Introduction

WhatsApp is the world’s most popular chat platform where users can text, call, video call, send voice memos and locations, and also send animations and emojis. This means that utilising WhatsApp as a marketing channel can be a game changer for businesses, as it’s one of the most popular platforms out there.

Photo by Dimitri Karastelev on Unsplash

In this post, we want to share some tips for creating an effective WhatsApp marketing strategy from start to finish. Our aim is to help you do everything possible to make your business a success on this platform: from getting permission from your users and designing the right content for them, to personalizing communications with them based on their buying behaviour.

Reasons

1. WhatsApp is a widely-used platform

WhatsApp is the most used chat app in the world, with over 1.5 billion active users. It’s a very popular platform for businesses around the globe to use, especially considering how there are so many ways they can use it to market directly to their target audience. Its popularity also explains why many people use WhatsApp as part of their marketing strategy.

Its future looks promising as well, as Facebook has recently announced that it will be rolling out new features such as a new inbox experience and photo effects, which will make using WhatsApp even better for businesses. If you’re not using WhatsApp regularly yet, now is the time to get started!

1. People prefer using chat over phone calls

In the past, we’ve seen that the average person in the UK uses their phone to make 2 calls per week. Phone calls have somewhat lost their prestige, and companies have started seeing how much they can get from social media – especially WhatsApp.

WhatsApp is a great way of reaching out to users who are already going through a traditional communication channel, and it becomes even more powerful when combined with other digital channels like Facebook Messenger and email marketing.

1. A regular user base is required for this platform to work effectively

WhatsApp has over one billion monthly active users (MAU).

1. Permission-based marketing

To gain permission to send marketing messages to your target audience, you need to go through a simple authentication process. A user will have to accept your invitation before you can start communicating with them via WhatsApp. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to send any advertisements without explicit permission from your users – this is the way WhatsApp stands out when it comes to promoting brands and businesses.

1. Use WhatsApp Marketing Tools such as SocialPilot – they can make all the difference

SocialPilot allows you to automate everything related to social media growth and management, which helps maximize time so that you can focus on other areas of the business that need your attention.

1. Customer service via WhatsApp

It’s quite easy to create a WhatsApp account from your business website, and this can be especially useful if your customers want to reach you for whatever reason. They will be able to find you through a simple search, and it’s pretty convenient for everyone. You can also quickly resolve issues without having to go through all of your emails. The only thing you need to remember is that a single phone number won’t cover many accounts, so make sure you use a different number for each one of your business logos.

1. Add your business hours to the small businesses WhatsApp

The benefits of adding your business hours to WhatsApp are endless. You can send invites to customers and encourage them to reach out to you when they are available. Your followers can even see that they’re open and operational at all times, which makes them more likely to want to use the platform. You can also keep in touch with customers who frequently contact you, keeping them up-to-date on your company’s progress.

1. Double notifications for WhatsApp use

After downloading the app for several weeks, users will get a notification in their account once someone sends an invite or a message on their business account.

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

Concluding Thoughts

In this article, we’ve talked about how you can improve your marketing strategy by including WhatsApp into the equation. Nowadays, more and more people are turning to this platform, and it’s only a matter of time until it becomes the dominant one. But if you don’t start using it now, you might miss out on a lot of great opportunities that can help you achieve your business goals.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Are you planning on growing?

Reference:

WhatsApp Marketing: A Study on WhatsApp Brand Communication and the Role of Trust in Self-Disclosure
Brahim Zarouali, Anna Brosius, Natali Helberger, Claes H. de Vreese