Short answer: A WhatsApp link opens a chat with your business in one tap. It is https://wa.me/ followed by your full number in international format, and you can add ?text= with a message that appears ready to send.
How a WhatsApp link works
WhatsApp calls the feature click to chat. It lets someone start a chat with you without having your number saved in their phone, and it works on the phone and on WhatsApp Web.
There are two conditions: the number in the link has to be complete and in international format, and it needs an active WhatsApp account behind it.
It’s a different thing from the WhatsApp Business API, which lets software send and receive messages. Our WhatsApp Business API pricing guide covers that side.
Kinds of WhatsApp link
| Link | How you build it | What the visitor sees |
|---|---|---|
| Number only | wa.me/ and your number | A chat with you, ready to type |
| Number and message | wa.me/, your number, ?text= and the message | A chat with you and your message already in the text field |
| Message only | wa.me/?text= and the message | Their own contacts, to pick who gets the message |
From the WhatsApp Help Center, “How to use click to chat”, read November 4, 2026.
For a business, the second kind usually works best: the visitor lands in your chat with a first line already written, so sending it takes one tap.
How to create your WhatsApp link
- Write your number in international format: country code, area code and number, as digits only.
- Leave out any plus sign, zeroes in front, brackets and dashes.
- Put it after https://wa.me/ and open the link to check that the chat appears.
- Write a short first message in your customer’s language.
- URL-encode the message, so spaces become %20, and add it after ?text=.
- Test the full link on a phone and on WhatsApp Web.
- Place it where people decide to contact you, such as your contact page and landing pages.
A link works best next to a short form, for people who prefer to write by email. Our website contact form guide covers that part.
The official Chat on WhatsApp button
WhatsApp offers a branded Chat on WhatsApp button, in green or white and in three sizes. It asks you to use it as is, keep the latest version and make sure it stays visible and easy to read.
WhatsApp suggests it for landing pages, contact pages, mobile apps and mobile versions of your website. For now, the button only comes in English.
Our own WhatsApp links
On November 4, 2026, we checked the WhatsApp links on our home page, our contact page and one guide, in English and Spanish.
The home page has 2 of them, and the contact page and the guide have 3 each. Every one uses our number in international format, digits only, as WhatsApp asks.
Each carries a first message in the page’s language: “Hi, I’d like to talk about my business.” in English and “Hola, quiero hablar de mi negocio.” in Spanish. Because the official button only exists in English and our site is bilingual, our buttons are our own, labeled with the same words in each language.
Before you share your link
- The number is in international format, digits only.
- The link opens a chat with your business.
- The first message is short and in the customer’s language.
- The message is URL-encoded after ?text=.
- It works on a phone and on WhatsApp Web.
- Someone answers the chats that come in.
Rememberwa.me, your number in international format and a short message after ?text= are all a WhatsApp link needs.
If you want WhatsApp placed where your customers decide, our web design service can set it up with you.
Quick answers about WhatsApp links
How do I create a WhatsApp link?
Write https://wa.me/ followed by your full phone number in international format, with no zeroes in front, brackets or dashes. For a US number that is 1, the area code and the number, all as digits.
Can I add a message to my WhatsApp link?
Yes. Add ?text= and the message, URL-encoded, after your number. WhatsApp puts that message in the text field of the chat, and the visitor only has to press send.
Does the visitor need to save my number?
No. WhatsApp says click to chat lets someone start a chat without having the number saved in their address book. It works on the phone and on WhatsApp Web.
Is there an official WhatsApp button for websites?
Yes, the Chat on WhatsApp button, in green or white and three sizes. WhatsApp asks you to use it as is and keep it up to date, and for now it is only available in English.
Why doesn’t my WhatsApp link work?
Check the number first: WhatsApp’s own example of a wrong link adds a plus sign, extra zeroes, brackets and a dash. The number also needs an active WhatsApp account for the chat to open.
Sources
Read on November 4, 2026. WhatsApp Help Center: How to use click to chat. Our own case: the WhatsApp links on our home page, contact page and one guide, in English and Spanish, November 4, 2026.