How to collect WhatsApp consent with a tap-to-text form

Learn how to set up a sign-up form to collect WhatsApp marketing consent from new prospects. When a visitor taps the WhatsApp subscribe button in your form, WhatsApp opens with a pre-populated message. They send the message to begin subscribing.

This opt-in method is recommended for mobile sign-up forms because customers start the conversation with your business. While this doesn't guarantee higher engagement or prevent spam complaints or template quality issues, customers who initiate the conversation themselves may be less likely to immediately block your first WhatsApp campaign or flow message. Continue sending relevant, timely, and personalized messages to maintain a positive customer experience.

Before you begin

Before collecting WhatsApp marketing consent, make sure you've already:

• Set up WhatsApp in Klaviyo, including a connected WhatsApp sending number.
• Reviewed your WhatsApp consent language with your legal team.

We also recommend adding a disclosure to your form when collecting WhatsApp consent. Because legal requirements vary by business and region, consult your legal team to determine whether you need a disclosure and what language to use.

Example disclosure:

By sending the pre-populated WhatsApp message, you consent to receive marketing messages (e.g., cart reminders) from [company name] on WhatsApp, including messages sent by autodialer. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP.

For more information about collecting consent, see our guide on understanding WhatsApp consent.

How WhatsApp sign-up forms work

Visitors using a mobile device see your sign-up form with a button inviting them to subscribe to WhatsApp.

When they tap the button:

1. WhatsApp opens with a pre-populated message.
2. The customer sends the pre-populated message without removing the reference at the end.
3. For a single opt-in keyword, sending the message subscribes them to WhatsApp marketing messages from your business. If WhatsApp double opt-in is available in your account and you've configured the keyword to use it, the customer must also confirm their subscription before they are subscribed.

Because the customer starts the conversation, this method helps create a more natural opt-in experience for WhatsApp messaging.

Note that this method collects WhatsApp marketing consent only.

Best practices

When creating a WhatsApp sign-up form, we recommend the following:

• Use a multi-step form if you want to collect both email addresses and WhatsApp marketing consent. Collect the email address on the first step and WhatsApp consent on the second step.
• Use this opt-in experience on mobile forms, where customers can easily open WhatsApp after submitting the form.
• Customize your button text with a clear call to action, such as Subscribe to WhatsApp.
• Include a disclosure that matches your business's legal requirements.
• Continue sending relevant, personalized, and timely WhatsApp messages to maintain template quality and reduce the likelihood of customers blocking your business.

Keep in mind:

• Choose WhatsApp when adding the Mobile opt-in step for this tap-to-text method.
• A button set to Subscribe via WhatsApp collects WhatsApp marketing consent only. It does not collect SMS consent.
• You can also collect WhatsApp consent using a phone-number field. This guide uses a button so visitors can subscribe from WhatsApp.

Create a WhatsApp sign-up form

You can add a Mobile opt-in step to an existing email sign-up form to collect WhatsApp marketing consent. Start with an email form that doesn't already contain a phone-number field or a tap-to-text button.

1. Navigate to Sign-up forms.
2. Select the three-dot menu beside the form you'd like to edit, then click Edit.
3. Click + Step.
4. Select Mobile opt-in, then click Next.
5. Select WhatsApp, then click Next.
6. Choose a list, then click Add step. For tap-to-text, the keyword you select in the button settings determines which list WhatsApp subscribers join.
7. Edit the disclosure text, if needed, to match your business's legal requirements.

Configure your WhatsApp opt-in step

After adding the Mobile opt-in step, configure its existing sign-up button for WhatsApp subscriptions.

1. Switch to the mobile view in the form editor.
2. Select the existing sign-up Button block in the WhatsApp step.
3. Set Button click action to Subscribe via WhatsApp.
4. Under WhatsApp settings, choose the WhatsApp keyword customers will send. Check that the keyword is connected to the list where you want WhatsApp subscribers to be added. You can review its List and Opt-in process in your account's WhatsApp settings.
5. Customize the Message customers will send. Keep it within 160 characters and avoid emojis.
6. Under Sending number, select the connected WhatsApp number that should receive the opt-in message.
7. Update the button text with your preferred call to action, such as Subscribe to WhatsApp.
8. Remove the phone-number field from this step: select its trash icon, then confirm Delete Block. Visitors will send their opt-in message from WhatsApp, so they don't need to type their phone number into this form.
9. Adjust the rest of the form's design to match your brand.
10. Review the disclosure text to ensure it reflects your legal requirements.
11. Click Publish or schedule, resolve any blocking alerts, then select Publish now and click Publish now to make the form live.

Next steps

After publishing your form, test it on a mobile device to confirm that:

• The form appears as expected.
• The Subscribe to WhatsApp button opens WhatsApp.
• The pre-populated message appears correctly, including the reference at the end.
• Sending the message and completing any double opt-in confirmation subscribes the customer to WhatsApp marketing and adds them to the list assigned to the selected keyword.

If you also collect email addresses, consider creating a multi-step sign-up form that collects email first and WhatsApp marketing consent second for a smoother subscription experience.