Social media business is spreading its wings with each year.
Recently we discussed Facebook Messenger marketing. In case you haven’t read it we will have the link down below.
Today we have a new member in the social media marketing family- Whatsapp Business Account!
Why Whatsapp, you may ask?
Why not? Whatsapp is by far the most used messaging app in the world! Not a single soul with a smartphone uses or hasn’t used Whatsapp.
Here are some stats for your benefit.
What is the WhatsApp business app? How will it function?
WhatsApp Business app is specifically designed for a concierge-like service for customers and will only be used by business owners.
Although many people were skeptical about the fact that it has the potential to become an unwanted intrusion on a platform meant for personal communication only.
However, here is where Whatsapp played it cool.
A business cannot send you messages unless you allow that by sharing your phone number. So, the whole situation is your choice with no intrusion whatsoever!
To set up your business account in WhatsApp, you will need an Android phone & of course your official business number.
It’s best if this is a separate number altogether, so you might want to take a new SIM. The reason for this is WhatsApp’s verification process.
Whatsapp generally allows one phone number to be linked with their account.
Now, once you are set, you simply need to download the WhatsApp Business App, you need to verify your business number.
After setting your business name you need to tap on the menu button, head to Setting> Business Setiings> Profile.
You will get a variety of similar fields to fill out, add your details & get started!
This is the basic set-up process. You can later customize this according to your business requirements.
What kind of business can be done on the WhatsApp business app?
If an app has over 1.3 billion global users & around 53% of the people prefer shopping on DMs, you can very well understand that Whatsapp is bound to the hub of selling all kinds of stuff.
Most Quora users have stated that most items are “sold out” within 30 mins of launch on Whatsapp!
Some of the business that you can do through Whatsapp business app are:
- Services: Event planning, photography, stylists, show bookings, a lot of services can be done through WhatsApp business.
- Customers can have a comprehensive conversation with professionals over chats. Bookmyshow is one of the first service company to introduce Whatsapp business to send notifications, confirmations & so on.
- Home Décor: Interior décor items is a huge business, especially among the urban cities. Home décor items can be easily sold through this platform.
- Jewelry & Accessories- there are a lot of companies out there who sell homemade jewelry in affordable budgets. Even customized jewelry like wedding rings available through Whatsapp business stores.
- Food- Imagine if you have a home-based bakery or confectionery business but you don’t have enough capital to invest through large-scale branding, you can easily have your niche customers through a Whatsapp business account along with a Facebook or Instagram page!
What are WhatsApp Business’ competitive advantages?
Interactive Communication-
One of the major advantages of Whatsapp business account is its plethora of features for like texts, audios, images, display pictures, status, stories with which you can create numerous content for your audiences.
Personal customer Relations-
Whatsapp was primarily a personal messaging platform.
Therefore any form of communication is somewhat meant to be personal than say emails.
WhatsApp makes this process easier by providing a closed and secure platform, through which you can enable one-on-one communication with each and every customer.
Through your account, you can build a more trustworthy relationship with your customers.
Companies can also create awareness of new promotions and events that might be taking place, through their business profile on WhatsApp.
Global Reach
Whatsapp has users from all over the world.
You can easily do business through Saudi Arabia, Germany, the USA, Brazil & so on.
You can communicate all you want with your customers without thinking about money!
It’s free
Well, there are free messaging platforms, of course.
But Whatsapp with its immense reach that too free of cost makes your investment as an entrepreneur much less, which is a boon, to be honest!
Businesses don’t have to think twice about their communication strategies while tapping into new markets as it is free of cost!
Security
The ‘business profiles’ will be unique to each company and will only be made after WhatsApp has verified your business accounts. Moreover, with end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA), both businesses and customers are safeguarded.
How can the WhatsApp business app help digital marketers?
There are a number of ways you can use your business account!
Let’s have a look:
Updating Order status or Confirmations
A great option for any service providing businesses.
You can send order status, order tracking links, etc on WhatsApp to keep the user updated on their transaction. BookMyShow is one such example.
To send reminders
Millennials have used to checking Whatsapp on a daily basis.
Marketers can use this opportunity to send reminders, like a policy that needs renewing, flight time reminders, delivery reminders.
This way you can also reduce the risk of them missing out on important deadlines.
Product Demos
Suppose you have a bakery business, you can showcase your creations on your business profile.
Or you can post about offers, on their birthdays or anniversaries. It is a great way to bond with your customers.
To get ratings & reviews
You can get your customers to review your product or service. Give them links or options to reply to a survey. WhatsApp being a go-to platform for communication can actually motivate your customers to give you more accurate feedback.
Some companies even give discounts on a good review to increase their customer base!
Want to tap WhatsApp business account to boost up your business? However, you might not get the time to manage everything single-handedly!
Contact us at Skyram Technologies! We provide intricate & invaluable marketing ideas only suited to your business needs. Connect with us here!
Also, for our blog on Facebook Messenger Marketing & lots of other exciting topics, read here!