Click-to-WhatsApp Ads from Zero
A Click-to-WhatsApp (CTWA) ad opens a WhatsApp chat directly from a Facebook or Instagram ad. Konektor records the chat as an ad lead, and sends events to Meta when the lead status changes.
How it works
- A person clicks the ad and sends a message to your number.
- The message carries ad data from Meta, including
ctwa_clid. - Konektor creates a lead with the source ads.
- When the lead status changes, Konektor sends an event to Meta.
Choose a WhatsApp path
| Path | WhatsApp Business app on the phone | Ad data (ctwa_clid) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unofficial QR session | Stays in use | Read when WhatsApp includes it | This can violate Meta terms. Meta can restrict or block the number. |
| Official WhatsApp Business | Remove the number from the app first | Read | The team replies from the Inbox. Each chat from a new number becomes a lead. |
| Kirimdev, Qiscus, Halo AI, kirim.chat, Qontak | Depends on the provider | Read | See the provider table on Click-to-WhatsApp Conversions. |
| Kapso (coexistence) | Stays in use | Not read | Konektor creates a lead only from a message with a visitor code. |
| Pancake | Depends on the provider | Not read | — |
For daily operations, use Official WhatsApp Business. This path is the most stable and carries no risk of a Meta block.
Before you start
Prepare:
- an owner or admin role in your Konektor workspace;
- access to Meta Business Manager, the ad account, and a Meta pixel or dataset with an access token;
- the WhatsApp number that you will use for the ad.
Step 1 — Connect the WhatsApp number
Open WhatsApp > Connect WhatsApp, then select a path from the table above. Read WhatsApp Session, Official WhatsApp Business, or Partner Integrations for your chosen path.
If Meta rejects your number during the official connection, read Number already registered to a WhatsApp account.
Step 2 — Add Meta in Website Tracking
Open Website Tracking, click Add Ad Platform, select Meta, then enter the Meta Pixel ID and Access Token. Click Save, then click Test platform. Without an active Meta platform, no Meta event goes out.
Step 3 — Set statuses and events
Open Conversion > Conversion Settings, then select the Campaign Type.
- When a chat from an ad arrives, Konektor sends the event for the New status: AddToCart with the Sales type, or Contact with the Leads type.
- Install the Ads Lead to Responded template so that active ad leads move to Responded. This status sends the Lead event.
- For a dedicated CTWA dataset, read Meta CTWA Token. Without a dedicated CTWA dataset, Konektor sends the event as a normal chat event to your Meta pixel.
Step 4 — Run the ad on the same number
Run your Click-to-WhatsApp ad in Meta Ads Manager with the WhatsApp number that you connected in Step 1. Konektor reads only chats from the number connected to your workspace.
Step 5 — Check leads and events
- Open Leads. A lead from the ad shows the source ads.
- Open that lead's detail. Owners see the
ctwa_clidvalue in Attribution Parameters. - Open Conversion > Sync Logs. A Meta CTWA, CTWA fallback, or Meta CAPI badge identifies the delivery channel. An
acceptedstatus means that Meta accepted the event.
FAQ: WABA, coexistence, and ctwa_clid
What is a WABA, and when do I need the WABA ID?
A WABA is the WhatsApp Business Account in Meta that holds official numbers. On the official connection, you select or create the WABA in the Meta window. You need the WABA ID to send events to a dedicated CTWA dataset.
Can I keep the WhatsApp Business app on my phone?
Yes, with the unofficial QR session or with Kapso in coexistence mode. The QR session reads ad data, but it can violate Meta terms. Kapso does not pass Click-to-WhatsApp ad data to Konektor. The Konektor official connection needs a number that you removed from the app.
What is ctwa_clid, and where do I see it?
ctwa_clid is the click ID of a Click-to-WhatsApp ad. Meta adds it to the message from a person who clicked the ad. Open the lead in Leads. Owners see the value in Attribution Parameters.
Why does an ad lead have no ctwa_clid?
The chat did not start from an ad click, or your path does not pass ad data (Kapso, Pancake). On a QR session, Konektor reads the data only when WhatsApp includes it.
Why does a normal chat not become a lead?
On a QR session and on providers, Konektor creates a lead only from a message with a visitor code or ad data. On Official WhatsApp Business, each chat from a new number becomes a lead.
Common problems
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| A chat from the ad does not become a lead | Make sure that the ad uses the connected number, and that the connection is active. |
| Sync Logs shows CTWA fallback | The event went out as a normal chat event. Follow the Meta CTWA Token guide for a dedicated CTWA dataset. |
| No Meta row, or the row shows skipped | Add the Meta platform in Website Tracking, then click Test platform. |
| Meta rejects the number on the official connection | Read Number already registered to a WhatsApp account. |
| The QR session disconnects often | Read the WhatsApp Session guide. |
Related guides
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