Whatsapp is a platform on which you connect with your friends on a daily basis. So, have you ever thought about how businesses must be connecting with their customers on the same platform? With the advent of Whatsapp Business, a powerful yet a dynamic tool in today’s business landscape, businesses are having a direct and the most personal way in order to connect with their clientele. However, many people believe that setting up a whatsapp business account is a daunting task, but in reality it is one of the most straightforward processes which unlocks a wealth of opportunities for the businesses to interact with their customers and even to run their operations seamlessly.
This blog will talk about each and every step which is required to be taken to set up your whatsapp business account.
What is Whatsapp Business?
Whatsapp Business is basically a free application which differs from the usual standard Whatsapp messenger. Whatsapp business is designed to serve the small and even the medium and large size businesses. There are ample tools in whatsapp business accounts which enables the businesses in order to interact with their customers efficiently. This may involve automated responses, organize their contacts and much more.
Although the role of the standard whatsapp account is basically to focus upon the personal communication between the individuals. On the contrary, the role of a whatsapp business account offers features which are directly linked to the business needs such as business profile displaying essential information like address, business hours, website link, description about the business. Moreover, it also includes some additional features such as automated greeting and away messages, quick replies to frequently asked questions by the customers, and labels to categorize the chats. All of such features are aimed in order to streamline the business operations.
Prerequisites Before your Enable Whatsapp Business Account
- Activate Mobile Number (Not used in personal whatsapp)
Before you actually begin setting up the whatsapp business account, there are few essential steps which you need to ensure in order to ensure a successful and smooth process. Firstly, you will have to activate the mobile number. Well, this mobile number must be that number which hasn’t been used previously for the personal whatsapp account. For the business purpose, you should be having a dedicated number which helps in maintaining a clear separation between your personal and professional communications.
- Smartphone
Next step involves having a smartphone. The smartphone can be any, either Android or iOS. This is needed because the whatsapp business application is intended to run on these mobile operating systems only. Furthermore, you also need to ensure that your smartphone meets the bare minimum requirement of the software for optimal performance. Well, your smartphone would be your primary tool when you’ll manage your business related interactions.
- Stable Internet Connection
Another most crucial step would be the requirement of a stable internet connectivity. Well, it won’t matter whether you’re having wifi or mobile data, you just need to ensure having a stable internet to prevent the interruptions. A stable connection would help in order to configure your whatsapp business account.
- Business Information
Having your business information readily available will also be a necessary step in order to expedite the profile creation page. The details would include your business address, an informative description about your business, your website link, business operation hours, and email address. This is required so that the customers can learn more about your business.
How to Download Whatsapp Business App?
In order to begin with the journey, you need to first download the whatsapp business app. You will easily find this app on any of the official app stores. If you’re an android user, you must search it on Google Play Store, and if you’re an iOS device user, you must navigate to the Apple app store. Just search “Whatsapp business” and you will find a distinctive logo. Ensure to download the application only from the official app for safety and security reasons.
Moreover, before you download the application, you must be aware of the system requirement for the Android and iOS devices to ensure that the app runs smoothly and swiftly on your smartphone.
Step by Step Process to Enable Whatsapp Business Account
- Install the App
The first step would be to install the app. Once the download is complete, you should open the application. Upon opening, you will be prompted to grant the necessary permissions. This would include access to your contacts, photos, media, and other files. When you allow these permissions, it would allow the app to function smoothly. However, you should carefully review each permission request and grant the access to ensure a smooth process.
- Verify Your Business Phone Number
As and when the application is installed, the next essential step in order to follow would be to verify your business phone number. For this step, you will be promoted to enter your phone number. For an added security, double check whether you’ve added the correct number or not, including the country code. Once you’ve added the phone number correctly, tap the “Verify” button and move on to the next step. Whatsapp will then send you an OTP via the SMS to the number you’ve provided for the verification process.
- Set Up Your Business Profile
Once your phone number is verified, you go ahead and set up your business profile, the public face of your business on whatsapp . You will mostly first provide your business name and a profile picture. This is better suited to the business logo, which will help customers easily identify your business. Finally, it prompts you to enter a description of your business in short and engaging form.
- Customize Your Business Settings
Once your basic profile is set, the next step would be to enhance your business presence by customising your business settings. This process helps you add more details about your business, which would help you in improving customer interaction. Not just this, you can add your business’s operating hours, which will help you manage customer expectations regarding the response timings.
Best Practices for Using Whatsapp Business
- Be Responsive and Polite
Well, to truly harness the power of whatsapp business, it is crucial to adhere to certain best practices for promoting a positive relationship with the customers. Whenever interacting with the customers, always be responsive and polite in your interactions. Address their concerns with courtesy which would help in building trust and also encourages engagement.
- Do Not Spam Customers
Well, it is crucial to not spam customers. Avoid sending unsolicited messages, promotional content and too many notifications in a day, which can be annoying. Always respect your customer’s time and only send communication which is relevant and adds some value for them.
- Respect Customer Privacy and Opt-in Rules
You must ensure to obtain the explicit consent from the customers before you send any kind of promotional messaging to them or even before adding them to your broadcast list.
- Use Whatsapp Business Tools for Automation Smartly
Always make use of the automation features which would significantly enhance your efficacy. Although the quick replies, away messages and even the greeting messages save time, ensure that they’re personalized and provide only genuine value to the customers. Do not send any kind of robotic messaging which can make the customers feel impersonal.
For any business, whether small, mid or large scale, enabling the whatsapp business account would be a plus as it would help the customers to connect on a platform which they already trust and frequently use. Whatsapp business account help the businesses to foster a strong relationship with the customers, and at the same time helps to showcase your products and services effectively
