref={{1}}
Variable:      {contact_phone_number}
Result:        https://portal.yoursite.com/login?ref=+15550100

Appointment Booking

Template URL:  https://book.yoursite.com/{{1}}
Variable:      {lead_assigned}
Result:        https://book.yoursite.com/Jane Smith

Tips and Best Practices

  • Use Contact ID for unique links. {contact_id} is always unique and numeric — the safest choice for URL path segments with no encoding issues.
  • Type @ and search merge fields by keyword like contact or name to filter the list quickly.
  • Test before bulk sending. Use Initiate Chat with a test contact to verify the final URL is correct before running a full campaign.
  • One input per URL button. If your template has two Website URL buttons each with 1, you will see two separate input fields — one per button.
  • The field is always required. WhatsCloud will not let you send if it is empty — broken button links never reach customers.
  • URL-encode special characters. Fields like Contact Email contain characters that need encoding in URLs — prefer ID-based fields when in doubt.
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