How To Use WhatsApp For Business

Introducing WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp is a simple, secure and reliable way to communicate with the audience. With more than 1.2 billion active users it helps to connect and share with the people you know. The same goes for WhatsApp Business. All over the world, the people and businesses are getting connected through WhatsApp. Last year WhatsApp planned for a separate app for business and went official in late 2017 and in January 2018 the app was finally available for download. The messages through WhatsApp Business API are end-to-end encrypted messages and small businesses to corporate businesses can interact with customers easily.

For whom it is Beneficial

It is purely designed for business purpose only. From small businesses to large ones can interact with customers on their mobile phones and provide them information related to updates, customer support, appointment reminders, event tickets, shipping confirmations and many more with an aim to reach potential customers. While a customer will use a regular WhatsApp app, the business owner will use WhatsApp Business app. But a business cannot send you a message to your WhatsApp until and unless you authorize them. So, it depends upon you, if you like a business and want to interact with them, you can connect on WhatsApp with them.

How to create a Business profile ?

First of all you need a smartphone that runs Android and a phone number for registering to the service. This number will be your official business number and will be used for interacting with customers.

Note: – WhatsApp only allows one mobile number to be linked to one WhatsApp        account. If your number is already registered in WhatsApp, you cannot use it for a WhatsApp Business account. But if you want to use the same number for your business you can “move” the WhatsApp account to the new WhatsApp Business app and take advantage of additional features.

To be able to interact with customers, create a business profile. With a business profile WhatsApp creates a unique identity for your business with relevant information like hours of operation, website, location and description that will be visible to customers communicating with you.

Getting registered as a business will unlock different features which are very handy. Some of the features include –

• Identification of your business by its category and information related to hours of operation, website, location, description and more.
• Enable the Send and Receive option, a two way communication with customers.
• Messaging tools like greeting message, quick replies, away message are only available in WhatsApp Business.
• Send notifications to the users on the updates, reminders, confirmations and offers.
• Create templates for frequently asked questions and if questioned by users, answer them at once.

These are all-inclusive details and helps to get established with your business. A verified business will contribute to authenticity and will build trust among the customers to build up the existing and potential customer base.

What’s New ?

It looks quite similar to the regular WhatsApp app, but in comparison there are lot of differences within the business version of WhatsApp. This differences are taken as an advantage and are listed under extra features to manage communication with existing and potential customers. All the new features in the business version are listed below:

• Changed Logo – Both the apps of WhatsApp belong to the same company, but the new business app has a different logo with ‘B’ for business and helps to distinguish between the two apps.
• Register with Landline numbers – Previously you can get registered with your mobile numbers only, but the new WhatsApp allows landline numbers of businesses to get register for the app.
• Automated replies – Message back with automated replies like Greeting message, Quick replies and Away message.
• Verified Business – WhatsApp Business uses a green tick for businesses who are authentic. In this way you can verify a legit and scam business
• Message statistics – It provides with options to see data for the number of messages sent, delivered and received which is useful to plan strategy, understand your customers and offer better services.

Ways to Use it ….

With this new app it is beneficial for small to big organizations. But still the question?  How to use WhatsApp for Business comes to every marketers mind. There are different ways to implement and attract consumers, some of them are listed below:

• For marketing promotion – It is a great platform to promote your products or services by sending offers, new product launch, coupons and much more. But make sure you don’t overdo it which can annoy the customers and they will choose to block you.
• To update status – It’s easy to update status to customers related to their orders, transactions, tracking links etc.
• As a reminder – You can send reminders like policy renewal, flight that needs to be boarded the next day, flight delay and more which reduces the risk of missing anything important.
• Customer support – You can reach out personally and improve your relationships with customers.
• For review and ratings – Get reviews from customers about your product or service. Use innovative ways which will allow customers to give more accurate feedback and they will interact with you.

Conclusion

WhatsApp Business is a free app available in Android( (iOS owners will have to wait a while), and is very useful for small businesses to large scale organizations. With 1.2 billion active users it is an ideal platform to build a healthy relationship with existing and potential customers.

If you have any comment or suggestions, I am open to it. Leave them below in the comment section !!

Thanks.