In this crazy digital world, social media is basically the town square where we start our conversations. But how do you take those conversations and move them to a more personal, direct, and actionable environment? For many successful businesses, the answer is by pulling the plug on their public Facebook feeds and creating an official WhatsApp page. Many businesses thrive on the incredible open and engagement rates that come with using this messaging app. It’s a natural fit for building a loyal network of fans. But how do you get your audience across these social sites into your WhatsApp group? Below’s your strategy guide.
The Foundation: Create a Valuable WhatsApp Page
Before you can begin promoting, you’ll first need to convince people to join your page. A good WhatsApp Web is only as good as the value that you’re offering people. You can’t just say, “Join our WhatsApp list”; you need to create a strong unique value proposition. Do you offer only private flash sales, early access to the latest products, VIP support, industry knowledge, etc. Your unique value proposition should be something your social media followers can’t find anywhere else. That’s your core strategy.
Craft Irresistible Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
Instead of just answering “Click the link in our bio” your social media call to action should be specific to the benefit of doing so. Essentially try these:
- “Get 24/7 support on our WhatsApp page.”
- “Join our WhatsApp community for exclusive weekly deals.”
- “Message us on WhatsApp to receive a free guide.”
These CTAs clearly communicate what the user will gain by taking the step to join your WhatsApp page, making them far more effective than a generic prompt.
Leverage the Power of the WhatsApp Click-to-Chat Link
It’s technically very simple, at least technically based on the tool WhatsApp has built-in. Basically you just have to create a unique click-to-chat link so that when your target user opens the link, the conversation will open with your business in their WhatsApp application. It saves you time by not having to save a number, then start a conversation with your business on your own. You can easily build this link using this kind of URL format: https: //wa. me/yournumber (with no spaces or special characters), just send that link out!
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Promote Your Link Across All Social Channels
Don’t stick to just one platform. Strategically add your WhatsApp link across all your social media platforms.
- Instagram: Use the single link in your bio with a tool like Linktree or Beacons to build an e-landing page with multiple links. Also you can add the link to WhatsApp directly to your Instagram profile contacts. Stories: Use the link sticker feature to drive traffic directly.
- Facebook: Add the “Click to chat” link from WhatsApp to your Facebook Page’s “Contact” button settings. Also you can pin a post to the top of your feed that makes it clear why people should join your WhatsApp page.
- Twitter/X / LinkedIn: Add the link to your profile bio, and tweet/post about it often so that people don’t forget about the limited value that they’ll get.
Run Exclusive, Platform-Specific Campaigns
Try running campaigns on social media designed to grow your WhatsApp list. For example: Run a giveaway or contest on Instagram where one of the criteria for entry is to message you on WhatsApp. Post a teaser of a new product on Facebook announcing that the first 50 people who message you on WhatsApp will win a special discount code. Run time sensitive, limited edition campaigns to create an urgency so that users act fast enough and make that switch to your WhatsApp page.
Utilize Engaging Content Formats
Don’t tell, tell, tell. Use the rich styles of content you find on social media to demonstrate exactly why your WhatsApp community makes an ideal solution for your customers. Create a short video tutorial and show how customers can receive quick help via WhatsApp. Share screenshots (with permission) of excellent reviews you’ve received through the WhatsApp app. Go Live on Instagram or Facebook and during the chat ask viewers openly how to join your list and have a deeper discussion, which is way more convincing and more interesting.
Utilize Engaging Content Formats
For your sales people, show – not tell. Don’t shy away from using the wide variety of social media formats to sell yourself on the value of your WhatsApp community. Make a short video tutorial that shows exactly how you can respond quickly to customers via WhatsApp (optional). Place screenshots (with permission) of what kind of messages have been great before your customers signed up using the app. Go live on Instagram or Facebook and during the chat, ask your customers on-air how they can sign up to your list and start taking on deeper conversations.
Measure, Analyze, and Optimize
Finally, track what’s working. Use UTM parameters to measure which social platform is driving the most clicks on your WhatsApp links. Track which CTAs and campaign ideas are generating the highest number of subscribers. Is your audience more comfortable with offers based on support, or offers based on discount? By tracking these metrics continuously, you’ll be able to build upon what’s working and design your page for maximum engagement on your WhatsApp feed.
To drive traffic from your social networks to your Whatsapp landing page it’s a strategy to build a clear value, mitigate friction and promote consistently. When you use these strategies you turn your social media presence from a broadcasting channel to an efficient funnel, building a dedicated community who is just a message away.
