WhatsApp Business is a free app designed specifically for small business owners. This app allows you to communicate with your customers on a more personal level, emphasize your products and services, and respond to their inquiries during their buying experience.
In this digital world, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging and chatting app with over 2 billion monthly active users. It is available in 180 countries and 40 languages on iPhone and 60 on the Android system. You can use WhatsApp for business in various ways.
This article will tell you how you can:
- Use WhatsApp for business
- Utilize WhatsApp to grow and support your business.
So let’s start…
What is the WhatsApp Business?
In 2018, WhatsApp introduced a new form of it which was meant to be for business owners.
WhatsApp business is the version of WhatsApp for business owners, users can use WhatsApp business for their business purposes in various ways as it was designed and build to use WhatsApp for business purposes, so, it has features that are helpful for your business.
Create a catalog to exhibit your products and services, and utilize automation, sorting, and quick response features to automate, sort, and answer to messages using it.
Basic Features of WhatsApp for Business
Now, let’s discuss some basic features of it…
WhatsApp groups: WhatsApp groups can be used to gather 256 users ( customers or potential customers in our case ) and can be used for interaction with your customers and promoting your new packages, offers, new arrivals and different products.
Nowadays, many businesses create their WhatsApp groups for interaction and advertisement. For example, every women’s beauty salon have their own WhatsApp groups.
Statuses: The status feature can serve as a good advertising source for your business. You can use this feature to let people know about your packages, offers and products. All those who have your number saved can view your status.
Direct messages: It is never a bad idea to send greetings to your customers, It makes them feel special which will be beneficial for your business as there will be a good relationship between you and your customers.
Feedback and reviews: You can ask your customers for feedback and reviews through direct messages and display them, which will make your business look more reliable.
Benefits of Using WhatsApp Business
Apart from using WhatsApp for chatting with your family and friends, your customers will likely love to get in touch with you as a business owner or a service provider.
It provides you with certain tools and features due to which you will love to use WhatsApp for business grounds.
The Main Features
Following are the main features of it by using which you Will love to use WhatsApp for business purposes.
Catalog and increase visibility :
”To sell, you must display what are you selling”
It offers a Business page and allows you to offer some basic information for customers like address, location, description, website, timing and contact details.
It also allows you to add a catalog to your WhatsApp which will surely help you, by helping your customers.
The catalog tool allows you to upload your products in a large quantity with some basic information about every product.
The catalog will help your customer to know what they want to purchase and it will help your business by displaying the products you are offering which will surely bring you more sales and customers.
Saving time by quick responses: Who does not love quick replies?
Everyone loves a seller who replies fast and this feature of it enables you to reply quickly. You know the importance of quick replies and its connection to good customer service.
This also allows user to create some preset messages to answer your customers’ FAQs. By pressing ”/” you will be able to send quick replies, this feature can save you a lot of time which you will have to invest in either writing or copy, pasting.
Segmentation through labels :
Basically, It allows to organize your contacts and chats with different labels. You can use different labels for different type of customers and it will also help you when you want to reconnect to your old customers.
Broadcast lists :
This feature of it allows you to make lists of your customers to receive messages. you can send a group of your customers your message in one click instead of selecting them separately.
By using this feature you can send different messages to different group of customers easily, which will help you save time and advertise your packages, offers and new arrivals easily
Stats:
Getting stats is always good for business and WhatsApp Business generates basic level stats which includes the number of messages received, sent, read and delivered.
Analyzing these stats will give you a better idea of the behavior of your customers and will help you deal with them.
Read more: Create A Facebook Business Manager: Urgent for Facebook Page
Difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business App
WhatsApp Business is essentially an improved version of WhatsApp with more functionality than the normal app. Here’s an overview of all the extra features and how WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business vary.
Both apps have different user profiles. You can put your website URL on WhatsApp Business, show off your product catalog, add a company description, change your location, and set your working hours.
The WhatsApp personal app profile part, on the other hand, merely has a section, a name, and a phone number.
Learn more about the WhatsApp Business app over WhatsApp…
Account notification for businesses: Customers will notice a notification in the conversation that says, “This chat is with a business account,” when you write to or receive the first message from them. ‘Tap for additional information.’
WhatsApp Business has a new logo: WhatsApp Business has a new logo that features the letter B.
Labels on WhatsApp: WhatsApp will provide you with five standard labels, but you will be able to create new ones by changing the label name and color.
WhatsApp labels help you organize and visually identify your consumers based on the labels you create.
It allows you to quickly determine each customer’s current communication stage and locate chats and texts.
WhatsApp profile for businesses: In comparison to normal WhatsApp, where you simply have a cover photo, name, and description, the profile page in WhatsApp Business is greatly improved.
The WhatsApp Business profile has the following features:
- Photo for the front cover
- Description
- Area of expertise
- hours of work
- Location
- Catalog of products
- Include a link to your website.
Automated messaging: WhatsApp Business has messaging automations that will save you time and help you communicate with your consumers more productively.
It comes with three messaging automations:
Quick Replies: Quick answers on WhatsApp allow you to create templates that you can use when conversing. By typing the / symbol in the chat, you will be able to access and send out popular answers or phrases.
