Summary
Interactive messages in WhatsApp enhance the user experience by allowing customers to select options instead of typing responses. These messages help streamline chatbot interactions and make conversations more user-friendly. In WATI, you can create interactive messages within your chatbot using two types of interactive messages:
List Messages – Provides users with a menu of up to 10 options to choose from.
Button Messages – Allows users to select from up to 3 predefined button options. This guide explains how to create and configure both types of interactive messages in WATI’s Chatbot Builder.
Instructions
List Messages
List messages present users with a menu of options, making it easier for them to respond without typing. A list message can contain up to 10 selectable options.
Example
When a user clicks the menu button, they will see a list of available options to choose from.
How to Create a List Message
To create a list message in WATI’s Chatbot Builder, follow these steps:
Create a new chatbot in WATI.
Click on the Ask a Question card.
Select List to add a list node in your chatbot.
Click the ⋮ (More Options) icon and choose Edit.
Fill in the required fields:
Header Text – Title of the list message (Markdown formatting is not supported).
Body Text – Main message content.
Footer Text – Additional information is displayed below the body text.
Button Text – Label for the button that opens the list.
Section 1 Title – Name of the category (if multiple sections are added, each will contain different options).
Row 1 – List option (you can add more rows as needed).
If necessary, configure the option to save answers into a variable.
Click Save to apply the changes.
Important Notes
A maximum of 10 options can be included in a single list message.
Each option (row) can have up to 24 characters.
Button Messages
Button messages allow users to respond quickly by selecting one of the available buttons instead of typing their answers. These messages are ideal for scenarios requiring quick replies.
Example
A button message appears as a structured message with up to 3 clickable buttons.
How to Create a Button Message
To create a button message in WATI’s Chatbot Builder, follow these steps:
Create a new chatbot in WATI.
Click on the Ask a Question card.
Select Buttons to add a button node in your chatbot.
Click the ⋮ (More Options) icon and choose Edit.
Configure the following fields:
Media Header (Optional) – Attach media (image, video, or document) to the message.
Header Text – Title of the button message (Markdown formatting is not supported).
Body Text – Main message content.
Footer Text – Additional information displayed below the body text.
Button 1 – Text for the first button (more buttons can be added).
If necessary, configure the option to save answers into a variable.
Click Save to apply the changes.
Important Notes
A maximum of 3 buttons can be included in a single button message.
Each button can have up to 20 characters.
By using interactive messages, you can create more engaging chatbot experiences while improving user interaction and efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Questions
What are interactive messages in WhatsApp? → Interactive messages allow users to select options instead of typing responses, making chatbot interactions smoother and more efficient.
What types of interactive messages are available in WATI? → WATI supports two types of interactive messages:
List Messages – Provides users with a menu of up to 10 options.
Button Messages – Allows users to select from up to 3 predefined buttons.
Why should I use interactive messages in my chatbot? → Interactive messages improve user experience by reducing typing effort, making responses faster and conversations more structured.
List Messages
What is a List Message? → A List Message presents users with a menu of up to 10 selectable options, allowing them to choose an answer instead of typing.
How do I create a List Message in WATI’s Chatbot Builder?
Create a new chatbot.
Click Ask a Question and select List.
Click ⋮ (More Options) > Edit.
Fill in the required fields (Header, Body, Footer, Button Text, Sections, Rows).
Click Save to apply changes.
How many options can I include in a List Message? → You can include a maximum of 10 options (rows) in a single List Message.
What is the character limit for each option in a List Message? → Each option (row) can have up to 24 characters.
Button Messages
What is a Button Message? → A Button Message allows users to respond by clicking one of up to 3 predefined buttons instead of typing.
How do I create a Button Message in WATI’s Chatbot Builder?
Create a new chatbot.
Click Ask a Question and select Buttons.
Click ⋮ (More Options) > Edit.
Fill in the required fields (Header, Body, Footer, Buttons).
Click Save to apply changes.
Can I add media to a Button Message? → Yes, you can enable the Media Header option to attach an image, video, or document to the message.
How many buttons can I add to a Button Message? → You can add up to 3 buttons in a single-button message.
What is the character limit for each button? → Each button can contain up to 20 characters.