WhatsApp Business: A complete guide for your business (2024)
Did you know that more than 2 billion people use WhatsApp on a monthly basis? That is why it is one of the most popular messaging platforms out there.
As digitalization approaches, businesses worldwide are finding new ways to promote their products and services to a large audience.
As instant messaging marketing is highly advantageous in today's digital landscape, services like WhatsApp links and WhatsApp Managers can help businesses connect with customers faster and manage better more conversations simultaneously.
Are you ready to find out how WhatsApp Business features and WhatsApp marketing can help you acquire more customers?
Most popular global mobile messenger apps as of January 2024 - Data from Statista
Instant messaging for businesses
By the end of the day, 98% of all mobile users will engage with and read a message related to a business. So, besides adding instant messaging to your digital marketing strategy, it's important to consider using WhatsApp.
In 2018, we witnessed WhatsApp Business come into existence. Year after year, we continue to see an increase in users and we keep adding more beneficial features to the list. Considered the best messaging platform all across the world, it has a tremendously high user base.
104 countries use WhatsApp now and have a diverse userbase, which you should not overlook.
WhatsApp monthly downloads in millions worldwide as of Jan 2024 - Data from Statista
Don’t worry if you don’t know the advantages of a WhatsApp Business account.
In this blog post, not only will we take a brief look at what WhatsApp Business is, but we will also be learning why it’s very important for just any business out there.
WhatsApp Business App vs WhatsApp Business API
Long before WhatsApp Business came into existence, many businesses had already included the use of WhatsApp in their daily operations.
WhatsApp released business versions of WhatsApp for business owners to better engage with their target audience through both the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business API.
It’s no secret that user engagement on WhatsApp is really high.
According to Oberlo, over 5 million businesses have used WhatsApp Business to effectively connect with their consumers and potential clients.
This app makes business communication easier with added features for instant messaging in the workplace. This is especially true for workflows like payment notifications, customer support, and even sales and marketing!
As mentioned above, there are two different WhatsApp Business models available for businesses depending on their requirements:
WhatsApp Business App
Tailored for small as well as medium-sized businesses, WhatsApp Business App is free and available for all SMEs to easily engage their customers via a smartphone application. A maximum of five devices (only one smartphone is allowed) can be used to log in at the same time. Despite that, there are some limitations to this multiple device login, including missing message pins and a lack of team management features.
Find out more on how to set up WhatsApp Business for multiple users and devices.
WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp Business API is more suited for large businesses that have a large messaging volume. It also comes with more business-specific features that can be leveraged for scaling the business efficiently.
All you need to know about the WhatsApp Business App
WhatsApp Business is one of the most popular iOS and Android messaging applications for small business owners. It helps them connect with their prospects and consumers in a more reliable manner, and is available for free on Android and iPhone. WhatsApp Business makes interacting with customers easy by providing tools to automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages. It’s also intended to feel and work just like a normal WhatsApp account.
You can use it to do everything that you’re used to doing, from messaging to sending photos.
That being said, the WhatsApp Business App only provides access for a limited number of people and requires relatively more manual input and workflows.
Here's the top 6 WhatsApp Business features
1. Create a business profile
WhatsApp Business allows you to create your own professional business profile.
You can add various pieces of information about your business, such as contact information, the company’s website as well as location.
And that’s something that will help you build the credibility of your business.
2. Set business timings
Set your business hours in the WhatsApp Business App! This allows your customers to know when is the best time to reach you. At the same time, this also allows you to manage expectations when it comes to customer support.
3. Use automated responses
With WhatsApp Business, you can easily automate messages like greetings, quick replies, or away messages.
Through the use of Away Messages, you can let your customers know that you are busy. Simply, toggle “Send away message” and type in the message customers will receive based on the schedule determined by you.
With Greeting Messages, you can send a message immediately after a potential customer contacts you. You can use this opportunity to share information about your company with your consumers.
As for Quick Replies, you can create keyboard shortcuts for the messages you send most frequently. You can use quick replies for text or media messages, such as GIFs, images, and videos.
To send quick replies, simply search for the quick reply using the keyword or type “/” and select the shortcut directly.
Our comprehensive guide on WhatsApp Flows explains how to seamlessly integrate flow automation into your business strategy for improved customer satisfaction and efficiency.
4. Include a product catalog
WhatsApp Business allows you to create your own product catalog to showcase and share your goods easily. This makes it easy for customers to browse and discover things that they would like to buy. Say goodbye to sending tons of pictures and repeating pricing and product information like a broken recorder!
To create a catalog, tap on Business Settings > Catalog > Add Product or Service. Then, fill it up with images, product, and pricing information and tap Save.
5. Add labels to group chats
With WhatsApp Business, you can group your chats with labels. This allows for quick classification of customers and fast access to the labeled chats.
Here are some label suggestions that you can use:
New Customer
Returning Customer
Customer Awaiting Orders
6. View messaging statistics
It’s now possible for you to manage your messaging statistics.
For instance, you can check how many messages you sent were read.
In short, you are able to track the performance of your campaign effectively.
Get to know the WhatsApp Business API
While WhatsApp Business offers valuable features for small businesses, WhatsApp Business API provides greater versatility and functionality, making it better suited for larger teams with diverse business messaging needs.
WhatsApp Business API offers a verified business profile with a green tick, allowing companies to establish trust with customers. Also, it supports unlimited devices and users where multiple teams and users can access the same WhatsApp account simultaneously.
However, that only provides an API endpoint. To fully utilize its capabilities, you'll need both a software solution and an official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP).
Additionally, there are specific requirements for phone numbers and rules to follow when sending messages to customers. It's important to note that each message sent through this API incurs a charge.
Nevertheless, leveraging the WhatsApp Business API can significantly enhance workflow efficiency through its ability to integrate with multiple platforms and software.
For example, you can integrate with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify to automatically send out order confirmations and delivery notifications. But it doesn't stop there; you can also have integrations with CRM systems like Salesforce and HubSpot to streamline the management of customer databases as you chat with them and acquire more details on WhatsApp.
Furthermore, the WhatsApp Business API also comes with upgraded data management capabilities like data exporting and archiving, making it great for periodic reviews to improve work processes!
Need a quick overview of the WhatsApp Business API? Take a quick read at our summary of WhatsApp Business API vs WhatsApp Business App.
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Which one should I choose?
When deciding between the WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API, several key factors should be considered. These factors include the need for:
automation and workflow to improve
multiple team access requirements
the frequency of mass messaging
integration of existing platforms
your messaging goals
If you're looking to elevate your marketing efforts through mass messaging, you can explore the capabilities of WhatsApp Broadcast messaging. With better quality rating and targeting strategies, you can avoid being blocked by users all the time or getting banned and losing your account forever.
It's worthwhile to invest in the WhatsApp Business API for its robust business-oriented features. On SleekFlow, you can find solutions tailored to your industry, designed to address all your needs.
Besides, SleekFlow's mobile app and web interface will allow your team to send and reply to messages on the go, no matter if they're outstation or in the office. They can also benefit from workflow automation on Flow Builder and improve efficiency with AI features in the all-in-one inbox.
Want to outcompete your peers with SleekFlow's help?
Book your personalized demo with SleekFlow today and unlock the potential of seamless communication
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