WhatsApp is one of the most effective marketing platforms.

No wonder big brands like Netflix and Unilever use it.

The good news is that both big and small brands have a space on WhatsApp.

The bad news?

Not everyone will succeed on WhatsApp. Because they don’t know how to go about it correctly.

We’ll show you how to sell your product on WhatsApp and examples of businesses that run successfully on WhatsApp. We’ll also unveil proven best practices for selling on WhatsApp to boost your sales.

Grab a seat. Let’s show you how all of these work.

What are examples of businesses that sell on WhatsApp?

Do popular businesses sell on WhatsApp? Yes, they do. These examples will inspire you.

#1. Adidas, uniting global sports stars

Adidas doesn’t just make sportswear, Adidas rocks WhatsApp and has been selling on WhatsApp since 2015.

Here’s how they do it.

They create WhatsApp groups for loyal customers and influencers where they have exclusive access to chat with the brand and get exclusive products.

This story from Adweek explains how they used a star-studded WhatsApp group to do something unique for a new product release. Although the figures remained undisclosed, customer engagement and loyalty increased. 

In the words of Digitas U.K. strategy partner James Whatley:

“WhatsApp messages have much higher open rates than email.”

Knowing this, Adidas didn’t just stop at the star-studded WhatsApp group. They created a StyleBot chatbot that helped users find their perfect outfits.

And that chatbot was a hit. 95% of users were satisfied, and 50% signed up on Adidas’ website.

#2. Yoox Net-a-Porter, promoting fashion

Yoox is a luxury fashion retailer.

Yoox wanted to create a more personalised and engaging customer shopping experience. What platform will help them reach the hearts of their customers wherever they are?

Yoox’s then-CEO Federico Marchetti knew they had their answer when Federico said:

“WhatsApp is the best channel for conversational commerce”. So, without delay, Yoox adopted WhatsApp.

They used WhatsApp to offer customers products, tips, and exclusive deals. They also used WhatsApp to handle customer service inquiries, process orders, and confirm deliveries.

But do you know what made Yoox’s WhatsApp marketing unique?

Yoox didn’t send boring text messages to their customers. They used rich media features (photos, videos, voice notes, and stickers) to make their messages more fun and interactive.

They also used AI-powered assistants to help customers find what they were looking for and answer their questions.

Plus, they didn’t spam their customers. They only contacted them when they had something relevant or valuable to offer.

The results? Easy sales, including selling a product worth over €80,000. 

Today, Federico is grateful they developed their WhatsApp capabilities. “WhatsApp chats have helped us close some of our largest deals.”

Who knew selling on WhatsApp could be so effective?

#3. Hellmann launches the “WhatsCook” campaign

Hellmann is a mayo brand where renowned chefs give personalised recipes and tips. They knew the importance of selling on WhatsApp.

Hellmann wanted to connect personally with their customers.

Of course, other social media platforms were possible. But none had better open rates than WhatsApp.

They soon came up with a plan: WhatsCook.

WhatsCook is a WhatsApp service that connects customers with real chefs who help them whip up yummy dishes.

All users had to do was sign up on Hellmann’s website and snap their already stocked-up refrigerators.

Next, renowned chefs will generate ideas for a delicious recipe the user can try.

Users will then be connected with these chefs on WhatsApp. The chefs give guidance on the recipes using images, videos, and other native WhatsApp features.

How cool is that?

Watch this video that explains WhatsCook.

That’s how Hellmann increased their sales 14x. Not to mention their brand awareness and loyalty.

They raked in 4 million website visitors and 13 thousand sign-ups. The average chat time was 65 minutes per user.

Now you see how effective selling on WhatsApp is. Let’s look at what you can sell on WhatsApp.

What can you sell on WhatsApp?

Selling on WhatsApp isn’t limited to only big businesses. You can sell anything on WhatsApp.

