{"id":12414,"date":"2024-06-09T11:56:07","date_gmt":"2024-06-09T10:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/?p=12414"},"modified":"2024-06-10T13:01:41","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T12:01:41","slug":"whatsapp-business-for-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/whatsapp-business-for-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp Business: is it right for my small business?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re likely familiar with the WhatsApp messaging app, but did you know it has a business version? WhatsApp Business makes customer interaction easier for small <\/span>businesses, featuring tools that help you automate, sort, and respond to messages quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this blog, we explain WhatsApp Business, how it works, and the pros and cons to help you decide if it\u2019s the right choice for your business.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is WhatsApp Business?<\/h3>\n

WhatsApp Business helps companies communicate with their customers. It works exactly the same as WhatsApp Messenger. Still, it has several distinct features specifically designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs, to make customer interaction easier and more efficient. <\/span><\/p>\n

Customer complaints: How to manage and resolve them<\/span><\/a>\n Guidance on customer returns and refunds for small business<\/span><\/a>\n The impact of missed calls on your business<\/span><\/a>\n <\/p>\n

For example, you can set up automated messages and create a business profile, which you can\u2019t do on the personal version of WhatsApp. These unique tools help streamline your internal process and improve the user experience, making it easier for people to contact you and resolve their issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Your customers don\u2019t need to do anything for you to use WhatsApp Business. They simply continue using their personal WhatsApp messenger. However, you must download the free WhatsApp Business app separately and create your professional account.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key features<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s what your business can do with the WhatsApp Business:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Business profile<\/h4>\n

Create a virtual storefront with all the information your customers need to know about your business, such as your opening hours, address, and website address.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To start using WhatsApp Business, you only need your business name, category, and profile image (your logo). However, we recommend populating as much of your profile as possible, to ensure that your customers can identify your company, see all your key information, and contact you confidently.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Greeting message<\/h4>\n

You can set an automated greeting response for customers to receive as soon as they message you. For example, your message could be: \u201cHi there, thanks for getting in touch. How can I help you today?\u201d Your greeting message is fully customisable, so you can adapt it to your liking and the brand\u2019s tone of voice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During an ongoing chat, another automatic message is triggered after 14 days of inactivity. That way, you can ensure that no query is left unresolved and that your customers are well taken care of.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Away messages<\/h4>\n

When you run a small business, chances are that sometimes you\u2019ll be away from your phone. Maybe you\u2019ve got a meeting to attend, you\u2019re visiting a client, or it\u2019s after hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the \u2018away message\u2019 function on WhatsApp Business, you can set a tailored automatic response, letting customers know that you\u2019re temporarily available and when you\u2019ll be back. That way, you can boost customer satisfaction by delivering 24\/7 assistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Quick replies<\/h4>\n

Quick replies are similar to FAQs. If there are certain common questions that you tend to receive, you can create a shortcut for those messages in WhatsApp Business. The app allows up to 50 quick replies, and they can include photos and videos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can create your own quick replies, or let the app generate them automatically based on the information in your business profile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Labels<\/h4>\n

Organise your WhatsApp Business messages with labels. You can coordinate them by colour or name, for example, and add the corresponding messages to each label, making it easier to track your conversations. <\/span><\/p>\n

6. In-app shopping<\/h4>\n

If you sell products, you can advertise them on your WhatsApp Business profile. Users can then chat and shop with you, all within the app, creating a seamless user journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Targeted ads<\/h4>\n

WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook are all owned by the same company – Meta. This allows you to create Instagram and Facebook ads with a call-to-action (CTA) button that takes users to your WhatsApp Business page.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This way, you can create an omnichannel advertising campaign, expand your audience reach, and make it easier than ever for your customers to interact with your brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Analytics<\/h4>\n

WhatsApp Business analytics will tell you what\u2019s working and what isn\u2019t. For example, if you\u2019ve set up an automatic greeting message, but notice that people aren\u2019t responding to it, maybe it needs rewording, or maybe you need to include a question to prompt an action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Use this reporting feature to adapt your campaigns and take your small business from strength to strength.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does WhatsApp Business cost?<\/h3>\n

The WhatsApp Business app itself is free to download. You also get 1,000 free conversations every month for free. After that, the app operates on conversation-based pricing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that you are charged based on the category of conversation you initiate with a customer. The categories are:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n