WhatsApp Business Empowers Small Businesses in India with Meta Verified Badge and Customized Messaging Features
WhatsApp has announced a new feature that allows small businesses in India to sign up for a Meta Verified badge and send customized messages to their customers. This move comes as the company recognizes the significant market opportunity in India, where there are over 65 million small and medium-sized businesses, but only about 5 million of them sell online.
According to a joint report by Meta and Bain & Company released in May, WhatsApp is the messaging app of choice for the majority of Indians, making it an ideal platform for small businesses to connect with their customers. By promoting WhatsApp Business and introducing new features like Meta Verified subscriptions, the company aims to support the growth of these businesses.
Meta Verified subscriptions offer several benefits to WhatsApp Business users, including the ability to create custom WhatsApp pages that can be discovered on the web, multi-device support, and multiple employee accounts. For Indian users, Meta Verified for WhatsApp Business starts at around $8 per month.
In addition to the Meta Verified feature, small businesses using WhatsApp Business can now schedule and send customized messages to their customers at an affordable price. These messages can include appointment reminders, birthday wishes, or updates on sales. Businesses can also personalize the messages by including the customer’s name and adding customizable call-to-action buttons.
This new feature opens up a world of possibilities for small businesses to engage with their customers in a more personalized and targeted way. By sending customized messages, businesses can strengthen their relationships with customers and increase customer loyalty. This is especially important in a market like India, where building trust and strong customer relationships are crucial for long-term success.
The introduction of the Meta Verified badge and customized messaging features is not the first initiative by Meta to support small businesses. Last September, Meta launched its verification program for business accounts on Instagram and Facebook, providing businesses with increased credibility and trust.
To further support small businesses in India, WhatsApp is embarking on an initiative called “WhatsApp Business Yatra.” This Hindi term translates to “WhatsApp Business Tour” in English. Through this initiative, the company plans to visit tier-2 and tier-3 cities in the country, offering in-person training to small businesses. The training will cover various aspects, including setting up WhatsApp Business accounts, creating catalogs, and educating businesses on how to set up ads that click to WhatsApp. Additionally, WhatsApp will establish a resource center on its website, serving as a tutorial center for these businesses.
By providing training and resources, WhatsApp aims to empower small businesses and help them leverage the full potential of WhatsApp Business. This initiative demonstrates the company’s commitment to supporting the growth of small businesses in India and enabling them to thrive in the digital economy.
In conclusion, WhatsApp’s introduction of the Meta Verified badge and customized messaging features for WhatsApp Business in India is a significant step toward empowering small businesses. By offering these tools, WhatsApp enables businesses to establish a stronger online presence, personalize their communication with customers, and ultimately drive growth. With India’s vast market of small businesses, WhatsApp has the opportunity to play a pivotal role in transforming the way these businesses connect with their customers and achieve success in the digital age.
