Looking to generate more leads? Consider WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads, one of the most effective lead generation ads. This blog post explains what are WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads and why use them for lead generation. Plus, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up a Click to WhatsApp Ad and taking your WhatsApp Ads to the next level using respond.io. This includes sending automated surveys to WhatsApp leads, messaging leads with multiple users and sending messages to leads anytime you like.

WhatsApp Ads: An Introduction

As one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, WhatsApp has a global user base of 2.4 billion people. This makes it one of the most effective communication channels for businesses, especially when it comes to lead generation.

Businesses can entice leads to start a conversation with them through various methods, including WhatsApp Click to Chat Links and Click to Chat ads.

What Are WhatsApp Click to Chat Links

WhatsApp Click to Chat Links are wa.me links that take users to WhatsApp conversations. You can add them on your website or inside newsletters to direct people to chat with you.

WhatsApp Click to Chat links are great for connecting with your existing customers who frequent your website or have subscribed to your newsletter. However, if you are looking to generate leads, consider WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads instead.

What Are WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads

Like Click to Chat links, WhatsApp Click to Chat ads send people to a conversation with your business on WhatsApp. These ads can be shown in various places on Facebook and Instagram.

When potential buyers click on the ad on their phone, they will be taken to a new conversation with you on WhatsApp.

The experience is slightly different for desktop users- the ad will take them to a WhatsApp webpage with a Continue to Chat button. Once clicked, they will be taken to a new chat with you on WhatsApp desktop app. Those without the app will be prompted to download the app, or log in to WhatsApp Web.

Conversations opened through a WhatsApp ad come with a pre-filled message I saw this on Facebook and a link to the ad, both of which are editable & removable. Leads may also choose to send you a custom message. For privacy reasons, conversations are only visible to businesses after leads have opted in by sending a message.

Once leads have opted in, you can message them back with qualifying questions. You need someone there to answer messages unless you connect to a WhatsApp CRM like respond.io that allows automatic lead qualification. More on that later.

Despite the need to have agents on standby, WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads has a number of advantages over conventional lead-generation campaigns. Read on to find out why you should use WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads for lead generation.

Why Use WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads

WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads help you start a conversation with more leads and allow faster interactions with leads, helping you to move them down the funnel faster.

We'll look at how typical B2B businesses advertise to understand how WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads bring more leads. First, you show ads to target buyers. When clicked, the ad will take leads to a contact form. Once you get their email or phone number, you can start connecting with them.

However, the drop-off rate is high in conventional advertising. Many are unmotivated to fill in a long contact form or have privacy concerns. Plus, leads may inadvertently provide the wrong contact details, in which case you can’t get back to them.

WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads eliminate the need to fill in a contact form, thereby lowering the drop-off rate. Moreover, you don't have to worry about getting the wrong contact details.

It also pushes leads down the funnel faster because interactions on WhatsApp are faster. You'll get an instant reply from leads most of the time. By contrast, it usually takes days to get an email reply in a conventional ad campaign.

Best of all, as of March 1, 2023, if a customer messages you through click to WhatsApp ads, the 24-hour messaging window will be extended to 72 hours. During this time, all messages sent are free, including business-initiated messages or Message Templates.

Keep in mind that the conversation that initiates from the ad is free, not the ad itself. Now that you know how you can benefit from WhatsApp Ads, let's look at the WhatsApp Ads setup process.

WhatsApp Ads: How to Set Up WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads

You can run a click to WhatsApp ad with a WhatsApp Business App or Business API account. Before setting up a Facebook click to WhatsApp ad, you need to:

• Connect your WhatsApp account to your Facebook Page
• Make sure you’re an admin of the Page

Then, just follow the instructions below to set up your ad.

1. Click Create Ad in Meta Business Suite. Select Get More Messages as the goal for the ad.

2. Add a caption for your ad in the description box and click Select Media to pick an image you want to use. You can also edit the headline for the ad here. The preview box on the right will show you changes to the ad in real time. Adjust the copy until you are satisfied.

3. Select WhatsApp in the messaging apps section. Make sure that it is a WhatsApp Business number and not a personal one. You will be prompted to verify the phone number you use.

4. Select the target audience, schedule and duration for the ad.

5. Select a daily budget for the ad and where you want the ads to run, then select the payment method for the ad.

6. Click Promote Now once you’ve finalized all the details of the ad. Once the payment for the ad is complete, the ad will run as scheduled. That’s it!

A click to WhatsApp ad is just the beginning of your sales funnel, though. For best results in generating revenue with WhatsApp, use an official WhatsApp Business API account provided by a WhatsApp partner like respond.io or connect your existing WhatsApp API account to respond.io. We’ll show you why next.

Taking WhatsApp Ads to the Next Level with respond.io

Respond.io is a customer conversation management software that helps you move leads down your sales funnel faster by automating lead qualification. Plus, it enables you to answer messages with multiple users and connect with leads anytime you want.

Let’s look at how you can get these three quick wins with respond.io.

Automatically Qualify WhatsApp Leads

Most companies don’t have the resources to qualify a large number of leads from WhatsApp Click to Chat ads. This is where automated pre-chat surveys come in. You can qualify leads automatically by creating these surveys on respond.io’s Workflows automation builder.

Keep in mind, the automated survey will only be sent if leads message you first. After qualifying, it’s time to message your leads to turn them into customers. To answer messages with a team of agents, you’ll need WhatsApp API connected with respond.io.

Answer Messages Promptly with Multiple Users

Responding to leads promptly increases your chance of converting them into sales, but it’s easier said than done when Business App only allows a maximum of 5 devices or 10 devices if you’re a WhatsApp Business Premium user. To respond to leads faster, run ads with WhatsApp API, which supports multiple users.

This allows you to assign more sales agents to handle conversations at a time so leads are not left hanging and can get answers to their inquiries promptly. By creating great experiences such as this, you increase the likelihood of conversions and are able to build customer loyalty.

Message Leads Anytime with Message Templates

So you’ve captured a lead and added them to your WhatsApp contact list. What next? Instead of waiting for contacts to message you, you can proactively engage them. WhatsApp allows WhatsApp API users to initiate conversations with contacts, but these can only be done with a Message Template.

Message templates have to be pre-approved by WhatsApp before they can be used. As a WhatsApp partner, respond.io allows you to create, submit your Message Templates for approval, and manage and send all your WhatsApp Message Templates on the platform.

Respond.io unlocks the power of WhatsApp ads to provide a variety of benefits. By generating leads and moving them down your sales funnel quickly, you can capture them while interest is high and use this opportunity to convert them into customers.

Then, you can provide customer experiences with efficient and proactive service to build customer loyalty and grow your business. Interested? Sign up for a free respond.io trial and get access to the official WhatsApp API in just minutes.

Further Reading

If you're interested in using WhatsApp for Business, check out these articles:

• Everything You Need to Know About WhatsApp API Pricing
• Using WhatsApp Business for Multiple Users
• How to Use Respond.io with a WhatsApp Integration: WhatsApp CRM