Ok so here’s the thing. when i first tried WhatsApp for marketing… i wasn’t sure it would work. it felt too “personal” you know? like who wants a brand messaging in the same app where your mom sends good morning pics ????. but surprisingly, people didn’t hate it. some actually replied.
I remember one guy texted back “thanks for sending this here, i usually ignore emails.” that’s when i was like ok… this is something worth exploring.
SMS still matters tho
funny thing is, around the same time i was also doing bulk sms for another client. nothing fancy, just delivery updates + reminders. And people still opened them right away. sms is like the old reliable buddy - short, instant, no internet needed.
WhatsApp tho… more chatty. more human. you can add emojis, pdfs, images. customers feel like they can actually reply back.
● small example (real one)
● client: small pharmacy chain.
● SMS: “order #452 confirmed. delivery today 6pm.”
● WhatsApp: “hi meera ???? thanks for your order! your medicines are out for delivery. invoice attached. need help? just reply here.”
Guess what. she replied back with a “thank you ????.” nobody replies to sms like that.
Random things i’ve learnt
● Don’t spam (seriously, you’ll get blocked so fast).
● Timing matters → lunch break works better than midnight.
● Keep msgs short but not robotic. think like how u text a friend.
● Always ask for opt-in. saves a ton of headaches.
● Mix formats: text, pics, pdfs.
My Take
If i’m being honest, whatsapp marketing is less “marketing” and more like relationship-building. sms is still king for urgent alerts. but together → magic combo.
Start small. confirmations on sms. follow ups on whatsapp. tweak as you go.
Quick FAQ
Nah. need opt-in. otherwise u annoy ppl.
Yep. cheaper + reliable for quick alerts.
Pretty much all → retail, clinics, schools, banks, travel.
Nope. tools + partners like covalent softwares handle it.
Easy → spamming. trust is hard to rebuild once gone.
