Our thoughts on WhatsApp for Business
Messaging is an integral part of our everyday lives, which is no different when it comes to Business. Chat platforms are booming with people looking to connect. While most of these conversations are between friends, it still signals that there are opportunities to harness the power of messaging to convert chatters into customers.
WhatsApp is a prevalent messaging application for both work and play. In 2018, they launched their WhatsApp Business application, a standalone, to communicate one-on-one with your customers through their purchase process. Let’s dive into WhatsApp for Business below and how small businesses can leverage this tool.
About the WhatsApp Business App
The WhatsApp Business app is entirely free and available to download on both iPhone and Android. It was built with small business owners in mind and allows owners to interact easily with their customers. Some of the tools it offers will enable you to sort, automate, and quickly reply to messages. It looks just like the regular WhatsApp application, and you can do everything you can do there.
For instance, sharing videos and photographs and doing video and voice calls. The main differences are that you have a business profile that allows you to share vital information like your company's address, website, and email address.
You will also have labels in the app to organise your messages and various messaging tools to speed up communication with your customers. Another exciting feature is you can also set up payments in the app. However, it is essential to note that the WhatsApp Business app is exclusively for businesses.
What are the differences between WhatsApp and the WhatsApp Business App?
As mentioned previously, the WhatsApp Business App was designed with business owners in mind. Similarly, it was created to look almost identical to the regular WhatsApp application. The most significant difference between the two is the different logos. Where the regular WhatsApp logo has a phone in a speech bubble, the business app has a B in the speech bubble.
Both apps feature end-to-end encryption for messages. Each message is secured by a protocol of layers that is inaccessible to third-party users. According to the latest policy update, WhatsApp cannot read your messages, access location details and file attachments, or hear calls. This is essential for the business app since businesses using it will collect customer data.
You can send unlimited messages on both apps. Additionally, both apps support sharing documents, contact details, locations, and audio-visual files. WhatsApp personal messenger does not support the contact labels feature that WhatsApp Business does. The labels are colour-coded, and you can create custom labels to sort your contacts and organise leads. You can make up to 20 custom labels, which is very convenient.
The user profile is another thing that varies between the apps. Your business logo, name, category, website URL, company description, location, and working hours will be displayed on WhatsApp Business. Additionally, you can showcase your product catalogue. The profile section of the WhatsApp personal app is limited to name, picture, phone number, and status. You also cannot automate messages on the personal WhatsApp messenger.
The WhatsApp Business app has three different kinds of message automation functions. These include quick replies, greeting messages, and away messages. This feature is excellent for people away from the office or busy. When people message the phone number during these pre-defined hours, they get a custom automated response based on the trigger. Both apps support click-to-chat links and connect via QR code or through phone number.
Meta’s top 3 reasons to use WhatsApp for Business
Now that you have a greater understanding of the WhatsApp Business app and its capabilities, let’s talk about why Meta recommends it highly for businesses.
Raise awareness
The first reason Meta is pushing WhatsApp for Business is that it allows you to raise awareness of your organisation. The platform enables you to create a business profile and easily showcase your services and products in a catalogue. This means reaching your customers on another popular platform that will positively affect your bottom line.
Nurture consideration
The app also allows businesses to manage their customer relationships better. They can automatically respond to questions with away messages and quick replies. In addition, it is another communication channel used by so many daily. Therefore, you can rest assured your customers are happy to communicate this way. With the labels feature, you can respond to messages quicker and better organise them. Whether you want to use the labels as a to-do list guide or a lead system, the capability is there, and it is entirely up to you.
Increase conversion
Finally, the WhatsApp business application offers the opportunity to reach more potential customers. You can set up ads that click straight to WhatsApp. Meta has reported a substantial increase in the use of its Click-to-WhatsApp ads: +80%. Customers are familiar with WhatsApp messenger and will be happy to communicate here about your products and services if they are interested. This means increased conversions, making this app a valuable tool for growing your business.
“We’re focused on bringing more utility to the WhatsApp platform through business messaging efforts. We know that consumers like to connect with businesses via messaging. We’ve seen that be a very good source of utility and value for consumers, and also, it’s extremely valuable for businesses, and we’re building more tools to the WhatsApp Business platform to enable that.”
How to use the WhatsApp Business app
If you’re convinced to try the WhatsApp Business app, you are probably wondering how to get started. The good news is it couldn’t be easier to set up and start using the WhatsApp Business app. To start, you need to register. Once registered, you can edit your business profile and start using the features. If you have the personal WhatsApp Messenger, you don’t have to worry either; the two apps are separate.
This means you can move between them. However, it is important to note that you cannot use the same phone number for both. You can also link your Instagram account to your WhatsApp Business account. Similarly, you can share short links with customers so they can chat with you directly about your products or services. To do this, you go into the app's business tools and tap short links to create the auto-generated link.
Summary
There you have everything you need to know about the WhatsApp Business App. The app is sure to be a valuable tool for businesses since customers are already used to the platform for communicating with friends and family. We recommend trying it out and seeing what difference it has on your communication with your customers.
Better communication can only lead to enhanced relationships, leading to greater awareness of your business and increased conversions and sales. The app has so many exciting features that can help companies grow substantially and achieve their business goals.