# How to manage WhatsApp templates

In order for a business to initiate a conversation over WhatsApp, Meta wants you to use Template messages. Meta doesn't allow sending free format messages "out of the blue". So first a Template message must be defined and reviewed by Meta before we can send an outbound message.

There are three ways to do this:

1. Create the template using [360Dialog](https://docs.360dialog.com/docs/360-client-hub/template-management-ui)
2. Create the template using the [Meta Business Admin Portal](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2055875911147364?id=2129163877102343)
3. Create the template using our [Create Template API](https://developer.botsquad.com/dev/rest/#/Bot%20operations/WhatsappController.create_template) 

A template message comprises of a text (the template) which may look like: "`{{1}} has responded to your message with: {{2}}.`". Where `{{1}}` and `{{2}}` can be the parameters that can be merged at sending by any value you provide. In this case the parameter `{{1}}` could be `"Niels"` and the parameter `{{2}}` could be `"Nice to hear from you!"`. So the final message would look like `"Niels responded to your message with: Nice to hear from you!"`. 

WhatsApp identifies three types of templates:

* Utility
* Marketing
* Authentication

To learn more about the differences between these templates, see the WhatsApp[ Template Guidelines](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/updates-to-pricing/new-template-guidelines).