WhatsApp marketing campaign

WhatsApp, the most friendly and confidential means of communication.

Free from annoying patterns and interruptions.

Despite being a casual person, it also turns out to be a potential source of contacts, which for a brand translates into  a source of opportunities . As long as users allow it, WhatsApp is a fine line between a personal conversation and the ability to close a deal.

And yes. He who runs the least, flies! Because great results can be obtained from the place from which one least expects.

Do you want to know how to use WhatsApp for your business?

Keep reading! Below you will find the tips you need to create a  WhatsApp marketing strategy .

The beginning of WhatsApp

The name WhatsApp is a play on words that comes from the English expression:  What’s up?  Which means: how are you? Or how are you doing? And from the abbreviation also in English for app/application, application or program in Spanish.

Its creators Jan Koum and Brian Acton, former Yahoo! employees, created it in 2009, with the aim of launching a tool to the public that would save them time and money when communicating, as well as making their lives much easier without commercial interruptions.

Over the years, WhatsApp has implemented various changes and advances to its platform such as the addition of voice notes, voice calls, sending photos and videos, and launches to various operating systems. Not to mention that in 2014, Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, bought WhatsApp and from this acquisition even more updates are expected such as video calling.

In 2015, WhatsApp Web was launched, a site that allows you to use WhatsApp on a computer synchronized with your phone using the QR code that can be obtained by accessing  web.whatsapp.com

WhatsApp marketing

WhatsApp is an instant messaging software for smartphones that, in addition to sending text messages, allows the transmission of images,  videos , audios and location information. Beyond the communication advantages between people, it is also  a powerful and economical  marketing platform .

In terms of marketing, it is a direct communication channel with consumers that has no cost (or very low costs, depending on the strategy chosen).

WhatsApp has a huge capacity for segmentation, and is compatible with all operating systems. Add to this the fact that millions of users currently carry their mobile phones with them and are constantly aware of the messages they receive through the application.

WhatsApp is also a communication tool suitable for businesses of any size and activity. It is only a matter of knowing how to take advantage of it and adapting actions to the objectives, whether they are sales, branding or database growth.

1. Privacy

A small detail that will surely increase user happiness is the possibility of replying privately to a group message, thus facilitating internal communication. This way, you will not only save the time of having to leave the group and enter the person’s profile to reply, but it will also give another lightness to the groups.

WhatsApp groups are one of the pillars of this messaging service and one of the main problems that both WhatsApp and its brother Messenger were having was the weariness of users due to problems of coexistence in these interactive spaces.

2. The group administrator

This whole new trend-studying movement certainly doesn’t say much about our culture. It seems we need a little more rigid guidance on how we behave as a group, in addition to virtual novelties like so-called trolls, who are disseminators of computer chaos, either for fun or for some illegitimate purpose. That’s why administrators gained strength in 2018.

3. Conference call – four is a crowd.

And closing the group topic, another novelty is the possibility of conference calls, but with no more than three people. It seems strange, but it is very logical, surely conference calls with more people caused a drop in the quality of the user experience.

4. Images and videos

Another strong point of this system is the possibility of sharing images and videos instantly, a practical thing. With the new trend of using WhatsApp on the computer, the dynamics of sending content has become more complex. Now it will be possible to watch videos from another platform without having to leave and images will also be optimized so that they do not lose quality.

5. Alert cocktail

And the most fun new feature is that you senegal mobile database can now report an error by simply shaking your mobile device (be careful not to do this on your computer). It’s that simple, no buttons, no touch , nothing, just the movement will activate this resource, undoubtedly a way to obtain more and better feedback to continue improving the user experience.

What to do to start a WhatsApp marketing strategy

• You should start by  collecting phone numbers . You can do this by creating forms at your point of sale or through forms available on your website, blog or online store.

Always try to ask for this information in exchange for the  promise  to users that they will always be the first to receive news and information related to your company.

• Then,  segment your  audience well  by creating broadcast groups depending on each type of person, interest, connection hours, among others.

• Make sure your message is multimedia and original. Generating good  content  will always attract the user’s curiosity and even go viral. That’s why it’s important to create a community by generating interest without selling yourself directly.

Use  WhatsApp status  to give interesting information such as:

• Schedule availability
• Promotions
• Events
• Link to your website

The image you use in your profile should also be strategic, professional and appropriate. You can use:

• Information about your latest promotion
• Brand logo
• Head office photo
• Important events

If you plan your WhatsApp marketing strategy well, you will have the ability to position yourself in the minds of your consumers. It is about building a relationship based on small actions that bring you emotionally closer to consumers, contributing in turn to loyalty.

How to use WhatsApp in your marketing strategy

The possibilities for using WhatsApp marketing are endless, but here are some ideas you can use:

• You can announce a promotion valid regarding sales of your business, only for that day and only for whoever receives the message.

