Small Businesses
How to use WhatsApp Business for eCommerce business? [2023]
September 24, 2023
In recent years, online businesses have realized the potential of WhatsApp Business for eCommerce: selling products and services directly to customers, and accept payments.
If you're looking to tap into this potential, you might be wondering how to use WhatsApp Business for eCommerce.
In this post, we will explore WhatsApp Business for eCommerce. We will talk about:
how to set up WhatsApp Business eCommerce
how to accept payments on WhatsApp Business
how to optimize WhatsApp Business eCommerce
Why use WhatsApp Business for eCommerce?
With more than 2 billion active users, WhatsApp is the 3rd most used social platform in the world.
For this, WhatsApp Business is an excellent platform for eCommerce businesses to connect with customers and showcase product collections.
You can sell products and accept payments on WhatsApp Business.
By setting up a business account on WhatsApp Business for eCommerce, you can take advantage of several benefits that are not available with the regular WhatsApp app.
WhatsApp Business is a great opportunity for eCommerce businesses, especially for small businesses. It provides several eCommerce tools for small businesses market to help them with online selling and marketing.
How to set up WhatsApp Business for eCommerce?
To start using WhatsApp Business for eCommerce businesses, you need to set up a WhatsApp Business account.
Setting up WhatsApp Business is an easy process that only requires a few simple steps.
The first step is to download the WhatsApp Business app. It is available for free on the App Store or Google Play Store. After installing the app, follow the below instructions to create WhatsApp Business account:
Register your phone number.
Verify your phone number by entering the code sent to you via SMS.
Done!
Once set up, you can optimize your profile to start using WhatsApp Business for eCommerce business.
Here are the ways to optimize your WhatsApp Business:
Fill in your business details, including your business name and category.
Set up your business profile by adding a profile picture, business description, and contact information.
Add additional details to your profile such as your business address, website, and email address (optional).
Set up automated WhatsApp messages to greet customers when they message you, and to provide them with important information such as business hours or product details (optional).
Create a product catalog within the app to make it easier for customers to browse and purchase products directly from WhatsApp.
Use a payment solution to accept payments directly through WhatsApp.
How to accept payments on WhatsApp Business?
To accept payments on WhatsApp Business for eCommerce, you have 2 best options:
You can either utilize WhatsApp Payments in which there’s limitations and certain requirements.
You can also use ‘Sell via Link’ by Uvodo to accept payments through WhatsApp Business. For this, there’s no limitations, and you can accept payments in more than 135 countries.
Uvodo is an eCommerce platform for small businesses. It helps eCommerce businesses to sell and accept payments easily.
Now, to accept payments on WhatsApp with Uvodo, follow these steps:
Create an account on Uvodo for free
Add product or service
Copy the payment link
Share the link and accept payment
How to optimize WhatsApp Business for eCommerce business?
Write WhatsApp Business description
To effectively use WhatsApp Business for eCommerce and sell your products, it's important to optimize your profile to make it professional for customers. Here are some key elements to focus on:
About page
Business description
Profile picture and cover photo
Business hours
Contact information
Business category
Use Messaging Tools
Messaging tools are features that allow you to automate your communication with customers on WhatsApp. These tools include greeting messages, away messages, quick replies and labels which can be customized to fit your specific needs. With messaging tools, you can save time and provide efficient customer service, even during peak hours.
Additionally, messaging tools can help you to maintain consistency in your messaging and ensure that all inquiries are addressed promptly and professionally.
You can use the following messaging tools for WhatsApp Business for eCommerce:
Greetings messages
Away messages
Quick replies
Labels
Create Product Catalogs
Product Catalog on WhatsApp Business is a group of products and collections that appear on the business profile.
Catalog Manager allows you to add your products (items) to your WhatsApp Business profile and organize them in collections.
The Catalog Manager allows you to:
Organize Products: Categorizing your products in collections can help you keep the items organized. By presenting visually appealing images, you can increase conversions on WhatsApp.
Improve Customer Experience: By organizing products into collections, you can improve the customer experience by making it easier for customers to browse and find products that interest them.
Create several collections: It can help organize your products and make it easier for customers to browse and find what they're looking for. For example, you could create collections based on product type, season, or theme.
Add stock quantity: Product Manager allows you to manage stock quantities for each product item listed on your WhatsApp Business.
Share Catalogs: By sharing your WhatsApp catalog link across different platforms, you can reach a wider audience and attract new customers. This feature also allows you to directly communicate with interested buyers on WhatsApp and generate more sales.
Analyze Sales: By analyzing your sales across different categories, you can gain insights into which products are most popular and adjust your sales and marketing strategies on WhatsApp Business accordingly. This can help you optimize your product offerings and increase your overall sales and revenue.
How to create product and product catalogs on WhatsApp Business?
To create a product catalog on WhatsApp Business for eCommerce, simply follow these easy steps:
Open the app and navigate to the "Catalog" option in the "Settings" menu.
Click on "Manage" to edit the catalog.
Select "Add Items" to start adding products to your catalog. Remember, you need to add at least one item to create a product catalog.
Input the necessary product details, such as name, description, price, and images.
You can also include additional information, such as product code, URL, and category.
Once you have added all of your products, you can create a product catalog by going to the "Catalog" menu and selecting "Add Catalog."
Give your catalog a name and select the products you want to include.
You can also add a description and cover image to make your catalog more visually appealing.
With these simple steps, you can create an effective product catalog on WhatsApp Business and showcase your products to potential customers in a professional and organized way.
How to create product collections on WhatsApp Business?
After you have added the items (product) to your Catalog, you can group the similar products in products collections.
To create product collection on WhatsApp Catalog:
Go to the "Tools"
Click on the "Add new collection"
Name the collection
Select the products you want to add to the collection
Next, add the stock quantity for the items
Once the collection is reviewed and approved, it will be visible on your profile.
FAQ on WhatsApp Business for eCommerce
How can I use WhatsApp for eCommerce business?
Definitely! You can use WhatsApp Business for eCommerce by creating a WhatsApp Business account. You can add products, create catalogs and engage with customers through chat, and let your customers can order on WhatsApp.
Can you sell products on WhatsApp Business?
Yes, you can sell products on WhatsApp Business by creating products and catalogs with respective product details, images, and prices with potential customers. Another way is to use Uvodo's Sell via Link feature. You can create a payment link for products and services, share the link with customers, and get paid faster.
Read more on how to sell on WhatsApp
Can customers pay through WhatsApp Business?
Customers can pay through WhatsApp Business using WhatsApp Pay or by integrating third-party payment gateways. Or, you can create a payment link with Uvodo for a product and service, and accept payments through link.
Can I sell digital products on WhatsApp Business?
Yes. You can sell digital products on WhatsApp Business by sharing downloadable links or files with your customers.
How do I accept payment on WhatsApp?
To accept payment on WhatsApp, set up payment options within WhatsApp Business, or integrate a supported payment gateway for transactions. You can also create a payment link with Uvodo for a product and service, and accept payments through link.
