As a Shopify owner, you know the pains of trying to make a profit in the competitive world of e-commerce. It can feel like you're constantly battling against big players, and no matter what you do, your sales just don't seem to be taking off.
But fear not. There's one app that can help your business stand out from the crowd: WhatsApp. Yes, that's right, the app you use to send funny memes to your friends can actually help you make money.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "But how can a messaging app possibly help me make a profit?" Well, that's exactly what this practical guide is here to explain.
Let's start with a little background.😉
What Is WhatsApp Business?
WhatsApp Business is a messaging platform designed for small businesses to connect with customers. It is similar to WhatsApp but offers features that help your business thrive with a wider reach and better engagement with your audience.
You know what they say, "A happy customer is a returning customer!" And with WhatsApp Business, you can make your customers so happy they'll never want to leave.
With WhatsApp Business, you can create automated customer support, send promotional messages, and respond to customer inquiries quickly and easily.
Moreover, it also offers a range of features such as customer segmentation, analytics, and customer support tools.
And there are two types of WhatsApp Business solutions:
- WhatsApp Business App and
- WhatsApp Business API.
The WhatsApp Business App is perfect for small businesses that want to communicate with customers more efficiently and cost-effectively. With features like automated customer support and promotional messages, you can keep your customers happy without breaking the bank. Plus, with customer segmentation and analytics, you can ensure you're targeting the right people with the right messages.
But if you're a bigger business with more complex needs, the WhatsApp Business API might be the way to go. It allows you to integrate your customer support, marketing, and sales systems with the WhatsApp platform to manage everything in one place. And with access to analytics and customer segmentation tools, you can make informed decisions and improve your business strategy.
So whether you're a small business just starting or a big business with big dreams, WhatsApp Business has got you covered. 😌
Benefits of WhatsApp Business
You must have painted a picture of the benefits of WhatsApp Business in your mind if you read the above section. You probably imagined long lines of customers flocking to your store or sending you many orders.
But what exactly will you be able to do with WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API?
Let’s look at them side by side,
WhatsApp Business App
📍Better ROI: WhatsApp has over 2 billion users. And people always check their WhatsApp messages throughout the day. So it's likely that your customers will be using WhatsApp when they're out and about, meaning you can reach them and get the message across to gain better ROI.
📍Improved communication: Unlike emails and push notifications, WhatsApp messages are more personal because they're sent directly from one person to another. This means you can use WhatsApp Business to converse with your customers and improve communication.
📍Customer segmentation: With customer segmentation, you can target specific groups of customers with personalized messages, increasing the chances of conversion. Thus, most of your efforts will give you more money bags.
📍Diverse and interactive content types: With WhatsApp Business, you can send diverse and interactive content types, including images, videos, GIFs, and documents. You can also use WhatsApp Business to create polls and surveys that allow customers to vote on their favorite products or services.
WhatsApp Business API
📍Automated customer support: No more waiting for customers to contact you. You can use automated customer support on WhatsApp Business to answer questions, resolve issues and provide information directly from your phone.
📍Automated abandoned cart recovery: Yes, you heard it right. With WhatsApp API, you can automatically recover abandoned carts by sending personalized messages to your customers who have dropped them off during checkout.
📍Upsell or cross-sell on autopilot: Automated upsell or cross-sell on WhatsApp Business is the next level of automation. You can now send personalized messages to your customers with offers related to their purchase history, product categories, and more.
📍Collect reviews: It automatically asks customers about their experience with your store and the product they purchased. You can also ask for reviews from customers who have not yet left one.
How to Create a WhatsApp Business Profile?
Ready to create a WhatsApp Business profile? It’s super easy! Just follow these simple steps:
- Download the WhatsApp Business app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store, depending on your phone's operating system.
- Once the app is installed, select your country, and enter your phone number.
- Verify your phone number by entering the verification code you receive via SMS or call.
- Set up your business profile by adding your name, logo, description, and contact information, such as your email address and website.
- Customize your business profile by adding a profile picture, setting up automated replies, and creating quick replies for frequently asked questions.
- Connect your WhatsApp Business account to your Facebook Page (optional).
- Start using WhatsApp Business to communicate with your customers.
