Facebook has long been the dominant force in the world of social media, boasting about 2 billion users on its platform. Yet there is another digital application that also reaches enormous amounts of people and should not be ignored in your business’ marketing and communication. WhatsApp is a messenger platform that has over 1.2 billion active monthly users, and along with other similar apps, is now being used for business communication and marketing purposes.
Why consider using WhatsApp for your business? One important reason is that many of your customers or potential customers are using this platform regularly, and probably more often than we think. Currently, over 50 billion messages are being sent through WhatsApp on a daily basis. Also, studies show that those a huge majority (67%) of those who regularly use mobile apps like WhatsApp expect businesses to communicate with them using messaging tools within the next couple of years. And 53% say that they are more willing to do business with a company that regularly communicates directly via messaging.
As you begin to think about using WhatsApp for your business communication, it is important to recognize that this is a different platform than Facebook or other more traditional social media. WhatsApp has a limited number of users that can be contacted at once (256), so this is not a situation where you would send out a large blast to inform vast publics. Instead, WhatsApp is also tied to mobile phones, which cuts down on reaching some segment of an audience but smartphones are also now the go-to device for connecting with friends and family. Mobile phones are also with most people 24/7, so your communication efforts become more personal.
For example, you could use WhatsApp account to chat with users and create buzz around an upcoming event, very special offerings, or a new piece of technology in your practice or business. This app allows you to directly and personally contact very specific target audiences, such as repeat clients, special guest, and more, and create a very special connection and buzz surrounding your message. Or WhatsApp can be utilized to offer a more personal one to one connection than can be offered through traditional social media. Recent clients or customers can be offered the special WhatsApp number to text with questions, ideas, or comments. With your response and engagement, it gives this group of people very special contact with you and helps them to feel as if they have an inside connection with your business. In other words, you are using WhatsApp as a tool to provide VIP service to a select group of special customers.
The great news is that this is just the beginning of what is expected to be a a big future for WhatsApp marketing. In fact, they have recently shared that they are working on a much more robust platform for business features using their app, including receiving orders, payments, appointments, notifications and updates, and much more.
Interesting in learning more about WhatsApp? Contact the experts at Reach Beyond Marketing today!