Using WhatsApp for Marketing: A Key to Successful Customer Engagement

WhatsApp*, with its billions of daily active users, has become an integral part of our daily lives. While WhatsApp is great for personal communication, businesses can also use it to reach out to their customers.

This article explains how to use WhatsApp for marketing and why it's a valuable tool for businesses.

Source: business.whatsapp.com

How Popular is WhatsApp?

WhatsApp has solidified its position as a global communication platform. WhatsApp boasts a huge user base worldwide. In the United States, WhatsApp has garnered a significant following, with 64 million users actively engaging with the app each month.

The app's popularity is evident in its staggering daily usage statistics. More than 500 million messages are exchanged on WhatsApp every day, highlighting its role as a primary means of communication for millions of people.

Why Using WhatsApp for Marketing is a Good Idea

WhatsApp, with its huge user base and high engagement rates, offers businesses a great way to connect with their customers in a personal way. As one of the world's most popular messaging apps, WhatsApp offers a unique platform for direct communication that can foster strong relationships and drive customer loyalty.

What is customer loyalty and how to boost it? Check out our article: “Customer Loyalty: What Is It and How to Calculate It”

While Facebook Business Manager provides fundamental features for WhatsApp messaging campaigns, integrating with customer data platforms (CDPs) like Altcraft can significantly enhance your ability to provide outstanding customer experiences.

Key Benefits of WhatsApp marketing:

• Personalized Communication: Each recipient gets a personalized message that includes their name and other relevant details. This personalized approach can create a sense of trust and connection.

• High Engagement Rates: With an impressive open rate of 98%, such messages are more likely to be read and responded to than other channels (for example, emails have an open rate of 20%). Additionally, click-through and conversion rates for WhatsApp messages are reported to be 50%. This high engagement rate reflects the willingness of subscribers to actively participate in conversations, making it an ideal platform for building relationships and driving conversions.

• Real-Time Updates: WhatsApp provides a convenient way to inform your clients about important updates, such as upcoming events, order statuses, or promotions. This timely communication can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

• Global Reach: WhatsApp's vast user base spans across the globe, making it an effective tool for reaching a diverse audience. Businesses can leverage WhatsApp to connect with customers in different regions.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Sending WhatsApp messages is generally more affordable than other marketing methods, making it a budget-friendly option for businesses. Please note that Altcraft does not charge additional fees for integrating with the WhatsApp Business API or for sending messages through the platform. However, you will be responsible for paying the fees associated with your chosen provider. Additionally, WhatsApp itself may impose charges for sending messages, which will be billed separately.

• Freshness: WhatsApp marketing is relatively new compared to traditional channels like email, SMS, and push notifications. This presents an opportunity to stand out from competitors who may not have embraced WhatsApp yet. It's a promising channel for reaching mobile-first customers and potentially gaining a competitive advantage.

By effectively utilizing WhatsApp marketing solutions, businesses can create a more personalized and engaging customer experience, leading to increased brand loyalty, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, business growth.

WhatsApp Messaging with Altcraft: How It Works

To leverage the power of WhatsApp for bulk messaging, you'll need to establish a connection with the WhatsApp Business API. In Altcraft Platform, this can be achieved through reputable providers.

To get started, register an account with your chosen provider. You'll be required to provide a phone number and a verified Facebook Business Manager account. You can find more information about WhatsApp API and how to start sending WhatsApp messages in the guide.

By using this channel, you can:

• Send personalized messages directly to your subscribers within the app. For example, you can send tailored welcome messages, exclusive offers, and birthday greetings. This personalized approach helps to foster stronger customer engagement, as over 70% of consumers say that being treated like a person is very important to them.

A personalized message example. Source: business.whatsapp.com

• Segment your audience based on their behavior and preferences. You can target specific subscribers based on their gender, age, location, or interests. For example, if you're promoting a student bank card, you can tailor your message to individuals aged 18 to 23.

• Set up scenarios. Scenarios are automated workflows that guide customers through specific marketing sequences. They are invaluable tools for nurturing customer loyalty, influencing behavior within defined timeframes, and creating interactive, engaging marketing experiences. Common use cases include welcome sequences, abandoned cart recovery, reactivation campaigns, cross-selling, and more.

• Gather valuable statistics and analyze customer data to optimize your campaigns. You'll receive detailed analytics on your WhatsApp messaging campaigns, including the number of messages sent, delivered, and undelivered, as well as the number of new subscribers. For easier analysis, you can select a pre-defined set of metrics to track.

• Use templates. A template is a pre-designed message with placeholders for variable information. These variables can be customized before each campaign without requiring Facebook's approval. To create a template, you'll need to use your provider's account. In Altcraft Platform, you can add text to the variables, set up buttons, and include media files. Templates created in your provider's personal account must undergo verification by Facebook. Altcraft campaigns can only utilize templates that have received Facebook's approval.

How to Make the Most of Marketing Through WhatsApp

Explore these strategies for leveraging WhatsApp in your marketing campaigns:

• Greet new visitors and encourage them to make their first purchase on WhatsApp. This helps confirm their interest, establishes a positive relationship, and guides them towards the next actions. Consider offering a discount on their first offer as an incentive to become a customer.

• Use WhatsApp to remind customers about items they left in their carts. Many people forget to complete their purchases online, but WhatsApp's high open and conversion rates make it a powerful tool for addressing this issue. You can also send reminders about products that customers have shown interest in, such as when items are back in stock.

Find out why users abandon their carts and see how to reduce cart abandonment rate — check out this article.

• Showcase your latest products. Send a mass message to promote your latest offerings or give your most loyal clients an exclusive preview before sharing it with everyone else. You can also promote items with exclusive discounts. Be sure to highlight the original price, the discounted price, and the time-sensitive nature of the offer to encourage purchases. Don't hesitate to include calls to action (CTAs), such as "Shop now!" or "Claim your discount now.”

Source: business.whatsapp.com

• Keep customers informed about their orders. This helps meet their expectations and reduce customer service inquiries. Send confirmation messages when their orders are successful and provide updates when items are shipped from your warehouse.

• Offer special discounts for birthdays or anniversaries. This is a great way to surprise clients and show your appreciation.

Source: business.whatsapp.com

• Send reminders about upcoming appointments. This can help customers stay organized and avoid missing important events. It's an effective way to enhance customer satisfaction without attempting to sell anything.

Conclusion

WhatsApp is an effective tool for communicating directly with your customers. Its high open rates and tailored messages help increase engagement and support your marketing objectives.

With Altcraft Platform, you can leverage WhatsApp automation and marketing using WhatsApp to send messages without extra costs. Segment your audience, personalize your content, and gain valuable insights through in-depth analytics to optimize your campaigns.

* *WhatsApp (a product of Meta, which is recognized as an extremist organization in Russia)