As a D2C eCommerce brand, you may explore WhatsApp Business to create account as part of your digital marketing strategy. WhatsApp offers a cost-effective way to communicate with customers, providing an easy and direct means of contact. Plus, using WhatsApp Business to engage with customers allows you to provide a more personalized shopping experience.
To start using WhatsApp Business, you must first create an account. This blog will take you through the process step by step. So, let’s get started!
Exploring the Benefits of a WhatsApp Business for DTC eCommerce Brands
WhatsApp Business is quickly becoming the most popular communication channel for eCommerce brands. With the ability to reach customers through their private and secure messaging platform and automate customer communication, WhatsApp Business is an ideal choice for DTC (direct-to-consumer) eCommerce brands.
Here are a few benefits of using WhatsApp Business for your DTC eCommerce brand.
1. Increased Reach – With a WhatsApp Business account, you can reach customers directly and privately through their phones. This is key for DTC eCommerce brands as it allows them to interact with their customers personally and build strong relationships.
2. Automate Customer Service – With WhatsApp Business, you can easily automate customer communication. This allows you to provide prompt and professional customer service and ensure that your customers’ questions and concerns are addressed quickly and effectively.
3. Improved Engagement – Through WhatsApp Business, you can use features such as message templates, automated messages, and more to increase customer engagement.
4. Easy Publishing and Promotion – WhatsApp Business also allows you to easily share updates, promotions, and new products with your customers, which can help you increase brand awareness and sales.
Overall, WhatsApp Business provides an excellent platform for DTC eCommerce brands to communicate with customers and take advantage of the latest trends in digital marketing. It’s an easy-to-use interface. And powerful features can help you create deeper relationships with your customers, improve customer engagement, and boost your sales.
A detailed guide to setting up your WhatsApp Business account
1. Get the WhatsApp Business App
The first step to setting up your WhatsApp Business account is downloading the app on your device. It is a free download from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
2. Create Your Account
Once you have the app installed, open the app and create your account. You have to enter your business name and the phone number you would like to use for your business. Remember that this number will associate with your WhatsApp Business account. And will be visible to your customers.
3. Setup Your Profile
Once your account is created, you have to set up your profile with
- a profile picture,
- description of your business, and
- URL.
This information will be visible to your customers when they view your WhatsApp profile.
4. Connect Your Products and Services
Once your profile is set up, you can connect other products and services, such as
- Facebook,
- Instagram, and
- other social media accounts.
You can also add features like
- automated messages,
- notifications, and
- live chats to serve your customers better.
5. Add Customers
The last step is to add customers to your WhatsApp Business account. You can do this by sending out an invitation link Or asking your customers to add your phone number to their contacts.
Once your customers have accepted the invitation, they can chat with you on WhatsApp Business.
Best Proven Tips for optimizing your WhatsApp Business
1. Customize Your Automated Messages –
Automated messages are one of the critical features of WhatsApp Business, and setting up automatic responses for common questions or queries can go a long way in helping you simplify customer support.
2. Design a Dedicated Menu –
Ensure that it is easy for a customer to find the information they are looking for quickly and that they get the correct replies to their queries. A dedicated menu with options like
- ‘View Products’,
- ‘Track My Order’,
- ‘Return/Exchange Policy’ can help in this regard.
3. Organize Your Contacts –
Create contact labels or groups to streamline your conversations and inquiries easily. This way, you can quickly see which contacts need attention and which can wait longer.
4. Track Inboxes and Analytics –
Track customer interactions and keep track of frequently asked questions so you can quickly respond to these queries. Analytics will help you understand your messages and critical trends to optimize the customer experience.
5. Encourage Reviews and Ratings –
When customers respond positively to your service, ask them for reviews or ratings. This will help you with customer engagement and also improve your overall reputation.
Supercharging your WhatsApp Business account
1. Use custom labels and quick replies:
Set up custom labels or tags to quickly sort conversations and save time. For example, assigning labels like
- “Product Questions,”
- “Order Cancellations,” or
- “Payment Issues” can help you quickly identify and respond to customer queries when needed.
You can also use Quick Replies to automatically send predefined responses to customer messages with just a tap.
2. Leverage broadcast messages:
Broadcast messages are ideal when you want to share news, discount offers, and other updates with your customers in one go. This will save you a considerable amount of time that would otherwise be spent sending individual messages to each of your customers.
3. Automate your customer service:
Automating customer support is one of the most effective ways to boost efficiency. Automation can help you by posting automated replies to frequently asked questions, sending daily reminders, and routing customer feedback to the right people in your organization.
4. Utilize call and video support:
The WhatsApp Business app also allows you to make voice and video calls with your customers. This is an ideal way to provide personal support to customers when needed, such as helping customers with complex order issues or new product setups.
5. Analyze customer feedback:
You can use the WhatsApp Business app to track customer comments, conversations, and feedback. Analyzing this data can help you identify trends, customer preferences, or overlooked issues. You can then use this information to improve the products and services you offer customers.
Final thoughts
Creating a WhatsApp Business account can be an excellent way for D2C eCommerce brands
- to reach new customers, and
- build trust with existing ones.
It enables online brands to engage more naturally and personally with their prospects, creating a direct connection with customers that can help build loyalty and encourage repeat purchases. To create a WhatsApp Business account, you must first install the app onto your smartphone.
Once the installation is complete, you must register your business name and provide proof of verification that you are the authorized owner of the business.
Once you have finished the initial setup, you can send messages to your followers and customers. It is recommended that you create a unique welcome message for new customers.
And automated messages and campaigns that remind customers of discounts, promotions, or any other announcements you may have. You can also create automatic reminders for customers about upcoming orders or any customer service queries that may arise.
Finally, monitor all incoming and outgoing messages on your WhatsApp Business account. This helps ensure that customers receive timely responses to their queries and that all customer interactions are respectful and appropriate.
By setting up and maintaining a WhatsApp Business account for your D2C eCommerce brand, you can create a direct channel to connect with customers, build loyalty, drive sales, and gain valuable insight into customer trends.
