WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion active users. While WhatsApp Business accounts were originally intended for businesses, many normal people are also using them for personal messaging. There are several reasons why normal WhatsApp users may choose to use the Business version of the app.
More Features
WhatsApp Business accounts come with additional features that aren’t available on normal WhatsApp. One of the key differences is that Business accounts allow you to create a business profile with useful information such as an address, description, email and website. This gives your account a more professional look.
Business accounts also give you access to tools like quick replies, greeting messages and statistics. Quick replies allow you to send common answers to frequently asked questions automatically. Greeting messages let you set an away message that is sent to anyone who messages you. Statistics provide insight into your messaging activity.
Organization
The Business version of WhatsApp makes it easier to keep your personal and professional messages separate. The business profile clearly indicates that the account is used for business purposes. You can also assign contacts to categories like “personal” and “business” to better organize your conversations.
In addition, Business accounts allow you to use the same number on multiple devices. So you could have one device dedicated for personal chats and another just for your business messaging.
Customizations
There are more options for customizing your experience with a WhatsApp Business account. You can customize the profile information, away messages, quick replies and more to your liking. The increased level of personalization enables you to shape the account into your own.
credibility
Using a Business account lends a sense of credibility and professionalism to your messaging. People will be able to clearly see that you are using your WhatsApp for business purposes rather than personal use. This may be especially helpful if you are messaging with clients, customers or professional contacts.
Privacy
The separation between personal and professional messaging enables greater privacy. Keeping your business communications on a separate account helps maintain your privacy and ensures you don’t mistakenly send a business message to a friend.
Cost Savings
Unlike normal WhatsApp accounts that are free, Business accounts require a fee after the first 1000 messages. However, the fee is relatively low at just $1 per year. For personal users who only need to send a few hundred extra messages per month, this can still represent significant savings over a standard cell phone plan.
Advertising
WhatsApp recently introduced the ability to create a catalog and showcase products and services on Business accounts. This turns your account into a mini storefront. While intended for businesses, personal users can also take advantage of this feature to advertise items they want to sell.
Appearance of Professionalism
Using a Business account makes you appear more professional in your communications. This can help project a sense of trustworthiness when interacting with new contacts. It shows you are serious and credible even if you are just using WhatsApp at an individual level.
Easier Switching Between Personal and Professional
With separate personal and business WhatsApp accounts, it’s easier to switch between them depending on the context. You don’t have to worry about accidental messages ending up in the wrong place. Everything stays neatly organized.
Bottom Line
Here is a summary of the key reasons normal WhatsApp users choose Business accounts:
- More features like quick replies, greeting messages and statistics
- Better organization through contact categories and multi-device support
- Increased customization with business profiles and away messages
- Added credibility and professionalism
- Enhanced privacy by separating conversations
- Cost savings compared to standard phone plans
- Ability to advertise items for sale
- Appearance of trustworthiness
- Easier switching between personal and professional contexts
When Does Using a Business Account Make Sense for Personal Use?
Here are some examples of when opting for a WhatsApp Business account can benefit normal users:
- If you frequently message with clients or professional contacts
- If you want to sell products or services occasionally
- If you need to separate personal and professional messages
- If you want extra features like quick replies or greeting messages
- If you want to appear credible and serious
- If you want to save money compared to a standard cell phone plan
In general, if you only chat with close friends and family, a regular WhatsApp account will suffice. But if you have professional reasons to enhance your messaging experience, a Business account may be beneficial.
Limitations of Using a Business Account for Personal Messaging
There are some downsides to using a WhatsApp Business account instead of a standard personal account:
- Business accounts have more limited support options. For example, you can’t call support directly.
- Some people may not understand it’s your personal account and message you less casually.
- The focus on privacy controls could be excessive for personal use.
- You only get 1 year free, then have to pay a small fee.
- Personalized services like chat bots won’t work the same.
- Your messages may be treated as lower priority by WhatsApp.
The limitations are relatively minor. But you should weigh them against the benefits before deciding if a Business account makes sense for your personal messaging needs.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp Business accounts are intended for companies, many individuals are now using them too. The key advantages are increased features, better organization, added credibility and enhanced privacy. The Business version of WhatsApp enables normal users to separate their personal and professional messages more easily. It also provides useful tools to boost productivity and customize the messaging experience.
However, there are some minor limitations to weigh as well. You may lose some personal touch with a Business profile and have to pay a small annual fee. But for people who need advanced messaging features for non-business purposes, a WhatsApp Business account can be the right choice.