Introduction
WhatsApp is an integral tool for small and medium enterprises in marketing, sales, and support, essentially because of its soaring popularity among people. If you are new to WhatsApp marketing, different types of WhatsApp may confuse you.
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In this article, we will explain the different types of WhatsApp and discuss the factors to consider while selecting a WhatsApp business account for your team.
Types of WhatsApp Business Account
There are four types of WhatsApp accounts, each catering to different functional needs of your team. Below are some of the WhatsApp business accounts and their features;
WhatsApp Messenger
WhatsApp Messenger is the first instant messaging app launched by Meta. It is the most common messaging app that all of us use to stay connected with our friends and family. WhatsApp Messenger is available to download from the Google Play Store and the App Store.
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After downloading, one can create a WhatsApp profile using a valid phone number. You can access the same profile on the web. As you all know, WhatsApp Messenger is free, and Meta doesn’t charge its users for messaging on WhatsApp. Users only need to ensure a stable internet connection to use WhatsApp Messenger. Â
WhatsApp web app
WhatsApp web app is an extension of WhatsApp Messenger, designed to be accessed on a desktop browser. You can use the same profile to access your WhatsApp web. WhatsApp web ensures your messages are synced between your mobile and web profiles.
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WhatsApp web app offers the flexibility to access your messages on the desktop and easily share and manage your media files as you upload and download files from the app. Additionally, when you have a lot of chats to manage and reply to long messages, viewing them on a desktop can be easier compared to a WhatsApp messenger on a mobile device.
WhatsApp Business app
A WhatsApp Business account is mostly accessible on the WhatsApp Business app, which is another platform by Meta. A WhatsApp Business account allows businesses to perform marketing operations. It is most preferred by small and medium enterprises to support and engage with their users. Data shows that the WhatsApp business had reached over 200 million monthly active users in 2023.
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Though with limited functionality to perform promotional campaigns at a large scale, it ensures that a user’s personal and professional accounts stay separate. WhatsApp Business app is available to download from the Google Play Store and App Store.
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It is a good way to promote your business as it offers a dedicated business profile section to add information. Businesses can also add their product catalog or menu to ensure users can go through your products right through the app interface without searching somewhere else. Â
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Since consistent communication is essential for businesses, a WhatsApp Business account allows you to set up welcome, away messages, and quick replies to common questions. These messages can be automated to trigger when users send a specific prompt through their message. Â
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If you want to extend your WhatsApp marketing promotions to other platforms, then WhatsApp allows you to set up click-to-WhatsApp ads from your WhatsApp Business app. Â
WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp Business API expands the scope for bulk messaging campaigns through your WhatsApp business account. A WhatsApp Business API is a program that allows your WhatsApp business account to connect with a third-party tool that provides an interface for managing various WhatsApp messaging functions.
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A WhatsApp Business API exponentially increases the scope for businesses to do more with their marketing, sales, and support through a user-friendly app interface.
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It offers automation for message delivery, support for multiple users and devices, and even chatbot integration for seamless user engagement.
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Some additional features that come along with the WhatsApp Business API are;
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• CRM and third-party tool integration
• Green tick verification
• WhatsApp broadcast with bulk messaging option
• Multi-agent access for customer support
• Automation of messages
• Interactive message creation
• Personalization of messages
• WhatsApp Reply flows
• WhatsApp team inbox
• WhatsApp drip campaigns
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With WhatsApp Business API, businesses can move ahead of the broadcast limit set up in the WhatsApp Business app. Your broadcasting limit is defined by the allocated tier. Based on messaging consistency and frequency, your broadcast tier can be increased to reach an unlimited messaging capacity.
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However, an important point to note is that accessing a WhatsApp Business API from a business service provider can cost a significant platform fee.
Best types of WhatsApp Account for different functions
There are a few types of WhatsApp accounts, but each can be suitable for different team functions.
For the sales team
- A WhatsApp app is ideal for sales team members to engage with leads, follow up, or nurture them
- They can send product brochures to the users directly by attaching them as documents or media and engaging with them personally.
For the marketing team
- A marketing team with a limited target audience can still begin with a WhatsApp Business app to reach out to their audience using the WhatsApp broadcast feature.
- With a single WhatsApp broadcast, businesses can deliver their messages to 256 recipients.
- It is ideal for emerging small-scale businesses, as it has limited functionality and doesn't allow extensive marketing through bulk messaging.
- Medium & large-scale marketing teams perform better with WhatsApp Business API, which gives them the flexibility to bulk message to unlimited recipients, along with a host of other features.
For the support team
- A WhatsApp Business API is ideal for businesses to support their users in real time.
- It is possible to set up WhatsApp automation workflows for quick responses and to track support tickets seamlessly.
How to choose the right type of WhatsApp for your business?
Different types of WhatsApp come with different features that can ease your functionality to market your product, ensure user engagement, or provide support to users.
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Selecting the one that suits your team is essential as it may impact the performance of your team and define expected outcomes. Here are a few factors that you should consider to get the type of WhatsApp for your team;
Conclusion
There are multiple types of WhatsApp, each differing in its features, the types of messages users can send, and the number of recipients it can reach. Selecting the right one for your business depends on factors like target audience, budget, business size, etc.
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Considering these factors mentioned above, you can decide on the right type of WhatsApp for your business. Be informed if you are an emerging business; starting with the WhatsApp Business app is advisable, as you can slowly upgrade to WhatsApp Business API as needed. Â
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The WhatsApp messenger is free to use. It is available on the Google Play Store and App Store. Users should ensure a stable internet connection for using WhatsApp Messenger on their devices.
Yes, you can log in to your profile on different devices such as mobile, laptop, or tablet. However, there are limitations to the number of devices you can log in to at a time. It is possible to connect only four devices with a single WhatsApp profile.
You can access Meta from a WhatsApp Business account to apply for a WhatsApp Business API. Also, you can connect with official WhatsApp Business Service Providers to access the API.
Nisha Sneha
Nisha Sneha is a passionate content writer with 5 years of experience creating impactful content for SAAS products, new-age technologies, and software applications. Currently, she is contributing to Kenyt.AI by crafting engaging content for its readers. Creating captivating content that provides accurate information about the latest advancements in science and technology has been at the core of her creativity.
In addition to writing, she enjoys gardening, reading, and swimming as hobbies.
