“… interestingly, brands adopting omnichannel retail strategy can leverage WhatsApp, the communication platform used by over 2 billion people in 180 countries with about 175 million people messaging a business account each day on WhatsApp.” – Times of India
Lead generation and effective business marketing are increasingly difficult as the digital revolution means that competition is not only local, it’s global. However, by embracing the technological solutions available today, companies are breaking into ever-new markets – it’s just a matter of using the right software effectively. And with the prevalence of WhatsApp as a communication tool, it’s no surprise that WhatsApp Business is becoming a dominant player in driving business sales today. Let’s take you through this must-have business software and how it all works.
We’re all familiar with WhatsApp as a popular messaging tool for family, friends, and relevant groups – which explains why they extended their platform to business applications as well. WhatsApp Business is a chat app that brings the convenience and functionality of WhatsApp to the business domain. And, when used in conjunction with other mobile channels, WhatsApp Business provides you with a great omnichannel marketing strategy.
WhatsApp Business is a free-to-download app and provides low-cost messages across the internet.
WhatsApp Business can be used across smartphones, laptops, desktop computers, tablets, and smartwatches.
WhatsApp Business is easy and cost-effective if you have a global audience or customer base since WhatsApp doesn't charge a fee for international communication.
WhatsApp Business allows you to strengthen customer relationships with international customers and allows for quick problem-solving.
WhatsApp Business ensures better customer service because support agents can communicate with your customers in real-time.
WhatsApp Business comes with great features and tools that let you automate and respond to messages received on the messaging app.
Here’s a look at some of the key features you can expect to find when you introduce WhatsApp Business into your operations.
Business profiles: You can add a professional profile image, company address, email, and website to set you apart.
Labelling: WhatsApp Business allows you to label and organise chats, making them easier to find.
Quick Replies: This particular feature allows you to respond to customers that much faster, dealing with frequently asked questions in no time.
User verification: You can send multi-factor authentication messages, such as one-time passwords, with enhanced security and encryption via WhatsApp Business.
Interface: Because the WhatsApp Business app has the same interface as the messaging app, it’s simple for customers to use.
Automated messages: WhatsApp Business allows you to send automated messages to customers around the world. So even when you’re sleeping, your business is not!
Message statistics: With WhatsApp Business you can get insight into essential metrics such as the number of messages sent, delivered, and read.
Alerts and notifications: You can alert your customers of time-sensitive information via WhatsApp Business, such as delivery alerts, power outages and more.
Appointment booking: Your customers can also book appointments using WhatsApp Business.
Customer surveys: After dealing with a customer, you can get valuable feedback used to improve product development and customer service.
Now it’s time to look at how you can use these innovative features and drive the many benefits of WhatsApp Business to increase your sales.
1. Product launches
If you’re looking to bring a new product to market, then it’s all about marketing. There are so many technological marketing tools currently available, but one that is making the most inroads is WhatsApp Business. When you’re launching a new product, you can use the system to automatically send messages to pre-selected customers. If your CRM integrates with WhatsApp, you can import your contacts directly from the CRM to the app and manage conversations from there. This ensures the marketing is a much more tailored solution and is also great for alerting customers to discounts and other promotions.
2. Improve business visibility
The WhatsApp Business software also allows you to include your business page with all your relevant company details. This makes your business much more accessible, with the information easily shared among users. You can also add the WhatsApp catalogue tool which lets you upload products in bulk. This means that your customers can look through all your product offerings directly on WhatsApp.
3. Immediate response
There is no call-waiting or email delays when it comes to using WhatsApp Business. Rather, your customers are able to engage with you in real-time and get immediate answers to your product or service offerings. Without this, it’s likely that these potential customers will look elsewhere, and engage with a business that can give them the information they need, when they need it. It’s also very handy to be able to direct your customers to your frequently asked questions, as this saves you time and provides them with all the information they need.
4. Lead generation
If you have a click-to-chat feature, you can encourage store visitors to interact with you via the WhatsApp Business platform. The omnichannel interaction means visitors can be directed to specific information with follow-ups and personal campaigns to further secure this potential customer.
5. Abandoned cart reminders
The average cart abandonment rate is almost 70% - which is a lot of potential sales you’re missing out on! However, when you start using WhatsApp Business, you’re able to automatically send out abandoned cart reminders directly to your customers, offering them incentives like exclusive discounts to secure those almost-purchases. They might also need a bit of insight or support before finalizing the purchase, which can be provided through WhatsApp.
6. Delivery alerts
You can also use WhatsApp Business to update your customers on their order status, shipping alerts and delivery notifications. If there are any unexpected changes, you’re ensuring a better customer experience by keeping them in-the-loop on current happenings, so they’re not disappointed when a delivery doesn’t arrive.
There is so much potential waiting for you on WhatsApp Business, it’s just a matter of contacting Clickatell to find out how you can get started, and drive more sales today.
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