In today’s hectic digital landscape, WhatsApp Marketing has become a behemoth for brands wishing to engage with their audience personally. Used by more than 2.8 billion active users globally (as of 2025), WhatsApp is no longer merely a messenger app—it’s a business communication platform with massive potential.
Regardless of whether you’re a startup, small business, or old-fashioned brand, adding WhatsApp marketing to your arsenal can put your customer engagement, retention, and conversions on steroids.
Here’s the latest 2025 guide on how to begin WhatsApp marketing with the most current strategies that really work.
What is WhatsApp Marketing?
WhatsApp Marketing is utilizing the WhatsApp platform for promoting your business, sending updates, providing customer support, and getting closer to your customers. It encompasses:
Sending promotional messages
Providing customer service
Shedding personalized offers
Broadcasting announcements
Automating chat with chatbots
With the introduction of WhatsApp Business API and WhatsApp Channels, businesses now have robust tools to automate, manage, and scale their communication.
Why Use WhatsApp for Marketing?
Following are some interesting reasons:
98% open rate for messages (higher than SMS and email)
Immediate communication with customers
Personal, direct communication
Supports multimedia (PDFs, images, videos, audio)
Facilitates customer loyalty and trust
End-to-end encryption provides secure conversation
Alright, now let’s get down to doing it.
Step-by-Step: Getting Started with WhatsApp Marketing
- Set Up WhatsApp Business Account
First things first:
Download the WhatsApp Business App (for Android & iOS)
Register your business with a phone number (not your personal one)
Add necessary information: business name, logo, description, address, website, business hours
For medium and large-sized businesses, use WhatsApp Business API to access advanced automation and customer relationship management features.
Pro Tip: Get verified to establish trust and obtain the green checkmark badge.
- Create a WhatsApp Contact List (Legally)
It is not possible to message anyone and everyone. Opt-in is necessary for WhatsApp marketing.
How to increase your list:
Add WhatsApp click-to-chat buttons on your website
Run Facebook/Instagram ads with a WhatsApp CTA
Add a “Message Us on WhatsApp” link in your email signatures
Offer a lead magnet (e.g., discount, free guide) in exchange for opting in
Use QR codes in offline marketing (e.g., flyers, business cards)
Never buy WhatsApp numbers. It’s against WhatsApp’s policy and may get your number banned.
- Create a WhatsApp Broadcast Strategy
Broadcasting enables you to send one message to many users without building a group. Great for updates, promotions, and reminders.
Secrets to successful broadcasts:
Split your audience (e.g., by interest, location, behavior)
Send personalized messages using dynamic place-holders (e.g., “Hi [First Name]”)
Don’t spam—write value-driven content
Add solid CTAs (call-to-actions)
Example:
Hey Sarah! We’re giving 25% OFF just for you this weekend. Tap here to get your discount ???? [Link]”
- Leverage WhatsApp Automation and Chatbots
Automating your responses not only saves time but enhances user experience.
Tools such as WATI, Twilio, or Zoko enable you to:
Automate welcome messages
Reply to FAQs
Send transactional notifications (order/shipping details)
Gather customer data through interactive conversations
In 2025, AI-based chatbots also make product recommendations, upsell, and even close sales directly on WhatsApp.
- Use WhatsApp Channels (New in 2025)
WhatsApp Channels are similar to broadcast-only feeds where your followers can subscribe to your updates.
Ideal for:
Product launches
Event updates
Daily deals
News & alerts
Unlike in broadcasts, users don’t have to be in your contact list to subscribe to your channel. That creates huge marketing opportunities—WhatsApp’s equivalent of email newsletters.
- Design Engaging and Visual Content
WhatsApp accommodates a variety of content formats:
Images
Short videos
PDFs (catalogs, guides)
Voice notes (personal touch)
Emojis and stickers for brand-building
Visual storytelling makes viewers more engaged. Use carousel-style content for displaying products, testimonials, or tutorials.
- Bet on WhatsApp Ad Campaigns on Meta
You can also run Facebook or Instagram Click-to-WhatsApp Ads.
Best practices:
Use eye-catching creatives that create curiosity
Create a clear CTA (e.g., “Chat Now to Get 20% Off”)
Drive people straight into a WhatsApp conversation with a pre-populated message
Retarget site visitors on WhatsApp using Meta Ads Manager
- Track Performance and Optimize
If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.
Key metrics to monitor:
Open & response rate
Conversion rate from WhatsApp
Opt-out/unsubscribe rate
Click-through rate (for links)
Chatbot engagement and fallbacks
Utilize software such as 360dialog, Twilio, and WA Web Plus to track campaigns and optimize your strategy.
New WhatsApp Marketing Strategies in 2025
Hyper-personalization – Leveraging AI to personalize offers, messages, and product recommendations based on user behavior.
Integration with CRM – Integrate WhatsApp with your CRM (such as HubSpot or Zoho) for an uninterrupted customer journey.
Voice Commerce – Orders can be placed through voice messages.
WhatsApp Payments – Allow users to make transactions inside the app (in some countries).
Influencer + WhatsApp Collabs – Influencers sharing unique WhatsApp links for promotional purposes.
Time-limited campaigns – 24-hour flash sales, limited access coupons, etc., build excitement and boost action.
⚠️ WhatsApp Marketing Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
Obtain clear permission to message the user
Make your messages brief, friendly, and useful
Be human, yet consistent
Automate, but always have human fallback
Have respect for privacy and provide opt-out features
❌ Don’t:
Spam users without permission
Send excessive or irrelevant messages
Use business WhatsApp for personal use
Forget to test before sending
WhatsApp Marketing
WhatsApp marketing is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s now a must-have addition to your digital marketing mix. With its unparalleled open rates, personalization features, and intimate integration with Meta’s ecosystem, WhatsApp provides businesses with a direct, trusted, and interactive means of reaching their audience.
From beginning to scale, these newest WhatsApp marketing strategies will keep you on top in 2025.
So, are you ready to leverage the most interactive messaging channel out there today?
