These days, customers want to engage with your brand in the same way they’re already communicating with their friends: through private messaging on their preferred messaging apps.
With 2 billion users, WhatsApp is officially the most popular messaging app in 2023. In fact, 57% of customers regularly message brands via WhatsApp and 69% are more likely to buy from a brand if there’s a WhatsApp option available – turns out from our WhatsApp Brand Messaging report.
WhatsApp offers a big opportunity to directly reach your audience, convert customers and grow lifetime value. But before you start talking to prospects, you need to collect WhatsApp Business Opt-Ins to make sure users only receive messages they signed up for.
Since it’s vital that your opt-in policy complies with all laws applicable to your communications, here’s a summary of the easiest ways to safely collect WhatsApp Business Opt-Ins.
What Is A WhatsApp Business Opt-In?
A WhatsApp Business opt-in is when your customers agree to receive messages over WhatsApp from your business by providing you with their mobile phone number.
An opt-in cannot happen via the WhatsApp platform. Prospects must provide you with their number via another channel your business uses (website, app, email, SMS, etc.).
You must obtain an opt-in before you start engaging with customers via WhatsApp. It’s your brand’s responsibility to store your opt-ins and ensure that users are only receiving what they signed up for.
What are the Rules & Restrictions?
WhatsApp introduced 3 simplified policies to collect opt-ins to ensure people receive helpful information from businesses:
- Businesses must clearly state that a person is opting in to receive messages from the business over WhatsApp
- Businesses must clearly state the business’ name that a person is opting in to receive messages from
- Business-initiated messages must be approved Message Templates and comply with applicable law
State of WhatsApp Brand Messaging Report
WhatsApp Business offers a big opportunity to directly reach your audience, convert customers and grow lifetime value. Get the latest WhatsApp business statistics and insights from this ungated report.
10 Ways to Collect WhatsApp Business Opt-Ins
A WhatsApp Business opt-in can’t be collected directly from WhatsApp. You need to make sure customers provide you with their mobile phone numbers via another channel your business uses.
Luckily, there are several easy ways to navigate customers toward your opt-in process, while still complying with the guidelines.
Here’s a list of 10 ways you can quickly implement to collect opt-ins:
- WhatsApp thread during the first customer-initiated conversation
The simplest way to ask a customer to opt-in is when they’ve already reached out to you first during a WhatsApp thread. After you helped them, ask them if they want to sing up for WhatsApp updates from your brand.
- On Your Website
There is no better place to get started than on your own website. After all, customers come here to find out more about your brand. You can use a popup and ask customers to opt-in for your WhatsApp updates.
- Messenger bot
Messenger bots are a great way to engage customers and help them move down the funnel by sending them personalized offers. Your bot can end the conversation with a ‘sign up for WhatsApp updates’ message.
- Ads that click to WhatsApp
You can also add a ‘sign up for WhatsApp notifications’ button to your ads that click to WhatsApp.
- QR code
QR codes are another easy way to collect a WhatsApp Business opt-in. Allow your customers to opt-in for future WhatsApp notifications by simply scanning a QR code.
- During the transaction process
Use a subscription box during the transaction process. Make sure the text is short and direct. For instance, would you like to receive notifications over WhatsApp?
- SMS short code or email
Offer a simple, one-click opt-in option over SMS, so your customer gives their immediate consent to use WhatsApp for future notifications. Or, include a direct link to your emails which will direct them to further information before opting in.
- Phone interactive voice response (IVR)
Once customers reach out to you and get connected to your IVR, you can take the opportunity to ask for their consent by pressing a specific key on their dial pad.
- Customer service call
Similarly, you can directly ask for their approval for notifications over WhatsApp during a customer service call.
- In person
What better way to collect opt-ins than asking them directly in person? In case you have a physical store, don’t miss out on this opportunity to let customers know about your WhatsApp channel.
Our Tips to Increase Your WhatsApp Business Opt-In Rate
As you can see, there are many easy ways you can implement to collect WhatsApp Business opt-ins. Here are some tips to increase your opt-in rate:
- Clearly communicate the value of receiving important updates on WhatsApp
- Be explicit about what types of messages a customer is opting-in to
- Avoid messaging customers too frequently to mitigate the perception of spam
- Provide instructions for how people can opt-out of receiving messages from your business
- Honor customer requests to mitigate risk of customers blocking or reporting your business
- Monitor your quality rating to evaluate new opt-in processes
Sum Up
Asking for WhatsApp Business opt-in is easier than you might think. As long as you keep things transparent and comply with the rules, you can use plenty of channels to ask for consent, including your own website, ads, messenger bot, customer calls, and many more.
Just keep it clean, make it simple, and ensure you send updates on what people signed up for.
Bonus point: check out our article on the latest WhatsApp Business statistics to stay up to date on WhatsApp messaging habits.
