---
title: "Send a new-order WhatsApp to the customer"
description: "Turn on the new-order message, add placeholders, and place a test WooCommerce order."
slug: "/features/notifications/new-order-customer"
---

In this tutorial, you will send one WhatsApp to the customer when a WooCommerce order is placed.

**Time needed:** 10 minutes

## Before you start

Make sure:

- The Wabot WordPress plugin is installed and **Active**.
- **Verify Status** (if shown) does not say disconnected.
- WooCommerce checkout collects a billing phone number.

> Finish [Install the Unofficial WordPress plugin](/features/notifications/install-unofficial) or [Install the Official WordPress plugin](/features/notifications/install-official) first. Use only one zip.

## 1. Open customer notifications

In WordPress admin, open **Wabot**.

Open the customer notification settings. Look for **Customer Notifications** or the order message list.

Turn customer notifications on.

<figure class="doc-shot-ph shot-01-customer-notifications" data-shot="01-customer-notifications.png">
  <div class="doc-shot-ph-frame" role="img" aria-label="Customer Notifications">
    <span class="doc-shot-ph-kicker">Screenshot example</span>
    <strong class="doc-shot-ph-title">Customer Notifications</strong>
    <span class="doc-shot-ph-hint">Clean UI. No real names, emails, or chats.</span>
  </div>
</figure>

## 2. Write the new-order message

Find the message for a new order. Status names include **Pending payment**, **On hold**, or **Processing**, depending on how your checkout works.

Type a short message. Use placeholders so each order is different.

> Hi [billing_first_name], thank you. We received order [order_id] for [order_amount]. — [shop_name]

Common placeholders:

- `[billing_first_name]`
- `[order_id]`
- `[order_amount]`
- `[order_product]`
- `[shop_name]`

Save.

<figure class="doc-shot-ph shot-02-new-order-message" data-shot="02-new-order-message.png">
  <div class="doc-shot-ph-frame" role="img" aria-label="New order message with placeholders">
    <span class="doc-shot-ph-kicker">Screenshot example</span>
    <strong class="doc-shot-ph-title">New order message with placeholders</strong>
    <span class="doc-shot-ph-hint">Clean UI. No real names, emails, or chats.</span>
  </div>
</figure>

## 3. Place a test order

Use your own phone as the billing phone.

Use the country code, with no `+` and no spaces.

**Right:** `60123456789`  
**Wrong:** `+60 12-345 6789`

Place a cheap test order and complete checkout.

## Make sure it worked

This tutorial worked when:

- The test order appears in **WooCommerce → Orders**.
- Your test phone receives the WhatsApp.
- The name and order number in the message match the test order.

## If it didn’t work

### The message did not arrive

- Check the billing phone uses the country code, with no `+`.
- Confirm customer notifications are on for that order status.
- Open [Check the message log](/features/notifications/message-log).

### The name is blank

Use `[billing_first_name]`. Square brackets, not `{customer_name}`.

### You have no plugin menu

Install the plugin first: [Unofficial](/features/notifications/install-unofficial) or [Official](/features/notifications/install-official).

## Next

Customers now get a WhatsApp on a new order. Next, send one when the status changes, such as **Completed**.

[Send a WhatsApp when the order status changes →](/features/notifications/order-status)