Viber links for business: chats, Communities and QR codes

Viber is used by a very large number of people in Georgia, often including those who do not use other messengers. For a shop, salon or delivery service, "message us on Viber" is one of the most natural calls to action. Here are the kinds of links Viber has, their limits, and how to use them with linkz.ge and QR codes.

Note: linkz.ge has no Viber integration. This approach uses ordinary short links, QR codes and a Link in Bio page.

Two kinds of Viber links

• A chat with a number: a viber://chat?number=... link opens a conversation with a specific number in Viber.
• A Community or channel: an invite link generated by the Viber app itself. It is an ordinary web address and usually starts with https://invite.viber.com/.

Chat links: viber://chat

The format is viber://chat?number=%2B995599123456. Here %2B is the encoded + sign: a bare + in a link parameter can be read as a space, which breaks the number. Write the full number with the country code (995) and no spaces, brackets or dashes.

Viber does not publish detailed official documentation for these links, and behavior can differ between app versions and devices; some guides, for instance, write the number without the +. Always test on Android, iPhone and a computer with Viber installed.

Limits

• it works only where Viber is installed; elsewhere the browser cannot open it or shows an error;
• the number must have an active Viber account, or the chat will not open;
• unlike WhatsApp's wa.me links, it is not a web address and does not start with https://;
• we know of no reliable, documented parameter for a prefilled message, so we do not recommend one; customers type their own.

Can I shorten a viber:// link on linkz.ge?

No. linkz.ge accepts only http:// and https:// addresses, both for short links and for Link in Bio buttons, so a viber://chat?... address is rejected as invalid. What to do instead:

• Community or channel: shorten its https invite link; this works normally (steps below).
• Chat, for a printed QR code: enter the viber:// link directly in the QR code generator in text mode. You get a QR code, but scans are not counted and you cannot change the destination later. Some scanner apps may show such a link as plain text, so test with several phones before printing.
• Link in Bio page: there is no Viber icon in the social row, and buttons accept only https links. Add a "Join us on Viber" button with your Community link and put your number in the page description.

Shortening a Community or channel link

The invite link is created in the Viber app: look for the share or invite link in the Community or channel info (the exact label depends on the app version). Admins can restrict sharing or disable the link, so keep that in mind before printing it.

1. Create a free account and paste the invite link into the dashboard.
2. Under advanced options set a custom alias such as linkz.ge/viber or linkz.ge/salon-viber (3 to 32 characters: Latin letters, digits, _ and -).
3. Untick "Ads and earnings on this link". It is on by default, and customers would see an ad page before the Community.
4. Shorten and test on a phone: Viber should open the Community or channel page.

If the invite link changes (for example, you disable the old one and create a new one), edit the destination URL; the old short link and the printed QR code keep working. Analytics show how many people tapped; how many actually joined you will see in Viber.

QR codes for counters, windows and packaging

Click the QR icon in your link list, choose a dark color and the large size (L), and download the PNG. Print it with a line such as "Join us on Viber for offers and news". Give each placement its own link (linkz.ge/viber-counter, linkz.ge/viber-pack) to see which one works, and print the short address under the code for people who prefer not to scan. Printing tips: QR codes for menus and business cards.

Viber or WhatsApp?

If your customers use both, offer both. A WhatsApp chat link is a normal https address, so it can be shortened, counted and added to a Link in Bio page; see WhatsApp chat links for sales and the WhatsApp link generator.

Common mistakes

• an unencoded + in the number, or a missing 995 country code;
• testing on only one device;
• pasting a viber:// link into linkz.ge or a Link in Bio button, which is rejected;
• leaving the ad page on for a Community link;
• printing the raw invite link, which stops working if the link is disabled; a short link reduces that risk.