Thinking about different marketing channels to talk and engage with your ideal customers, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Probably Facebook, with its 2.167 billion active users. Maybe Instagram, with its 800 million active users? What about Twitter, with its 330 million active users, or LinkedIn, which has 310 million active users? You’re probably doing marketing there too.

But what if you get to know there is another text-based platform having more users than LinkedIn and Instagram and combined? And to your surprise this tool has become part of your everyday life; well, we won’t be keeping any more secrets. This is WhatsApp.

Who is using WhatsApp?

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s take a look at who is using WhatsApp.

The most popular chat app in many countries, like Germany, Brazil, Italy, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, Argentina, India, Mexico, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain, where the penetration of users exceeds 50%.

The moment WhatsApp arrived, the users only needed data to send messages, and it became an instant hit.

Soon consumers wanted to communicate, and WhatsApp proved to have that potential to be the platform for them. If you’re either serving an international audience or you want to be ahead of the curve, WhatsApp marketing is the option for you to start seriously considering.

Why use the WhatsApp for Business app instead of the normal WhatsApp

Well, you’re still here; at least we piqued your interest, and now you are keener to see the benefits of WhatsApp marketing for your business.

WhatsApp comes in with a business app, though, and is available for both Android and iOS. WA Business was built with the small business owner in mind and, as a result, should be the de facto standard for your business to start using WhatsApp. Businesses here can efficiently interact with their customers using automation tools and respond quickly to messages.

Some of the advantages of the business version over the “normal” consumer version

• Business Profiles: With just your address, business description, email address, and website. You can create a business profile for your customers.
• Instant Replies: You can save and re-use the messages you need to send frequently. This way, you can quickly answer your most-asked questions in no time.
• Automated Messages: Just like chatbots, you can set automated messages. Your customers and leads are sometimes expecting a response right away. With automated messages, you can do that and even create a welcome message to introduce potential customers to your business.
• Message Statistics: Get insights into essential metrics such as how many of your messages were successfully sent, delivered, and read.
• Labels: Make it easier for you to organize your contacts or chats with labels, so you can easily find them again.
• Creating a business profile using a regular landline instead of a phone number; A killer feature where you can now use your landline number to create an account.

All in all, these are excellent reasons to use WA Business over a standard account. Now further below, we will deep dive into why businesses should focus on WhatsApp marketing.

Why Use WhatsApp Marketing?

Here are just a few reasons why WhatsApp marketing should be on your radar:

• High Engagement Rates: People tend to be more receptive to messages on WhatsApp compared to emails or social media posts. With a higher open rate and click-through rate, you have a greater chance of capturing your audience’s attention.
• Direct Communication: WhatsApp fosters a more direct and personal connection with your customers. You can have real-time conversations, answer questions, and provide personalized support, all within the app.
• Rich Media Content: Share engaging content like images, videos, GIFs, and even voice notes to keep your audience interested. This adds variety and makes your messages more interactive.
• Building Loyalty: By providing valuable information, exclusive offers, and responsive customer service, you can build trust and loyalty with your audience, turning them into brand advocates.

The above is just a glimpse of how these tactics make WhatsApp marketing services one of the smartest and most interesting ways to integrate into your marketing strategy. Now that we realize what WhatsApp business is, let’s look at how we devise our further plan of action around its usability.

How can you reach your target audience on WhatsApp?

Now that you have set up your WhatsApp business account, it is time to consider ways to reach your audience. Based on our introduction to the platform, you might get a better picture of how people use the app.

Families and friends primarily use WhatsApp as a messaging platform for personal communication. First, you need to consider how your business can fit into these conversations.

Maybe you need to customize and adapt your brand persona a bit or create a virtual person acting on behalf of your company; hence, you need to create an appealing brand persona since you’re trying to talk to your (potential) customers in a space where they are used to informal conversations.

Start building an audience

Although your contact list to reach out to potential clients might be ready, you can’t push any messages to them if they don’t have your business number stored in their phones.

One of the ways to start communicating with your audience is by starting to put a button on your website so they can quickly start a conversation with you.

You can do this, for example, by implementing the little widget button from GetButton. Just following the instructions on their website will have you set up a way to communicate with your customer even quicker than it took to set up your WhatsApp for Business account.

Another common way is offering something of value in exchange for their phone number. This can be a lead magnet, a promotion, a freebie, or some valuable information they could want. You can be as creative as your imagination allows. By making an attractive promotion, you make it easier for people to share their number with you.

You can immediately send them the promo offer using the automated messages function. Don’t forget to offer more than just an automated message with the promo offer, though try to engage with them from the get-go so you can start building those relationships.

Building your WhatsApp audience

The first step is to create a list of interested subscribers. Here are some effective ways to grow your WhatsApp audience:

• Opt-in incentives: Offer exclusive discounts, early access to new products, or behind-the-scenes content to users who subscribe to your WhatsApp channel.
• Clear Call to Action: Make it easy for people to join your list. Include a click-to-chat button on your website, QR codes in marketing materials, or a link in your social media bios.
• Social Media Promotion: Announce your WhatsApp channel on your existing social media platforms. Highlight the benefits of subscribing and showcase the type of content you’ll be sharing.
• Website Integration: Embed a WhatsApp chat widget on your website for simple access.

Remember: Always obtain explicit consent from users before adding them to your WhatsApp list.

Keeping your audience engaged

Now that you have an audience, how do you keep them engaged? Here are some key strategies:

• Valuable Content is King: Don’t just bombard your audience with promotional messages. Share informative and engaging content that adds value to their lives. This could include industry news, product tutorials, how-to guides, or even user-generated content.
• Be conversational: WhatsApp is a two-way street. Boost engagement by asking questions, holding polls, or running contests. Respond to messages promptly to build rapport and create a sense of community.
• Variety is the key: Don’t stick to plain text messages. Use multimedia content like images, videos, and voice notes to keep your audience interested.
• Timing is Everything: Don’t overwhelm your audience. Schedule your messages strategically and avoid sending them at inconvenient times.Here are some additional tips:
• Run special promotions: Offer exclusive discounts or deals to your WhatsApp subscribers.
• Highlight customer stories: Showcase positive feedback and success stories to build trust and credibility.
• Utilize WhatsApp Business Features: Take advantage of features like labels, quick replies, and automated messages to streamline communication and improve efficiency.

Creating a Winning WhatsApp Marketing Strategy

Here’s a quick summary to help you get started:

1. Define your goals: What do you want to achieve with your WhatsApp marketing strategy? Is it increased brand awareness, driving sales, or improving customer service?

2. Identify the target audience: Whom are you targeting as your audience? Knowing what they need and like will help you customize your content and messages.

3. Create engaging content: Focus on providing value and keeping your audience interested.

4. Make it simple to subscribe: Provide clear and simple opt-in options.

5. Be consistent: Schedule regular messages to stay top-of-mind with your audience.

6. Analyze and adapt: Monitor your results and tweak your strategy based on what works and what doesn’t.

By following these steps and keeping your audience engaged, you can leverage WhatsApp marketing to build stronger relationships, boost brand loyalty, and ultimately achieve your business goals.

Before we conclude, consider

WhatsApp marketing offers a powerful tool for businesses to connect with their audience on a deeper level. By providing valuable content, fostering two-way communication, and utilizing the platform’s features effectively, you can create a thriving community around your brand. Remember, Neoma. Media is a WhatsApp marketing agency ready to help you navigate the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. We can assist you in crafting a winning WhatsApp marketing strategy that aligns with your specific business goals. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today for more information!