How to Write a WhatsApp Message That Sells: 20 Ready Formulas to Copy
How to write a WhatsApp sales message that converts: PAS, AIDA and before/after formulas adapted for chat, plus 20 ready templates you can copy.
A WhatsApp message that sells is short, uses the customer's name, offers one clear benefit and makes only one request (a button or a question). Use proven formulas such as Problem-Agitate-Solution, Before-After or social proof, and end with an easy-to-answer question instead of a direct command.
01The rules of a sales message in chat
WhatsApp is not email, and it is not an ad. Customers read your message between messages from family and friends, so anything that looks like an ad gets ignored. The rules are simple:
- Short: 2 to 4 lines. If you need more, send a link or an image.
- Personal: The customer's name, plus something specific to them (last order, size, city).
- One benefit: Don't pile up five features; pick the one that matters most to this customer.
- One request: One button or one question. Too many options means no decision.
- The first line is the ad: It shows in the notification, so make it worth opening.
- A question, not a command: "Shall we book it for you?" gets more replies than "Book now".
| Instead of this | Write this |
|---|---|
| Dear customer, we are pleased to inform you that a new collection is now available | Hi Noura, the navy abayas you asked about have arrived |
| Discounts of up to 50% on all products | Your favorite perfume is 20% off until Thursday |
| For more information, please visit our website | Shall I send you the photos here? |
02The best-known copywriting formulas, adapted for WhatsApp
| Formula | The idea | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| PAS: Problem, Agitate, Solution | Name the problem, show its impact, offer the solution | Products and services that solve a clear pain |
| Short AIDA | Attention, interest, desire, then a one-line ask | Launching a new product or offer |
| Before and after | The customer's situation now, and after your product | Beauty, maintenance, education, cleaning |
| Social proof | A real number or a real customer review | A hesitant customer or a product new to them |
| Honest scarcity | A real quantity or a real deadline | Genuinely limited stock or an offer with an end date |
| Question hook | A question that gets the customer to reply | Opening a conversation or re-engagement |
| Feature to benefit | Don't say what the product does; say what it gives you | Tech products or complex services |
The example above uses PAS: a problem the customer recognizes, then its impact, then a solution with a price and a time, then a single question.
03Formulas for the welcome and first reply
The first reply decides whether the conversation continues. Here are formulas for the welcome message and quick replies inside the 24-hour window:
04Follow-up and persuasion formulas
05Marketing campaign formulas
Messages you initiate outside the 24-hour window must be Meta-approved templates, sent to customers who agreed to receive your messages. Always add a "Stop" button: it reduces reports and blocks.
Scarcity and social proof only sell when they are real. A fake countdown or a "last piece" every week damages trust, and may breach the consumer protection rules in your country.
06After-sale formulas
Meta decides a template's category during review. If it contains any promotion, it will be classified as marketing even if you labeled it utility.
07Test your formula before rolling it out
- Pick two formulas for the same offer, such as PAS versus social proof.
- Send each one to a small, similar segment.
- Measure the reply rate and orders, not the number of reads.
- Roll out the winner, then test just the first line or the button.
- Turn your best replies into quick replies for the team and for the AI agent.
Key takeaways
- A WhatsApp sales message is short, personal and makes one request.
- PAS, before/after and social proof formulas work when they are adapted for chat.
- Campaigns outside the 24-hour window need an approved template, consent and a Stop button.
- Scarcity and numbers must be real, or you lose trust.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best length for a WhatsApp sales message?
Two to four lines. Put long details in an image or a link, or send them after the customer replies.
Should I use formal Arabic or dialect?
Use language close to your customer's. Light dialect suits selling to consumers, and simple formal Arabic suits companies and official bodies.
Do I need Meta's approval for every message?
Only messages you initiate outside the 24-hour window need an approved template. Your replies inside an open conversation do not need approval.
How many buttons should I put in a message?
Templates allow a limited number of buttons. It's best to use one main button, plus a Stop button in marketing messages.
- #Copywriting formulas
- #Ready-made sales messages
- #Writing marketing messages
- #Customer welcome message