• Handmade crafts: Do you make jewellery, accessories, or other crafts? Send your customers pictures and videos of your work. Create WhatsApp groups, or use your WhatsApp status to create awareness.
• Digital products: You can sell ebooks, courses, and music. Use WhatsApp groups to share samples, testimonials, and payment links with your audience.
• Food and beverages: Do you have a passion for cooking or baking? You can sell your yummy dishes on WhatsApp and make your contacts drool. Send them menus, prices, and delivery options and get their feedback.
• Personal services: This includes coaching, consulting, tutoring, or fitness training. Use WhatsApp to communicate, schedule appointments, and send reminders. Also, share tips, resources, and testimonials with your clients.
• Beauty products: Do you sell makeup, skincare, haircare, or perfume? Use WhatsApp to share product reviews, tutorials, and recommendations.
• Clothing and accessories: Do you sell dresses, shoes, bags, or sunglasses? Ensure to upload photos and videos of your products for your contacts. Use WhatsApp to create a buzz around your products and get more sales.

Ready, but not sure how to start selling on WhatsApp? 

How do you go about selling on WhatsApp?

Follow this step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Profile your audience

Every quality sales effort starts with defining your audience.

Research and identify your ideal customers. What are their needs, preferences, and pain points?

Understand what ticks them.

This is the first step.

Step 2: Define your sales strategy

Create a structured sales plan. Ensure that it outlines your goals, objectives, and tactics. 

Consider different categories of businesses (e.g., fashion, cosmetics, courses, services). And treat each category differently as the occasion permits.

While you do this, remember to focus on your brand persona.

Step 3: Set up a WhatsApp Business account

There are 2 ways you can use WhatsApp for your business:

• WhatsApp for Business app (for small businesses)
• WhatsApp Business API or messaging solution (for SME and large-scale businesses).

Choose one depending on your business size.

Step 4: Integrate Telebu Social

This is where it gets tastier.

You want to enhance your selling capabilities on WhatsApp.

Hence, you need a multi-functional WhatsApp messaging solution with advanced WhatsApp features like multi-user and automation.

Schedule a demo with our team to learn more about how Telebu Social can help you sell more. You can sign up for a free 14-day trial and test it for yourself.

Step 5: Create product cards

In the WhatsApp Business App, create product cards that showcase your offerings.

Include relevant details like product descriptions, prices, and images.

Step 6: Engage with customers

Drive customers from your other channels, website, and social media to your WhatsApp DM or chatbot.

Then, encourage customers to view your product cards on WhatsApp. Provide them with direct links to make purchases.

Step 7: Follow-up

The money is in the follow-ups. Create a plan to follow up on all conversations you have with your customers and prospects.

Remember to maintain a positive and engaging tone throughout the process.

How do you craft a marketing message on WhatsApp?

There are basic rules when crafting WhatsApp marketing messages:

• Understand your audience: Recognise your target audience and their preferences.
• Define your message objective: Want to promote a product, service, or event? Knowing this will help you craft a clear and compelling message.
• Grab attention with a catchy opener: Start your message with an attention-grabbing opener. Use humour, intriguing questions, or interesting facts. 
• Highlight the benefit: Explain how it solves a problem or fulfils your audience’s needs. Use concise and persuasive language.
• Create a sense of urgency: Offer limited-time offers, exclusive discounts, or time-sensitive promotions. This will motivate readers to take action promptly.
• Include a clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Guide readers on the next steps, whether visiting a website, purchasing, or contacting you for more information.
• Personalise and test: Personalisation makes your message relevant and engaging. Test different message variations to identify what resonates best with your audience.

What are the advantages of selling on WhatsApp?

Selling on WhatsApp is a smart move for any business owner. Here’s why:

• It’s fast and easy: Chat with customers, send invoices, and receive payments in minutes.
• It’s personal and friendly: You can use messages, photos, and videos to build customers’ trust and loyalty.
• It’s popular and global: You can reach millions of potential customers in over 180 countries daily.
• It’s secure and reliable: Protect your data and transactions via end-to-end encryption and cloud backup.
• It’s fun and creative: You can spice up your conversations with emojis, stickers, and GIFs. Who says business has to be boring?

