WhatsApp has become an integral part of most of our lives and routine. It is a mobile number-based messaging app that replaced the SMS system to a great extent making communication easy and multi-featured. And the WhatsApp Business has been doing the same for the business enterprises.
Brian Acton and Jan Koum founded this mobile messaging application in 2009. Later in 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for almost $20 billion and 4 years later in 2018 WhatsApp Business was launched to facilitate the communication between the business and their customers with various tools and features. As a matter of fact, it is created targeting small business owners.
WhatsApp Business app has indeed helped small businesses to carry out their operations and communications in an effective manner. They can have direct communication, selling, and effective customer relations with their WhatsApp business account. The visibility of the business has improved with the direct reach to the mobiles of their targeted customers.
This article guides you on how to create a WhatsApp Business Account, discusses the features, benefits, and everything else of this innovative messaging app introduced for the benefit of the businesses.
The WhatsApp Popularity and Adoption
For most people, Whatsapp has become the principal app for messaging and communication due to its cost being zero, its features, and the digital safety and security that it provides with its end-to-end encryption system.
There are 2 billion active Whatsapp users globally. Based on the active users, it is the most popular global mobile messenger app and the third most popular social network worldwide after Facebook and YouTube as of April 2021 (Statista).
Now, knowing the popularity that WhatsApp has already gained, look at the important WhatsApp Business Statistics:
- The number of WhatsApp Business users is over 50 million worldwide and 15 million in India.
- The number of Catalogs on Whatsapp Business is over 8 million and 1/8th of this is from the businesses based in India.
Types of WhatsApp Business Accounts
There are two types of WhatsApp business accounts: WhatsApp Business App and Whatsapp Business API.
The difference lies in the cost and features. The WhatsApp Business App is free whereas the latter is paid.
The WhatsApp Business App is useful for micro or small businesses that have one business mobile number that can be used on one device. So unless you can pass on the mobile between the whole staff, you need to have the WhatsApp Business API. It is for the business that has more customers and multiple business numbers.
Install & Create WhatsApp Business Account
Read the below steps to know how to create WhatsApp Business Account:
1. Install and launch WhatsApp Business App from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
2. Open the App or tap on the App icon on the home screen
3. Read and Accept the Terms of use
4. Follow the on-screen instructions, select the country and enter your Business Mobile Number.
(If you want to use your WhatsApp number on the WhatsApp Business App then you may do the same by following the on-screen instructions)
5. Complete the verification with the code received on the number you are continuing with on the WhatsApp business account.
6. Complete your business profile with the Business Name, Profile Picture, and Category.
You have created a basic business account on your WhatsApp Business.
WhatsApp Business App Tools and Features
It is time to explore the tools including the Business Profile, Catalogs, and Messaging Tools.
1. Business Profile
This tells the customers about your business. Tap on the ‘Edit’ icon on the top right side. Business Name, Mobile Number, and Category will be pre-filled from before.
You need to add the Business Address, Business Description, Business timings (hours and days), Email Address, and Website. Also, you can edit your WhatsApp written Status.
How to add the contacts?
The WhatsApp Business fetches the Contacts from added Contacts of the phone.
How to chat?
After the profile is set up, you can chat with the contacts. Select the Contact you would like to chat with, enter the message and send.
2. Catalogs
Catalogs are used to display and share your products and services along with the prices. Tap on 3 dots on the top right corner > Go to Settings > Business Settings > Catalogs.
- Tap on Add Products Or Service
- Add Product Image, Name, Price, Description, etc.
- Tap Save
The Catalog items can be shared with your contact easily. You can further hide, unhide and delete the catalog items anytime.
3. Messaging Tools
Tap on 3 dots on the top right corner > Go to Business Tools
Away Message: This helps you set a custom message to send in off-business hours or when you are not available.
Quick Replies: Under this, you can add quick replies. The pre-saved replies are fed and sent easily. This helps you to send frequent answers in no time.
Greeting Message: This is an automatic custom message sent when any customer sends you a message.
4. Labels
Organize and Manage your chats and customers with the Business Labels. Select a Chat/Customer, Tap on the Label icon on the top and Select the suitable Label. You can add new labels. You can also Label the Messages from inside the chat.
It is easy to view the Labelled chats and Messages. Tap on 3 dots on the top right corner > Business Tools.
5. Business Statistics
This is an important tool for analytics that provides the statistics for the sent, delivered, read, and received messages. Tap on 3 dots on the top right corner > Go to Settings > Business Settings > Statistics.
6. Short Links
This helps you get a shareable link. When the customer clicks on this link they can start chatting with you directly. You can put this on your social handles such as Instagram or Facebook.
WhatsApp Business API
This is an advanced version of the WhatsApp Business App for medium and large businesses. WhatsApp approval is required for the activation of the WhatsApp Business API.
It allows to send systematic customer care messages, create templates to send easy notifications, analysis of the business communication, allows multiple accounts, allows WhatsApp web usage, enables team performance analysis, Chatbot automation, etc.
WhatsApp Payments with PayKun
You need to be able to track and analyze the transaction and sales analytics for your business. This lacks in the WhatsApp Business App.
PayKun Payment Links allows you to accept Credit cards, Debit cards, Net banking, multiple UPI apps, Mobile Wallets, and QR code payments through WhatsApp.
This helps you accept online payments easily. Whereas, the PayKun merchant dashboard will help with the tracking and analysis of the transactions, easy refunds, settlement details, various reports, and other important settings. Most importantly, you can create the payment links from the dashboard itself.
WhatsApp Pay received the NPCI approval in February 2020. UPI payments on WhatsApp are available and the customers can pay through the Chat to the specific contact. However, you can provide your customers with multiple payment method options with the PayKun Payment Links.
Conclusion
We hope this blog gives you detailed information about the Whatsapp business, the related vital information, and a guide on how to create the Whatsapp business account.
Thus, to separate your business and personal communication you can easily have a separate business mobile number and avoid the clash of communications. WhatsApp business gives a professional outlook for your business. With the tools and features, it becomes convenient and systematic to communicate and render the services.
You can be in touch with your customers, also, send updates and news about new stock, price drops, discounts and offers, etc and promote your business without spamming or irritating your customers.
