In a viral video featuring Shahrukh Khan by Mirchi Plus, a radio channel owned by The Times Group, the star pretends to be a bank officer offering a loan product to one of his fans. The fan who has no clue about his identity refuses to speak further and asks him to not trouble her. When he introduces himself as SRK, the fan agrees wholeheartedly to take up the dubious loan product, which is offered at 0% interest rate.

It works because we are talking about one of the biggest celebrities who has a global appeal.

Now, neither can all businesses afford to offer such questionable products/services nor can they ask King Khan to be their brand ambassador/salesperson.

But we bring to you another option that can be your brand’s superstar ambassador at a fraction of the costs you might have to pay a celebrity such as Shahrukh Khan.

It is by leveraging one of the most-used apps in the world––WhatsApp, which has around 2.5 billion active users as per an estimate. You can set up and run marketing campaigns using the most popular chat app in the world.

This post will answer all the questions you might have regarding executing WhatsApp marketing campaigns successfully. And even if you can afford Shahrukh as your brand ambassador, this will act as an efficient assistant for your business. Let’s dive in!

How to set up a WhatsApp marketing campaign?

In this section, we’ll explain how to set up a WhatsApp marketing campaign with Gallabox. The only requirement is that your business has a WhatsApp business API integration.

Let’s create your campaign now!

Step 1: Use the WhatsApp Business API to set up a business account.

Sign up or log in to your Gallabox account.

Next, optimize your profile; add your logo and contact information (support email and phone numbers).

Pro tip: For the best experience, use Gallabox on a desktop or a laptop

While mobile access is available on iOS and Android, the desktop version offers easier navigation and full functionality.

This includes but is not limited to:

1. Bot management: Use Gallabox's Bot Builder feature to create and personalize your chatbot. Test it on WhatsApp and publish it without a hitch. Analyze session logs to understand user behavior and improve the bot experience. Check out how to build WhatsApp AI chatbots here.
2. Sequence creation: Leverage the power of Gallabox's sequences, which enables you to schedule a flow of messages at intervals set by you. Also known as drip marketing, this automation feature allows you to identify and segment your target audience, customize your WhatsApp messages and launch the campaign. You can choose the readymade templates available within the product and edit the messages to suit your business needs. With sequences, you can:

• Organize contacts for efficient follow-up actions.
• Deliver the right message at the right time.
• Send periodic messages to nurture leads and convert them into customers.

3. Broadcast setup: Send messages, updates, and promotions to multiple recipients. All you need to do is choose a template, select your audience, review it for compliance and quality, click on send, and see how it performs with insightful reports and analytics. Check out some effective tips and tricks to ace your broadcasting game.
4. Use connectors: Gallabox integrates with popular apps like HubSpot, Shopify, API, Google Sheets, Razorpay, ZOHO CRM, Zoom, OpenAI, , LeadSquared, WooCommerce, and more.

Now, it's time to add team members.

With Gallabox, you can easily manage access given to your team members. You can assign specific roles for each member, and control what they can do.The platform has a clear process to set these permissions, and it includes three default roles.

1. Owners: Owners can pretty much do everything within the platform. They can tweak the home screen, deal with chats and contacts, manage bots and broadcasts, adjust configurations, play around with the dashboard, create canned responses, track messages, manage fields and tags, connect WhatsApp channels, check activity logs, and sort out the account settings and even the subscription if there's one. As an owner, you would have it all covered.
2. Admins: Admins are almost like the owners but with a few restrictions. They won't be able to tweak account details or change the subscription plans. Essentially, admins can handle most of the heavy lifting like managing the main screen, chats, contact lists, and setting configurations. If you're running a business, they can look after the dashboard, canned responses, message logs, and also manage your WhatsApp channels.  They're pretty much your right-hand person.
3. Members: Members have limited access to view or change core settings, and they usually can only access the basics. This includes  conversing with customers, managing contacts with  a few editing options, and handling simple features such as field collections and tags. Their role is pretty streamlined and doesn't extend to  critical settings, which means they can help with day-to-day tasks without the risk of altering vital configurations. Next, invite employees and provide appropriate access based on their roles and responsibilities  (e.g., For example, the sales head can be given 'admin' access whereas the rest of the team can be assigned  the 'member' role. The promoter of the business can have the 'owner' access ).

While the functionality of the members assigned various roles will vary, all of them can view all the conversations between your team and your customers. This helps provide a context for all customer conversations and in some member’s absence, another can easily take over. Or, one can step in to help with some information or sort out a customer query if another cannot.

Lastly, import your customer data.

This can be done via Google Sheets, any customer relationship management (CRM) tool, or other third-party software using Gallabox connectors. Here's how you can create contacts in Gallabox:

1. Single contact creation: It opens a window to add details such as customer name, phone number and email address. Multiple mobile numbers and email addresses can also be added to the same interface.
2. Bulk contact import: Simply upload a .xlsx file that contains a list of all your  contacts–– with or without the country code. If it’s the latter, the country codes will be added by default within the Gallabox platform.
3. User-Initiated Message: When a customer initiates a chat with your business, Gallabox automatically saves the contact.

