Magic Links (Shareable Opt-in Links)
What Magic Links do
Magic Links are shareable URLs that open a WhatsApp conversation with your brand. You can place them anywhere you already drive traffic—site pop-ups, emails, Instagram/TikTok, QR codes, and more—to turn clicks into WhatsApp conversations.
When configured correctly, Magic Links help you:
Capture clear opt-in at the moment a shopper chooses to start a WhatsApp conversation
Support double opt-in by prompting the shopper to confirm subscription inside WhatsApp before marketing messages begin
Keep source attribution (so you know which pop-up, email, or post drove the opt-in)
Magic Links are ideal for growing a WhatsApp list when an import isn’t possible or when you want fresh, channel-specific consent. Import requirements and what counts as valid prior consent are covered in the import-focused pages in this plan.
Recommended setup: compliant opt-in + double opt-in
To keep opt-ins compliant and reduce risk to WhatsApp account quality, set up Magic Links so shoppers understand what they’re consenting to, and then confirm inside WhatsApp.
1) Use clear, specific consent language where the link is shown
Wherever you place the Magic Link (pop-up, footer, email, landing page), include short, plain-language disclosure that covers:
Channel: they’re opting in to WhatsApp messages
Brand identity: who will message them
Message purpose: marketing updates, drops, back-in-stock, order help, etc.
Stop instructions: they can reply STOP (or equivalent) to opt out
Keep it scannable. A one- or two-sentence disclosure next to the CTA usually outperforms a long paragraph and is still clear enough for informed consent.
2) Use a confirmation step inside WhatsApp (double opt-in)
Double opt-in means the shopper takes a second, deliberate action inside WhatsApp to confirm they want to receive messages. With Magic Links, this is typically done by:
Opening WhatsApp via the link, then
Sending a pre-filled message (or tapping a confirm button/quick reply, depending on your flow), then
Receiving a confirmation message that sets expectations (what you’ll send + how to opt out)
Don’t treat “clicked a link” as equivalent to “subscribed to marketing.” For marketing sends, use a clear confirmation inside WhatsApp so you can confidently distinguish conversation intent from marketing subscription.
Create a Magic Link in Coco AI
Name
Give your magic link a descriptive campaign name. This is internal only, so make it recognizable at a glance. Examples from the placeholder: "Instagram Campaign" or "Black Friday." Something like "Instagram Bio - 10% Off" works well so you know exactly where it's used.
Status
The toggle defaults to Active, which is what you want. Leave it on unless you're creating the link in advance and don't want it live yet.
Keyword
This is the word a customer types into WhatsApp to trigger the flow. It's case-insensitive, so "WELCOME10" and "welcome10" both work. A few rules to follow:
Keep it short and memorable
Make it unique per campaign so you can track attribution
Avoid generic words that customers might send by accident (like "hi" or "yes")
Example: INSTA10 for an Instagram campaign offering 10% off.
Reply Message
This is what gets sent to the customer automatically after they opt in. The placeholder shows the structure: Thank you for your interest! Here's your exclusive discount code: {code}
Use {code} exactly as-is -- the system replaces it with the actual discount code you select in the next step. Keep the message warm but short. WhatsApp messages over ~300 chars see lower read rates.
Example:
Thanks for joining! Here's your exclusive 10% off code: {code} -- use it at checkout. Happy shopping! 🛒
Discount Code (Optional)
Click the dropdown (currently showing "No discount code") and select the Shopify discount code you want to attach. This is what populates {code} in your reply message. If you're running a general opt-in flow with no discount, leave it as-is.
Create Magic Link
Hit the black Create Magic Link button. The system generates a WhatsApp deep link (typically wa.me/...?text=KEYWORD) that you drop into Instagram bio, ads, QR codes, etc. When someone clicks it, WhatsApp opens pre-filled with your keyword, triggering the whole consent + reply flow automatically.
