In an exciting development, WhatsApp Business, the instant messaging app owned by Meta, announced that its business app now boasts over 200 million users worldwide. This remarkable growth represents a fourfold increase from the 50 million users recorded in mid-2020. Launched in 2018, the WhatsApp Business app empowers businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs), to enhance customer engagement, drive sales, and provide efficient customer support.
To mark MSME Day 2023, WhatsApp also unveiled new tools designed to fuel the growth of business users on the platform. In a recent blog post, the company revealed that small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app will soon be able to create ads that click to WhatsApp, even without a Facebook account. This feature will enable countless WhatsApp-reliant businesses worldwide to seamlessly create, purchase, and publish Facebook or Instagram ads directly within the WhatsApp Business app.
Starting with just an email address and a payment form, businesses can begin their advertising journey on WhatsApp Business. When users click on these ads, a chat window will open on WhatsApp, allowing them to ask questions, explore products, and make purchases. The integration of these ads presents a powerful opportunity for WhatsApp-exclusive small businesses, providing them with a simpler avenue to embark on advertising campaigns.
WhatsApp Business also announced its plans to test a new feature that will enable small businesses to send personalized messages to their customers more efficiently. This feature will allow businesses to send tailored messages with the customer’s name and customizable call-to-action buttons to specific customer lists, such as VIP customers or new customers. Additionally, businesses will be able to schedule the sending of messages and track their effectiveness.
It is important to note that this advanced messaging feature will come with a fee within the WhatsApp Business app, although the blog post did not specify the launch date for these features.
In line with its new policy, WhatsApp increased its business messaging prices effective June 1, 2023. Businesses will be charged based on conversations, allowing for up to 250 conversation threads initiated by businesses. The pricing structure will vary depending on the content of the message. Once a business surpasses 1,000 conversations, it will be charged Rs 0.70 for marketing messages and Rs 0.30 for service and utility-related messages within a 24-hour window.
With these new tools and features, WhatsApp Business aims to further support SMBs and provide them with innovative ways to engage with customers, streamline communication, and drive business growth.