Step 2: Divert all traffic to WhatsApp

Now, you must drive traffic to your business. You can do this by:  

• Adding WhatsApp chat widgets to your website for launching a WhatsApp chat.
• Generating WhatsApp QR codes to let current and potential customers reach your business instantly. You can display this on all customer-facing platforms and even offline.
• Run click-to-WhatsApp ads to encourage potential customers on Facebook and Instagram to initiate a conversation with your business on WhatsApp.

And Gallabox lets you add a field for marketing opt-in. This helps respect individual preferences, enhances relevance and engagement, and ensures legal compliance.

Step 3: It’s time to configure templates

Gallabox has an extensive range of WhatsApp templates for key customer interactions such as service reminders, delay notifications, and status updates. These templates streamline your communication process and ensure consistent customer interactions. Check out our free AI-based WhatsApp template generator that helps you create high-quality templates with some basic prompts in a few minutes.

Personalize each template with customer-specific information using variables. This will make your messages more engaging and relevant to individual recipients, improve response rates, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Step 4: Setting up your WhatsApp marketing campaign

Now that you've laid the groundwork, it's time to set up your campaign.

Gallabox helps you create end-to-end marketing campaigns on Whatsapp with powerful features including chatbots, drip marketing campaigns, WhatsApp flows, and Broadcast messages.  

Let’s discuss them.

#1 WhatsApp ad campaigns

Click-to-WhatsApp ads (CTWA) is a powerful way  for driving customer engagement and conversions.

With Gallabox’s CTWA, you can drive:

1. An increase in leads: Triple your lead generation with improved customer outreach.
2. Cost savings: Reduce expenses by 60%, making lead acquisition more affordable.
3. Effective conversion: Identify and re-target high-potential prospects to boost sales.
4. Instant data access: Obtain user names and WhatsApp numbers in real time for targeted marketing.
5. Simplified tracking: Gallabox provides analytics that help you tweak and streamline your marketing efforts.

To create your first WhatsApp ad campaign:

1. Go to Facebook Ads Manager.
2. Give your campaign a name.
3. Add Campaign Details.
4. Set your budget and bid strategy.
5. Choose WhatsApp.
6. Define your target audience.
7. Customize your target audience details.
8. Set the ad formats.
9. Highlight your offers/discounts.
10. Upload your creatives.
11. Set the call-to-action (CTA) to "Send WhatsApp Message".
12. Create a welcome message template.
13. Publish the ad.

Clicking on  ads published on Facebook and Instagram will bring your prospective customers to WhatsApp and enable them to chat with you for further details or place an order.

#2 Broadcast messages

The broadcast feature lets you send messages, updates, and promotions to many recipients in one go.  

It is ideal for announcing new products, sharing company news, or sending time-sensitive offers.

With Gallabox, you can easily segment your audience and personalize your broadcast messages for maximum impact. You can track the performance of these messages with the help of a neat dashboard that features all the important metrics to track. These include open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to refine your messaging strategy.

#3 WhatsApp drip marketing campaigns

Drip marketing campaigns automate sending pre-planned messages to customers over time. This approach nurtures leads, educates customers, and guides them through the sales funnel.

With Gallabox, you can easily set up and manage these campaigns, scheduling messages to be sent at specific intervals or triggered by customer actions.

You can assign a name, select your target audience, and launch the campaign.

#4 WhatsApp Flows

Gallabox's Flow Builder enables quick creation of WhatsApp forms using custom, industry-specific templates and intuitive drag-and-drop elements.

Furthermore, you can integrate these forms into your chatbots, bulk broadcasts, and drip marketing campaigns.

You can access conversation-related data or filter responses directly through Gallabox. This helps monitor the success of your marketing strategies and make changes instantly.

#5 WhatsApp chatbots

WhatsApp Chatbots automate customer interactions, handling routine inquiries and providing instant responses. These can be programmed to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs), guide users through processes, and enable transactions.

Gallabox’s WhatsApp AI chatbots leverage artificial intelligence to offer more sophisticated, context-aware conversations.

These AI-powered bots can understand natural language, learn from interactions, and provide personalized responses (for example, respond in a different language).

With Gallabox, you can:

• Create a Bot using AI.
• Create a Bot using ready-to-use WhatsApp chatbot Templates.
• Create a Bot from scratch.

#6 Access conversations via shared team inbox

Conversations lie at the heart of WhatsApp marketing campaigns. Gallabox's shared team inbox allows you to manage all customer interactions in one place. For example, you can:

• Easily manage user assignments.
• Set reminders or track session windows.
• Organize conversations with tags.
• Block and unblock contacts.

How WhatsApp Marketing Campaigns Can Boost Your Business

Global reach

With the magic of WhatsApp, you can instantly connect with nearly 3 billion people across the globe!

You could send a single message from your couch in New York, and it would light up phones in different corners of the world, from Tokyo to Mumbai.

