For businesses to connect with customers where they spend most of their time makes complete sense. WhatsApp has become a significant platform for businesses, allowing them to engage directly and personally with their audience. WhatsApp has over 2 billion active users. And it’s a no-brainer that WhatsApp advertising is becoming a game-changer for brands big and small.
In this blog, let’s see the aspects that revolve around WhatsApp for advertising. This guide covers the top brands that are using it, practical tips, and how ControlHippo can help you to maximize your advertising impact.
WhatsApp for Advertising Overview
- Set up your WhatsApp Business account:Make sure you have a WhatsApp Business account and link it to your Facebook Page.
- Create your ad campaign:Go to Facebook Ads Manager, pick a campaign goal like “Messages” or “Awareness,” set your budget, and choose who you want to reach.
- Choose WhatsApp as your destination:Tell Facebook your ad should send users directly to WhatsApp to start a chat.
- Design your ad:Pick your format — image, video, or carousel — write your message, and add a clear call-to-action button.
- Create message templates:Prepare a ready-to-send message that users will get when they click on your ad.
- Review and launch:Double-check everything, then publish your ad to start connecting with customers instantly.
With WhatsApp ads, you create a direct and personal way to engage with your customers. By following these steps, you can start meaningful conversations that help grow your business.
What are click-to-WhatsApp ads?
Click-to-WhatsApp ads, or CTWA, are a type of advertisement that was launched by Meta in 2023. They have quickly gained popularity in the business world. The reason is simple. These ads make it incredibly easy for potential customers to have a direct conversation with the business. With just one click on the WhatsApp button, users are taken from the website directly to the WhatsApp chat.
Why Choose WhatsApp Ads Over Other Channels?
While advertising products and services, it is important to choose the right platform in order to reach your audience effectively. Amongst all platforms, WhatsApp now has become a preferred channel due to its big global customer base and direct communication style.
Let’s look at some factors as to why you should choose WhatsApp among other channels.
- WhatsApp has over 2 billion users. This makes it the most popular app for daily communication. This massive reach lets businesses connect with a diverse audience.
- Messages reach instantly on WhatsApp. And unlike email, they rarely get lost or marked as spam. When there is such high deliverability, your marketing messages get noticed.
- WhatsApp facilitates two-way conversations and is a key channel for conversational commerce. The process of answering queries, sharing product info, and closing sales gets faster.
- WhatsApp ads integrate smoothly with Facebook and Instagram. This helps you to create marketing campaigns on multiple platforms.
Best Practices for Effective WhatsApp Marketing Campaigns
For running a successful marketing campaign, there has to be more than just sending messages. It is about creating meaningful connections with your audience through insightful strategies and respectful communication.
Here are some of the best practices that would help you to make the most of your WhatsApp advertising efforts.
1. Create Engaging and Relevant Content: Your content speaks for itself when you prioritize value over its volume. Customers will take your ads seriously only if they find them appealing and relevant to their needs. Share updates that solve problems and offer exclusive deals based on your audience’s interests.
2. Personalize Messages for Better Engagement: Personalization now goes beyond simply inserting a name. When you customize, you need to consider some other aspects as well. Use data like purchase history, browsing pattern, or location to send targeted offers or recommendations.
3. Use Local Languages to Connect Authentically: Addressing in the local language of your audience breaks down barriers. This approach promotes stronger relationships. Localization is not just translation. You need to adapt the tone, idioms, and cultural references. It can sound too much, but this can significantly enhance the conversion rate.
4. Respect Customer Privacy and Inbox Limits: Maintaining privacy is important to preserve the trust of customers. You can limit the message frequency to avoid spamming, and always provide clear options to opt out. Adhere strictly to WhatsApp’s policies and data protection regulations.
5. Collect and Act on Customer Feedback: The secret to improving your WhatsApp campaigns is active listening. Use surveys, polls, or direct questions to collect feedback. Responding promptly and transparently shows customers that their opinions matter.
6. Use Automation: Message Templates and Smart Replies: Automation saves significant amounts of time, and responsiveness is not sacrificed. Pre-built message templates maintain compliance and consistency, and FAQs are answered by intelligent replies immediately.
