10 ways businesses can use WhatsApp as a marketing tool
Facebook-acquired WhatsApp is a social-messaging service that is definitely one of the fastest growing communications apps. With millions of active users, shared images and videos on a daily basis, WhatsApp offers huge potential to be used as a marketing tool in small, medium, and large businesses. The WhatsApp marketing tool has already replaced SMS and has transformed into a versatile app, with multiple options to promote your new as well as old offerings. Below are 10 ways through which businesses can use WhatsApp as a marketing tool for brand promotion.
1. Reaping the benefits of cross platform
Whatsapp is a cross-platform application, in a manner that it can be accessed by anyone who is not even on social media networks. So, you can promote your products or services among a wider number of potential customers. Additionally, WhatsApp as a brand promotion tool has options for traffic analytics that lend insights into which networks are popular within your targeted customer base.
Traffic analytics in Whatsapp can be installed from third-party providers. Once you get this data, you can develop and change your marketing strategies in order to target prospective customers who are in actual need of your products or services.
2. Creation of broadcast lists, demonstrations, and giveaways
WhatsApp marketing tools can also be used to create lists that are related to specific topics. These lists can then be used to curate communications that can multiply engagement. Messages with links or CTAs help in enhancing this engagement further.
Another advantage is that you can display a demonstration of your product on your Status and let users know that you have the item in your inventory. When buyers know the use and purpose of your product, they might actually want to use it.
Whatsapp marketing tools can also be used to have weekly, monthly or daily giveaways to bring foot traffic to your store or visitors to your website. Since Whatsapp is free, you can avail the many benefits of its features without spending a penny.
3. Group chats
Group texts, which can be accessed by all members in that group, also record the responses from those who have read the messages. This is an interactive way to promote brand promotion, communicate with customers and is very helpful when you need to create focus groups or conduct market studies before a product launch. When you have video content and offer live support, the group members shall share the content with their contacts who are outside your group. This will lead to more people becoming aware of your products and gradually, they might become your customers.
4. Free-of-cost messaging
WhatsApp is a cost-free app, through which you can share texts via iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone, and Nokia without incurring SMS charges. Just install an Internet data plan and use the app to create groups, send each other unlimited images, video, and audio media files. This feature might seem to have a simple advantage but it offers many added benefits. One of the best advantages is that you can do brand promotion for free. For instance, if you wish to reach global customers, you can do that easily through WhatsApp.
5. Feedback
You may utilize the option of free messaging to create surveys and questionnaires about particular products. Once you send these files to your groups, you will get instant answers — a step that forms a vital part of market research. Once you get the feedback from users, revert to their requests and improve your brand promotion strategy. You can get creative and make questions that are fun to respond to and share them in a way that they don’t become intrusive. And of course, the inputs are extremely valuable. To promote future engagement, brand loyalty and long term customer retention, you may reward the responders with coupons and redeemable points.
6. Enhanced customer support
WhatsApp marketing tool is compatible with both mobile and desktop devices. If you have a large number of customers contact details then you can take advantage of brand promotion. You can integrate it with desktop applications for powerful customer support, enabling you to reach buyers and instantly solve their issues. All you need to do is go to the web app site and scan the QR code on your screen. Once you follow the simple instructions, you are all set to reap the maximum benefits of the tool for customer support.
Since WhatsApp has wider reach, it gives an easy option for customers to directly send you messages rather than dialing helpdesk. In recent times, several website development platforms, consulting firms, retail outlets, and tools & API providers are using WhatsApp to set up a customer support system. However, the app is more useful when you have limited customers calling you everyday and you can set brand promotion events for these customers. If you get hundreds of customer calls daily, then Whatsapp marketing tool, as a customer service option, might not be a great idea.
7. Real-time customer service
Again, staff members can use WhatsApp to provide real-time customer service by answering questions quickly via application of app features such as media, text, audio or video sharing to lend a personalized customer experience. Additionally, you can also use it to make video presentations for your customers. Other methods include creation of live-video help or tutorials services to fix something or provide guidance. All these measures will prove that your business is a reliable source when it comes to offering extended customer service.
8. Innovative promotional campaigns
Yet another advantage of Whatsapp marketing tool is that it gives you opportunities to find creative ways to make fresh offers. Marketing teams can use whatsapp tools as a brand promotion. Several companies use it to direct people to promotions on Youtube. Moreover, with the availability of the Status feature, you can generate special promotional codes and share them with your customers for them to redeem the points at your establishment. Instant photo and location features ensure that users are instantly notified about your promotions. Once you check the interaction levels, you can extend these promotions for further traction.
9. User loyalty
Whatsapp groups are more personal than other social media groups. Hence, as per reports, they exhibit more brand loyalty and brands develop a good rapport with their followers. This feature can be further enhanced by using added functionalities like push notifications, group chats, and broadcast lists.
10. Direct engagement
Through whatsapp, you can make sales calls through the app’s inbuilt version of VOIP. So whenever you get a customer request, if anyone asks for more information or someone wants to talk with a salesperson, Whatsapp allows you to give an instant, direct response.
Whatsapp marketing tools can deliver multiple benefits but you must always be updated with the latest trends so that you can come up with more creative ways to promote your business’s services and products.
Author Bio –
A Digital Marketing and content curator at SoftwareSuggest, a software recommendation platform. I am passionate about Digital Marketing, and all things digital. Also interested in technology and innovation. In my spare time, I enjoy playing cricket, and Badminton.