How to Use WhatsApp Business API for Interior Designers?

In today’s digital-first world, imagine your clients can see your stunning design online, love your style, but are unable to connect because of lost emails. That’s what we call a missed opportunity, and it can create issues for companies still relying on traditional channels.

What if I say the same clients not just reach instantly, but also get updates about recent designs and projects via WhatsApp? With over 2.8 billion users worldwide, the WhatsApp Business API for interior designers offers an effective way of customer engagement and delivers a personalized experience. 

Through it, companies can deliver virtual consultations, send design proposals, and even collect in-app payments. If you are an interior designer, the WhatsApp API is the ultimate solution to elevate business conversations. Let’s explore its working, challenges it solves, use cases, and benefits through this article.

What is WhatsApp Business API for Interior Designers?

WhatsApp Business API is a powerful messaging solution designed for businesses to communicate with their customers at scale. Unlike the free WhatsApp Business App, the API is a much more personalized and feature-rich way to reach clients anytime and anywhere. 

Interior designers can employ API to simplify communication and workflow, such as: 

• Automatically send reminders, project status, and notifications to customers
• Use a WhatsApp Chatbot for handling FAQs such as pricing, availability, and bookings. 
• Connect WhatsApp with your CRM to segment customers by location, project type, or stage.
• Share end-to-end encrypted messages to keep customer information secure and private. 
• Get payment and booking deposits within the chat. 
• Showcase their furniture, design, and decor items using WhatsApp catalogues. 

To integrate WhatsApp API into your business, you have to partner up with a business solutions provider like Getgabs. 

Challenges Faced by Interior Designers in Communicating with Clients

Companies sometimes face communication challenges when communicating and sharing interior design ideas with clients. The challenges are:

• Traditional communication methods, such as emails and calls, need to be more effective. They may often go unnoticed, leading to poor client return communication. 
• They are required to offer real-time updates on projects that customers can check on anytime.
• A digital approach is required to send multiple messages, such as pictures and videos of products and design themes, or to schedule feedback surveys.

To rectify all these challenges, Meta has launched WhatsApp Business API to help businesses engage with their customers seamlessly. Designers can send automated replies if clients initiate a message to them, collect feedback responses, and share live images of the interior, etc. 

In the next section, we will discuss the benefits of using WhatsApp Business API for interior designers.

8 Key Benefits of WhatsApp Business API for Interior Designers

Integrating WhatsApp Business gives you access to advanced functionality and gives you the upper hand in marketing. Below are some other benefits offered by this software: 

1. Great customer base

One of the most effective benefits of using an API for business is that over 2.2 billion active people use the platform globally. WhatsApp is available in around 180 countries, with massive customer bases in India, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Malaysia, Colombia, Kenya, etc.

This channel’s best advantage is that it connects customers over the platform and performs conversational commerce marketing, compared with other traditional channels. 

2. Highest open rate

WhatsApp ensures that whenever interior designers send promotional or design-related details to clients, it has a 98% open rate on WhatsApp; messages will be open and seen by the clients. As compared with Email and SMS, 98 out of every 100 messages shared over WhatsApp are read by users, making it a highly effective platform for doing WhatsApp marketing, customer support, and sales.

3. Private and trustworthy

WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption, which means information shared between interior designers or customers is kept private. It also allows businesses to share their sensitive information on WhatsApp itself. WhatsApp business accounts also undergo the necessary authentication procedures, enabling a blue tick and customers to feel safe and comfortable.

4. Easy Opt-ins for Clients

Designers require customer consent to send WhatsApp messages, particularly in the case of promotional messages.  It includes features such as website widgets, QR codes, and website links to get opt-ins from customers, making it easier to stay connected. Plus, you can create a list of customers who want to hear from you and keep your marketing secure and reliable.

5. Enhance digital marketing

They share relevant information with customers, make use of the unlimited possibilities offered by WhatsApp businesses to grow engagement, and use push notifications to make announcements and send alerts. Interior designers can use WhatsApp broadcasting to communicate with more than 1000 customers at a single time on specific groups of customers to do targeted marketing campaigns to achieve good results. 

6. Two-way communication

An essential benefit of using WhatsApp Business API for interior designers is that it allows them to communicate with customers by enabling them to receive incoming WhatsApp messages. This makes clients target the business when they need customer service without having to go to their website or contact details. 

7. Multi-channel engagement

WhatsApp API enables interior designers to integrate WhatsApp with other tools such as CRM, chatbots, and even a payment system. It means all your customer communication, transactions, and updates can all be done on a single platform.

