WhatsApp Business terms

Must-know terms to run and grow your sales on WhatsApp

A

The WhatsApp Auto Reply feature allows you to set up pre-made, automated replies and messages that are sent automatically to customers after they contact your business. Auto-reply messages are used to keep leads engaged throughout the sales funnel. Use them to reply immediately to inbound messages when all your agents are busy or unavailable.

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Away messages are a type of automated messages sent to notify customers that no one from the team is currently available to reply. These are used to maintain communication with leads and customers. Use them to reply to customers during holidays and off days.

WhatsApp automation is the process of using WhatsApp to automatically handle repetitive tasks and interactions with customers. Automation features are used to keep customers engaged, send notifications and updates, qualify leads automatically and send follow-ups. You can use WhatsApp to automate day-to-day tasks and help your team focus on closing deals.

Read: WhatsApp automation guide

B

WhatsApp Broadcast is a WhatsApp feature that lets you create a list of customers and send them the same message at once. It’s used to keep customer interactions personal, as the message reaches each customer privately. Use a broadcast list to send product updates, discount offers, reminders, or general announcements.

Read more: WhatsApp broadcast

WhatsApp Bulk messaging is the action of sending the same message to a large number of customers (>1,000) at once. It’s used to reach a wide audience without writing individual messages. Send Bulk Messages on WhatsApp to promote new features, ask for feedback or announce offers. But make sure you stick to WhatsApp policies to avoid getting your number banned.

Read more: WhatsApp bulk messages

A business profile is the display of your business details on WhatsApp, including its name, logo, and address. It gives your business a professional image and builds credibility. Build a business profile to give your customers a quick idea about what your business does.

By backing up WhatsApp chats, you save a copy of your business conversations on Google Drive or iCloud. It’s done to ensure no important customer conversation is lost. Backed-up WhatsApp chats help you review old interactions and disputes.

WhatsApp Business solution providers are companies authorized by Meta to help businesses use the WhatsApp Business API. They offer integrations that improve workflow and boost customer engagement. Use a business solution provider to set up chatbots and automation features that reduce your team’s workload.

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C

WhatsApp CRM is referred to the integration between WhatsApp and your CRM platform that gathers customer conversations and data in one place. It stops teams from manually shifting between platforms, saves time, and reduces human error. Integrate WhatsApp with your CRM to manage, track, and personalize your customer interactions.

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A WhatsApp chatbot is automated software powered by AI that uses text-based human conversation to provide an interactive experience for users on WhatsApp. It helps improve a team’s response time and keeps customers engaged. Sales teams rely on chatbots to automatically collect information from their leads throughout the sales cycle, while support teams can use it to automate day-to-day tasks and FAQs. To set up a bot on WhatsApp, you need to be on the WhatsApp Business Platform. You can code your own chatbot or use a chatbot builder.

Read on how to create your own chatbot

WhatsApp collections is a feature that lets you organize products into groups within a product catalog. They make it easier for customers to find the product they need, increasing conversions and sales. Use WhatsApp collections to allow your customers to browse through products and place their orders directly in the chat.

Conversation-based pricing is a pricing model WhatsApp uses to charge businesses per conversation, not per message. It helps with clearer budgeting since it can be challenging for teams to predict the number of messages they’ll send to customers.

The WhatsApp conversation window refers to the 24 hours after a customer’s last message. During this period, WhatsApp allows businesses to reply back to customers. It’s the only time when businesses are allowed to send free-form messages, not templates or quick replies.

A WhatsApp chat button is a clickable button on a website or an app that starts a new WhatsApp conversation with a business. It provides an easy way for customers to reach out, boosting engagement and potentially increasing sales. Use a chat button for easy and quick lead generation.

Customer support automation on WhatsApp is becoming crucial. Businesses use WhatsApp automation features to automate routine customer service tasks like answering FAQs, collecting feedback, and assigning issues. This helps a business handle more inquiries and reduces support teams’ workload.

Read on ways to automate customer service on WhatsApp

Businesses are now using WhatsApp for customer service more than ever. Supporting customers on WhatsApp improves response times and boosts engagement because teams automate routine customer service tasks and are able to reply to customers in real-time.

Read our guide on WhatsApp for customer service

Click-to-WhatsApp ads are clickable ads that allow customers to initiate conversations with businesses on WhatsApp. They’re used to generate leads and boost engagement. Use click-to-WhatsApp ads to give your customers an easy way to contact you.

Read on: Click-to-WhatsApp ads

Click-to-chat links are links that take customers to a new WhatsApp conversation with a business. They provide an easy way for customers to contact you for support or as leads. Use click-to-chat links in your newsletters to allow recipients to ask you questions directly after receiving them.

