With 1.2 billion monthly users and the expected growth of user number to over 3.5 billion by 2025, WhatsApp is not just a messaging service but has become a fantastic marketing platform.
Although many companies such as WeChat and Facebook Messenger have been enabling companies to use them as a marketing communication channel for so long, when WhatsApp joined the race, it got the advantage of two things—
- WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app.
- WhatsApp is the leading messaging app in 133 countries worldwide.
So, if you want to understand how to leverage WhatsApp Business API for your business, read on.
Because in this article, we’ll provide you with a complete overview and a step-by-step guide to applying for WhatsApp Business API.
What is WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp Business API is an application program interface created by Facebook in August 2018 for medium to large businesses.
It helps businesses receive and answer unlimited WhatsApp messages and provide a tailored solution to scale their customer engagement via WhatsApp.
Here are the key features of WhatsApp Business API—
- Messages are Broadcasted for bulk notifications.
- Multi-agent access for customer support
- No app or interface, use via BSPs or CRM
- WhatsApp Chatbot & interactive messages support
- Green Tick, verified WhatsApp Business profile
Since WhatsApp API is only an interface, you need a separate CRM to use the features provided by WhatsApp Business API so that you can engage and communicate with your customers.
And you can get your CRM dashboard from Chat360 within minutes.
Why do I need WhatsApp Business API?
Here are the four reasons why you should be using WhatsApp Business API—
1. It helps you create superior brand connections.
If you want to be benefitted in the long term, you need to build strong trust and credibility among your target audience. And WhatsApp Business API helps you precisely with the same.
Here’s why—
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- WhatsApp Business API provides you with the facility to communicate with your customers in a closed and personal environment.
- Businesses can create their profiles which allow them to share important information with their customers, such as contact details, website URLs, social media links, store addresses, new offers, etc.
- WhatsApp always verifies all business accounts and gives them a “green tick.” This helps them build authority so that their customers get the assurance that they’re not getting spammed.
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2. It enables businesses to engage with their customers globally.
Since WhatsApp is free to use, it has the highest smartphone penetration rate of 95%, and it’s the most used messaging app in 104 locales.
WhatsApp is used by almost everyone globally. So, if you’re a global customer base or your customer travels globally, you can communicate hassle-free anytime.
3. It helps your customers to have real-time conversations with you.
84% of companies that work to improve their customer experience report an increase in their revenue. And by incorporating WhatsApp Business API into your business strategy, you can improve your customer experience and satisfaction exponentially.
How?
Here it is— WhatsApp chat is a two-way street, which means your customers can ask their queries directly without facing the inconvenience of phone calls and emails.
Because of these real-time conversations, your customers will get a sense of care and personalization.
4. It keeps your data safe and secure.
In a survey, 86% of the respondents said they feel a growing concern about data privacy, so you must keep your customers’ data secure and keep them satisfied.
And, WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, so your customers feel secure while connecting with you.
Who can use WhatsApp Business API?
You must follow specific business terms and conditions to apply for the WhatsApp Business API. However, there are two main factors that you need to consider to understand whether you’re eligible for the API or not.
1. Business size
Getting API is a complex process, so only medium to large-sized businesses can get approval from WhatsApp quickly. This is also why the API is called “WhatsApp Enterprise.”
For small businesses, getting approval is challenging and highly unlikely. However, they can use the free WhatsApp Business Application.
2. Industry
WhatsApp has a strict commerce policy. Industries such as adult content, arms, alcohol, entertainment, gaming and gambling, supplements, tobacco, and medical drugs are strictly prohibited from using the API.
Other industries like education, real estate, travel, eCommerce, and telecommunications can use WhatsApp Business API.
How does WhatsApp Business API work?
WhatsApp API helps businesses cope with the many support requests you get daily.
It allows you to send unlimited messages to your customers, and you can send messages in any content format you want.
WhatsApp Business API bifurcates your messages into two types— Session messages and Template messages.
The difference between these two is that when your customers send you a message, and you reply to them within 24 hours, these messages are called session messages, and you don’t need to pay any charge.
But, if you reply to them after 24 hours, then you need to connect with them through a template message only which should be pre-approved by WhatsApp, and you also need to pay for it.
How to apply for WhatsApp Business API?
Here’s a step-by-step guide for you to apply for WhatsApp Business API.
1. Select the application route
There are two ways you can apply for WhatsApp Business API, and you need to choose one from them.
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- Direct Signup
You can apply for your WhatsApp Business API directly through the official website Meta Business Help Center.
However, going down this path will lead to unnecessary inconvenience because if you’re a medium-sized company, it’s hard to get the approval, and even if you get the support, you will have to face technical challenges.
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- Through a Solution Provider
If you want to get approved quickly and hassle-free, then this is the path you should take.
WhatsApp Business solution provider such as Chat360 makes your process easier.
2. Submit basic information
Next, you must submit basic information about your company and your intentions with your WhatsApp services.
This information includes—
- Company name
- Website URL
- Industry
- Country of company headquarters
- Location (s) where you want to provide your services
- Intended use cases
- Time to market(the time when you want to launch the service)
- Volume predictions (messages/day)
After submitting the required information, you will get your brand approval within 2-3 weeks.
3. Activate your phone number
After your brand approval, you need to provide additional information to activate your phone number for your WhatsApp business account.
If you already have a phone number registered with the WhatsApp business app, you can proceed with the activation process; if not, register it beforehand.
Here is the information you need to provide for the phone number activation—
- The phone number of your WhatsApp Business account
- Name associated with the number
- Customer Facebook Business Manager ID
- The region for your app
Once your phone number is activated, you’ll have to manage all your communications on a virtual server, also known as docker, through a dashboard or a BSP system.
Remember that, however, you can register 25 phone numbers for each WhatsApp business account; each new number will require a separate docker server— resulting in a significant increase in your monthly expense.
What to do after setting up WhatsApp Business API?
Once you’ve set up your WhatsApp Business API, look at the following essential steps.
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- Get your green tick badge.
Having a green tick next to your business name will build the trust and credibility of your brand among your customers.
Although, you’re eligible for a green tick badge only if you send 500 messages/day and have an international presence of your brand.
Sometimes, getting a green tick badge from WhatsApp is very hard. But,Chat360 can help you to get it faster.
- Integrate it with Chat360
With Chat360, you can build, deploy and integrate WhatsApp bot on your number and drive better ROI for your business.
- Provide a smooth customer experience
- Increase lead for your business
- Reduce abandoned cart recovery
- Set up the marketing campaign
- Create your own E-commerce store
Conclusion: If you don’t want to follow this mundane process, then we can provide an end-to-end WhatsApp solution for your business. Book a free consultation call with Chat360.
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