WhatsApp newsletters, the new kid in the realm of digital communication, is making quite a buzz.
But what's all the chatter about?
WhatsApp newsletters are more than just a messaging feature.
Think of them as the silent but powerful game changer, the potent elixir that influencers, marketers, and businesses have been waiting for. Because, it allows creators and businesses to make a personalized connection with their subscribers, sans the noise of social media feeds.
Let's dive deep and see how this features is changing the WhatsApp Marketing game for influencers, solopreneurs, and SMBs. Our article is based on the insights collected from real influencers who are making waves with this feature, and they've spilt the good, the bad, and the brilliant aspects of this feature.
Reality Check: The Dwindling Popularity of Email Newsletters
When it comes to the battle between email and WhatsApp newsletters, it's a fierce duel. Both platforms have their own set of strengths and weaknesses, yet many influencers are turning their heads toward WhatsApp newsletters.
Why?
Email Newsletters Pros Cons Distribution Wide reach, with 3.9 billion users globally High competition, with 347.3 billion emails sent daily Engagement Allows detailed personalisation and segmentation Lower open rates, averaging around 21.33% Cost Most platforms offer free entry-level plans Costs escalate with broadcast list size and feature needs
Picture this: you're excited about a brand, and you voluntarily subscribe to their newsletter, only to drown it in the sea of unread emails.
A report by SmarterHQ confirmed this trend, stating that over 74% of millennials ignore email blasts. They receive hundreds of promotional emails daily, and most are left untouched.
So, while email continues to be a universal method of communication, it falls short in terms of engagement and interaction.
What's the alternative?
WhatsApp newsletters — a fresh, engaging, and personal way for influencers and brands to connect with the audience in their contact list.
What are WhatsApp Newsletters?
Imagine getting a personalised message from a business you love straight to your WhatsApp - that's what a WhatsApp newsletter feels like. It's essentially a bulk message, similar to an email blast, but with a twist. To the recipient, it appears as a personal chat with the business, and if they choose to reply, it turns into an exclusive one-on-one conversation.
Why WhatsApp Newsletters Matter?
WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide.
This isn't just a staggering statistic, it's a clear indicator of the platform's growing popularity among businesses and customers alike. But let's break it down further.
More than 175 million people message a WhatsApp Business account every day.
And that’s not all!
According to a Similarweb Mobile App Intelligence Report, WhatsApp secured its top spot and proved to be the most preferred application in 63 of the 100 countries surveyed.
In this digital era, the human touch often gets lost.
Interestingly, 64% of WhatsApp users feel that the platform enables a more personal connection with businesses. Even more remarkable, 65% of them feel more at ease messaging a business through the WhatsApp Business solution than firing off an email.
Perhaps it's the immediacy of responses or the informal, conversational tone that WhatsApp messaging allows.
Either way, it seems to be working!
In a nutshell, it's time to embrace the new black in business communication - newsletters via WhatsApp. They're personal and convenient and instil a sense of comfort and confidence in your users.
The Inside Scoop on WhatsApp Newsletters
Let's take a deep dive into the pros and cons of this feature, straight from the influencers who are on the front using it.
1. Rafael Sarim Oezdemir | The Innovator At The Helm Of Zendog Labs
As the brain behind a successful B2B2C marketplace, Rafael always had a close relationship with WhatsApp. It was their lifeline during the early days of community building and managing.
They actively used WhatsApp to gather invaluable feedback pre-launch. They were pleasantly surprised when their tight-knit community stepped up to the plate, taking an active role in product development and data generation. If they had outsourced this work, it would have cost them a pretty penny.
Newsletters became a cornerstone of Zendog Lab’s engagement strategy, a monthly update for their 300-strong community. They share product status updates, invite votes on new features, reveal behind-the-scenes insights, and outline future plans. The response is phenomenal - their community was hooked and engagement soared.
“WhatsApp newsletters won me over with their high responsiveness. Compared to Slack or Discord, it is leagues ahead as people were more active on it. However, it isn't without its flaws. Its community-management features are basic at best.”
- Rafael Sarim Oezdemir, CEO @ Zendog Labs
The Other Side of the Coin
The constant notifications when someone leaves a group can cast a negative shadow on the group's morale. While WhatsApp has immense potential to grow into a robust community management platform, it still has a long way to go. Along with Rafael, we are keenly anticipating its evolution.
2. Sudhir Khatwani | The Mastermind Behind The Money Mongers
Imagine having a direct line to your customers, where you can share timely updates, exciting offers, and valuable content. That's exactly what Sudhir gets with the WhatsApp newsletter. This platform has been a game changer for The Money Mongers and it's not just about the convenience, it's about reaching customers where they are most active.
The result? A skyrocketing interaction rate of WhatsApp messages seen within 5 minutes of delivery leaves traditional email newsletters in the dust.
But here's where it gets really interesting. The WhatsApp newsletter isn't just a broadcasting tool - it's a personalization powerhouse. Sudhir can group his customers based on their interests and tailor his content accordingly. Sending targeted broadcasting information to those who've shown interest has led to a substantial leap in engagement and customer loyalty.
The Art of Balancing: Use and Misuse
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Sudhir understands the importance of respecting his audience's personal space. That's why he carefully monitors the frequency and content of his newsletters.
"Respect your audience's personal space. Newsletters should be like a friendly visitor - frequent, but not annoying. Each newsletter should provide value to your customers. It's a delicate balance between keeping customers informed and not overwhelming them with broadcast messaging."
- Sudhir Khatwani, Co-Founder @ The Money Mongers
But when it's done right, as Sudhir does, the WhatsApp newsletter can transform a business, causing a significant surge in engagement and customer loyalty. It's all about fine-tuning the content to make it resonate with the audience.
