How to create a link to WhatsApp on WordPress - briefly?
To create a link to WhatsApp on WordPress, you need to use the following URL format: https://wa.me/[phone number]. Simply replace [phone number] with the desired contact number in international format (e.g., +1234567890). This will generate a clickable link that users can tap to initiate a WhatsApp conversation directly from your WordPress site.
How to create a link to WhatsApp on WordPress - in detail?
To create a link to WhatsApp on your WordPress site, you need to generate a special URL that opens the WhatsApp messaging app or web client when clicked. This process involves embedding a click-to-chat link directly into your website content. Here’s how you can do it step by step:
Generating the Click-to-Chat Link
WhatsApp provides a specific format for these links, which includes your phone number and optional parameters like the message text. The basic structure is as follows:
https://wa.me/[phone_number]?text=[urlencoded_text]
Replace [phone_number] with your international phone number (including the country code) and [urlencoded_text] with the message you want to pre-fill in the chat window. The text should be URL encoded, meaning spaces are replaced with %20, and other special characters are converted accordingly.
Example
If your phone number is +1234567890 and you want the pre-filled message to say "Hello!", the link would look like this:
https://wa.me/+1234567890?text=Hello%21
Adding the Link to Your WordPress Site
Once you have your click-to-chat URL, you can add it to your WordPress site in several ways:
1. Text Widget or Custom HTML Block
If you are using a theme that supports widgets or blocks (like Gutenberg), you can simply add the link as a text widget or custom HTML block.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to "Appearance" > "Widgets".
- Drag and drop a "Text Widget" into your desired sidebar or footer area.
- Paste your WhatsApp click-to-chat link into the widget content.
- Save the changes.
2. Adding Link to Post or Page Content
You can also add the link directly into a post, page, or any other content using the WordPress editor.
- Open the post or page where you want to add the WhatsApp link.
- Click on the "+" icon to insert a new block (if using Gutenberg).
- Select the "Custom HTML" block.
- Paste your click-to-chat URL into this block.
- Optionally, wrap it in anchor text by adding an
<a>tag around your link:<a href="https://wa.me/+1234567890?text=Hello%21">Contact us on WhatsApp</a> - Save or publish the post or page.
3. Using a Plugin
If you prefer not to deal with HTML, you can use a plugin that simplifies the process of adding links and buttons. There are several plugins available that provide easy integration for WhatsApp links:
- Install and activate your preferred plugin from the WordPress Plugin repository.
- Follow the plugin's specific instructions to add the WhatsApp link.
Testing Your Link
After adding the link, it’s essential to test it to ensure it works correctly on both desktop and mobile devices. Clicking the link should open a chat window with your pre-filled message in the WhatsApp app or web client.
By following these steps, you can seamlessly integrate a WhatsApp click-to-chat link into your WordPress site, making it easy for visitors to contact you directly through their preferred messaging platform.