WhatsApp has become a go-to platform for businesses because of its simplicity and ease of use. Many businesses have already integrated WhatsApp bots into their marketing strategy and gained excellent results. The best part about the WhatsApp bot is that you don’t need any technical knowledge or coding skills to get started! Whatsapp bots take care of customer queries and send alerts to initiate the actions.
Engaging the customer becomes difficult with the increase in business size. Customers expect an instant response at all times, and delayed answers often leave them frustrated and provoke them to spread negative reviews. And an unhappy customer doesn’t just spread negativity, their negativity is also directly proportional to the loss in revenue. This implies to both new customers and existing customers.
There is a popular statistic related to the significant losses businesses incur due to cart abandonment, where eCommerce brands suffer a loss of $18 billion in sales annually.
This article will walk you through what is WhatsApp bot, its benefits, and how to create a WhatsApp bot for your business.
What Is a Whatsapp Chatbot?
Whatsapp chatbot is an AI-powered automated software that runs on the Whatsapp Business platform. It assists customers with common queries or complaints and sends important notifications by focusing on providing an experience of interacting with an actual individual.
Benefits of WhatsApp Bot
Here are the benefits businesses can reap by using a reliable WhatsApp platform for creating and integrating a Whatsapp chatbot:
1. Provide Instant Customer Support
As of 2022, Whatsapp is the most popular messaging app, with over two billion monthly users.
Eliminating dissatisfaction amongst customers through quick responses using Whatsapp bots has become the need of the hour.
Excellent customer support often becomes a huge reason for continuing or ditching a product/service, providing convenience to customers on the preferred platform.
Automating FAQs saves time invested in answering repetitive questions.
2. Increase Sales
Did you know that Whatsapp generated over $8.7 million solely through the Whatsapp business app in 2021?
Whatsapp bots often assist customers based on their requests. Showcasing products based on a user’s response increases the chances of sales.
Also, platforms like Chat360 often help businesses in saving resources costs by 2X.
3. Reduce The Cart Abandonment Rate
Businesses often suffer huge losses due to cart abandonment. Sending relevant notifications regarding discounts, coupons, etc., often reduces the cart abandonment rate. A gentle reminder often goes a long way.
Let’s now move further to understanding the meaning of Whatsapp API. Chatbots cannot be created without purchasing an API.
What Is A Whatsapp API?
Whatsapp Business API is an application program that assists businesses in sending and receiving messages seamlessly.
It was introduced in 2018 to provide small and large companies with a tailored solution for improving customer engagement.
Signup with chat360 to get your WhatsApp business API without any hassle.
Questions To Ask Before Getting Started
Asking the right questions often prevents a wave of confusion once the process begins. Here are the important questions to sort out common doubts:
1. What are the Whatsapp API Limitations?
Whatsapp business API explicitly suits the needs of medium to large businesses, and small business owners often face difficulty acquiring WhatsApp API access. Apart from the size of the company.
Here are some more limitations businesses must keep in mind:
- 24-hour limitations restrict companies from directly reaching out to customers with proactive messages. A customer has to raise a query, and enterprises have a 24-hour time frame to respond.
- The conversation closes after that period. This rule protects customers from receiving heavily promotional content.
- Substantial limitations based on the purpose of chatbots. Promotional content or advertisements are least likely to make it through.
- Tricky to access specific industries like government, political organizations, tobacco, alcohol, etc.
- Compliance with WhatsApp business policies is a must.
2. Is my business registered on Whatsapp Business App?
You can create either an official business account or a business profile. The official account has a green badge with a display of the official business name.
Here is a glance at the eligibility criteria for an official business account:
- Must use WhatsApp API Approved Business Account
- Verification of Facebook Business Manager
- It should strictly be an established business
- A strong online presence and credibility
- Enable two-factor authentication
3. How to Request Whatsapp API access?
You can partner with a business solution provider or move with API self-request.
But remember that Facebook prefers businesses with a solution provider.
The chances of getting API access drastically increase with a trusted partner.
4. What are the pricing structures of Whatsapp Business API?
Whatsapp Business API introduced a conversational-based pricing model on February 1, 2022.
The new model charge businesses irrespective of who initiated the conversation.
Get ready to deal with the pricing whether the user puts up a query or approaches your solutions.
How To Create A Whatsapp BOT In 2022 (A Step-By-Step Guide)
Let’s look at the steps required for seamlessly creating a Whatsapp bot.
Step-1: Creating an account with chat360
Create an account by filling out a four-field form demanding basic information. We understand the frustration behind filling in multiple personal and business details before accessing a tool.
You can Signup for chat360 to get started within 5 minutes.
Step 2: Create your First Whatsapp Bot
Let’s cover all the necessary points to create your first Whatsapp Bot seamlessly:
- Click on “Add New Chatbot” on your dashboard’s right-hand side.
Some businesses like following a personalized approach, while others need quick template messages and a short template to hurry up the process.
We provide both options to our customers for a satisfying experience.
- Click on “start from scratch” to create your chatbots using Chat360’s configurable components.
- Insert your bot name and select the WhatsApp icon from the available options.
