WhatsApp is gaining serious popularity as a marketing tool especially after its acquisition by Facebook. While it offers several opportunities that marketing professionals can utilize, overdoing things can quickly kill your brand. The primary objective of this instant messaging app is to connect people from different parts of the world at a level next to SMS. Using it in any way that sounds over promotional can hurt your marketing campaign hard. Here is what can have serious consequences on WhatsApp.
1. Broadcasting frequently
It can be a devastating, especially when you are not doing it without permission and offering people something of no high value. No media to buy, no ads, and users not liking spammy-looking messages and posters – clearly means you have to broadcast quality stuff less frequently to generate people’s engagement.
2. Sending long messages
WhatsApp has a 70% engagement rate, but sending long messages can kill it. Keep it simple – whether you wish to share advertising discount deals, giving top business news, or sharing industry analysis individually or in groups. Switch to emails for longer messages.
3. Using too many emoticons
“Using too many whatsapp emoticons makes you lose the professional appeal and the message will become diluted. #whatsapp #personalbranding”.
You need to be friendly but that is in tone and message. You can add personal humor with simpler text with occasional emoticons. For business purpose, use rather catchy posters or product images of your products to make it interesting and to the point – use them sensibly though.
4. Inactive profile
Stay active and in touch with your close contacts and customers at least once a week, or else people will lose interest in your personal brand. Changing your status once in a week can indicate you’re alive on whatsapp. If you’re using whatsapp for professional purpose, an idle profile also sends the signal that you have no interest in maintaining your brand, which will eventually kill your personal brand.
5. Keeping messages unanswered after viewing
Does not look professional, does it? If you have seen it, answer it. Immediate response to queries is essential for any personal or business relationship. Professionally, it may even help you close deals faster and more often. Overall, you can use WhatsApp to reach out to your target audience but you cannot afford to be annoying. You have to find a fine balance between broadcasting a message too often and showing little activity on your profile. Find it and WhatsApp will make things work!
Sunita Biddu is a digital business coach and power blogging mentor helping coaches and small business owners. She helps with building a strong and profitable online presence and reputation that creates a self-sustaining business. Sunita writes on this blog once a week about easy-to-use guides and articles about business, coaching, social media and blogging. You can grab some of her free resources and ebooks from the resources section.
Great insights Sunita. Simple, short & crisp. Really loved it.