Create your own click-to-chat WhatsApp link

WhatsApp cloud API is a cloud-based version of WhatsApp Business API that helps you integrate WhatsApp into your workflows. It’s critical for handling customer interactions without large infrastructure expenses. Use WhatsApp cloud API to send and receive messages, use templates and chatbots, and manage large volumes of conversations.

Read on: WhatsApp Cloud API

WhatsApp campaigns are targeted and strategic marketing messages businesses send to customers on WhatsApp. They can help boost conversions and increase sales because of WhatsApp’s high open rate. Send campaigns on WhatsApp to promote new features and special offers.

Explore: Successful WhatsApp Campaign Examples

D

WhatsApp display name is the name that shows on your business profile. It helps customers identify your business at a glance. Use WhatsApp display name to build a brand identity and unify your business image across platforms.

Read on WhatsApp display name

E

WhatsApp is known for its end-to-end encryption, which is a security feature that ensures only the sender and the recipient can see the messages, not third parties. It’s crucial for complying with data privacy regulations and maintaining client confidence. With end-to-end encryption, you can share confidential details with your customers without worrying about breaches.

F

WhatsApp flows is a feature that allows businesses to design interactive and automated conversation pathways for customers. It helps with customer interactions and reduces team workload. Use WhatsApp flows to guide your customers through onboarding or support questions.

Learn everything about WhatsApp Flows

G

Green tick verification (now blue) is a badge that shows your business is verified by WhatsApp. It’s important for boosting credibility and trust, and in turn, increasing engagement. Verify your WhatsApp account to contact customers without them worrying about your identity.

Learn about verification on WhatsApp

Greeting messages are a type of automated messages sent to customers when they first contact a business. They’re important for welcoming new prospects and keeping them engaged through the sales funnel. Use greeting messages to introduce your company and guide the conversation where you need.

H

The HubSpot WhatsApp integration connects a company’s WhatsApp Business API account with HubSpot’s CRM. It allows businesses to manage their WhatsApp conversations directly from HubSpot. It helps teams keep customer data and conversations in one place. Integrate WhatsApp with your HubSpot account to record customer activity and gain context to all of their interactions.

Explore Rasayel’s HubSpot WhatsApp integration

A Hubspot-certified app is an application that has been approved by HubSpot to integrate with it and show on its marketplace. These applications help you connect your business tools and CRM, improving workflows and productivity.

Read on Rasayel as a Hubspot certified app partner

I

Interactive WhatsApp messages are messages that include interactive elements like quick reply buttons or call-to-action buttons. They are used to engage users and are critical for guiding prospects through sales funnels or qualifying leads. Use interactive messages to let customers select a product type and automatically route them to a sales agent.

Read: Interactive WhatsApp messages

WhatsApp Business Platform integrates with a business’ existing tech stack. WhatsApp integrations are important for improving workflows, automating tasks, and boosting productivity. Businesses usually integrate WhatsApp with CRM platforms to centralize customer data and conversations.

L

Labels are organizational tools that allow businesses to categorize chats and contacts on WhatsApp. It helps teams manage conversations and prioritize tasks. Use WhatsApp labels to categorize your contacts into “New leads,” Follow-ups,” and “Closed deals.”

Linked devices are the multiple devices connected to your WhatsApp Business account. Connecting multiple devices improves teams’ response times, as they can manage conversations from anywhere. Link multiple devices to your WhatsApp account so that your team can handle customer interactions on computers during work hours and on phones during remote hours.

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Link generator is a feature that creates unique click-to-chat links for WhatsApp. It makes it easier for prospects to initiate conversations with a business and boosts lead generation. Use a link generator to create unique links for different marketing campaigns and track which link generated the highest number of responses.

Read on: How to generate WhatsApp links & QR codes

M

Message templates are customizable messages that you create to initiate conversations with your customers. It helps automate and standardize communication, saving time and increasing productivity. Use message templates to follow up with leads, collect feedback from customers, or remind customers of upcoming payments.

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Messaging limits are restrictions on the number of messages your business can send to customers on WhatsApp. They ensure respectful communication with customers by preventing spamming. Always pay attention to your messaging limits to avoid getting banned on WhatsApp.

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Meta business partners are companies certified by Meta to help businesses grow through marketing on platforms like WhatsApp. The certification gives you exclusive access to updates, insights, and advanced tools. Getting certified by Meta improves your credibility and puts you a step ahead of your competitors.

Read: Meta Business Partner

Marketing template messages are customizable messages that your business can use to send marketing content to customers. They’re important for sending promotional messages to customers outside WhatsApp’s 24-hour window. Use marketing template messages to send a discount offer to a list of leads.

