7 Strategies to Increase Your Sales with WhatsApp

You own a business and use WhatsApp? Perfect. Now imagine that using this feature strategically could significantly boost your business.

According to Indigitall, a new Spanish omnichannel platform in Brazil, companies increased their sales by 40% when using WhatsApp for direct conversations, highlighting the effectiveness of quick responses to customer needs.

For Victor Okuma, country manager of Indigitall in the country, WhatsApp has evolved from a simple messaging app into an essential strategic channel. It allows businesses of all sizes to connect quickly with their customers, creating personalized experiences and expanding conversion opportunities.

"WhatsApp is a powerful tool these days, transforming how businesses communicate with their customers, and boasts a significantly higher open and conversion rate than traditional channels," says Victor.

The expert, who serves companies like McDonald's, Banco Inter, and Claro, shares some valuable strategies for maximizing WhatsApp use in businesses. Check it out:

1 – Create Virtual Catalogs

To further boost conversions, WhatsApp allows you to create digital catalogs with photos, links, and buttons. Therefore, leverage this tool. In one client experience, Indigitall reported an impressive 81% increase in click-through rate (CTR). "Sending messages with links directly to the e-commerce platform facilitates conversion and makes the purchasing process more efficient," explains Victor.

2 – Implement real-time alerts

Furthermore, WhatsApp offers the option to keep clients informed through real-time alerts. Victor notes that "a car rental service that implemented an alert system reduced late driver payments by 34%. Now, users receive instant updates on the status of their vehicles, ensuring more effective communication." 

3 – Automate to gain agility in service delivery

Automating customer service via WhatsApp boosts customer speed and process autonomy, significantly increasing conversion rates. This fast, direct approach not only reduces the workload on the team but also improves the experience, allowing customers to be served quickly and efficiently. A robust API (a system that allows integration of WhatsApp with a chatbot, for example) with Artificial Intelligence to respond to customers can ensure personalized service. 

4 – Misuse of retargeting for abandoned carts

WhatsApp also stands out as a retargeting tool, re-engaging customers who left items in their shopping cart on an e-commerce site, for example. Through readily available market tools, it's possible to send automated messages encouraging consumers to complete a purchase they initiated on the company's website. "A retailer who developed this strategy saw a 25% increase in sales," notes the Indigitall specialist. **Note:** The "25%" is an unclear abbreviation and likely a typo or a specific metric not understandable in English. The translation leaves it as-is because it's impossible to provide a meaningful English equivalent without more context.

5 – Integrate channels for a complete experience

Integrating WhatsApp with other channels, such as push notifications, email, or SMS, can be a good strategy for creating a seamless and cohesive customer journey. This approach creates a more orchestrated flow, which contributes to increased conversions and stronger customer relationships. "If a customer began a purchase through Instagram, for example, mentioning that in a WhatsApp message can convey that the company is with them, following their interests. This creates a sense of closeness and fosters loyalty, all in a synchronized manner."

This is possible through systems like Indigitall's Customer Journey, which integrates with any CRM (a system that stores data on customer interactions with the company) and creates personalized outreach campaigns.

Today, we're one of the few tools on the market offering an automated journey and a complete communication flow (both for inbound and outbound channels), all within a single platform and powered by artificial intelligence. This approach not only improves the user experience but also all performance metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates into sales," Okuma completes.

6 – Enable purchase in just three clicks

The convenience of WhatsApp allows businesses to offer a quick purchase experience, in just three clicks. This fast and convenient model generated a 36% increase in sales in an experience recorded by Indigitall, demonstrating that customers value the speed and personalization WhatsApp provides.

7 – Foster interactive engagement

Dynamic interactions, such as contests and quizzes, not only attract customer interest but also generate tangible results. "In the e-commerce sector, a 6% increase in sales was recorded when contests were integrated into the marketing strategy," says Victor.