7. Enable 24/7 Customer Interaction with AI Chatbots: With AI chatbots, you can provide support to customers at any time, even outside regular business hours. Plus, chatbots lower the costs by managing routine tasks. Customers get instant replies, which ultimately keeps them engaged.
6. Measure Campaign Performance and Optimize: Use WhatsApp’s analytics tools to monitor important metrics like message open rates, clicks, replies, and conversions. Regularly reviewing this data helps you see what is actually working and what is not.
WhatsApp Marketing: Quick Guide for BusinessesHow to Create WhatsApp Ads?
There are basically two ways in which you can create these ads. The first is through the WhatsApp Business app, and the second is through Facebook Ads Manager. In both these methods, you can target the right customers.
Create WhatsApp Ads with the WhatsApp Business App
With the use of the WhatsApp Business app, you can create simple ads that lead users directly to a chat with your business. This method is perfect for small businesses or those that are new to WhatsApp advertising. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Open the WhatsApp Business App, click on the three dots that appear at the top right corner of your screen, and click on Business Tools.
Step 2: In the next step, you determine the budget and length of your ad while choosing the demographics of the audience you wish to reach.
Step 3: The last step is to review your ad and its settings.
Create WhatsApp Ads with Facebook Ads Manager
Facebook Ads Manager has more advanced options to create and manage WhatsApp ads. This one is ideal for businesses that want to run more targeted campaigns.
The steps are given below:
Step 1: Click on Create new campaign, and choose Engagement as your campaign objective. Name your campaign, ad set, and ad group, then click on continue.
Step 2: Decide on a daily or lifetime budget for your campaign. To get the best results, you can also choose bidding strategies that align with your goals.
Step 3: At the ad set stage, select Messaging Apps as the conversion location.
Step 4: Select WhatsApp in the messaging apps section, then connect your Facebook Page with your WhatsApp Business number.
Step 5: Set targeting details such as age, gender, location, interests, and any custom audiences you want to reach.
Step 6: Design your ad by selecting message templates and setting up conversation starters.
Step 7: Review all settings, then click Save and Finish, followed by Publish. Facebook will review your ad, and once approved, your campaign will go live as scheduled.
Maximize Your WhatsApp Ads Potential with ControlHippo
Harness the power of ControlHippo’s platform to seamlessly manage your WhatsApp ads and boost customer engagement.
Top Use Cases of WhatsApp Advertising for Businesses
More than 175 million people all over the world message a business on WhatsApp each day. This tells you the potential of WhatsApp in the business world. Let’s have a look at some of the most effective ways brands use WhatsApp ads for their business to grow:
1. Direct Ordering and E-commerce Promotions: Customers love the convenience they have when ordering something directly from WhatsApp. Companies can showcase products and allow easy buying experiences without complex websites or apps. This instant connection makes shopping easier and boosts sales.
2. Providing Virtual Guides and FAQs: WhatsApp is perfect for sharing quick answers and helpful guides. Brands can quickly respond to common questions with automated replies. This helps customers get the support they need without any wait times.
3. Offering WhatsApp-Specific Discounts and Coupons: Special offers that are sent via WhatsApp make customers feel a personal touch and some sense of urgency. That’s why sharing special discounts or coupons directly in chat encourages customers to act quickly. This makes them feel valued, which they tend to return to the business more often.
4. Appointment Booking and Event Invitations: With WhatsApp ads, the process of scheduling a consultation or inviting customers to an event can be simplified. Customers can confirm appointments or RSVP with a quick message. This reduces the friction that gets created and also improves attendance.
5. Redirecting Customer Support to WhatsApp: A lot of customers now prefer messaging more than calling. So when guiding support inquiries to WhatsApp, businesses a more convenient way to resolve any issues. As a result, this improves customer satisfaction and frees up phone lines for complex problems.
6. Newsletter Sign-Ups and Lead Collection: WhatsApp ads can encourage users to subscribe to newsletters and share their contact details for updates. This builds a strong lead base for personalized marketing campaigns and ongoing communication.