Message statistics is data that tracks the performance of your business messages on WhatsApp, including open rate, response rate, and delivery rate. It’s crucial for measuring the success of your communication strategies. Use message statistics to evaluate the success of your marketing campaigns and adjust accordingly.

WhatsApp on multiple devices means using WhatsApp on more than one device, including computer, mobile, and tablet. It helps you improve your business’ response rates, as teams can reply to customers from any device available. Use WhatsApp on multiple devices to reply to your customers on off days and holidays.

Using WhatsApp for multiple users means setting up multiple team members to use the same WhatsApp account. It improves team collaboration and makes it easier to hand over a conversation from one team to another (e.g. sales to support). You can set up multiple users on WhatsApp to manage a global launch campaign, where each team member handles inquiries from a specific time zone.

N

Notification messages are messages sent to customers on WhatsApp to inform them about updates. They keep your customers updated and engaged. Use notification messages to remind customers of upcoming payments or alert them to discount offers.

Newsletters are monthly messages sent to customers on WhatsApp to share business updates and news. They have higher delivery and open rates than emails and don’t go into spam folders, like email newsletters. Use newsletters to give customers your latest product updates and share special promotions.

Read on: WhatsApp newsletters

O

Official business account is a status given to verified business accounts on WhatsApp, indicated by a blue checkmark next to the display name. It helps in attracting prospects and generating leads by boosting credibility. Get OBA status to reassure your customers they’re communicating with a reliable source.

Opt-in is a permission customers give to receive WhatsApp messages from your business. It’s important for building customer trust and protecting your business account from reports. Use opt-ins during sign-up to ask prospects whether they want to receive product updates and offers.

Read: WhatsApp opt-ins

A one-time password is a time-sensitive code sent to customers on WhatsApp to verify personal details or authenticate payments. It’s an essential security feature and improves customers’ trust in your business. Use OTPs to verify a customer’s identity before they reset a password or change payment details.

P

Product catalog is a WhatsApp feature that lets customers browse your products and add items to their carts directly through the app. It makes the shopping experience easier, which can boost your sales. Use product catalogs to categorize your products into groups and offer them to prospects and leads.

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WhatsApp Business Premium is a paid version of WhatsApp business that gives you access to advanced tools and automation features. It helps you provide a better customer experience through personalized automated messages and multi-agent support. Subscribe to WhatsApp Business Premium to create automatic replies to common customer questions.

Pipedrive WhatsApp integration is the connection of Pipedrive’s CRM tool and WhatsApp. It allows your business to manage WhatsApp conversations and review customer data directly through Pipedrive. Integrate WhatsApp with Pipedrive to track leads through the sales funnel and reduce the chance of dropping them.

Read on the Pipedrive WhatsApp integration

WhatsApp pay is a feature that allows customers to pay businesses money through WhatsApp. It makes for an easier payment process, increasing customer satisfaction and boosting your sales. Use WhatsApp pay to receive subscription payments from customers.

WhatsApp API pricing is the cost you pay to gain access to WhatsApp API features. It’s a per-message cost that depends on the type of WhatsApp message you send. It makes it easier for you to measure ROI from WhatsApp against other messaging channels. Use WhatsApp API pricing to plan your budget and scale accordingly.

Read on WhatsApp Business API pricing

Q

QR code is a scannable code that links to a new WhatsApp chat with your business. It improves engagement by giving your customers an easy way to initiate conversations. Use a QR code on your marketing materials to allow prospects to scan and chat with you instantly.

Quality rating is a score given to your business by WhatsApp to show the quality of your interactions. It can increase customer trust and boost your conversions when high. Use your quality rating to assess your team’s response times and overall performance.

R

Read receipts are indicators that show when your business message has been read by the recipient. It helps you calculate your open rate and assess the success of your campaigns. Use read receipts to check whether customers have read your messages or need follow-ups.

Rich media messages are messages that include images, videos, or documents. They boost customer engagement and help you send information in a clearer way. You can use rich media messages to send a product demo video to your prospects to help them understand the features.

WhatsApp reports are analytics generated by WhatsApp to track your business’ performance. They include key metrics, like engagement and open rates, to help you optimize your communication strategies. Use WhatsApp reports to assess the success of your marketing campaigns before launching a new one.

S

A short link is a shortened URL that takes customers to your WhatsApp business profile or chat. It improves lead generation and engagement and makes it easier for customers to contact you for support. Use short links in newsletters and routine emails to give prospects an easy way to contact you.

Shopify WhatsApp integration is a connection between Shopify and WhatsApp that lets businesses manage customers and orders through WhatsApp. It boosts engagement and can increase sales. Integrate Shopify with your WhatsApp business account to send your customers instant updates about their orders, including shipping updates and confirming the purchase.

