Since it first launched, WhatsApp has quickly taken over SMS as the most preferred form of messaging among Australians. WhatsApp currently has 225+ million users in Australia, which is around half of the total number of Internet users in the country. It is a Mobile App That’s Here To Stay In Australia. The growing number of Australians using WhatsApp can be attributed to the sudden drop in data costs and the introduction of low-cost smartphones. Because of this, the app quickly became popular among Australians of all ages and economic backgrounds as it offered a free, simple way to connect with each other. But WhatsApp wasn’t just used for personal conversations among friends and families. For a long time, owners of small businesses like grocery stores and tailors used the app informally to communicate with their customers. Taking notice of this huge potential, WhatsApp launched WhatsApp for Business, a feature which can help brands Engage With Australia’s Next Billion Internet Users. This new feature aims to simplify the process for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) to connect with their customers.
How does whatsapp for business work?
WhatsApp for Business is currently only available as an Android app which can be downloaded for free from the Play Store. iPhone users will have to wait a little while longer until WhatsApp for Business rolls out an iTunes app as well. WhatsApp for Business is exclusively for business owners to communicate with their customers. In other words, businesses will use WhatsApp for Business to speak to their customers who will receive these messages on their regular WhatsApp account. To register for it, businesses will need a number that isn’t connected to their personal WhatsApp account. If you don’t have a separate business number, you will need to either get one or transfer your personal number to your WhatsApp for Business account. Once the app verifies your number, you can start setting up your business profile and begin communicating with customers. More about real estate automation
Business features available
WhatsApp for business looks almost identical to the regular WhatsApp. However, there are a few key differences. A number of tools have been added to the business app, facilitating easier communication for business users. Few of them are discussed below:
Business profile
Once on the app, WhatsApp allows you to create a ‘Business Profile’ on your account that needs to contain important information such as your business’s email ID, contact number and address. There is also a location feature which allows business to locate their store on the map. Filling in this information will help users understand your business better. Over time Whatsapp also aims to verify each business and link their FB profiles as well, so that only authenticated businesses and stores can reach out to their customers.
Messaging tools
WhatsApp for Business also makes it very simple to engage with your customers, even if your consumer base grows very large. The ‘Messaging Tools’ feature allows you to create message templates which can be sent out to your customers automatically. ‘Quick Replies’ allows you to set message templates to questions that your customers frequently ask, so you can easily respond to them. These include ‘thank you’ messages every time your customers order something or details about your products and prices. You can also set up ‘Greetings’ messages which are sent when you are first interacting with a customer and ‘Away’ messages which are sent when you are unable to respond to them at that time. More about Social Media Marketing For Real Estate
When Whatsapp for Business was first showcased to our team at the FB SME Council In Australia, it was made abundantly clear that it is not going to serve as a bulk/promotional messaging service. The intent is to provide customers with the convenience to reach brands and vice versa. So its ideally meant to keep in touch with existing customers or leads.
Message statistics tools
One of the key features WhatsApp for Business offers is an easy way for business owners to understand how well their messages are performing. For now, the current version of WhatsApp for Web offers basic statistics such as the number of messages delivered and the number of messages opened. The data collected from these statistics can offer business owners invaluable information on the efficacy of their message strategies. This information allows them to Identify The Type Of Content Their Target Audience Will Find Engaging. This can help them come up with more targeted message strategies that will resonate better with their audience. While the current statistics offered are very straightforward, future updates of WhatsApp for Business might include more detailed statistical tools.
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