More than just a messenger: success with WhatsApp marketing

“I'm not stalking, I'm just researching!” This is my girlfriend Lisa's WhatsApp status. You can argue about humor, but she and her girlfriends obviously enjoy using the messenger app. They send videos, text and voice messages or selfies around the clock from the “9-to-5”, their favorite restaurant in the city center. My “9-to-5” job, on the other hand, includes writing this article. Shortly after my lunch break, my cell phone screen lights up, an animated giraffe is seen, she sends me kisses, red hearts and even winks. Sweet as sugar, but also pretty crazy. I wonder why everyone in my circle of acquaintances is so keen on the messenger with the green icon. “Is that normal?” , I ask myself and do research instead of stalking. The figures clearly say yes: 97% of 18-29 year olds in Germany use the platform and spend an average of almost two hours a day (!) with her. So it's no wonder that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg invested 19 billion US dollars to buy out WhatsApp in 2014. Attention, entrepreneurs watch out: The messenger service can do much more than send giraffes from A to B. Regardless of whether you operate a restaurant, a shisha bar or a delicatessen supermarket. The potential of WhatsApp marketing is huge. What many people don't know is that with an opening rate of up to 90%, it is the marketing channel with the lowest wastage of all. So inform Mr. Meyer about the pizza of the day, Lisa and Oliver about the latest types of tobacco and Mrs. Köhler about discounts in the wine range; because the message never misses its target via WhatsApp. In the following, we will show you exactly how to address your customers in a timely and direct way in order to (re) write your company's success story. Emojis included, of course.

Huge potential: the No. 1 secret marketing tip

It's hard to believe, but most companies are still missing out on the huge potential of WhatsApp marketing, even twelve years after the messaging market leader was founded. It's time to wake up now! The service has around 60 million daily users in Germany alone. It is therefore high time for you as an entrepreneur to finally take action. Do you own a gym and offer the best training room? Then bring all sports enthusiasts in your area to join you now. Does your hotel's pool offer a Caribbean feeling right in the center of Frankfurt? Then tell everyone who is wanderlust. Do you run a trendy young restaurant and mix the tastiest cocktails? Then make sure that the whole city knows it now. However, all of this only works if you address your customers exactly where they are already on a daily basis: on WhatsApp, the world's largest meeting place for target groups in all industries. A positive side effect: You save yourself the costs of outdated marketing measures that are a thing of the past and end up generating no return.

How to use WhatsApp for your business

Put an end to short-term flirtations! How to retain your customers permanentlyDoes the following also sound familiar to you? You meet an interesting person and the time has finally come for the first date, but you are at a loss for words. “What do I say first?” , ask yourself. Actually, it's very simple, you greet each other first. Simple but extremely important! Because a friendly greeting is the perfect start for relationships of any kind and your company is almost in dating fever. It has more first dates than Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond. Fun on the side, but what a number of bond girls are for Mr. Craig are your new customers for your company. An example: Anette Möller is visiting the wellness hotel you run for the first time ever and is bridging the waiting time at reception by using the free WiFi network. Her cell phone lights up green, the WhatsApp logo laughs at her and she reads the following words: “Hello Mrs. Möller! Welcome to our hotel. We are delighted to welcome you here. Let yourself be pampered and enjoy a break in our wellness paradise.” Mrs. Möller immediately warms her heart. What only looks like a small gift is the key to success for you as an entrepreneur. In fact, you establish a personal relationship with your customers right away, even before the keys to the room are handed over. In this way, you have not only obtained your guest's telephone number faster than Daniel Craig would ever have succeeded in, but in contrast to the secret agent, you are also able to enter into long-term relationships. So use the golden rule of marketing for yourself and arouse the emotions of your guests. This is the only way you can achieve something that is more important than ever in times of pandemic: You retain your customers permanently.

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‍Open around the clock: tomorrow's customer service

‍May we present: Max Westermann. Max has just received an invitation to an interview for the position of presenter on his favorite sports program “Overtime.” A look in the mirror reveals that a new haircut is needed first. However, it is already 9 pm, the job interview will take place the following day and the hair salon you run cannot be reached, as recommended by buddy Richard. In short, Max cuts his own hair. The result is a bad hairstyle and, as a result, low self-confidence, which is why Max is unable to convince his dream employer of himself the next day. Not only did Max miss his application penalty that day, you as an entrepreneur also came out empty-handed, because you missed the opportunity to win the new sports presenter from a well-known TV magazine as a new customer. But we can reassure you, because so that this nightmare doesn't happen to you in reality, we'll show you a simple solution that will not only turn the stars of tomorrow into long-standing regular customers of your business. Through WhatsApp marketing, Alex is greeted with a short message when he visits the hairdresser and thus automatically receives direct contact with your company. He can then forward to his buddy Max not only the address of your shop, but also the corresponding WhatsApp contact, which allows Max to make an appointment with you even outside opening hours. A win-win situation in which you gain new customers who, with appropriate service, will remain with you for a lifetime.

conclusion

In the future, there is no way around WhatsApp when it comes to successful and targeted marketing. So act now, or even better yesterday, so that your company doesn't miss out on one of the most important trends at all. Marketing via the messenger service not only brings you more new customers, it also turns them into regular customers, which means that your hotel, restaurant or hairdressing business achieves lasting success. It gets even better: WhatsApp marketing is not only a blessing for your business, you barely have to lift a finger to make a profit, because the Socialwave marketing package takes care of everything you need to make your business successful. So, get ready, emojis, go! My friend Lisa's girlfriends are probably already looking forward to texting with your shop. You can find more information about the Socialwave marketing package here.With our WLAN marketing package, your customers/patients/guests advertise for you, are happy and recommend you to others.