Let’s discover how to start selling on WhatsApp. That’s where Social Connect comes in again.

Start selling on WhatsApp with Telebu Social

Telebu Social makes selling on WhatsApp easy.

With Social Connect, you can:

• Automate answers to common questions, provide information, and collect feedback with chatbots.
• Integrate your WhatsApp account with other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Shopify.
• Use the WhatsApp API to send and receive messages programmatically from your own application without opening the app.

One of TelebuSocial’s best features is mass message broadcasting. With this, you can send mass messages to your numerous customers.

You can use this feature to:

• Announce new products or offers
• Send reminders or confirmations
• Share tips or advice, and
• Request reviews or referrals

The broadcast feature is like a megaphone reaching thousands of people all at once.

With TelebuSocial, selling on WhatsApp is fun, friendly, and effective.

What are some best practices for selling on WhatsApp?

You can make selling on WhatsApp stress-free and innovative. To do that, follow these tips:

• Make a killer profile with your logo, contacts, website, and a snappy intro.
• Use WhatsApp Business tools to chat smartly and show off your stuff. Labels, quick replies, and catalogues are your friends.
• Segment your customers by what they like, want, or bought. Send them tailor-made messages, deals, or news they care about.
• Share awesome content that adds value to your customers. Tips, stories, images, videos, voice notes, anything goes.
• Get feedback and reviews from your customers. Ratings, testimonials, suggestions, you name it.
• Stay in touch with your customers after a sale. Say thanks, check if they’re happy, or offer help. And don’t forget to suggest other products or services they might love.

Are there mistakes to avoid when selling on WhatsApp? Absolutely.

What are some mistakes to avoid when selling on WhatsApp?

Want to sell more on WhatsApp without annoying your customers or getting blocked? Follow these, and you’ll be fine:

• Don’t spam: Only send valuable, relevant, and timely messages. Your customers will appreciate it.
• Don’t ghost: Answer your customers promptly and politely. And if you can’t, tell them when you’ll get back to them. Don’t leave them hanging or wondering if you care.
• Don’t be sloppy: Use proper language, grammar, and punctuation when chatting with your customers. Avoid slang, jargon, or acronyms that might confuse or offend them. You’re not just texting friends. You’re running a business.
• Don’t lie: Be transparent about your products, pricing, and timing. Don’t promise the moon, and then give them a rock.
• Don’t be careless: Protect your customers’ data and privacy with end-to-end encryption. Don’t share their personal or financial information with anyone without their permission. You don’t want to lose their trust or get into legal trouble. 
• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: Stay active on other channels like social media, email, or websites to market your business. Then, use those platforms to drive more customers to your WhatsApp chats. Also, use other tools like CRM, payment gateways, or analytics to improve your sales process.

There you have it. Practical tips to make selling on WhatsApp error-free.

Want a more hassle-free experience? Here’s the icing on the cake.

FAQs

What is WhatsApp Business?

WhatsApp Business is a FREE app that allows small businesses to create a catalogue, communicate with their customers, and provide customer service on WhatsApp.

How do I create a WhatsApp Business account?

To create a WhatsApp Business account, you must download the WhatsApp Business app from the Play Store or the App Store. Then, you must verify your business phone number and fill in your business details, such as name, category, description, address, and website.

How do I create a catalogue on WhatsApp Business?

To create a catalogue on WhatsApp Business, go to Settings > Business Tools > Catalog. Then, you can add products or services by tapping the plus icon and filling in the details, such as name, price, description, and image. You can also add a link or a code for each item to direct customers to your website or payment platform.

How do I share my catalogue with customers on WhatsApp?

Sharing your catalogue with customers on WhatsApp increases your chances of selling more. You can send it as a message or display it on your business profile. To send it as a message, you must open a chat with a customer and tap the attachment icon. Then, select Catalog and choose the item you want to send. Go to Settings > Business Tools > Profile to display it on your business profile. Then, tap Add Catalog and select the items you want to show.

How do I use WhatsApp statuses to sell and advertise my products or services?

