The world of marketing is evolving, and if you’re not keeping up, you’re already behind. While email and SMS campaigns have been the go-to channels for reaching customers, there’s a new player in town that’s shaking things up: the WhatsApp Newsletter.
You might be asking yourself, “Do I really need to jump on another marketing trend?” The answer is a resounding yes. Here’s why WhatsApp Newsletters might just be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.
Why WhatsApp?
Let’s start with the obvious: WhatsApp is everywhere. With over 2 billion active users worldwide, it’s the most popular messaging app on the planet. More than just a tool for casual chats, WhatsApp has become a powerful platform for businesses to connect with their audience in real-time, in a more personal and direct way than ever before.
Think about it: your customers are already on WhatsApp. They use it daily, hourly even. So why not meet them where they are? That’s what the smartest brands are doing.
The Fall of Email and SMS Campaigns
Let’s face it—email marketing isn’t what it used to be. Open rates are dwindling, spam filters are getting more aggressive, and people are simply overwhelmed by the amount of emails flooding their inboxes. And SMS? Sure, it has a high open rate, but it’s also intrusive and lacks the depth needed to build a meaningful connection with your audience.
This is where WhatsApp Newsletters come into play. By leveraging WhatsApp’s conversational nature, brands can deliver content that feels more personal, more immediate, and more relevant.
Immediate and Personal
WhatsApp isn’t just about sending messages; it’s about having conversations. When you send a WhatsApp Newsletter, you’re not just broadcasting information—you’re opening the door for real, two-way communication. And in today’s market, that’s priceless.
Better Engagement
When was the last time you ignored a WhatsApp notification? Probably never. WhatsApp messages have a near-perfect open rate, often within minutes of being received. Compare that to email, where your message can easily get lost in a cluttered inbox, and it’s clear why WhatsApp is quickly becoming the preferred channel for customer communication.
How to Use WhatsApp Newsletters Effectively
So, how do you leverage this powerful tool? Here are a few tips:
1. Personalization is Key
The beauty of WhatsApp is its ability to make communication feel personal. Use this to your advantage by segmenting your audience and tailoring your messages to each group’s specific needs and interests. A generic message won’t cut it—your audience expects more.
2. Timing Matters
Unlike email, where you can send messages at any time of day and hope they’ll be seen, WhatsApp is immediate. This means timing is everything. Send your messages when your audience is most active to maximize engagement.
3. Content is King
Just because WhatsApp is a more casual platform doesn’t mean you can slack on content. Your messages need to be short, sharp, and value-packed. No one wants to read a novel on their phone—get to the point, and make sure it’s a good one.
4. Don’t Spam
One of the biggest mistakes brands make with WhatsApp is over-communicating. Just because you can send a message at any time doesn’t mean you should. Be strategic with your communication—too much, and you’ll risk being seen as spammy.
The End of Email and SMS Campaigns?
With all these undeniable advantages, it’s natural to wonder: do email and SMS campaigns still have a future? The reality, of course, is more nuanced. While WhatsApp offers clear benefits in terms of engagement, personalization, and immediacy, email and SMS aren’t going to vanish overnight. Each channel has its strengths and weaknesses.
Emails remain a powerful tool for more formal, detailed communications, or when you need to send documents. They are also favored for B2B campaigns where the decision-making process is longer and more complex. SMS, on the other hand, still holds its ground for short, urgent messages, particularly in regions where internet access is limited.
However, WhatsApp is emerging as the channel of choice and the future for B2C communications, where engagement and responsiveness are crucial. But that’s not all—you can even use WhatsApp to recover abandoned carts or simply invite people to contact you through a chat bubble on your site. Keep in mind, though, that Meta’s rules will exclude certain themes, such as the sale of alcohol or CBD.
Here’s How to Set Up a WhatsApp Newsletter
This section is for all the dropshipping and e-commerce stores on Shopify. Here’s how you can send a WhatsApp newsletter to all your contacts. Of course, your contacts must be opt-in, in compliance with GDPR, meaning they have given their consent to receive marketing messages.
- Install the CoCo WhatsApp AI app.
- Once your WhatsApp number is validated, you can set up your first icebreaker (newsletter).
- Click on Icebreaker.
- Create a new template as you like using the text editor—add buttons (links to your site or a question your customer might ask the AI), images, and URLs as needed.
- Select the template to send and schedule it!
Congratulations, your customers will gradually start receiving your newsletter on WhatsApp. If a customer has a question, all they need to do is send a message on WhatsApp, and the AI will respond automatically on a case-by-case basis.
The Future of Customer Communication
WhatsApp Newsletters are more than just a trend—they’re the future of customer communication. As email and SMS continue to decline, WhatsApp offers a new way to connect with your audience that’s immediate, personal, and effective.
But don’t just take our word for it—try it for yourself. Integrate WhatsApp Newsletters into your marketing strategy and watch as your customer engagement soars. The days of relying solely on email and SMS are over. The future is here, and it’s happening on WhatsApp.
