WhatsApp Business is a messaging app that lots of people use – about 1.2 billion every month! And guess what? More people are expected to use it, maybe around 3.5 billion, by 2025. It’s not just for chatting; businesses use it to market their stuff too!
Lots of companies like WeChat and Facebook Messenger have been letting businesses use them for marketing. But when WhatsApp joined in, it had two things going for it—
- WhatsApp is the most liked messaging app.
- People in 133 countries around the world prefer using WhatsApp for messaging.
If you want to know how to use WhatsApp Business API for your business, just keep reading.
This article will give you all the details and guide you step-by-step on how to apply for WhatsApp Business API.
What is WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp Business API is a tool made by Facebook in August 2018, mainly for medium to large businesses.
This tool allows businesses to get and reply to as many WhatsApp messages as they need. It also helps them customize their solutions to better connect with customers through 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
WhatsApp API is like a doorway; you’ll need another tool called CRM to unlock its features. This combo lets you connect and talk to your customers.
Good news – you can grab your CRM dashboard from GetItSMS in just a few minutes!
Why do I need WhatsApp Business API?
Here are four good reasons why you should use WhatsApp Business API:
1. It helps you create superior brand connections.
If you want long-term benefits, it’s important to build trust and credibility with your audience. WhatsApp Business API is a great tool to help you do just that.
Here’s why—
- WhatsApp Business API lets you talk to your customers in a private and personal space.
- Businesses can make their own profiles, sharing important info like contact details, website links, social media, store addresses, and more instagram story viewer iganony.
- WhatsApp verifies all business accounts, giving them a “green tick” to show they’re legit. This builds trust, so customers know it’s not spam.
2. It enables businesses to engage with their customers globally.
WhatsApp is free and super popular, with a whopping 95% of smartphone users having it. It’s the go-to messaging app in 104 different places!
Almost everyone around the world uses WhatsApp. So, if your customers are global or travel a lot, you can easily talk to them anytime without any fuss.
3. It helps your customers to have real-time conversations with you.
A whopping 84% of companies see more money coming in when they focus on making customers happy. Adding WhatsApp Business API to your game plan can seriously boost your customer experience and satisfaction.
How?
Here’s the deal—WhatsApp chat works both ways. Your customers can ask questions directly without the hassle of phone calls and emails.
Thanks to these live chats, your customers will feel taken care of and like the service is personalized just for them.
4. It keeps your data safe and secure.
In a survey, 86% of people said they’re increasingly worried about data privacy. It’s crucial to keep your customers’ data safe and keep them happy.
The good news is, WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted. So, when your customers connect with you, they can feel secure and protected.
Who can use WhatsApp Business API?
To apply for the WhatsApp Business API, you’ve got to follow some business terms and conditions. But there are two key things to check to see if you’re eligible for the API or not.
1. Business size
Getting the API can be a bit tricky, and it’s mostly quick for medium to large businesses. That’s why it’s called “WhatsApp Enterprise.”
For small businesses, it’s tough to get approval and not very likely. But no worries, they can still use the free WhatsApp Business Application.
2. Industry
WhatsApp has some strict rules when it comes to business. Industries like adult content, arms, alcohol, entertainment, gaming and gambling, supplements, tobacco, and medical drugs can’t use the API.
On the flip side, industries like education, real estate, travel, eCommerce, and telecommunications are good to go with WhatsApp Business API.
How does WhatsApp Business API work?
The WhatsApp API is a lifesaver for handling all the customer support requests flooding in every day.
With it, you can shoot unlimited messages to your customers in any way you like.
Now, the API splits your messages into two types—Session messages and Template messages.
Here’s the deal: if your customers ping you and you respond within 24 hours, those are session messages, and you don’t pay anything for them.
But, if you reply after 24 hours, you’ve got to use a template message that WhatsApp gave a thumbs up to, and yes, you’ll need to pay for that.
How to apply for WhatsApp Business API?
Let’s break down the steps for you to apply for WhatsApp Business API:
1. Select the application route
You’ve got two options to apply for WhatsApp Business API, and you need to pick one.
Direct Signup
You can sign up for WhatsApp Business API directly on the official Meta Business Help Center website.
But, choosing this way can cause some trouble. If your company is medium-sized, getting approval is tough, and even with support, you’ll run into technical challenges.
Through a Solution Provider
If you want a quick and easy approval, this is the route to go. Services like GetItSMS, a WhatsApp Business solution provider, make the whole process smoother for you.
2. Submit basic information
If you aim for a quick and easy approval, then this is the way to go.
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)
Once you’ve sent in all the needed info, you can expect your brand approval in about 2-3 weeks.
3. Activate your phone number
After your brand gets the thumbs up, you’ll need to give more details to activate your phone number for the WhatsApp business account.
If you’re already using a phone number with the WhatsApp business app, go ahead with the activation. If not, make sure to register it before proceeding.
Now, let’s look at the info you need to provide to activate your phone number:
- The phone number of your WhatsApp Business account
- Name associated with the number
- Customer Facebook Business Manager ID
- The region for your app
After your phone number is activated, you’ll handle all your communications on a virtual server, often called docker. You can do this through a dashboard or a BSP system.
Keep in mind, though, you can register up to 25 phone numbers for each WhatsApp business account. But, for each new number, you’ll need a separate docker server, which means your monthly expenses could go up.
What to do after setting up WhatsApp Business API?
After you’ve got your WhatsApp Business API up and running, let’s check out these crucial steps:
1. Get your green tick badge.
Securing the WhatsApp Green Tick Verification next to your business name is a significant achievement – it greatly boosts trust and credibility with your customers.
But here’s the catch – you can only snag that green tick if you send 500 messages a day and your brand has an international presence.
Getting that green tick badge straight from WhatsApp can be tough sometimes. But don’t worry, GetItSMS can speed up the process for you.
2. Integrate it with GetItSMS
GetItSMS allows you to create, launch, and connect a WhatsApp bot to your number, helping your business achieve a better return on investment (ROI).
- Provide a smooth customer experience
- Increase lead for your business
- Reduce abandoned cart recovery
- Set up the marketing campaign
- Create your own eCommerce store
Conclusion
In conclusion, applying for WhatsApp Business API doesn’t have to be a complicated journey. Following our step-by-step guide simplifies the process, offering clarity for businesses aiming to enhance their customer interactions. Remember, while the official route through Meta Business Help Center is an option, it might pose challenges, especially for medium-sized enterprises.
Opting for a WhatsApp Business solution provider, like GetItSMS, ensures a smoother and quicker approval process. Once approved, managing communications becomes more efficient, and integrating a WhatsApp bot with GetItSMS adds a layer of automation, promising a better return on investment for your business. As you embark on this WhatsApp API journey, prioritize building
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