WhatsApp statuses are a feature that allows you to share photos, videos, or texts with your contacts for 24 hours. You can use WhatsApp statuses to sell and advertise your products or services by posting attractive images or videos of your items, highlighting their features or benefits, offering discounts or promotions, or inviting customer feedback or referrals.

How do I use WhatsApp broadcast messages to sell and advertise my products or services?

Selling more on WhatsApp via broadcast messages is possible. The broadcast feature lets you simultaneously send the same message to multiple contacts without creating a group chat. You can use WhatsApp broadcast messages to sell and advertise your products or services by creating a record of potential or existing customers who have agreed to receive your messages. Then, you can send them updates, announcements, offers, or reminders about your items.

How do I use WhatsApp group chats to sell and advertise my products or services?

With WhatsApp group chats, you can create a chat with up to 256 participants. There, sell and advertise your products or services by creating a group for your customers interested in your items. Share your catalogue, answer their questions, provide customer service, and collect feedback in the group.

How do I use WhatsApp calls to sell and advertise my products or services?

You can use WhatsApp calls to sell and advertise your products or services by calling customers who have shown interest in your items. Then, you can explain the value proposition of your items, address their objections or concerns, or persuade them to buy from you.

How do I collaborate with complementary businesses or influencers on WhatsApp to sell and advertise my products or services?

You can collaborate with complementary businesses or influencers on WhatsApp to sell and advertise your products or services. For example, if you sell cakes, you can partner with a florist who can recommend them to their customers and vice versa.

What are the benefits of selling on WhatsApp?

Some of the benefits of selling on WhatsApp are:

• You can reach an extensive and engaged audience of over two billion monthly active users.
• You can communicate with your customers quickly, conveniently, and personally.
• You can increase your conversion rate, customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention.
• You can reduce your marketing costs and increase your sales revenue.
• You can monitor and measure your sales performance using analytics tools.

What are the challenges of selling on WhatsApp?

Some of the challenges of selling on WhatsApp are:

• You have to comply with the WhatsApp Commerce Policy and Terms of Service.
• You have to obtain consent from your customers before sending them messages.
• You have to manage multiple conversations and respond quickly to your customers.
• You must maintain a professional tone and style across your messages.
• You have to integrate WhatsApp with your other sales channels and tools.

How do I overcome the challenges of selling on WhatsApp?

Some of the ways to overcome the challenges of selling on WhatsApp are:

• You must read and follow the WhatsApp Commerce Policy and Terms of Service carefully.
• You must ask your customers to opt-in to receive your messages and respect their preferences.
• You must use a WhatsApp Business API account and a WhatsApp Inbox product to manage multiple conversations, automate messages, and assign tasks to your sales team.
• You must create a WhatsApp sales script and train your sales team to use it effectively.
• You have to use a WhatsApp CRM product to integrate WhatsApp with your other sales channels and tools, such as your website, email, or payment platform.

What successful businesses use WhatsApp to sell their products or services?

Some examples of successful businesses that use WhatsApp to sell their products or services are:

• Yoox: A leading online fashion retailer that uses WhatsApp to offer personalised and exclusive shopping experiences to its most loyal and high-spending customers.
• Adidas: A renowned sports brand that promotes its products via WhatsApp and
• Hellmann: A popular recipe brand selling exclusive recipes on WhatsApp.

How do I measure the effectiveness of my WhatsApp sales strategy?

Selling on WhatsApp without measuring is like sailing a ship without a compass – you’ll drift aimlessly without a clear direction. WhatsApp analytics tools help you track and report these various metrics:

• The number of messages sent, received, delivered, read, and replied
• The number of contacts added, blocked, or deleted
• The number of catalogue views, clicks, shares, and purchases
• The number of status views, clicks, shares, and feedback
• The number of broadcast messages sent, delivered, read, and replied
• The number of group chats created, joined, left, or deleted
• The number of calls made, received, answered, missed, or declined
• The conversion rate, customer satisfaction rate, loyalty rate, retention rate, churn rate, revenue per customer, and cost per customer acquisition.