In Ghana, most customers would rather send a WhatsApp message than fill in a form or make a call. Many UK customers feel the same way. If your business runs on a personal WhatsApp number, you are missing tools that can save you hours every week and make you look more professional.

Personal vs Business

WhatsApp Business is a free app made for small businesses. It looks and works like normal WhatsApp, but it adds a business profile, a product catalogue, quick replies, labels and automatic messages. Your customers do not need to download anything new. They message you the same way they always have.

Set up these five things

1. A complete business profile. Add your logo as the profile picture, a short description of what you do, your address, opening hours, email and website. This is the first thing a new customer checks to see if you are legit.

2. A catalogue. List your products or services with photos, prices and short descriptions. Instead of typing the same price list twenty times a day, you just send the catalogue link.

3. A greeting message. This sends automatically when someone messages you for the first time. Keep it short and warm, and tell them what to expect, for example "Thanks for reaching out. We reply within an hour during working hours."

4. An away message. Turn this on for evenings, weekends and holidays so nobody feels ignored. Let them know when you will be back.

5. Quick replies and labels. Save answers to the questions you get every day, like your location, delivery fees and payment details, and call them up with a shortcut. Use labels such as "New lead", "Paid" and "Follow up" so no customer slips through the cracks.

Habits that close sales

Reply fast. A customer asking for a price is often asking two or three other businesses at the same time. The first good reply usually wins. Be clear about prices and delivery up front. Send voice notes when a long explanation would take ages to type. And do not spam people with broadcast messages every day. Once or twice a week with something useful is plenty.

Want it done for you?

MSJ Advertising sets up WhatsApp Business accounts for shops, salons, restaurants and service businesses. We build your profile, design your catalogue images, write your auto messages and quick replies, and link WhatsApp to your website and Google listing. Message us and we will get you set up.