This way, you will be able to activate consumption and increase your contact list for a subsequent marketing campaign.

• In food establishments such as bakeries, it can work very well with offers that are granted in the afternoon, for example, to get rid of perishable foods that need to be sold quickly.

• Businesses such as veterinarians, gyms, doctors, beauty salons, automotive centers, among others, can use this strategy to remind their users of upcoming appointments, monthly renewals, car maintenance, pet vaccinations, and more.

This strategy, in addition to reminding your client of important issues, will also create loyalty, as users will feel grateful that you take them into account, considering their interests and showing them that you know them.

• If your business also operates online, it is a good idea to include landing pages in the messages you send   to encourage consumers to make a purchase, provide their data or even encourage them to contact the company via a phone call at that moment.

• It also works as internal marketing to inform and motivate customers within your company.

Remember that the public is not only outside your company, but also inside: employees, managers, suppliers and other people involved in the operation of the business.

Other ideas

You can also use WhatsApp to generate a whole  content marketing campaign  based on useful information that you can offer, including education or entertainment, but all related to your business category.

It is therefore used to send news, updates, offers, run contests, offer exclusive content and also function as customer service, especially as an after-sales service.

Please note:

• Pay special attention to the tone of your communication. It is important that it always matches your business, your style and the people you are addressing.

• Images  are meant to be used and have a significant power, even more so if you sell products such as food or clothing. Send photos  via WhatsApp messages; many sales are achieved through visual appeal.

• It is important to know your leads ‘ data well   in order to send them the right information.

Keep in mind your customers’ birthdays when congratulating them. Also, knowing their details will help you to let them know the status of their orders and remember to send the information to the actual customer; you don’t want to send a vacation plan with amazing parties in the Caribbean to a 90-year-old woman.

• Give your users the confidence  that you will not use their data for other purposes or give it to others. Keep your promise above all else.

Commercial communications via electronic means are regulated and it is therefore important that  you ask your contacts to expressly accept  the sending of messages.

• Never use too many messages and pay close attention to the time you send them so that you don’t become spam and avoid being blocked.

Remember that WhatsApp, since its creation,  was not made for commercialization , but rather as a space in which the user wants to be;  that is why you should not be intrusive .

What are mass mailings?

When you run a campaign and have to send messages, doing it manually, one by one, can be time-consuming. On the other hand, if you create a group, everyone will have access to your contacts’ phones and that can go down badly. Another possibility is that you get blocked for misuse. For these situations, there are platforms that offer this service.

It can be MassyPhone or WhatsApps Marketing , in both you can import your database and send your messages safely. They are paid platforms, intuitive, easy to navigate and that offer a variety of solutions for this specific type of service. Sending mass messages is a very delicate subject, but it is also important to have this resource for formalities, commemorative dates, important notices.

You should always remember that in almost all countries there are laws that prohibit the use of messaging for marketing purposes , so you must be very careful not to be spam and create strategies to attract contacts who want to voluntarily receive your messages.

To spread the content through WhatsApp

To broadcast content you need a smartphone first. Then you need to think about the following:

• Will you be sending the messages yourself? Just like you would with your personal contacts.

• Or will you use mass mailing tools?

Both have their pros and cons that have to do with the legality of using the application (which will be discussed later) and the speed of delivery.

One to one messages

When your business is still small, the contact group is very accessible, so it is advisable to establish contact on a personal level, since you will be able to create the message in a much more personalized way to meet the needs of your user.

Mass mailing tools

There are various tools for mass messaging; although it is a time-saving option, you should be careful with them because they are not very stable services.

WhatsApp is constantly updating its system and your messages through the tools may not be sent correctly due to this. Also, if you use the tool constantly, WhatsApp will also notice what you are doing and block the sendings as it goes against its service policy.

Still, if you are interested in using them, because they are clearly useful in many moments of our commercial communication, I leave you the links of the tools that you can use for this:

Massyphone

Functional for mass mailings and for managing customer service.

WhatsDog

It is used to find out the hours when our contacts connect to WhatsApp. You must download the application according to the operating system of your cell phone.

OGWhatsApp

Specially designed for smartphones with DualSim and which install two WhatsApp applications. Like the previous application, you must download it according to your operating system.

Legality

Sending messages through a WhatsApp marketing strategy can be very profitable if done in a clear, appropriate and specific way.

While it is a good idea, many  marketers  still do not point out the completely appropriate action, but it is still worth experimenting with this way of doing marketing.

However, great care must be taken because, as striking as it may sound, it can be dangerous for companies if not carried out with the appropriate caution; since  WhatsApp’s terms of service  expressly prohibit the application as a sales and marketing tool.

