In our last webinar, we talked about WhatsApp Channels, which are a new trend in the media industry. But what can you do with a Channel, and how do they differ from other WhatsApp features? In this blog, we go through WhatsApp’s different functionalities and their use cases, as well as offer tips for creating and managing a Channel.
WhatsApp Channels
- One-way communication: Only channel admins can send messages, but followers can share your messages, react to them with emojis, and participate in polls.
- Content types: Share videos, links, texts, images, and voice messages.
- Open channel: Anyone can follow your channel, and the link can be shared via WhatsApp or externally.
- Privacy: Followers do not see your phone number, and the channel owner does not know who is following the channel unless they are WhatsApp contacts.
- Management: The channel can have up to 16 admins. Admins can publish content on the channel and manage its settings.
- Traffic growth: Early adopters of WhatsApp Channels report receiving more traffic through Channels than from social media.
- Automation: Automation is currently only possible through an API
- Two-way communication: Customers can contact you and reply to your messages.
- Automation: You can automate welcome messages, out-of-office replies, and responses to frequently asked questions.
- Customer management: Organize and filter messages for quick handling of important conversations.
- Products and ordering: You can also create a product catalog, offer promotions, and enable ordering directly via WhatsApp.
- CRM integration and marketing: Integrate with CRM systems and use Meta’s advertising platforms, where a customer can click to start a conversation on WhatsApp.
- Broadcast: Send the same message to multiple customers simultaneously.
- Group chat: All group members can interact, and group admins manage the community and can send announcements to members.
- Multichannel communication: Create different channels around specific topics, share files, conduct polls, and create events.
- Two-way communication: Recipients can reply to your message, but they don’t see each other’s details and won’t know that others received the same message.
- Limited participants: A broadcast can have up to 256 recipients.
Creating and Managing a WhatsApp Channel
Creating a channel is easy. You can do it via the WhatsApp app or Web:
- Go to the Updates tab and click the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select "Create Channel" and confirm the privacy notice.
- Set a name, image, and description for the channel – these can also be added later.
Now the channel is created, and you can start posting content.
The management tools are found in the Channel Info menu, where you can:
- Edit the channel image and description.
- Choose which emojis your followers can react with to your posts (Channel Settings).
- Invite admins who, once they accept, can manage the channel's content and settings (Invite Admins).
- Transfer channel ownership to another phone number (Transfer Ownership).
- Delete the channel (Delete Channel).
Conclusion
With these tools, you can leverage WhatsApp’s full potential in customer communication, creating a more dynamic and interactive experience for your audience. Whether you are using Channels for one-way updates, Business for direct customer engagement, or Communities for fostering group interactions, WhatsApp offers a range of features that can be tailored to meet your communication needs. With WhatsApp’s growing role in the media industry, mastering these tools can give you a competitive edge in connecting with your audience efficiently and meaningfully.
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