WhatsApp templates exist because WhatsApp doesn't want its inbox to feel like SMS marketing. Meta's review process is the gate that keeps that promise. Once you understand what they're checking for, the rejection rate drops fast.
The first thing reviewers check is category fit. Marketing, utility, and authentication categories each have different rules. A shipping update belongs in utility, not marketing. A promotional offer belongs in marketing, full stop. Getting the category right is half the battle.
The second thing is variable placement. A template like 'Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} is ready' passes. 'Hi {{1}}, click {{2}}' usually doesn't, because the variable is being used to inject a link, which reads as evasion.
The third thing is opt-in language. If your template mentions promotions or marketing, the reviewer will expect to see proof that recipients opted in. Make that wording explicit at signup and you save yourself a back-and-forth.
OonoBox handles the submission and tracks the status for you. You write the template, we send it through, and the inbox shows you where it sits in review.