How can I preview a template before using it in a campaign?
Before sending, you should always preview your WhatsApp message template. The preview shows exactly how the message (including personalization, media, and buttons) will appear to recipients inside WhatsApp. This step prevents formatting errors and avoids sending broken messages.
📍 Where to Find the Preview
- Go to the Create Campaign screen in MyOperator.
- Select your WhatsApp Business Number.
- Pick an approved template from the dropdown.
- A live preview pane will appear on the right-hand side, simulating the WhatsApp mobile layout.
🔍 What You’ll See in the Preview
Element | Example Output |
|---|---|
Message Body | “Hi , your order of ₹has shipped.” |
Personalization Tags | Placeholders (, ) until mapped |
Media | Image, video, or PDF header (if part of template) |
Buttons | “Track Order”, “Contact Us” |
🧪 After Variable Mapping
Once you upload your contact list and map columns to variables, the preview updates with actual values.
Template:
Hi , your order of ₹has shipped.
Mapped Data:
- → John
- → 1,499
Preview Output:
Hi John, your order of ₹1,499 has shipped.
⚠️ Troubleshooting & Edge Cases
Scenario | What to Check |
|---|---|
Preview not visible | Confirm you’ve selected both a template and WhatsApp number |
Placeholders still showing | Verify that variables are mapped correctly |
Media not rendering | Ensure the media file is attached and within size limits |
Fallback values missing | These appear only after mapping + entering fallback values |
✅ Why Use the Preview
- Detect formatting or placeholder issues early
- Confirm buttons and CTAs are correct and in order
- Ensure media displays properly on mobile
- Validate fallback behavior (e.g., empty fields)
🧠 Best Practices
- Always review the preview pane before pressing Send.
- Map all variables or define fallback values (e.g.,
= Customer). - Test with sample data (short names, long names, currency formats, dates).
- For campaigns with multiple templates, preview each one individually.
✅ Summary
- The template preview is your last quality checkpoint.
- It ensures personalization, media, and buttons render as expected.
- Use mapping + sample data to simulate real-world outputs.
Updated on: 23/09/2025