Getting the number right
The link needs your full international number: country code first, then the number, with no plus sign, spaces, or dashes. For an Indian mobile that means 91 followed by the ten digits, so 98765 43210 becomes 919876543210.
Leaving off the country code is the one mistake that breaks these links, and it breaks them silently. The QR scans, WhatsApp opens, and it reports that the number is not on WhatsApp. Scan your own QR once and confirm the chat opens.
Writing the first message
The prefilled message is where this earns its place. A message that identifies why someone is writing saves you asking.
- On a product label: "Hi, I have a question about" followed by the product name.
- On a shop counter: "Hi, I would like to place an order."
- On a service van or a leaflet: "Hi, I would like a quote for" followed by the service.
- On a table tent in a restaurant: "Hi, table 4 here."
Whoever scans it can edit or delete the message before sending. Treat it as a helpful default, not a script.
Where these work well
Anywhere a customer is looking at something physical and might have a question: product packaging, a shelf label, a service van, a leaflet, a delivery slip, or a poster. It turns a moment of curiosity into a conversation without them hunting for your number.
They also work well on an invoice, next to a payment QR, as the "something is wrong with this" route.
What this does not do
It opens a chat. It does not send anything on its own, does not add anyone to a group, and does not give you their number until they message you. It also does not work for WhatsApp Business catalogue links or group invites, which are different link formats.
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