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 only need to send the message to subscribe.

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.
• 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 submitting this form, you consent to receive informational (e.g., order updates) and/or marketing messages (e.g., cart reminders) from [company name] 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 message.
3. They provide WhatsApp marketing consent and subscribe to receive WhatsApp marketing messages from your business.

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:

• Each Mobile opt in step can collect consent for only one channel.
• You can't collect SMS and WhatsApp consent from the same subscribe button.
• Customers can only subscribe to WhatsApp through the Mobile opt in step.

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.

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.
5. Choose the list where you want to collect WhatsApp subscribers.
6. Select WhatsApp, then click Add step.
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 the button for WhatsApp subscriptions.

1. Switch to the mobile view in the form editor.
2. Add a Button block to the form.
3. Set the button's action to Subscribe to WhatsApp.
4. Customize the pre-populated message customers will send.
5. Update the button text with your preferred call to action, such as Subscribe to WhatsApp.
6. Adjust the rest of the form's design to match your brand.
7. Review the disclosure text to ensure it reflects your legal requirements.
8. Click Publish.

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.
• Sending the message successfully subscribes the customer to WhatsApp marketing.

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.