If you’re still relying on WhatsApp status and groups to make sales, you’ve been doing WhatsApp marketing the wrong way. Worse, you’re leaving money on the table because most people don’t check statuses, and group messages get buried fast.
Whether you run a walk-in store or operate 100% online, the WhatsApp marketing strategies I’m about to share will change your sales game for good.
In this post, you’ll discover 5 powerful (and free) ways to boost your sales, with real examples and WhatsApp marketing templates you can copy and paste.
This guide is packed with actionable ideas for business WhatsApp marketing, and you can implement them right away without additional tools.
(Did you know that 67% of Nigerians prefer to make purchases via chat rather than through websites?) This indicates a huge potential for making more sales on WhatsApp with the right strategies.
Without wasting time, let’s dive in!
5 Killer WhatsApp Marketing Hacks to Skyrocket Sales for Your Small Business
1. Segment Your Customers for Targeted WhatsApp Marketing
Not all customers are the same, some buy often, some just browse, some need a little push. Segmenting them is a smart WhatsApp marketing strategy that allows you to send the right WhatsApp campaign to the right people. You can do this using WhatsApp’s built-in label and broadcast features.
3 Types of Customers to Segment:
- Hot Leads: These are people who asked about a product but didn’t buy. A few ways to get this set of customers to buy is to offer them an incentive (e.g., discounts, free delivery, free after-sales services, free gifts, etc.) or ask follow-up questions to uncover the reason they are yet to buy. Edit the items in the square brackets [] to suit your product/service and offer.
“Discount Template: “Hi 👋 We know buying decisions can be tricky, so here’s a [little gift] – get a [FREE steel bracelet] if you order in the next [24 hours!] 🎁 This is our way of saying thanks for choosing us. Click here now to order [Link to your product catalog]”
Follow-up Message Template: “Hi 👋 Just checking in – we know choosing the right [product/service] can be tough! Is there anything holding you back or any questions we can answer to help you decide? 😊 We’re here to make it easy for you! Just reply – we’d love to help.”
- Repeat Buyers: These are customers who have bought once or more. Don’t let the conversation end after the first sale! keep them buying by using WhatsApp broadcast marketing to share occasional campaigns about new arrivals, exciting product launches, exclusive discounts, and flash sales deals.
- Warm Contacts: They are people who haven’t bought. These could be contacts of people on your business WhatsApp group or walk-in customers who have never bought your product but have shown interest by joining your group or visiting your store.
Once you have segmented these sets of customers, you just need to send valuable and educational content once or twice weekly. Say you sell jewelry, you can send them tips on how to identify fake jewelry products.
If you already post valuable content on your social media pages, just re-purpose the content and send it to these contacts on WhatsApp, and once they show interest in buying, move them into the “Hot Lead” segment and then the Repeat Buyers’ lists respectively..
The whole essence of segmentation is to send the right message or deals to the right people and to maximize your business contacts. This is a core part of effective WhatsApp bulk messaging and targeted outreach.
Pro tip: If you run an offline store, collect WhatsApp numbers from walk-in customers and add them to your segmented lists. This type of bulk WhatsApp messaging boosts reach without spamming.
Watch this short video on How to Segment Your Customers on WhatsApp.
2. Offer Exclusive Deals to Select Customers
Another smart WhatsApp promotion technique is offering VIP treatment to your loyal or high-paying customers. This marketing via WhatsApp builds customer loyalty and boosts Lifetime Value. (LTV is the duration a customer buys from your business before they move to your competitor).
The exclusive treatment strategy will make them feel valued and will keep buying from you for a longer period.
Who Can Join the VIP Segment?
- Those who constantly refer you
- High-spending customers
- Repeat buyers
- Influencers
How to Do It:
Create a label named “VIP Customers” and notify them.
Hi👋, Big news, you’re on our VIP list! 🌟Enjoy first access to new arrivals, exclusive discounts, priority support, and surprise gifts! Hint: Drop your birthday/anniversary dates 🎁 so we can personalize your perks. We’re so grateful to have you. Thank you for trusting us to serve you! 🥰”
Send updates and special deals (at least twice a month) with subject lines like:
VIP Deal: 15% Off This Weekend Only!
3. Use Discounts the RIGHT Way
Discounts are great, but they work best when used strategically in your WhatsApp marketing campaign.
Use the 80:20 Rule for warm leads: 80% educational content, 20% promotions.
If you send 4 messages/month:
- First 3 = Tips, education, fun facts
- Last one = Promotional deal.
WhatsApp Discount Strategies:
Here are 3 discount strategies you can use for your WhatsApp promotion:
- Time-Limited – This 10% off ends in 8 hours!
- Buy X Get Y Free – Buy up to 50 pieces and get a free delivery.
- Scarcity-Driven – Only 3 left at this price!
When to Offer Discounts:
- New product launches
- Flash sales
- Weekends
- Holidays/Festive seasons
4. Follow Up Like a Pro
Following up is a WhatsApp marketing tactics that many businesses ignore. Think about the last time you bought something online. Did you click “Buy Now” immediately? Probably not.
Most customers buy after multiple follow-ups. In fact, 80% of sales require 5+ follow-ups, yet 44% of business people give up after just 1 attempt. Following up is crucial for your business, and WhatsApp make it easier to do so.
When to Follow Up:
- When a customer makes an inquiry: Follow up politely at least 5 times unless the customer explicitly says they aren’t ready to buy.
- When a customer makes a purchase: Follow up to ask about their satisfaction with the product/service.
- After an event or webinar: You know those WhatsApp trainings you organize; follow up with the attendees.
Read this post on “how and when to follow up” and go follow up with every customer who’s ever made an inquiry in the last 1 month😉
5. Ask for a Referral/WhatsApp Status Shoutouts
So, a customer drops you a message, “Oh, I love my product, thank you so much!” That right there? That’s your golden opportunity to ask for a referral or a WhatsApp status shoutout! And, during your usual post-purchase follow-up, make it a habit to ask for referrals from those happy customers. This strategy works like a charm because you’re catching them exactly when they’re beaming about their purchase.
Sample ask:
“Hi 😊 So glad you loved your purchase! Would you mind sharing this little shoutout graphic with your friends or on your status? It really helps small businesses like mine grow! Thanks so much”
Pro tip: Create a ready-made image or text graphic that they can share easily. That way, you’re not just saying “refer us,” you’re making it effortless.
Be polite in your ask and watch your sales grow through word-of-mouth marketing.
Final Thoughts
Ghosting isn’t just for customers, you might be guilty of it too when you ignore follow-ups! Imagine all those WhatsApp inquiries that never went anywhere because you didn’t chase them. Anyway, These 5 WhatsApp marketing hacks are simple, powerful, and proven to work. Use them to build better relationships, close more sales, and get more value from your existing WhatsApp contacts.
Which of the hacks are you excited to try first?
