by
July 16, 2025
If you’re running a small business and using WhatsApp to chat with customers, good news: it’s easier than you think to hook it up to your Google Ads and start answering questions right from your inbox.
This guide walks you through the basics of how to connect WhatsApp to Google Ads using “Click-to-Chat” links and ad assets, no complicated tracking or backend stuff.
Just the core setup you need to get started.
In this guide, we'll cover the essentials you need to know to start using WhatsApp with your Google Ads campaigns.
No fluff or complicated technical jargon - just practical steps you can implement today.
You'll learn exactly what "Click-to-Chat" functionality is and how it creates an instant connection between your ads and WhatsApp conversations.
We'll show you the simple process of generating your own customized WhatsApp link that sends people straight to a chat with your business.
Then we'll walk through how to properly incorporate that link into your Google Ads, whether you're using search ads, display campaigns, or video. You'll see the exact places in your Google Ads dashboard where these changes need to happen.
By the end, you'll have the step-by-step instructions to launch your first WhatsApp-enabled ad campaign, letting customers move from "interested" to "in conversation" with just a tap.
Let's face it - people hate filling out forms. They'd rather just message you. WhatsApp gives customers exactly what they want: quick conversations without the hassle.
When you connect WhatsApp to Google Ads, you're basically creating a direct line from your ad to your chat. Someone sees your ad, taps it, and boom - they're talking to you instantly.
No website navigation, no contact forms, no friction.
This setup works especially well if you:
Around 2 billion people already use WhatsApp daily. They're comfortable with it. Adding this familiar channel to your ads just removes another barrier between you and potential customers.
Bottom line: If you already use WhatsApp with customers, adding it to your ads just makes sense.
A Click-to-Chat link does exactly what it sounds like - it kicks off a WhatsApp conversation with your business when someone clicks it.
Simple as that.
No need for users to save your number first or hunt through their contacts. They tap, chat opens, conversation starts.
These links work everywhere - phone, tablet, computer - doesn't matter.
The user just needs WhatsApp installed (on mobile) or to be logged into WhatsApp Web (on desktop).
The basic format looks like this:
https://wa.me/15551234567
That's just "wa.me" followed by your full phone number without any symbols. No plus sign, no parentheses, no hyphens.
Want to make it even smoother? Add a pre-written message that appears in the chat box.
Just tack on ?text= and your message: https://wa.me/15551234567?text=Hi%20there%2C%20I%27m%20interested!
Those weird characters (%20, %27) are just spaces and punctuation in URL-speak. The actual message will show up normally in WhatsApp.
That's it. No complicated setup, no developer needed. Just a link that sends people straight to a conversation with you.
The formatting is actually pretty simple.
Just grab your full number with country code (1 for US, 44 for UK, etc.) and strip out any symbols or spaces.
Don't overthink it.
For international numbers, remember that some countries have longer codes - Brazil uses 55, India uses 91.
Just make sure you include the full dialing sequence someone would need to reach you from overseas.
When adding a pre-filled message, URL encoding just means replacing spaces with %20 and special characters with their code equivalents.
The encoder link above handles this automatically, but common replacements include:
Test your link before adding it to ads by opening it in your browser. It should launch WhatsApp and show your pre-filled message (if you added one).
Now that you've created your WhatsApp link, it's time to put it to work in your Google Ads. There are two straightforward ways to do this:
For ads on platforms like YouTube or Display where you can add call-to-action buttons:
This works especially well for Discovery ads or video campaigns where you want to make the chat option obvious.
Just make sure your landing page (the WhatsApp chat) matches what you're promising in the ad.
Sitelinks are great because they don't replace your main landing page—they just give users another option.
Someone might want to browse your site first, or they might prefer to chat immediately. This way, they can choose.
Pro tip: Test both methods to see which gets more engagement. Some audiences prefer the direct chat button, while others respond better to sitelinks that give them options.
When you connect WhatsApp to your Google Ads, presentation matters.
Here's how to make your WhatsApp presence professional without overcomplicating things:
Polish your WhatsApp business profile (10 minutes):
Craft a default message that works (50-75 characters max):
Set response expectations (crucial):
Simple quality checks:
Remember that WhatsApp feels personal to users—they're inviting you into the same space where they chat with friends and family.
Keep it professional but conversational, and be ready to respond when those messages start coming in.
Connecting WhatsApp to your Google Ads isn't technical or time-consuming.
With just a simple link and a few minutes inside your ad settings, you can make it faster and easier for customers to reach you — right where they're already chatting every day.
This setup is perfect for businesses that want real-time conversations without a middleman.
No extra tools, no tracking headaches — just a direct line from your ad to your DMs.
Look, here's the deal: customers hate friction. They see your ad, they're interested, but then they have to fill out a form or wait for an email? That's where you lose them.
WhatsApp cuts through that mess. They tap, chat, done.
The beauty is in the simplicity. You're not building some complex system — you're just connecting two things that already work well separately.
Your ads drive interest. WhatsApp handles the conversation.
Put them together and you've got a faster path to converting that curious scroller into an actual customer.
Just remember that once you open this door, people expect quick replies. A WhatsApp link in your ad is basically saying "we're ready to talk now." So make sure someone's actually monitoring those messages when they start coming in.