Here's a video to help you set up WhatsApp Business:
What Can You Do With WhatsApp Business?
Well, where should I start? The possibilities are endless, and your imagination only limits them. Here are some ideas:
WhatsApp Business App
1. You can optimize your customer service
As a business owner, your top priority is always to provide excellent customer service. It keeps customers returning and spreading the word about your brand. With WhatsApp Business, you can take your customer service to the next level by optimizing it for the modern customer.
The advantage is that you can create a bot that answers repeated questions from your customers, making it easy for your customers to get the answers they need.
The bot can also help with customer service by sending a direct message to your agent when customers have any other questions or concerns. This way, you don't have to worry about losing track of important customer inquiries.
2. Create a catalog
You can create a catalog of products you offer, so customers can browse them and make purchases. This is a great way for your customers to understand what they can purchase from you and how much it costs.
You could also use this feature to promote special offers or sales on certain items or categories.
Creating a catalog on WhatsApp Business is a piece of cake! All you need to do is
- Open the app and go to "Business Settings."
- Click "Catalogue" and add product photos, descriptions, and prices.
- Don't forget to organize your products into categories, making it easier for your customers to find what they want.
Once your catalog is up and running, you can share it with your customers directly through WhatsApp. They can then browse your products, ask questions, and even make purchases, all in one place!
3. Send personalized messages
What will you do if you launch a new product? The first thing you will do is to promote it on your website, social media, and email newsletter. More often than, it gets buried under hundreds of emails, social media messages, and website updates.
How about sending personalized messages on WhatsApp Business? It will be much easier to reach out to your customers because they are already interested in your brand. Personalized messages will help you build trust and improve customer retention, boosting sales.
In fact, 89% of marketers see a positive return on their investment when they personalize campaigns. So why not leverage that?
With WhatsApp API
1. Send order updates
It's important to keep your customers informed about their orders. That's why WhatsApp Business allows you to send updates on order statuses, including when it was sent, delivered, and even if a customer has paid. You can also send an invoice with every order that includes all the information needed for the payment.
And this is an opportunity for you to upsell.
Yes, you can recommend a similar product and offer free shipping or a discount to make them complete the purchase. You can automate everything with BiteSpeed. Moreover, you can convert the COD to prepaid orders to reduce the RTO losses with BiteSpeed's feature.
2. Recover abandoned carts
Abandoned carts are a never-ending nightmare for a Shopify owner, as the reason behind the abandonment is always a mystery. If you don’t know why your customers abandoned the cart, preventing it from happening again is very hard.
How about asking your customers directly?
Yes, with WhatsApp Business and BiteSpeed, you can create an abandoned cart campaign. It will ask for the reason and provide the solution to your customers. Then, you can offer a discount or free shipping code to regain their trust and sell more.
3. Collect reviews from users
Let's be honest; getting reviews is not easy unless you ask for them. WhatsApp Business allows you to collect reviews from your customers by sending them a message asking for feedback when integrated with a third-party app.
You can do this by incentivizing people to provide you with a review. This can be in the form of a discount, free product, or service. It will help you improve your customer service, making users more likely to recommend your brand.
According to Spiegel Research Center, the more reviews your product has, the more sales, as reviews affect the decision-making process.
WhatsApp Business Account Features To Use
WhatsApp Business has multiple features to help Shopify users improve their business. As we have explained, you already know the catalog and bot features.
Apart from those features, here are some of the features that you can use to get more customers and increase sales:
1. Automatic greeting message
When a user sends a message to your business WhatsApp Business Account, you can set up an automatic greeting message that will appear when they send the first message. This is a good way to welcome users and make them comfortable.
You can let them know about your store’s hours of operation, shipping policies, etc. This will help you retain customers and build a relationship with them.
2. Labels
You can set up labels to categorize your messages. This will help you organize your messages and make them easier to find.
For example, suppose you have a lot of customers asking about the status of their orders or wanting to cancel an order. In that case, you can label those messages as ‘Cancel Order’ or ‘Order Status’ to be easily accessible when needed.
3. Messaging Statistics
You can get an overview of all your messaging statistics from the Messages tab. You can also see how many messages have been sent and received and the number of unread messages in each conversation thread.