8. Quick messages and auto-replies

Companies can use WhatsApp’s auto-reply and rapid message tools to customize shortcuts for their most frequently used replies, such as “thank you,” and set greeting and goodbye messages for their clients. With this support, businesses may reply to customers at all times, particularly after hours, and correctly when needed. In contrast to being ghosted, clients are kept interested and engaged when they receive prompt responses. This is especially beneficial for smaller firms with smaller teams because it improves consumer involvement and connection. 

How to Use WhatsApp Business API for Interior Designers?

If you also think that WhatsApp Business API is just for sending messages, then you’re probably wrong. It goes far beyond by creating a seamless, instant, and personal experience for customers. From sharing design ideas to handling customer queries, the platform keeps everything well-organized in a single place. 

Below are some practical ways in which interior designers can use it: 

1. Virtual consultations

Interior designers can use WhatsApp Business API to conduct virtual meetings with their clients if they cannot meet them face-to-face. This removes the requirement to visit your office, which saves time and convenience. You can utilize video conferencing to discuss the house, flat, apartment, and office interior designs, review plans, and offer customized advice from the comfort of your customer’s home.

2. Share design proposals

Another case for WhatsApp is sending design proposals and updates regarding the services. Instead of waiting to send an email or physical document, customers can now receive detailed proposals immediately on their smartphones. This instant delivery assures that customers can review and reply promptly, simplifying a more efficient design process.

3. Offers quick and easy conversation

WhatsApp provides real-time engagement, enabling designers to communicate with them directly. This could be specifically helpful for replying to questions, discussing design details, or offering updates on ongoing projects’ progress. Through WhatsApp’s user-friendly interface, customers can share photos, videos, sketches, and inspirational ideas to make it simple for designers to understand their needs.

4. Manage appointments and reminders

WhatsApp Business API is used to manage appointments and share reminders. By setting up automatic messages and manually sending reminders, you could ensure the clients are aware of scheduled meetings, deadlines, or important ideas. This feature helps to keep both people organized and on track.

5. Improve customer service

Strong client connections depend on excellent customer service. WhatsApp enables designers to promptly respond to client questions and concerns, providing individualized support. Your interior design firm may expand as a result of increased client satisfaction and favorable referrals brought about by this accessibility.

6. Sending design motivations

Design inspiration can be easily shared with others via WhatsApp. Customers can email pictures of rooms they like, and designers can comment or recommend comparable styles. This instantaneous sharing facilitates the visual discussion that is essential for honing design concepts and comprehending client preferences.

7. Collecting reviews

Feedback is essential to improving services; hence, you can request feedback from customers after discussing or completing projects using WhatsApp. This prompt communication channel makes it easy for consumers to send their feedback and experiences and helps to improve service quality.

8. Recover Abandoned Carts 

Clients often forget to complete the purchase and leave decor or design packages in the cart. 

Through WhatsApp, you can send a gentle reminder with an offer to encourage clients to make the purchase and boost the conversion without being pushy.

Setting Up a WhatsApp Business Account

1. Register Your Business – To start with, setting up the WhatsApp Business API, first create a WhatsApp Business account. And this is how you can do that:

• Download the App: However, the API needs to be integrated with business tools. To understand its features, start with the WhatsApp business app. Install it from the App Store and set up a business account.
• Create a Business Profile: Enter details like your logo number, business name, and other information. This account will be the basis for your API account.
• Verify Your Business: Businesses have to verify their business details and phone number. This generally includes achieving a verification code through a call or message.

2. Apply for the WhatsApp Business API – The WhatsApp Business API is not accessible through the app store, but you have to apply for it. This includes:

• Applying through a Business Solution Provider (BSP): WhatsApp providers with BSPs that guide through API integration. Pick a BSP that fits your business needs and complete the entire application procedure. 
• Approval and Onboarding: When this is approved, you will have to set up an API account through an onboarding process. This involves configuration of API settings, linking with CRM, and setting up automated replies.

Conclusion

WhatsApp Business API for interior designers is a revolutionary tool in conversational commerce and digital marketing. It makes your business communication more lively and less complex with its high level of features and integration. With real-time consultation, safe payments and automated reminders, the tool is designed to provide an excellent customer experience. 

Its constant growth and result-oriented quality make WhatsApp API a perfect tool to remain competitive and establish robust customer relationships. So why wait? Partner up with a reliable Business Solution Provider like Getgabs today and start delivering personalized experience.