WhatsApp Business accounts have several unique features that make them useful for businesses to connect with customers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what makes WhatsApp Business accounts special and worth using for companies.
Dedicated Business Profile
The most basic but essential feature of a WhatsApp Business account is that it allows you to create a dedicated business profile distinct from your personal account. This business profile includes features such as:
- Business name, description, email, address, and other contact details
- Business category like retail, automobile, etc.
- Profile photo and header image
- Business hours
- Automated quick replies and greetings
Having a separate business profile helps portray a professional image and gives customers essential information about your business.
Business Tools
WhatsApp Business accounts come with useful tools tailored for business needs:
Communicate with Customers
- Bulk messaging: Send messages, announcements or alerts to many customers at once.
- Quick replies: Set pre-written responses to frequently asked questions to save time.
- Away messages: Let customers know if you’re away with customisable away messages.
Organize Chats
- Labels: Categorize chats as new, important, pending and more to stay organized.
- Chat list filters: Filter chats by unread messages, groups, broadcast lists, etc.
Analytics
- See useful metrics like most chat customers, frequently used keywords, and more.
- Get insights on message delivery and readership.
Added Security
WhatsApp Business accounts come with extra security features like:
- Two-step verification for added account security.
- Blocking chats and contacts to stop nuisance messages.
- Privacy settings to control who can view your status, about section, profile photo and more.
This protects your account from misuse and lets you communicate securely with customers.
Seamless Handling Across Devices
WhatsApp Business accounts offer seamless switching between devices to keep conversations going on the go. You can use WhatsApp on up to 4 linked devices at once including:
- Smartphone
- Desktop or web browser
- Facebook Portal
This omnichannel experience brings great convenience in managing your WhatsApp anytime, anywhere.
Integration With Facebook Services
As WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, business accounts get integration with valuable Facebook services:
- Ad campaigns on Facebook can be linked to start WhatsApp chats.
- Businesses can showcase their WhatsApp profile on their Facebook page.
- Analytics from both accounts can be viewed together.
This allows for a unified customer experience across the platforms.
Product Catalog and Carts
For ecommerce businesses, WhatsApp Business accounts enable creating a digital catalog showcasing products and services. Customers can browse products right within WhatsApp and add items to a cart for checkout.
This brings convenience for customers and leads to more sales.
Special Business APIs and Updates
WhatsApp frequently rolls out new features and APIs specially meant for business accounts like:
- WhatsApp Cloud API to manage chats at scale.
- Updating business profile and catalog through third-party solutions.
- Features like in-chat surveys and more.
These special updates help optimize marketing, support and operations.
Affordable Pricing
WhatsApp Business pricing starts from as low as $0.005 per message sent. Volume discounts can further lower costs for heavy usage. There are no extra charges for features.
This is extremely cost-effective compared to SMS or other communication channels.
Conclusion
Here are some of the key benefits that make WhatsApp Business accounts a great communication channel for businesses:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Dedicated business profile | Portray a professional image with business details and branding |
| Specialized business tools | Bulk messaging, quick replies, labels, chat filters, analytics and more |
| Enhanced security | Two-step verification, blocking, privacy settings and more |
| Seamless multi-device use | Manage chats easily by switching between up to 4 devices |
| Integration with Facebook | Unified ad campaigns, profiles, analytics across platforms |
| Digital catalog + cart | Showcase products, enable shopping via WhatsApp |
| Business APIs + new features | Optimize marketing, support, operations via special business updates |
| Cost-effective pricing | As low as $0.005 per message sent + volume discounts |
By leveraging these useful capabilities, businesses across industries can drive greater customer engagement and sales through WhatsApp Business accounts.