1) Review WhatsApp's role in your digital marketing strategy
Like any other sales channel, WhatsApp is part of a global digital marketing strategy that must be planned. This messaging application is designed to work in conjunction with other resources such as the website, email marketing campaigns , social networks, etc.
While a CRM platform can help streamline efforts in customer relationship management, each channel still requires its own time and resources.
So, a first step is to step back and identify priorities . Communication via WhatsApp is direct , but it also requires quick response times : is this your target audience's priority ? Do they already have other channels of attention such as email available?
In the following steps, we will delve into the aspects you need to take into account when selling on WhatsApp.
2) Download WhatsApp Business
WhatsApp Business is a version of the application specifically for companies that was launched in 2018 and already has more than 200 million users worldwide.
Like the standard version of WhatsApp, it is free to download on Android and iOS, is linked to a valid phone number, and has a similar instant messaging interface.
WhatsApp Business, on the other hand, allows you to create a business profile and access additional features such as automatic replies. You cannot use the same WhatsApp number on your personal and professional accounts, albania phone number list but it is possible to have them on the same phone if you use a dual-SIM smartphone.
WhatsApp Business download interface
The WhatsApp Business API is an additional application that allows for more advanced use of the messaging platform. Unlike the basic version of the application, it must be linked to an external marketing tool .
3) Set up your business profile on WhatsApp
The main feature of a WhatsApp Business account is that it allows you to identify yourself as a business. Optimizing your business profile is easy and will help you convey professionalism. Customers will have the following information available with just one click:
Name of your company
Category: WhatsApp Business' category search engine includes multiple possibilities to describe your activity. You can select more than one category.
Business Description
Address
Opening hours
Email
Website
An additional step to provide more credibility to customers is to verify your WhatsApp Business account . This can be done through the Meta Verified service —starting at $15/month— or other third-party applications such as Brevo —included in API quotes—. Verification is mandatory if you want to use the WhatsApp Business API .
Integrate your product catalog
An essential element of selling on WhatsApp Business is the integration of your product catalogue into the messaging app. In it, you can add up to 500 new products. For each of them, you can upload up to 10 images and include the following information:
Price
Description
Link to the product on the website (required to complete the virtual sale)
Product or service code
Products can be shared in chat conversations, but there is no direct sale . For the moment, the WhatsApp Pay service for making in-app purchases is only available in Brazil, India and Singapore. In the rest of the world, you have to redirect to the website to complete the virtual transaction there.
4) Prepare automatic responses
A key tool of WhatsApp Business is automatic responses , ideal for managing customer expectations when they write outside of business hours or you cannot respond to them instantly. They are easily configured from the WhatsApp Business menu:
There are two types of auto-replies: welcome messages , for new users and those who have not interacted for a while; and away messages , which are set to be sent to all users at a certain time.
It is also possible to set up quick replies for frequently asked questions . These are not automatic, but they allow you to enter previously saved phrases into the chat without typing them again, which saves a lot of time.
The WhatsApp Business API allows you to go one step further in automatic responses, integrating tools such as chatbots based on rules or artificial intelligence, ideal for providing answers to frequently asked questions from customers.
18 examples of quick responses
5) Integrate WhatsApp into your website
Connecting WhatsApp Business to your website is very simple. It consists of integrating a WhatsApp button into your website and will help you promote immediacy: contacts who do not yet have your phone number registered will be able to start the conversation with a click.
Additionally, installing a chat widget allows you to link your website to both WhatsApp and web chat and messaging on other platforms, such as Instagram or Facebook. Chat customer service tools make it easy to manage multiple communication channels simultaneously.
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