Common mistakes to avoid: selecting a discount code but forgetting {code} in the reply message (code gets generated but never shown to the customer), or using a keyword that's already active in another magic link.
Best practice is one Magic Link per placement. It keeps reporting clean and helps you troubleshoot consent wording if one source starts producing lower-quality opt-ins.
Use cases: pop-ups, emails, and social posts
Pop-ups (on-site)
Pop-ups work best when the CTA and consent text are close together and the shopper understands they’re choosing WhatsApp.
CTA examples: “Get updates on WhatsApp”, “Chat on WhatsApp”, “Get early access on WhatsApp”
Placement: homepage, product pages, cart, exit-intent, post-purchase thank-you page
Expectation setting: mention what they’ll receive (drops, restocks, offers) and how to opt out
If your pop-up has multiple channels (Email + SMS + WhatsApp), don’t bundle consent into one checkbox. Use a distinct WhatsApp opt-in choice and make the Magic Link clearly WhatsApp-specific.
Emails (campaigns and flows)
Add Magic Links where high-intent readers already click:
Order & shipping emails: “Questions? Message us on WhatsApp” (service intent)
Back-in-stock / waitlist: “Get restock alerts on WhatsApp” (marketing opt-in)
Newsletter footer: “Prefer WhatsApp? Subscribe here”
Keep support/chat CTAs separate from marketing subscription CTAs. If the goal is marketing, the link copy and the pre-filled WhatsApp message should explicitly indicate subscription.
Social posts (Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube)
Magic Links are a simple way to convert social interest into WhatsApp conversations:
Link in bio (or Link-in-bio tool button): “Join drops on WhatsApp”
Story link sticker: “Get early access on WhatsApp”
Post caption: “DM us on WhatsApp (link in bio)”
Deep-link behavior can vary by device (e.g., opening WhatsApp app vs web). If you want the cleanest user experience, test your Magic Link on iOS and Android before a major campaign.
What shoppers experience (click → confirm → subscribed)
They click the Magic Link from a pop-up, email, or social post.
WhatsApp opens to a chat with your brand (with an optional pre-filled message).
They confirm (double opt-in) by sending the message or tapping the confirmation prompt.
Coco AI records the opt-in with the link source/campaign and marks the contact as eligible for marketing sends (based on your opt-in settings).
Start a conversation: The reply message you build is sent to the customer and they start a conversation with the AI.
Consent, opt-in, and double opt-in: what this page covers (and what it doesn’t)
This page focuses on using Magic Links to collect new WhatsApp opt-ins from your owned and social channels, and how double opt-in typically fits into that flow.
Clicking a link is a strong signal of intent to start a conversation, but for marketing compliance you should treat it as the start of the opt-in flow, not the final confirmation. Use a clear disclosure next to the link and require a second confirmation step inside WhatsApp (double opt-in) before sending marketing broadcasts.
A shopper can message you on WhatsApp for support without subscribing to marketing. If you want to add marketing messaging, you should obtain explicit WhatsApp marketing consent and (recommended) confirm it via double opt-in. Keep your link copy and your pre-filled message aligned to the intended outcome.
Magic Links help by tying the opt-in to a specific source (pop-up/email/social). The detailed requirements for what counts as valid proof—and what Coco needs for imports—are covered in the dedicated consent and import pages in this documentation plan.
Best practices (quick checklist)
Create one link per placement (e.g., separate links for popup vs email vs bio).
Match the promise: the text near the link, the pre-filled WhatsApp message, and the confirmation message should all describe the same thing.
Use double opt-in for marketing subscription flows.
Separate “Chat with us” from “Subscribe” so support conversations don’t accidentally become marketing opt-ins.
Test on mobile (iOS/Android) and confirm the right WhatsApp thread opens before launching campaigns.
Overview of Coco AI list-building options and compliant opt-in capture.
Route social traffic into WhatsApp conversations with clear consent and confirmation.
Use Meta ads to drive new WhatsApp opt-ins with consistent message quality.