Marketer's Space: WhatsApp Marketing - The Basics

Marketer's Space: WhatsApp Marketing - The Basics


Hello marketers, 
Welcome to another post in Marketers Space. This week, we are kicking off a new series on WhatsApp marketing. We'll start with the basics in this post and dive deeper in the following weeks.

What is WhatsApp Marketing?


WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world, boasting over 2 billion active users. Every day, more than 100 billion messages are sent on WhatsApp. It is used in over 180 countries, with India leading the charge, followed closely by Brazil. With such a vast user base, marketing on WhatsApp significantly extends your reach. As a marketer, this higher reach translates to better open rates and increased engagement.

Why Should Marketers Prioritize WhatsApp Campaigns?


Consider these compelling facts that highlight WhatsApp's marketing potential:
- 68% of brands are confident that WhatsApp delivers a positive ROI.
- Globally, WhatsApp has about three billion monthly users, and over 51 million people download WhatsApp every month.
- The average user opens the app 8 out of every 10 days and spends 17 hours on WhatsApp per month.  
- Customer service efficiency can increase by 225% through WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp API messages boast a 99% open rate, and 80% of messages are read within 5 minutes.
- 40 million users view product catalogs on WhatsApp.
With such impressive statistics, using WhatsApp to engage with your customers is a strategic advantage you don't want to miss.
(Stats are from Hootsuite, Medium, Cooby, WhatsApp Business)

What is WhatsApp API and How Does It Work?

With the WhatsApp API, businesses can send messages through WhatsApp directly from their marketing software like Zoho Marketing Automation (ZMA). This integration means that you can manage all your customer communications in one place without switching between different apps or platforms.
ZMA enables businesses to send automated messages and scheduled notifications, and also provides analytics. Zoho Marketing Automation leverages the WhatsApp API to create a seamless communication channel between businesses and their customers.

Why You Should Use ZMA for WhatsApp Marketing?

1. ZMA enables broadcasts to 1,000, 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited users based on your tier. To move to a higher tier, businesses need to complete verification, maintain a good quality rating, and adhere to usage policies.
2. ZMA enables businesses to set up automated workflows based on triggers. Automations not only ensure timely and personalized interactions with your audience but by lightening your workload, they enable you to focus on more important tasks such as campaign planning and analyzing analytics.

3. ZMA has a dedicated WhatsApp analytics dashboard to track opens, clicks, conversions, and more. By monitoring these metrics, you can optimize your communication strategies and enhance customer experiences.

4. ZMA integrates with Zoho CRM and other similar softwares and apps, centralizing customer data which improves WhatsApp communication by enabling better customer segmentation, targeted marketing campaigns, and enhanced support experiences.

5. You can also create and reuse WhatsApp templates approved by Meta for future campaigns. 

All this comes at no additional cost when you are part of ZMA's Professional and Enterprise plans. However, WhatsApp charges for conversations. You can view the pricing here.

So, that’s it for the basics. We covered what WhatsApp marketing is, why it should be a priority for marketers, and how the WhatsApp API works using Zoho Marketing Automation. In the coming weeks, we’ll delve deeper into WhatsApp marketing strategies, automation workflows, and advanced features to help you become a pro WhatsApp marketer. Stay tuned for more insights and tips to enhance your marketing efforts. Until then, happy marketing!

Regards,
Pearlin Nitika 
User Education | Zoho Marketing Automation 

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