Meta announced that WhatsApp Business, its application designed especially for small businesses, has increased the number of monthly active users to 200 million. The company also announced new features where WhatsApp Business users can create “click WhatsApp” ads without a Facebook account, and where sellers can create, buy, and post ads for Facebook and Instagram directly from within the app. WhatsApp did not share pricing details, saying it will start testing the new features soon.
American social media giant Meta has announced that WhatsApp Business, its application designed especially for small businesses, has increased the number of monthly active users from 50 million to 200 million in 2020.
Meta Founder CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to increase revenues from platforms such as WhatsApp Business, while pouring billions of dollars to develop the metaverse. In the last few months, Meta has taken new concrete steps towards increasing revenues generated through paid messaging.
The chat app owned by Meta announced that starting today, WhatsApp Business users will be able to create “click WhatsApp” ads without a Facebook account. The company also announced that merchants will be able to create, buy and post ads for Facebook and Instagram directly from within the app.
WhatsApp Business is also adding another paid feature that allows merchants to automate the process of sending personalized messages to their customers. The company did not share pricing details, stating that WhatsApp will begin testing the feature “soon.”
The company states that businesses can send different messages to different customer lists. For example, a seller will be able to send a discount code to new customers with a buy button.
Facebook accounts will no longer be required for businesses that want to start using the new features. An email address and payment method will suffice. When users click on an ad, a chatbot will open on WhatsApp where they can ask questions, browse products, and shop. One of the most powerful ways to get potential customers to message businesses on WhatsApp, these ads are expected to open up new opportunities for small businesses that only operate on WhatsApp and need a simpler way to start advertising.
Last year, during Meta’s Q3 earnings call, Zuckerberg noted that click-to-WhatsApp ads exceeded $1.5 billion in revenue, growing 80 percent annually. The number of businesses using paid messaging on WhatsApp increased 40 percent quarter on quarter.