How to Use Custom Variables in WhatsApp Templates and Automations

Name: How to Use Custom Variables to Create WhatsApp Templates, Triggers, and Actions
Uploaded: 2024-01-16
Duration: 4 min 16 s
Channel: HighLevel
Description: Custom variables in GoHighLevel WhatsApp templates work the same way as in email or SMS. When building a template, insert a variable placeholder tied to a field like contact first name or account name. The platform fills in the real value at send time. You can also use WhatsApp as both a trigger and an action inside workflow automations, combining variables with conditional logic and wait steps.

By Marnix Geerkens. Published 2024-01-16. Updated 2026-06-02.

Custom variables in GoHighLevel WhatsApp templates work the same way as in email or SMS. When building a template, insert a variable placeholder tied to a field like contact first name or account name. The platform fills in the real value at send time. You can also use WhatsApp as both a trigger and an action inside workflow automations, combining variables with conditional logic and wait steps.

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Summary. GoHighLevel supports custom variables inside WhatsApp message templates, letting messages feel personal at any send volume. A template can pull in any contact or account field, and the same variable syntax works inside workflow actions. WhatsApp can act as a trigger in an automation (when a contact replies on WhatsApp) or as an action (send a WhatsApp template or freeform message). Adding a short wait step before an automated reply prevents responses from appearing instant and robotic.

Steps

Build a template with variables
Go to Settings, then WhatsApp, then Templates. Create a new template. In the header or body field, click to place your cursor where the variable should appear and use the variable selector to insert a field like contact first name. The preview panel on the right shows how it will look with sample data.
Set up a WhatsApp trigger in a workflow
Open Automations and create a new workflow. Add a trigger and search for WhatsApp-related options such as Customer Replied. Under filters, set the reply channel to WhatsApp. This automation will now fire whenever a contact replies to your WhatsApp number.
Add actions and a wait step
After the trigger, add any actions you want, such as tagging the contact or sending a follow-up. Insert a Wait step before the reply action (30 seconds is common) so the automated response does not arrive the same instant the trigger fires.