15 Benefits of WhatsApp Business Account
Thinking about using WhatsApp Business but not sure if it's worth it? Before diving in, it's natural to want to understand what benefits it brings to your business.
Here's a quick overview of why WhatsApp for Business can be valuable:
- Expanding Market Reach: WhatsApp is widely used, giving you access to a broad audience.
- Improved Customer Support and Marketing: It provides opportunities to enhance customer experience through better support and marketing efforts.
- Effective Communication: WhatsApp offers a flexible and personal way to connect with your customers.
Whether you're running an ecommerce store or a small business, WhatsApp campaigns can help strengthen your relationships with customers.
Now, let's delve into the details. But first, let's refresh on the difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business.
15 Benefits of WhatsApp Business account
1. Already the most popular messaging app
WhatsApp is a powerhouse in the world of messaging apps, with over two billion users globally. It's widely used in 180 countries, especially in places like India, Brazil, Italy, and many others. Even in countries like France, Germany, and the United States, it's gaining popularity.
One big reason for its popularity is that it's completely free, unlike SMS or phone calls. This makes it perfect for staying connected with friends and family, especially internationally. All someone needs to get started is a phone number, and the app is easy to use on both Android and iOS devices.
In short, there are no hurdles for people who want to use WhatsApp, and if you're considering WhatsApp Business, your potential audience is already there, waiting to connect with you.
2. Reach people anytime, anywhere
WhatsApp is a fantastic tool for business because it offers real-time communication. Unlike emails that often get ignored, people tend to check their WhatsApp messages right away, even when they're on the move. Did you know that 80% of WhatsApp messages are read within the first five minutes? That's incredible!
And here's the cherry on top: WhatsApp messages boast an unbeatable 98% open rate, and they're clicked on 45-60% of the time. So, if you're looking for a way to ensure your marketing messages get noticed and acted upon, WhatsApp is the way to go.
3. Private and personalized
Direct messaging on WhatsApp is fantastic for offering personalized deals and providing individual customer support. You can send private account details, updates on orders, and offer help in a secure, one-on-one chat.
Unlike upsell widgets on websites, you can ask questions to give tailored product recommendations through WhatsApp. Plus, with the WhatsApp Business API connecting to your CRM system, you can use customer data to customize your communication. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also creates a more personalized experience for your customers.
4. Secure and trustworthy
Users appreciate the security of WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption for all chats. This means that even businesses can confidently exchange sensitive information like password resets without worrying about it being intercepted.
Moreover, WhatsApp business accounts undergo mandatory authentication, providing customers with peace of mind about the legitimacy of the businesses they're interacting with. This authentication process applies to both companies using the WhatsApp Business app and those utilizing the API.
5. GRPR-compliant
WhatsApp ensures full compliance with GDPR by strictly messaging only those contacts who have opted in through the API. This aligns with the best practices for building email lists in marketing.
Additionally, customers hold the power to influence your quality score and sending quotas by either blocking or reporting your messages. While this may seem strict, it helps maintain a spam-free environment on the platform, ensuring users have a positive experience. When businesses send legitimate and relevant campaigns, it benefits both parties, resulting in a win-win situation.
6. Diverse and interactive content formats
One of the major perks of using the WhatsApp Business app is its versatility in messaging formats and interactive content.
You can send lists, add call-to-action buttons, share links, images, videos, attachments, and even showcase products. This allows recipients to engage with your message rather than just passively reading it. Moreover, they can select from preset option buttons to respond to your queries.
Compared to SMS, WhatsApp messages can be much longer, up to 1,000 characters. This flexibility makes WhatsApp for business almost as powerful as traditional email marketing, where you can provide detailed information.
Additionally, WhatsApp Business offers features like automated messages, shareable product catalogs, chatbots, and contact management, all of which contribute to enhancing customer interactions and improving overall business communication.
7. Supports two-way communication
WhatsApp for business offers the advantage of receiving incoming messages from customers. This means that customers can easily reach out to you for customer service without needing to visit your website. Even they visited the website, customers can easily contact the business WhatsApp via tools like FormsDeck. This accessibility increases the likelihood of both obtaining and retaining their business.
In fact, a study revealed that 53% of consumers prefer shopping from a company if they can message it directly. This highlights the importance of providing convenient communication channels like WhatsApp to meet customer needs and preferences.
8. A way to scale your multichannel strategy
WhatsApp provides a convenient and straightforward method to expand your multichannel strategy and enhance customer engagement in new markets.
It serves as both a support and marketing channel, enabling you to address inquiries, process orders, resolve issues, and provide updates while simultaneously executing marketing campaigns through direct messages.
Utilizing tools like FormsDeck allows you to collect customer data beforehand. This flexibility enables you to improve your customer support and marketing, giving WhatsApp Business an edge over live chat platforms reducing repetitive queries.
9. Automate responses to customer queries
WhatsApp offers automations and canned responses to speed up your customer support process and lessen your workload. You can set away messages or quick replies to FAQs.
Taking a step further, you can automate an onboarding sequence to introduce your service to new customers or gather feedback.
10. Reach an international audience
Using apps that depend on phone numbers can sometimes be complicated, but WhatsApp simplifies the process by making it easy to reach people regardless of their country code. While the cost of messaging may differ based on the recipient's country, you have the freedom to send messages to people worldwide using the same account. This global accessibility makes WhatsApp a convenient and versatile communication tool for businesses and individuals alike.
11. Send more relevant marketing messages
WhatsApp for business provides nearly endless opportunities for engagement. You can send various types of messages such as outbound announcements, two-step authentication codes, reminders, and status updates. By incorporating WhatsApp into your communication strategy, you can avoid overwhelming customers with too many emails. Sometimes, sending an instant message update is more timely and convenient for both you and your customers.
12. Another opportunity to showcase your brand
Having a business account on WhatsApp comes with significant benefits, including increased brand exposure.
Each WhatsApp business account comes with a branded business profile that includes multimedia elements like logos, images, and gifs, as well as essential information such as your website URL and address.
Additionally, you have the option to list some or all of your products directly on your profile, providing users with an overview of what you offer without leaving the app. This not only adds legitimacy to your communication but also enhances your brand image, making it easier for customers to recognize and engage with your business.
An example of a WhatsApp business profile
13. Collect subscribers using QR codes
QR codes gained popularity during the pandemic and more people are familiar with how to use them now. They’re an easy way to take potential customers from offline to your digital assets.
For example, at a trade show, you can create a form using FormsDeck and get the automatically generated QR code. Then put it on a poster and encourage them to scan it and sign up for your WhatsApp messages to keep in touch. That’s a GDPR-proof list-building tactic. Or you can have the QR code in shipping boxes so customers can start a direct chat with you if they need help after receiving the order. To get a better understanding about the contacted customer you can ask the name or order number in the form you create.
14. Improve your marketing campaigns
WhatsApp Business doesn’t just give you another medium but also adds value to your marketing campaigns.
- There are easy-to-use labels for managing your contacts in groups like Loyal customers, WhatsApp newsletter subscribers, Leads from trade shows, etc.
- Engagement metrics show if your messages are read, clicked, or reported.
- The WhatsApp Business API can be connected to a CRM and use the customer data from there for even more targeted campaigns.
15. Fair pricing
Even small and local businesses can benefit from the WhatsApp Business API because you're only charged for the messages you send or receive from customers, without any additional fees. What's great is that all business features are available regardless of your sending volume.
Moreover, if you consistently send quality content and receive good engagement, your sending quotas will increase automatically. This means that your marketing efforts will be rewarded with more opportunities to reach and engage with your audience, making WhatsApp Business API a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.