Internet users see an overwhelming 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements per day. So it's easy for your marketing strategies to get lost in the mix.

What can you do to make your Shopify stand out?

Consider using WhatsApp.

This platform has roughly 2 billion users worldwide, and at least 90% of your Shopify customers use it. So, integrating your store with WhatsApp can help you reach more customers and make your marketing strategies more personal.

Let’s dive deeper into how you can use WhatsApp to strengthen customer relations and market your Shopify store.

Does WhatsApp Boost Shopify Sales?

Yes!

WhatsApp is known for its wide reach, large user base, and customer-focused features/integrations. So it's perfect for businesses that want to increase sales in emerging markets.

Why Should I Use WhatsApp for Shopify?

1. WhatsApp is Popular

WhatsApp reaches millions of users across the globe:

• India — 340 million monthly users
• Brazil — 100 million monthly users
• United States — 68 million monthly users

It also has higher user activity rates than many mobile messenger apps.

• More than half of users check the app daily
• The average user checks more than 23 times each day

This makes it easy for you to stay in touch with customers.

WhatsApp Users Worldwide | Hootsuite Blog

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2. WhatsApp Has High Open and Read Rates

WhatsApp users are more likely to open your messages.

WhatsApp has a 95% open and read rate, making it the most effective performance and ROI generation channel. (Just for reference, the typical open and read rate for email is below 60%).

Higher open and read rates mean stronger chances of selling your product.

3. WhatsApp Helps You Gain and Retain Customers

It's hard to convert shop visitors into actual buyers. It's even harder to convert one-time buyers into returning customers.

WhatsApp helps you do both. Here's how:

WhatsApp Improves Customer Service

The following features help you provide better customer service:

• Quick communications
• Respond right away to potential customer’s queries
• Get quick responses to your marketing campaigns, offers, etc.
• Real-time updates
• Provide post-purchase updates and fulfillment information

WhatsApp Expands Sales Efforts

Communicating with customers via WhatsApp takes your sales beyond the online store.

• Let customers place orders, track shipments, and cancel items all within the app
• Send abandoned cart recovery reminders

WhatsApp Provides Customer Insights

WhatsApp collects data to help you understand customers' purchasing intentions and routines. You can then market to users' specific wants/needs:

• Send customers messages about their favorite products
• Advertise related products that may interest your customers

Customers Trust WhatsApp

Potential customers appear to have more faith in brands that communicate through messaging apps. A minimum of 66% of people are more likely to purchase from a business if it is active on messengers.

Connecting a WhatsApp phone number on your Shopify could generate 27% more leads for sales.

4. WhatsApp is Cost-Effective

WhatsApp is currently free to download and use. There aren't any set-up costs, and you can get started right away.

5. WhatsApp is Safe

WhatsApp has increased data security to protect customers and businesses.

It utilizes the following security features:

• Two-factor authentication for log-ins
• End-to-end encryption for chats
• Account verification
• When you register with WhatsApp Business, your business account gets verified
• Verified brands have a green tick mark next to their name
• It reassures customers that texts/communications are coming from you (rather than a fake account)

Verified Green Tick Mark on WhatsApp

WhatsApp Marketing Strategies for Shopify

WhatsApp can serve as a stand-alone sales and marketing channel for your Shopify. You can utilize the following features and integrations to increase sales:

Send Abandoned Cart Recovery Notifications

Customers may abandon their carts due to high fees, lengthy delivery times, and challenging checkout procedures.

You can use WhatsApp to recover abandoned carts and regain potential customers.

• Create an event-driven automation rule
• For example, send cart reminders after customers have been browsing for a long time
• Set up chatbots to understand customers' hesitations and provide solutions, such as offering a temporary promo code

Check out this case study with one of Zoko's clients: Flexnest. See how we helped them convert 1 in 4 abandoned carts into sales.

Abandoned Cart Flow & Analytics | Zoko

WhatsApp Lets Customers Access Shopify Cart Details

WhatsApp streamlines the checkout process.

It lets customers add products to their shopping carts and pay through a link in the chat. Users don't have to create new accounts, resulting in greater conversion rates and reduced pay friction.

Take Orders on WhatsApp | Zoko

Strengthen and Manage Customer Relations

More than 55% of consumers say they feel more connected to a brand with a messaging app because they can place orders and communicate with brands in one central location.

Therefore, you can use WhatsApp to build meaningful customer relationships. WhatsApp offers businesses a range of options to do this:

• Send welcome messages, exclusive offers, birthday greetings, and more
• Quickly answer customers' inquiries and solve problems with Shopify-WhatsApp integrations
• Access customer chat rooms, purchase histories, and order statuses

Maintaining customer connections ultimately reduces your costs; customer retention is 5 to 25 times less expensive than acquisition.

Send Order Updates

Over 70% of consumers claim that they only interact with brands through individualized marketing communications. Therefore, using messenger apps keeps customers more invested in a company.

Keep consumers informed by sending:

• Purchase confirmations
• "Order is ready for dispatch" alerts
• Delivery statuses
• Updates on postponed or canceled orders
  

Collect Customer Data

Put your customers into multiple lists based on their Shopify purchase history. Segment these lists to send users remarketing ads.

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Takeaway

A successful Shopify marketing plan involves establishing objectives, researching targets, producing quality content, and connecting with customers.

WhatsApp can help you get started.

Then you can use Zoko —  a central hub for all your WhatsApp communications — to perfect your marketing strategies.

Zoko's market-leading WhatsApp sales tool helps you scale your WhatsApp number to drive more revenue. It lets you market your Shopify brand, sell products, and provide customer support from a single WhatsApp number.

Have personalized conversations with customers in real-time; engage, qualify, and convert them at all hours of the day or night.

Let Zoko help you. Watch our product demo here.

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