3. Peter Michaels | Turning Chaos Into Hope At Yeespy
Let's talk about Peter Michaels, a savvy influencer who recognized the power of WhatsApp business newsletters. This feature has become a cornerstone of his engagement strategy, offering him a unique opportunity to engage his followers in a direct, real-time conversation.
“WhatsApp newsletters open a direct line of communication with subscribers, allowing businesses to send vital updates, valuable content, and exclusive deals. The ubiquity and accessibility of WhatsApp make it an ideal platform for reaching your followers anytime, anywhere, offering a seamless and engaging user experience.”
- Peter Michaels, CEO @ Yeespy
Moreover, the interactive nature of WhatsApp newsletters facilitates two-way communication. Subscribers can effortlessly respond to their newsletters, providing priceless feedback, insights, and queries.
The New Era of Content Delivery
Unlike other channels where a message might get buried in cluttered inboxes or overlooked on social media feeds, the WhatsApp Business Platform lets Yeespy deliver content straight into the palms of its subscribers. This close-knit connection cultivates a sense of exclusivity and loyalty among followers, as they feel they're receiving firsthand updates and insights.
4. Nathan Clark | One of the Visionaries Behind Gate2AI
For Nathan Clark, WhatsApp's newsletter feature has become a potent tool to foster a direct, personal bond with audiences.
“WhatsApp newsletters help our team ship regular updates, vital announcements, and valuable content straight to the mobile devices of our subscribers. This enables Gate2AI to cut through the digital chatter and reach our target audience in a more intimate, immediate manner.”
- Nathan Clark, Co-Founder @Gate2AI
WhatsApp's inherently personal nature transforms its messages into individualized missives, enriching the user experience. Compared to traditional email newsletters, subscribers are more eager to open and peruse WhatsApp messages.
Quite a bold claim, isn't it?
But we’ve got the numbers to back it up!
According to a recent Mailchimp study, the average email open rate is merely 21.33% across all industries.
Whereas, WhatsApp messages have an average open rate of 98%.
A Silent but Potent Game Changer
From a commercial standpoint, the WhatsApp newsletter aids in cultivating brand loyalty, fostering a sense of community, and directing traffic toward their website and other social media platforms. It serves as an additional touchpoint to nourish relationships with Gate2AI followers, offer valuable insights, and endorse their tools and resources.
Real-Life Examples of WhatsApp Newsletters
Let's add some colour to this discussion with real-life examples of how influencers use WhatsApp newsletters for different purposes. Here are some best examples of different WhatsApp newsletter examples:
Type Example Promotions A beauty brand sends out a WhatsApp newsletter with a special discount code for a clearance sale Exclusive Discounts An e-commerce store shares an exclusive discount for a newly launched tech gadget with selected subscribers Product Launches A SaaS enterprise announces the launch of its new product line that caters to a different set of customers Competitions A wellness influencer organises a fitness challenge with exciting prizes and keeps the momentum up and going Seasonal Campaigns A lifestyle brand shares a guide to picking the perfect christmas gift in their WhatsApp newsletter Personalised Messages An edutech platform sends out personalised reminders to its students about upcoming sessions Brand Loyalty A service brand shares an NPS survey with its customers to understand the quality of its customer service operations
The Limitations of WhatsApp Newsletters
On the plus side, WhatsApp newsletters are incredibly user-friendly and enable influencers to engage with their audience in real time. They're concise, easily digestible, and can be tailored to suit the preferences of each subscriber.
However, it's not all sunshine and roses.
Despite its numerous advantages, the feature does have its limitations. The maximum group size for WhatsApp newsletters is 256 members, and with no option for larger groups, influencers with sizeable followings can find this restrictive.
Experts Leveraging Gallabox to Get the Most Out of WhatsApp Newsletters
Meet Sharan, a financial expert making waves in the industry with his savvy understanding of the financial market. Sharan is not your typical finance geek. His friendly demeanour and knack for simplifying tricky financial jargon have earned him a loyal following.
The Magic of WhatsApp Newsletters
Sharan's tool of choice for connecting with his audience is the revolutionary new feature from the WhatsApp Business Platform - WhatsApp newsletters. This feature allows him to share his financial insights in the form of comics directly with his subscribers, fostering a more intimate and interactive connection.
How Gallabox Helps Elevate the Newsletter Experience
However, the true game-changer in Sharan's arsenal is Gallabox, an advanced WhatsApp Broadcasting Platform that elevates the power of WhatsApp newsletters and helps influencers launch conversational marketing campaigns at scale with a host of features ranging from pre-built messaging templates to bot automation.
Gallabox enhances the functionality of these newsletters, empowering Sharan to deliver fun and informative finance comics daily at 8 AM IST to all his followers sidestepping the 256 limit. He can also engage his vast audience base more effectively with interactive quizzes and leaderboards, and ultimately track real-time newsletter performance.
Gallabox: Enhancing Newsletter Communication
Now, let's talk about Gallabox. You're probably wondering what it has to do with all this. Well, Gallabox is taking WhatsApp newsletters to the stratosphere by tapping into the power of WhatsApp Business API.
So, whether you're a small business owner or a digital influencer, the truth about WhatsApp newsletters is that they're a powerful tool for direct communication and customer engagement. With Gallabox elevating the capabilities of this feature, it's high time to embrace this revolution.
Gallabox is a WhatsApp Automation Platform that's putting the power back in the hands of influencers, solopreneurs, and small businesses. So, if you're looking to maximise your WhatsApp newsletter experience, it's time to get on board with Gallabox.
Take Gallabox for a free spin and start sending personalised messages to build a loyal and engaged following.