Imagine, a Peruvian artisan being able to showcase their beautiful handcrafted pieces to European buyers with ease and see their website traffic and buyers soar.

Direct Customer Engagement

Unlike traditional marketing channels, WhatsApp enables real-time, two-way communication.

Customers can ask questions, receive immediate responses, and feel valued. This consistent, direct engagement leads to increased customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Imagine getting one from the local bakery, saying, “Hey, it’s your special day, come in for a free treat!”

It adds that warm, fuzzy feeling, doesn’t it? It’s not just about selling and buying stuff anymore; it’s about making genuine connections.

High Open Rates

WhatsApp messages have an impressive open rate of up to 98%, surpassing email marketing's average of 21.33%. This means your message is almost guaranteed to be seen by your audience.

High User Engagement

The average WhatsApp user on Android spends 33.5 minutes per day on the app.

With platforms such as Gallabox, businesses can leverage this high engagement to create interactive campaigns.

For example, a fashion brand could send exclusive or time-sensitive sneak peeks of new collections. This level of engagement keeps customers interested and builds a sense of community around your brand.

Increased Customer Satisfaction

Imagine being able to resolve customer issues instantly, anytime, anywhere. WhatsApp's 24/7 availability allows businesses to provide quick, efficient customer service, leading to higher satisfaction rates.

For example, a hotel chain could use WhatsApp to handle guest inquiries, room service requests, or check-ins. Or, an educational institution can handle all incoming student queries and help them choose the best courses based on their interests and liking—all with a few steps/clicks to automate your messages.

This immediate responsiveness solves problems faster and shows customers that their needs are a top priority.

More Conversions

Marketers who use personalization in marketing campaigns see a positive ROI of 89%.

So imagine, instead of generic recommendations, a beauty brand sends you a customized skincare routine based on what you've bought before. That's way more likely to get you to buy more stuff.

Instead of scrolling through dull text descriptions—you get to dive into a full-on visual experience.

Personalized messages combined with rich media on WhatsApp is the ultimate combination for brands wanting to boost sales and keep customers hooked.

Create Your First WhatsApp Marketing Campaign with Gallabox today!

If you’re a Shahrukh Khan fan, we hope and pray you are able to get him as your business’ brand ambassador. While we can’t help you with that, what we can help you with is setting up an amazing WhatsApp marketing campaign that will yield multifold results for your business.

If you need additional information about a feature or just want to say hi, feel free to email us at support@gallabox.com. Our team is always happy to help!

FAQs

How do I automate WhatsApp marketing?
Gallabox makes it easy to automate your WhatsApp marketing. Imagine having a chatbot handling all those repetitive customer questions for you. Set up drip campaigns to keep your leads engaged over time without lifting a finger. And schedule broadcasts to send out mass messages with just a few clicks, and craft targeted ad campaigns that speak directly to specific groups.

It's all designed to make your life easier, save you loads of time, and ensure you're connecting with your audience on a personal level—even as you grow.

What is the future of WhatsApp marketing?
What started as a humble offering for individuals such as you and me to text, video call and connect is fast evolving into one of the strongest pillars for fast-growing businesses, specifically their sales, marketing and customer service/support teams.

With around 2.5-3 billion monthly active users of WhatsApp, businesses are fast understanding the importance of assimilating the messaging platform in their strategies to attract and nurture leads and convert them to sales.

How can I attract more customers on WhatsApp?
Attracting more customers is dependent on how much value you provide and how well you engage with them. Right from the get-go, focus on building a relationship rather than just making a sale.

All this is achievable with WhatsApp business provider tools like Gallabox. From WhatsApp flows, broadcast messages, click-to-WhatsApp ads, chatbots and QR codes—there are multiple methods to generate demand and keep them engaged.

A few tips to attract more customers on WhatsApp:

• Share engaging and valuable content.
• Provide actionable strategies, tips and tricks that would be useful for your (potential) customers.
• Focus on solving customers’ pain points/challenges and not just selling to them.
• Ensure your content is creative to stand out in the crowd.
• Segment your audience and personalize messages based on their preferences.
• Use stunning images, visuals and other forms of rich media.
• Gather feedback through interactive polls and surveys.
• Offer exclusive deals and promotions.
• Don’t bombard them with messages and be mindful of the frequency with which you send them texts.

How do I get leads for WhatsApp marketing?

If you already have a WhatsApp Business API account, here are a few ways to boost your leads:

1. Add a WhatsApp icon to your website and social media profiles.
2. Add a WhatsApp icon or embed links in email signatures.
3. Use QR codes on websites, business cards, or printed materials.
4. Promote limited-time offers and exclusive deals via WhatsApp.
5. Create a broadcast list to inform customers about promotions.
6. Run click-to-WhatsApp ads (for Instagram and Facebook).
7. Encourage user-generated content by asking customers to share photos or testimonials via WhatsApp.
8. Incorporate WhatsApp numbers in all customer touchpoints, such as receipts and surveys.

Don't forget about user privacy. Be sure to get the consent of the customer before you send them a message. Add an opt-out option for them to respect their preferences.

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