Greeting Message: The WhatsApp Greeting message, as the name implies, greets your consumers when they establish a discussion with you via text messaging.
Away Message: If clients write to you during a period you’ve designated as unreachable, your WhatsApp Away message will automatically react.
Business Statistics: Statistics are a helpful tool for determining the efficiency of your WhatsApp Business account as a communication tool and customer interaction statistics.
It provides you with an overview of the following chats as well as the number of them:
- Delivered messages
- Read the messages
- Received messages
- Messages have been sent
Links with a short length: Customers can start a conversation with you by sharing a short link that connects directly to your WhatsApp Business chat.
Share this link on social media, include it in your email signature, and let everyone know you’re using WhatsApp.
Catalog of WhatsApp Products: The product catalog function allows you to set up an online store for your company. You can include images of your goods and services, as well as descriptions, pricing, and a code.
Customers will be able to get a fast overview of your products and services, and you will be able to share specific products in the chat.
Difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business API
There are two versions of WhatsApp Business. WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API are two services offered by WhatsApp.
WhatsApp Business API is a stand-alone solution for medium and large companies. API is a paid service, contrasting WhatsApp Business App, which is free.
WhatsApp Business API has the following features as compared to WhatsApp:
- The account is accessible to the entire team and can be used on various devices
- Modifications to the needs of the business
- Chats can be automated with a chatbot.
Get started with the WhatsApp Business app
If you want to create WhatsApp business account, At first you need to Download, Install and set up the WhatsApp Business app.
Download and open the WhatsApp Business app: Get the WhatsApp Business app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store for free. On your home screen, tap the WhatsApp Business icon.
Read and approve the Terms of Service: Read and accept the WhatsApp Business Terms of Service by tapping Agree and Continue.
Register: To add your country code, select your country from the drop-down list, then input your phone number in international phone number format.
To get your 6-digit registration code through SMS or phone call, tap Done or Next, then Ok. Enter your 6-digit code to complete registration.
Allow access to contacts and photos: This app allows you to import contacts from your phone’s address book. You can also grant access to the photos, movies, and data on your phone.
Create an account: To do this, Fill in your company name, choose a business category, and upload a profile photo.
Build your business profile: Select EXPLORE > Business Profile from the drop-down menu. You can provide crucial business information here, such as your company’s address, description, and working hours, among other things.
Start a chat: Your company profile has now been created. To message someone, tap or and then search for or pick a contact. In the text field, type a message and send to your customer.
Watch this video to build a profile on WhatsApp Business
The Main Tools of WhatsApp Business
It has a number of tools to assist you in running your business effectively. Go to your conversations screen to learn more about these features.
On an Android device, tap More Options, and on an iPhone, tap Settings. Then select Business Tools.
Catalog: Within your business account, you can showcase and share your products and services. On Android or iPhone, learn how to make a catalog.
Watch this video to learn on How to use catalog on WhatsApp Business
Labels: You can sort your client chats into useful categories, such as “New customers” or “Pending orders.” Learn how to use labels on Android or iPhone devices.
Messaging tools: Create critical discussions in advance using WhatsApp messaging templates. To engage with new consumers, create automatic welcoming messages.
Set aside messages to inform clients when you’ll be back, or create fast responses to commonly asked questions.
Learn more on how to use…
- Greeting messages on Android or iPhone
- Away messages on Android or iPhone
- Quick replies on Android or iPhone
Short link: Make it simple for new customers to reach out to you. If you want to enable potential consumers to message your company, share the auto-generated short link with them. Learn how to use short links on your iPhone or Android device.
Common FAQS
Can I use same number for WhatsApp business?
It is not permitted to link the same phone number to both applications at the same time.
If you try using previous phone number (Registered phone number of WhatsApp) number to new WhatsApp Business App, then you may get a pop up message like this below…
Also this may happen for vice-versa
But you can use both the WhatsApp Business app and WhatsApp Messenger at the same time using different phone number.
Who can use WhatsApp Business?
As a result, it’s an excellent platform for anyone who wants to provide commercial services or customer support via mobile. It may Android or iPhone
Should I switch to WhatsApp Business?
It may be a fantastic tool for maintaining your customers when utilized as part of a sales strategy.
A rapid text to your consumers to confirm their purchase, or an automatic reply to a common concern, is an obvious method to use the app. It’s more accessible than email but less annoying than a phone call.
Can you have 2 WhatsApp business accounts?
Actually, This means that a single WhatsApp Business account (with the same phone number) can only be used on one device.
In other words, if you’re using the free WhatsApp Business app, you won’t be able to use the same WhatsApp Business account on several devices.
Conclusion
Every business owner must use WhatsApp for business purposes and it will surely help every business owner to grow their business and get more and loyal customers.
Especially, WhatsApp Business is designed and made to use WhatsApp for business purposes rather than just chatting with friends and family…
Above in the article, the key features of WhatsApp Business are explained and by using these tools and features you can use WhatsApp for business purposes and it will surely boost your sales and will help you, by helping your customer