After the worldwide economic recession, businesses across the world are trying to find the best solutions to stay in the market and expand online.
In order to stay on top of the competition, there should be ways to make it easier for people who need simple ways to get in touch with businesses to ask questions, get information or find something they might like to buy.
In a recent article, Whatsapp team revealed that today they support more than 50 million WhatsApp Business app users. To help them and the thousands of larger businesses on the WhatsApp Business API get discovered, they are introducing new features to start a chat with a business on WhatsApp and see what goods and services they offer.
Starting a chat with a business using QR codes
QR codes are a digital front door that makes opening a chat with a business as easy as possible. Previously when people came across an interesting business, they had to add its WhatsApp number to their contacts, one number at a time. Now, people simply can scan the QR code a business displays on its storefront, product packaging or receipt to initiate a chat. For example, Ki Mindful Wearing, an activewear brand in Brazil that helped us test the feature, is placing QR codes on packages and product tags to invite customers to reach out for support on WhatsApp.
Scanning a QR code will open a chat with an optional pre-populated message created by the business to start the conversation. With the app’s messaging tools, businesses can quickly send back information such as their catalog to get the conversation going.
For businesses to start using QR Code, the video below shows quick and easy steps:
QR codes started to be available for businesses around the world using the WhatsApp Business app or WhatsApp Business API since July 09.
Catalog sharing to discover what a business offers
Catalogs allow businesses to showcase and share the goods or services they offer, which can help them close sales. Since launching last year, catalogs have become a popular way for people to engage with a business on WhatsApp. In fact, more than 40 million people view a business catalog on WhatsApp each month.
To make it easier for people to discover products, Whatsapp is making catalogs and individual items available to be shared as links on websites, Facebook, Instagram and elsewhere. And if people want to share a catalog or item they find with friends or family, they can simply copy the link and send it on WhatsApp or other places as well.
How to share products or services with customers
You can share your products or services with new and existing customers by sharing your catalog.
Share your catalog in an individual chat or group chat.
Catalog links are available for businesses globally, and here is how to share them:
Open a chat in the WhatsApp Business app.
Tap the attachment icon next to the text field.
Then, tap Catalog.
Tap Send all items at the top.
Share products or services in an individual chat or group chat
Open a chat in the WhatsApp Business app.
Tap the attachment icon next to the text field.
Then, tap Catalog.
Select the product(s) or service(s) you wish to share.
Tap Send.
Share the entire catalog through Catalog Manager
Open the WhatsApp Business app >Settings > Business Tools > Catalog.
Once you are on Catalog Manager, tap the link icon at the top right.
You can then share the entire catalog with your contacts or potential buyers anywhere by selecting any of the options:
Send link via WhatsApp Business: to share the catalog link with others over WhatsApp
Copy Link: copies the link
Share Link: to share the catalog over email or other messaging apps.
Share an individual product or service through Catalog Manager
Open the WhatsApp Business app > Settings > Business Tools > Catalog.
From Catalog Manager, select the item you wish to share. Then, tap the link icon at the top right.
You can then share the specific item in your catalog with your contacts or potential buyers anywhere by selecting any of the options:
Send link via WhatsApp Business: to share the selected item link with others over WhatsApp
Copy Link: copies the link
Share Link: to share the selected item over email or social channels.
Catalog and item links can’t be customized before sharing as they’re auto-generated
What do you think about this new and practical feature for businesses? Is it enough to be considered as a selling tool rather than sending customers to the brand's online store?