A Guide to WhatsApp Widget for Website [July 2023]

Are you looking to add a chat widget to your website? This article covers what a WhatsApp widget is to how to set it up. Additionally, we'll show you how integrating WhatsApp with your website can enhance your marketing, sales and support initiatives. Finally, we'll demonstrate how to incorporate automation into your widget with respond.io.

What is WhatsApp Chat Widget?

A WhatsApp widget is a chat widget embedded on a website that allows visitors to start a chat with you on WhatsApp. Once clicked, it takes customers to the mobile or desktop WhatsApp app, where they can initiate a conversation with you.

Let’s look at the benefits of having a WhatsApp chat widget on your website.

Benefits of a WhatsApp Chat Widget

The WhatsApp widget can benefit businesses in several ways, one of which is by converting website visitors into WhatsApp contacts. This is beneficial for businesses that experience high volumes of website traffic.

Unlike live chat, which requires customers to input their details, the widget automatically obtains customers’ phone numbers and WhatsApp names. This lets you collect genuine leads and build your WhatsApp contact list.

This is an image that shows the pros of using a widget whatsapp. A Whatsapp website widget allows you to convert website visitors to whatsapp contacts. Aside from that, whatsapp business widget also lets you identify customers with phone number. Lastly, you can reconnect with customers even after they leave the website when using a widget chat whatsapp. Want to know what is whatsapp widget? Read more below. — Why use a chat widget for your website

Finally, the widget also allows you to reconnect with customers after they leave your website, helping you build long-term relationships with them.

Now that you’ve learned the key benefits, let’s explore how to set it up in the next section.

How to Set Up WhatsApp Widget for Website

If you’re using WhatsApp API to enable multiple users to chat with customers or handle conversations at scale, then you need a third-party platform that lets you send and receive messages.

Respond.io is a customer conversation management software that supports multiple channels, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Viber and more.

Additionally, respond.io is a WhatsApp partner, so if you don’t have access to WhatsApp API yet, you can get an account in minutes. Once done, the process for setting up a WhatsApp widget on respond.io can be done quickly by following these steps.

This is an image that shows how to add whatsapp widget for website. To get started, navigate to Settings > Growth Widgets. Then, click Add Widget and select WhatsApp Widget before clicking Create Widget. — Respond.io omnichannel website widget supports a wide range of *Channels*

To get started, navigate to Settings > Growth Widgets. Then, click Add Widget and select WhatsApp Widget before clicking Create Widget.

After that, enter the website(s) where you want to add the chat widget and select the WhatsApp account you want to create a widget for.

This is a screenshot that shows how to add widget whatsapp on website. Select the whatsapp account you want to create a widget for. — Select the WhatsApp account you want to create a web chat for

Add pre-filled text or customize the widget’s appearance by clicking on the Advanced Settings buttons. Finally, click Generate Widget, copy the generated script and install it on your website.

If you want to connect with customers across multiple channels, an omnichannel widget can help. You can also opt to add a website chat widget to your website.

Now that you've successfully set up your widget, we’ll show you how businesses can leverage the chat widget to maximize its potential.

WhatsApp Widget for Website: Use Cases

In this section, we will highlight the benefits of using a WhatsApp chat widget for marketing, sales and support.

WhatsApp Chat Widget for Marketing

Many companies use live chat to collect leads and contact information, but this method can result in a high drop-off rate due to privacy concerns and incorrect contact information.

this is an image that shows how to use whatsapp widget for website for marketing. A WhatsApp widget eliminates the need for manual data collection, which makes it easier to capture genuine leads. It automatically obtains customers' phone numbers and names and can be used for marketing and retargeting activities such as promotional broadcasts. — Whatsapp webchat for marketing

Using a WhatsApp widget eliminates the need for manual data collection, which makes it easier to capture genuine leads. It automatically obtains customers' phone numbers and names. It can also be used for marketing and retargeting activities such as promotional broadcasts.

WhatsApp Widget for Sales

The anonymity of live chat makes it harder for salespeople to get accurate contact information to build rapport with prospects. Plus, salespeople must be constantly available to reply to live chat or visitors may become impatient and exit the site.

This is an image that shows how to use widget whatsapp for sales. Using WhatsApp for sales makes it easier to build personal relationships with customers through its conversational nature and ability to engage with customers in the long term. This increases conversion chances by capturing customers’ purchase interest or addressing hesitations. — WhatsApp web chat for sales

Using WhatsApp for sales makes it easier to build personal relationships with customers through its conversational nature and ability to engage with customers in the long term. This increases conversion chances by capturing customers’ purchase interest or addressing hesitations.

WhatsApp Chat Widget for Customer Support

Support agents often face challenges in providing personalized solutions on live chat due to the anonymity of contacts. Additionally, live chat doesn’t allow agents to follow up on complex inquiries after the contact has left the website.

This is an image that shows how to us whatsapp widget for website html for customer support. A WhatsApp widget lets you identify returning customers and tailor solutions to their needs. You can also resume conversations with them when solutions are ready. Using respond.io’s shared inbox, the support team can track customer interactions back to the sales stage for additional context. — Widget WhatsApp for customer support

Conversely, a WhatsApp widget lets you identify returning customers and tailor solutions to their needs. You can also resume conversations with them when solutions are ready. Using respond.io’s shared inbox, the support team can track customer interactions back to the sales stage for additional context.

Having explored its benefits, it’s time to learn how to maximize its potential with respond.io’s chat automation.

How to Automate WhatsApp Business Widget with respond.io: 3 Quick Wins

Here, we’ll discuss using respond.io’s chat automation to maximize the WhatsApp widget’s potential.

Automate Responses to FAQs with Chat Automation

Automating responses to frequently asked questions reduces the agents’ workloads, freeing them to attend to more pressing issues.

This is a screenshot that shows how to set up faqs with chat automation — Set up automated responses for WhatsApp online chat

One way to accomplish this is by creating a WhatsApp multiple-choice menu to answer common inquiries immediately and avoid making customers wait for responses.

Tailor Conversation Handling According to Your Business Hours

Unavailable to attend to customers’ replies? Set an Away Message to manage customers’ expectations. When a contact initiates a conversation outside of business hours, they will receive an Away Message.

This is a screenshot that shows the workflow steps to creating an away message — Set up an Away Message for WhatsApp chat on website

If you have agents on shifts for extended hours or 24/7, you can automatically route conversations by shift and assign them to agents on duty according to the preferred auto-assignment logic.

Integrate Your Existing CRMs and Business Software

Integrating your sales CRM and business software like Hubspot, Salesforce, Pipedrive and more allows agents to create deals, tickets and update customer data while communicating with customers. This eliminates the need to switch between platforms, making everyday tasks more efficient.

This is a screenshot that shows the workflow steps to creating a deal on hubspot. — Create a HubSpot deal using Workflows

We hope this article provides everything you need to know about a WhatsApp widget and how to maximize its potential for your business. Are you ready to get started with respond.io? Sign up for a free trial and get your WhatsApp API account.