4. List messages and reply buttons
Another useful feature of WhatsApp Business is List Messages and Reply Buttons. With List Messages, you can send customers a list of options to choose from. For example, you could send a list of your products or services and ask customers to select the one they're interested in.
Reply Buttons are another feature that can help you provide quick and easy support. With Reply Buttons, you can add buttons to your messages that customers can click to respond. For example, you could add buttons like "yes", "no", or "more information" to a message to help customers quickly provide feedback or get the information they need.
5. WhatsApp payments
WhatsApp Payment is a new feature that allows users to send and receive money through WhatsApp. This means you can now accept payments directly from your customers with just a few clicks. You can also add a feature that allows your customers to pay through the WhatsApp app.
This means you don't have to worry about processing payments or setting up your own payment gateway separately for WhatsApp orders.
WhatsApp Business API Features To Use
Compared to WhatsApp Business App, the WhatsApp Business API has a different set of features. Here are some of the key features you can use in your business:
1. Chatbot
This is totally different from WhatsApp Business App, as you can customize the chatbot to provide answers to users' queries, recommend products based on users' preferences, and perform other actions. You can also integrate the chatbot with your website or app to provide better customer service.
2. Catalog
This feature allows you to create a catalog of your products and services, which users can browse through using the WhatsApp Business API. You can also add new items in real-time as well as customize the look and feel of your catalog.
3. Send customized offers
Who else will refuse this? With this feature, you can send customized offers to your customers. You can create a group based on customer data and target them with specific offers that are relevant to their needs. This is an excellent way to increase sales and grow your business.
4. Upsell or cross-sell campaigns
We call this a sweet spot because this is where you can gain more sales.😍🤩💰
You can send personalized upsell offers or cross-sell campaigns to customers who have recently purchased from you. You can use this feature to offer them related products, which they might be interested in buying. This strategy is a great way to stay in touch with your customers and increase sales at the same time.
How to Promote Your Brand With WhatsApp Business?
Understanding this is simple if you read the previous section. And that's because WhatsApp Business is a great way to promote your brand, whether you're just starting or have an established brand.
Now let's explore some promotion strategies that get you the most bang for your buck.
1. Send Broadcast Messages
Use broadcast messages to send a message to all your WhatsApp Business contacts simultaneously. This can be a great way to promote new products, special offers, or upcoming events. Be sure to keep your messages targeted and relevant to your customer's interests.
2. Use WhatsApp Status
If you are worried about sending promotional messages, you can use the WhatsApp status feature to promote your brand. This is just similar to Instagram but lacks engaging features. You can still add links, images, and videos that promote your brand.
3. Integrate with Facebook and Instagram
For your business, you can integrate WhatsApp with Facebook and Instagram. This is a great way to connect with your customers on multiple platforms and provide them with more information about your brand.
If you host any contest, you can ask them to register their entries using their WhatsApp account. This will help you build your database of customers and keep them updated with the latest news about your business.
Yeah, we love sharing strategies with Shopify owners like you. 👉🏻👈🏻😌
4. Offer Exclusive Content
Exclusive content is what keeps your customers coming back for more. You can offer your customers exclusive deals, coupons, and discounts through WhatsApp. This way, you can build a strong relationship with them and turn them into loyal customers.
Now It’s Time to Scale Your Biz With WhatsApp Business
In conclusion, WhatsApp Business is a powerful tool that can help businesses of all sizes connect with customers and grow their brands. By setting up a WhatsApp Business account, businesses can offer personalized support, promote products and services, and build strong customer relationships.
Whether you're a small business just starting or a larger enterprise looking to streamline your business, WhatsApp Business can be a valuable addition to your toolkit. With its ease of use, wide reach, and powerful features, WhatsApp Business is a must-have tool for any business looking to connect with customers and grow its brand.
But remember, you can always power up WhatsApp Business with third-party tools like BiteSpeed. Why? You may ask. While WhatsApp Business can help you manually do things, BiteSpeed allows you to drive conversion on autopilot. From abandoned carts to collecting reviews, it can handle everything your business needs (yes, automated😍).
We can still do more to turn WhatsApp into a revenue-generating machine, but we can't unzip how your business can flourish in public with BiteSpeed. So, why can't we make it a personal demo call? Tell me, when are you free?
