WhatsApp Status ads are created in Meta Ads Manager, not in the WhatsApp Business app. Availability depends on the country, account and campaign setup, so first check whether WhatsApp Status appears under placements in your ad set. Sources differ on which objective unlocks it, so confirm in your own account.
Step-by-step
1. Prepare your assets
- You need a WhatsApp Business Account, a Facebook Page linked to your business, and both connected inside the same Meta Business Manager.
- In Business Settings, link your WhatsApp number to your Page. If WhatsApp doesn't show up as an option later, this link is usually the problem.
2. Create the campaign
- Open Ads Manager and click Create.
- One guide says the Engagement or Traffic objective unlocks the Status placement. Others say to use the Messages objective. Try Messages (or Engagement) with the conversion location set to WhatsApp, and see which one shows the Status placement for you.
- If your ads relate to credit, employment, housing or politics, declare the Special Ad Category.
3. Set up the ad set
- Choose WhatsApp as the message destination and select your connected number.
- Set your budget and schedule.
- Audience: Status ads have limited targeting. Meta uses country, city, language, device and limited app activity. Set location, age and language. You can also test custom or lookalike audiences, or Advantage+ audience.
4. Select the placement
- Switch to Manual Placements.
- Enable WhatsApp Status. Meta currently pairs it with Instagram Stories, so both appear pre-selected.
- Untick everything else if you only want Status delivery.
5. Build the creative
- Use a vertical 9:16 image or video. Video can run up to 30 seconds. Aim for 6–15 seconds, with the hook in the first 2 seconds, since it plays like a Story.
- Add a clear call-to-action button, such as "Send message" or "WhatsApp us".
- Set a pre-filled welcome message, for example "Hi, I'm interested in the SEO package", so you can see which ad the lead came from and qualify them faster.
6. Review and publish
- Check the preview in the Status/Stories format, then publish and wait for review.
7. Track and optimise
- Track conversations started, cost per conversation and lead quality. For leads, count conversations that become real enquiries, not just chat starts.
- Test 3–5 creatives, since Status is a Story-style format and fatigues quickly.
- Reply to leads fast. Set up WhatsApp Business greeting and away messages, or automate with the API.
Tips for Indian advertisers
- Use Hindi, Telugu or other regional-language creatives if your audience is local.
- Start with a small daily budget (₹500–1,000) for 3–4 days before scaling.
- Keep a separate Stories/Reels-only click-to-WhatsApp campaign as a backup if Status isn't available in your account.
If the Status placement doesn't appear for you, tell me what you see under Placements and your objective, and I'll help work out why. I can also draft the ad copy and welcome message for your offer.