Tips to avoid legal problems

• Don’t be SPAM . With WhatsApp you will surely be able to reach the customer directly and quickly. But first make sure that the user actually wants to receive your messages, otherwise they will block you.

• Once the user has agreed to receive your messages,  do not be repetitive  or reckless, otherwise they may also block you.

• Do not send messages to people who  have not responded  to the previous message.

• Limit the number of messages you send. Even more so if you have not made sure that the user wants to keep in regular contact with you.

• Don’t resend messages every month or less . Do it as if it were a  monthly newsletter or very sporadic campaigns, like once a season or once a year.

• You can send messages to clients that you are sure are interested in your services. You can create an exclusive client section for them to communicate with them more directly.

• Comply with the law. If a customer has not given you express consent to use their number,  DO NOT USE IT!

• WhatsApp, after receiving many messages,  blocks numbers that are not added to the user’s contact list . When you ask your client for permission to send them information through WhatsApp, you can ask them to add you to their phone and offer them the possibility of contacting you when they need it.

• Don’t add users to chat groups  you’ve created without first asking them if they want to join. First, it’s not polite, and second, it’s not safe, as other users will be able to access someone’s number.

Definitive steps to make a

1 – The Plan

You always start with the plan, defining the basics: What type of content are we going to use, what the campaign period will be, the definition of the person, the designation of the person in charge and what metrics we will monitor.

2 – The database

It is a fundamental part of the strategy. We need to have the contacts of the people we want to reach and, preferably, we should be on the contact list of our recipients. Each person has their own way of relating to their database, the important thing is that it is segmented in order to better target the content.

3 – The Content

The most important thing is the message you are going to send. You have to use all your communication skills to be direct, clear and provoke a reaction. The format of the content is very important, photos, video, a text message perhaps. Think carefully, because we want the person who receives our message to take a certain action when reading it.

4. Personal or group

The next step is to send the message, so you will have to decide whether it will be a group message or through a broadcast list that sends several personal messages at the same time. Remember that if you are not registered as a contact for the person you are sending the message to on the broadcast list, it will not reach them. On the other hand, if you intend to send your message to a significant number of people, it is best to use a mass mailing platform, which we will discuss later.

5. Frequency

Another key factor in any campaign is predictability over time. Define a frequency that is not invasive. Study your Persona, their habits and tastes to know the best day and time to send your messages.

6. Appoint a campaign monitor

There must always be a person responsible fit engagement and measurement mistake forgetting for the campaign, a point of contact who centralizes the information. This person will be responsible for monitoring and interpreting the metrics to detect which actions need to be taken.

7. Adjust according to metrics

It is important to monitor metrics and adjust your campaign. There are specific tools, such as Chat Analyzer for WhatsApp or WhatStat, that can give you information about contact activity and also about which words were most used in conversations, for example.

Success stories with WhatsApp marketing

1. Hybridize with Toyota Spain

Toyota was one of the first companies to use WhatsApp marketing. It developed a campaign called Hibridízate (Hybridized) that consisted of users changing their WhatsApp status to “Hybridized” and registering on the campaign site to participate in a weekly drawing for an iPhone 5.

The campaign had requirements such as maintaining the status for a whole week in order to participate.

The brand announced the winners of the draw via email and WhatsApp. With the campaign, Toyota managed to raise awareness of the new hybrid cars. It also achieved 33,000 visits to the website and managed to obtain 6,500 registered users per month.

2. Hellmann’s Whatscook

The mayonnaise brand Hellmann’s carried out a campaign called Whatscook, which consisted of a recipe chat aimed at cooking apprentices willing to attend a  masterclass,  led by real chefs who taught in real time, via WhatsApp, by sending images and videos of the dishes, describing each recipe and even  voice notes.

The only requirement that the brand asked users to do was to use Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Finally, the campaign can be said to have been a novel alternative to cooking books and programs; not to mention, of course, the loyalty that began to build.

3. Nightclubs in Barcelona

In this city, several nightclubs use WhatsApp as a strategy to get young people to sign up for VIP lists.

• This tactic also works for promoting drinks or other products at the location.
• Images and videos can be sent instantly and go viral.
• They also offer the possibility of making reservations, reserving a VIP area or ordering a good bottle of wine.

He who runs the least flies

Who would have thought that WhatsApp would be an effective marketing tool?

Of all the social media and apps, it is perhaps betting email list the most direct and effective way to get closer to your users and invite them to become part of your brand essence. Follow the advice we have just given you and you will surely begin to see positive effects regarding your business objectives.

Have you dared to use WhatsApp as a communication strategy? Now you have reasons to encourage yourself to do so!

Leave us a comment here at the bottom of the page. We’d love to hear about any ideas you have for communicating with this tool.

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