WhatsApp for Different IndustriesReal-World Examples: Brands Excelling with WhatsApp Ads
So far, we have understood the dynamics that revolve around WhatsApp advertising. Now, let’s see how some popular brands have put these strategies into action and if they were able to achieve the desired results.
1. Flipkart: Seamless Shopping Experience
For an e-commerce company like Flipkart, having a WhatsApp business platform has made the shopping experience for its customers memorable. They send personalized product updates and orders notifications on WhatsApp. This way, the buyers are kept informed on their primary usage app in their phone.
2. Hellman’s: Engaging Food Lovers
Hellman’s is a food brand owned by the MNC Unilever. It uses WhatsApp ads to create a warm connection with food enthusiasts. Through WhatsApp messages, they share delicious recipes, cooking tips, and promotions. It makes the brand feel like a friendly kitchen companion. This direct communication encourages people not just to buy the product, but also to experiment and enjoy the dishes in new ways.
3. Swiggy: Quick Food Ordering
Swiggy has mastered the art of connecting food with people’s emotions. They arguably have the most innovative and creative way of sending recommendations, discounts, and real-time order updates just by sending WhatsApp messages.
- Swiggy’s WhatsApp campaigns achieved a 2.3x higher click-through rate (CTR) compared to traditional email campaigns.
4. KTM: Travel Made Personal
KLM Airlines turned its vision into reality by harnessing WhatsApp ads to keep travelers informed and connected at every single step of their journey. They give travelers timely updates, boarding passes, and personalized travel tips in a single place.
5. boAt: Affordable Consumer Electronics
boAt is now a prominent player in the audio products industry. It has transformed its customer engagement strategy by integrating WhatsApp into its marketing efforts. BoAt saw the potential of WhatsApp for better customer interaction early on. They also use it to make personalized product suggestions and order updates in real-time.
Advanced Tips to Maximize WhatsApp Advertising ROI with ControlHippo
As we discussed above, WhatsApp advertising can deliver powerful results. But you need to bring in the right tools and strategies. Some advanced tips to create ads are given below that would help you to get the most out of your WhatsApp campaigns with the help of ControlHippo:
1. Integrate WhatsApp Ads with CRM Systems
CRM keeps the data organized and accessible at all times. When you integrate CRM systems with WhatsApp ads , every lead and chat is tracked automatically. Your sales and support teams will have the full story. With ControlHippo, you can automatically sync your WhatsApp messages with CRM software.
2. Automate Workflows for Lead Management and Follow-Ups
With ControlHippo, you can automate tasks that are repetitive in nature. Follow-ups and lead assignments can be easily automated, which would ensure that no lead gets overlooked.
3. Use Chat Filters and Private Notes for Efficient Team Collaboration
ControlHippo allows you to filter your chats based on status, priority, or assigned agent. This makes it easier to manage conversations. Plus, the feature of private notes lets your team add internal comments without customers seeing them.
4. Implement Multilingual Support for Diverse Markets
With ControlHippo, you can send WhatsApp messages in multiple languages. This helps you to connect authentically with customers from different regions. This feature ensures that your communication is clear, respectful, and effective across diverse markets.
5. Monitor Customer Satisfaction Scores for Continuous Improvement
ControlHippo helps you to track customer satisfaction score through built-in feedback tools. By regularly measuring how happy your customers are, you can identify the areas where you can improve and deliver a better customer experience every time.
Conclusion
WhatsApp for advertising is not just another marketing strategy. Moreover, it is a bridge that connects businesses with customers on a personal level. As we have seen, brands like Flipkart, Hellman’s, Swiggy, KLM, and boAt are already utilizing it to its best potential. ControlHippo’s WhatsApp shared inbox helps you do just that. It helps you to automate workflows, sync chats, support multiple languages, and track customer feedback all in one place. Remember, your audience is already on WhatsApp. You just need to meet them there, meaningfully.
Updated : June 15, 2025
Jainy Patel is a content strategist who specializes in omnichannel communication solutions. She develops innovative marketing strategies that unify messaging across various channels, ensuring a consistent and engaging customer journey. Jainy is passionate about optimizing communication processes and crafting targeted content that resonates with audiences at every touchpoint.