WhatsApp is not merely a messaging app, it has transformed tremendously over a year as a smart marketing tool to help your business reach new heights. With billions of users using WhatsApp daily with its marketing formula, it can help you achieve your target audience directly. Through this blog let’s dive into the world of WhatsApp marketing and how you can use it effectively to get the desired results for your business.
WhatsApp is a potent business tool, given its popularity and engagement rates. Here are a few reasons WhatsApp marketing is beneficial
Massive User Base: All over the world WhatsApp is one of the most used messaging platforms. Users are divided across all demographics and regions, providing vast user interaction for your business.
Immediate Communication: WhatsApp allows the business to have direct communication with its customers which helps in a quick response to their query eventually creating a dynamic flow of communication.
Personal Touch: With the personal touch to every conversation WhatsApp enables businesses to build trust and credibility among their customers.
Multimedia Sharing: Whatsapp allows you to convey your message in different ways like text, images, videos, documents, and even voice messages.
Inexpensive: For many effective ways of marketing, WhatsApp marketing is low-cost, considering the return on investment it might provide.
How to Set Up WhatsApp for Business?
To begin with, to do WhatsApp marketing, businesses will have to use the WhatsApp Business App, and this is based on a business account. Find more details here on how to get it started.
Download the WhatsApp Business App: Click on the ‘Download’ button on either the Android or iOS platform, where it will be available freely. Download and install it on your device.
Create a Business Profile: After the app is installed, one will need to create a profile for his or her business including the name of the business, the logo, a description of what the business does, contact details, and the website. Ensure you maintain your profile in the most professional way possible, considering that this will be your first impression to the customers.
Enable automated responses: WhatsApp Business App enables the user to set automated messages such as welcome messages when new customers are added, away messages when unavailable, and quick replies to frequently asked questions. This makes sure that your clients receive timely responses even when you are not available personally.
Organise Your Contacts with Labels: WhatsApp Business has a labelling system that helps categorise your contacts. You can therefore label all new customers, pending orders, paid invoices, and other areas that pertain to customers. Through this, you can manage more effectively how you interact with them.
Use WhatsApp Web: You can even use WhatsApp Business on WhatsApp Web, managing all your conversations on one computer. This is particularly useful for those businesses involved in messages flooding in their direction.
How to Create an Effective WhatsApp Marketing Strategy for Your Business
As you have completed the first step of setting up your WhatsApp business account, the next step is to create a suitable marketing strategy. Here’s how you can ideate that :
Build a Targeted Contact List: Start with a contact list that has agreed to accept messages from you. This may consist of current customers, leads, or interested individuals in your products or services. Make sure to follow data protection regulations and get consent before adding anyone to the list.
Segment your audience: Not all of your customers are the same, so segment them based on their interests, purchase history, or demographic data to ensure that the message you deliver to them is much more personalised. More personalised and relevant messaging is likely to resonate better with your audience.
Provide Value in Every Message: Do not use every message to promote something. Instead, provide value in every message. One can provide tips, tutorials, or industry news. In other cases, give away some sort of exclusive deal or discount to your WhatsApp subscribers to make them feel special.
Use Rich Media: Use WhatsApp’s multimedia capability to share images, videos, or even voice notes. For instance send demos of your products, ‘behind the scenes’ videos, or customer testimonials. Rich media will engage much more than only plain text, and in most cases, it makes getting your message across much simpler.
Encourage Two-Way Conversations: Since WhatsApp is basically a conversation-centred platform, you should try to encourage two-way conversations with your customers. You can seek comments, take polls, or just engage your audience in some meaningful talks. Meaningful talks will solidify your relationship with the audience and thus help you bond with the brand.
Engage through WhatsApp Status: It is more or less similar to Instagram Stories, through which users can share updates that vanish in 24 hours. Use it to make promos, introduce a new product, or share your behind-the-scenes. Because Status updates hold top visibility, they can be an efficient tool in maintaining the interest of your audience.
Tracking Success and Optimizing
As with any other marketing channel, you will inevitably have to pay attention to the measurement of your WhatsApp marketing efforts. Keep track of key metrics: open rates, response rates, and total customer satisfaction. Use the data to refine your strategy and better your campaigns over time.
Think of using WhatsApp Business API in case your business scales up and you need more advanced features, for example, automated customer support, integrations with your CRM system, bulk messaging.
Conclusion
WhatsApp marketing presents a great opportunity for businesses to connect on an individual level with their audience. Using a professional WhatsApp Business account, building a worthwhile marketing strategy, and focusing on giving value will unlock this mighty platform through your business. No matter if you are a small business or a large business, WhatsApp marketing can be of great value in adding to your marketing mix.