- Click “Create,” and your Whatsapp Bot will appear on the dashboard.
Step 3: Build Your Custom Bot with an Easy Drag & Drop Builder.
Step 4: Set up a Whatsapp Testing Channel
Here are the steps to successfully set up your Whatsapp testing channel:
- Open the dashboard and click on “Channels” appearing on the left-hand side
- Click on “Add New Channel,” appearing in the top right corner
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- Type the channel name and your contact number, and select from the created bots
- Click on “Create Channel.”
Step 5: Getting Started with Your Newly Created Chatbot
You will receive a message on your assigned number after completing your channel. Reply “Hi” to get started.
Let’s now look at the right ways of getting started with your newly created chatbot.
1. Defining Your Chatbot Goals
What’s the purpose of creating a Whatsapp chatbot?
Some main uses of a Whatsapp bot include conversational marketing, promotions, instant customer support, handling client requests without human involvement, etc.
Set up your chatbot goal/goals from the beginning and measure the progress along the way.
Next, decide the areas the chatbots can take over quickly. For instance, people in the awareness stage often have similar questions, and Bots can quickly answer FAQs and connect with agents when required.
2. Selecting Preferred Languages
Using the correct language becomes essential when establishing a personal touch. Make sure you feed your chatbot with appropriate languages that spark the conversation.
3. Creating A Roadmap
List down various project requirements to create a detailed roadmap. Cover every possible area where a Whatsapp chatbot can make your task easier.
4. Designing A Chatbot Persona
Chatbots require a personality to ensure better interaction with people. Here are some tips for developing a catchy bot personality:
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- Understand your target audience and their preferences during communication. Give particular emphasis to their behaviour, interests, language choices, etc.
- Have a perfect balance of humour and informational aspect for successful interactions.
- The chatbot’s personality should depend on the person it’s interacting with. Like humans, the bot should modify its responses based on different individuals.
- Have a diverse language and tone suitable to your target audience
- Conduct tests using real-time conversations to have a deeper understanding.
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Top 5 Use Cases Of Whatsapp Bots
Here are the use cases of Whatsapp bots that explain why they are crucial for businesses:
1. Helpful For Lead Generation And Conversion
Lead generation becomes easier with Whatsapp chatbots. A click-to-chat feature will appear via online adverts.
Businesses get access to the prospect’s phone number and name. After acquiring the basic information, they can initiate personalized communication.
2. 24/7 Customer Support
Customers expect an instant response to their queries at all times.
It’s impossible to tackle every question manually, and businesses often end up frustrated customers who switch to their next best alternative.
Whatsapp chatbots are designed to handle every customer query or complaint in the best possible manner.
Lastly, bots are available 24/7, ensuring customers don’t have to wait for business hours to receive answers.
3. Quick Response To Payment-Related Queries
What’s worse than a prospect ditching you due to payment issues?
Failure with payments often frustrates customers. Whatsapp chatbots link accounts for quicker processing.
Chatbots also provide discounts to people with abandoned cart items, provoking sales.
4. Assists In Running Loyalty Programmes
Loyalty programs are the key to initiating purchases. Providing constant updates becomes crucial to success.
Whatsapp chatbots automate the process by handling point balances, reward reminders, etc.
Ensure you provide information to customers regarding the information you will convey.
5. Immediate Notifications To Customers
Businesses often convey important alerts and notifications through emails.
But people receive many emails throughout the day, and they often overlook emails containing information they are genuinely interested in.
A Whatsapp chatbot assists in sending instant alerts to customers, such as appointment reminders, discounted offerings, etc.
Related: WhatsApp Bot Features Guide
WA Bot FAQs
Q1. What can a Whatsapp Chatbot Do?
A1. Whatsapp chatbots can assist users with their queries and complaints and send relevant timely alerts. It’s a great way to keep your audience updated and effectively handle their questions.
Q2. How to Build a Whatsapp Chatbot?
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- Request the Whatsapp Business API
- Use the Chat360 platform to create your chatbot
- Set a Whatsapp testing channel
- Get started with a clear purpose and roadmap covering your project requirements.
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Q3. Why should businesses use a chatbot?
A3. Businesses must use a chatbot to offer a richer customer experience and improve customer retention and engagement.
Q4. Are Whatsapp Chatbots Free?
A4. Whatsapp chatbots are free, but you need to purchase Whatsapp API. Chatbots cannot be built without an API.
Q5. How Do Whatsapp Chatbots Work?
A5. Whatsapp chatbots work like any other bot appearing on varied channels. Users can directly send messages via the inserted number.
Key Takeaways
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- Whatsapp chatbot helps businesses by improving customer engagement and retention.
- Whatsapp chatbots are free to create, but you must invest in Whatsapp Business API.
- The access to API remains limited for medium and large businesses
- It’s crucial to choose a reliable platform for creating chatbots
- A Whatsapp chatbot drastically reduces the cart abandonment rate and increases overall sales
- Creating a catchy chatbot persona is essential to obtaining the desired response
- Whatsapp bots benefit lead generation, customer support, payment-related queries, loyalty programs, etc.
Further, read: How to add bot in WhatsApp group?