WhatsApp link and QR code for shops: wa.me explained simply

A home-decor seller in Dhanmondi prints 2,000 parcel cards that say "Order again on WhatsApp: 01712-345678". Months later, almost nobody has used them. Typing a number, saving it as a contact, then finding it in WhatsApp is three steps too many.

Replace the number with a QR code that opens the chat with "Ager order theke abar kinte chai" already typed, and the customer needs one scan and one tap. That is all a wa.me link is: the shortest path from "I want to ask" to a real conversation.

This guide shows how to build the link correctly for a Bangladeshi number, when to use WhatsApp's own short links, how to make QR codes that scan, and how to use different links to see which placement works.

What is a wa.me link?

A wa.me link is WhatsApp's click-to-chat address: when someone taps it, WhatsApp opens a chat with the number in the link. It works on phones and on WhatsApp Web or desktop, and the person does not need to save your number first.

The basic format is:

https://wa.me/<number>
https://wa.me/<number>?text=<url-encoded message>

The customer always has to press send. The link opens the chat; it does not send anything for them.

How do I write a Bangladeshi number in a wa.me link?

Write 880, then your mobile number without its first 0, as digits only. No plus sign, no spaces, no dashes, no brackets.

So the full link is https://wa.me/8801712345678.

How do I add a ready message?

Add ?text= and your message, with spaces written as %20 and other symbols encoded. Most link generators and QR tools encode it for you.

Bangla script works too, because browsers and WhatsApp handle encoded Unicode text. The encoded version looks long and unreadable, which is fine. Just test it on a phone.

There is also a version without a number, https://wa.me/?text=..., which lets the person pick any contact to send the text to. That is useful for "share this offer with a friend" buttons, not for chats with your shop.

What are WhatsApp's own short links and QR codes?

WhatsApp can also generate a short link for your business, in the form wa.me/message/ plus a code, along with a matching QR code. Compared with a wa.me number link, it hides your phone number from the URL and lets you change the pre-filled message later without reprinting anything.

For numbers on the WhatsApp Business API, Meta's QR codes and short links documentation says each code can carry a pre-filled message of up to 140 characters, a number can have up to 2,000 codes and links, and QR images can be exported as SVG or PNG. Meta recommends SVG for print.

Where should a shop use WhatsApp links and QR codes?

Use them anywhere a customer might want to ask a question or order again. For a typical Bangladeshi online shop:

The parcel card is the one most shops forget, and it reaches people who have already bought from you once.

How do I see which link brings customers?

Give each placement its own ready message, and read the first line of each new chat. If 40 chats this month started with "Parcel card theke" and 3 with "Shop e esechilam", you know where to spend on printing.

Some people edit the message before sending, so this is not perfect. It is still far better than guessing. If you use an inbox tool with automations, a keyword rule on "Parcel card theke" can tag the contact automatically, which keeps the count without anyone typing it. See how tags and segments turn those sources into audiences.

How do I make a QR code that actually scans?

Use a high-resolution file, print it big enough, keep strong contrast, and test it before you print a thousand.

• Size. On parcel cards and stickers, keep the code roughly 2.5 cm wide or larger, with a clear white border around it.
• Contrast. Dark code on a light background. Avoid brand colours that are too pale.
• File type. SVG or high-resolution PNG. A blurry screenshot of a QR code scans badly.
• Short message. Shorter links make simpler, easier-to-scan codes. Short links help here.
• A line of text. Under the code, say what happens: "Scan korun, WhatsApp e amader message korun".
• Test. Scan with an Android phone and an iPhone, in normal shop lighting, before printing.

Does a link or QR code give me opt-in?

No. A customer who taps your link and messages you has started a chat, so you can reply. That is different from agreeing to receive offers later. If you want to build a list for broadcasts, make the opt-in part of the message and the sign:

Sign: "Notun offer WhatsApp e pete scan korun" Ready message: "YES, notun offer ar collection WhatsApp e pathan"

Then record the opt-in. Our guide to building a WhatsApp opt-in list covers the wording and record-keeping. If you plan to run ads with a WhatsApp button too, read the Click-to-WhatsApp ads guide.

How does SaleMag work with WhatsApp links?

Any wa.me link or QR code that points to a number connected to SaleMag opens a normal WhatsApp chat, which arrives in the shared inbox where the AI chatbot and your team reply. SaleMag's website chat widget is a floating WhatsApp button for your site built on the same click-to-chat link, with a greeting card, your own prefilled message, working hours and allowed domains. SaleMag does not generate QR codes, so use WhatsApp's own tools or a QR generator for print. A first WhatsApp message from a new customer creates a contact in the CRM, deduplicated by phone number, and keyword automations can tag contacts by the ready message they sent.

Next steps

Write one link per placement today, starting with your Page bio, Instagram bio and parcel card, and test each on two phones. Then connect the number to a team inbox so every chat gets answered quickly. Start free or read about the WhatsApp Business API.