Scheduling WhatsApp messages means setting messages to be sent at a specific date and time on WhatsApp. It helps in automating follow-ups and planning campaigns. Use scheduled WhatsApp messages to remind customers about upcoming events or offers in a timely fashion.

Businesses using WhatsApp for sales are relying on WhatsApp to communicate with customers and close deals with prospects, leads, and customers. It increases engagement and lead conversion rates and makes it easier to communicate directly with customers. Use WhatsApp as a sales channel to send customers personalized messages, product demos, and new feature announcements.

Read our guide on WhatsApp for Sales

Salesforce WhatsApp integration is a connection between WhatsApp and Salesforce’s CRM platform that lets you manage your business conversations directly from the CRM. It allows you to track customer data and manage conversations from the same platform. Integrate WhatsApp with your Salesforce account to log your customer interactions automatically and use them to track the buyer’s journey.

Setting up a sales funnel on WhatsApp helps easily guide users through the different stages of their buyer journey. Using WhatsApp for your sales funnels makes it easier to increase sales because of the platform’s high open rate.

The platform’s features enable businesses to share product details in the awareness stage, answer questions in the consideration stage, and send subscription or demo booking links in the decision stage.

The use of automation tools and features to manage sales on WhatsApp. It saves time and reduces workload by automating routine tasks and helping teams focus on more pressing matters. You can use automation to qualify leads from WhatsApp conversations based on a set of questions.

WhatsApp security is a set of measures WhatsApp provides to protect your data and communications with customers, like two-step verification. These measures keep sensitive data safe and increase customer trust.

T

A WhatsApp shared inbox is a tool or platform that allows multiple team members to use the same WhatsApp account to communicate with customers. Using these platforms results in better team collaboration and smoother customer handover between teams. Use a team inbox platform to assign customers to different team members at different stages of the sales funnel.

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Standardized messages that businesses use to communicate with customers outside the 24-hour session window, requiring prior approval from WhatsApp.

Two-step verification is a WhatsApp security feature that adds an extra layer of security to your log-in process, usually an OTP sent to your phone number. It’s important to protect against unauthorized access and increase customer trust. Set up two-step verification to prevent unauthorized agents from accessing customer interactions.

Transactional WhatsApp messages are messages sent to customers including details about transactions. They’re useful for keeping customers updated and engaged. Send a transactional message to notify a customer that the order is confirmed and tell them the expected delivery date.

U

A user-initiated conversation is a conversation where the first message is sent by the customer to the business. It shows a customer is interested in your business and prompts you to engage with prospects right away. User-initiated conversations are useful for restarting WhatsApp’s 24-hour conversation window.

Utility WhatsApp messages are messages sent to customers to keep them updated about your product. They’re important for keeping customers engaged while reducing support team workload. You can send utility messages to notify customers about maintenance hours or a product update.

Unbanning a WhatsApp account is the process of regaining access to a WhatsApp account that was previously banned because of a violation. It keeps customer communications respectful. You can unban your WhatsApp account by filing a request to WhatsApp.

Read: Unban WhatsApp account

V

A virtual WhatsApp number is a number that isn’t tied to a SIM card or physical phone line. Instead, it uses the internet. It’s useful for separating business and professional conversations. Use a virtual WhatsApp number to handle customer support so that team members don’t use their personal numbers to contact customers.

Read: WhatsApp virtual numbers

W

Webhooks are triggers that allow you to receive real-time updates from WhatsApp to notify you of specific events, like incoming messages or template status updates. They improve your team’s response rate and enable you to automate routine replies based on the notifications you receive.

WhatsApp Business app is a free application, separate from WhatsApp Messenger, that offers communication tools for small businesses. It helps you communicate with leads and reach a larger volume of prospects. Using the WhatsApp Business app, you can automate greeting and away messages and link multiple devices to your account.

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WhatsApp Business API is an interface that lets you connect your WhatsApp Business account to any other software that your business uses (e.g. CRM). It’s crucial for scaling your customer communications. Using the API, you can set up a shared team inbox and allow your sales and support teams to collaborate on handling customers.

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WhatsApp web allows you to use WhatsApp from a web browser. It’s more convenient for managing multiple clients at once and sharing files. Businesses with large conversation volumes usually use the web version for the convenience of using large screens and keyboards.

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WhatsApp Business account is an account you create for your business to communicate with customers. It’s crucial to build a professional business image and improve credibility. You can use your WhatsApp Business account to send product updates and subscription reminders or answer customer questions.

Read: WhatsApp Business account

Workflow is a sequence of automated processes triggered by a specific event, like a customer contacting your business. It helps you boost productivity and reduce manual workload, as many actions can be automated. You can use a workflow to send a short query to a customer and then assign the conversation to a specific team member based on the answer.