Which Instant Messaging App is Best for Growing Your Business?

Messaging apps have become indispensable tools for businesses of all sizes, from local shops to large retailers. Platforms like WhatsApp Business and Facebook Messenger allow companies to strengthen connections with their customers and offer personalised customer experiences.

Which are the best messaging apps for businesses? How do you choose the right one for you? How can you use them effectively to grow your business? Check out our comprehensive guide to find answers to all your questions!

Why Are Messaging Apps a Growth Driver for Your Business?

The rise of messaging apps in customer relations marks a strategic shift in how businesses communicate. Initially designed for personal use, these tools have seamlessly (and perfectly) adapted to professional settings and are now essential for companies looking to reach a wider audience while retaining existing customers.

Key statistics

64% of consumers prefer to send a message to a business rather than make a phone call
Source: Facebook

64% of consumers prefer to send a message to a business rather than make a phone call
Source: Facebook

Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger enable real-time communication, automate responses, and offer personalised services. Some even allow for sponsored messages or ads directly within the messaging interface.

These features are critical for generating new leads, increasing sales, and handling bookings. Instant messaging lets you immediately capture new customers, respond to their needs with tailored communication, and convert those interactions into sales, boosting revenue and driving business growth.

Key statistics

91% of consumers are more likely to purchase from brands that remember who they are and offer relevant recommendations.

Source: Facebook

91% of consumers are more likely to purchase from brands that remember who they are and offer relevant recommendations.

Source: Facebook

Messaging apps are not just about communication; they offer a holistic approach to marketing, sales, and customer service, all of which contribute to the success of businesses of any size.

What Are the Best Messaging Apps for Businesses?

There are many messaging apps available for businesses. While each offers unique features, most share a common set of instant messaging tools. Some of the most popular apps for businesses include:

• WhatsApp Business
• Facebook Messenger
• Instagram Direct

It’s hard to recommend one app over another, as the choice depends on your business, your activity, and your preferences. That’s why it’s helpful to explore the different apps and compare their features.

Make the Most of Your Website

In addition to messaging apps, enable visitors to contact you directly through your website. A web chat SMS feature is an effective way to leverage your online presence and attract new customers seeking information or looking to make purchases.

In addition to messaging apps, enable visitors to contact you directly through your website. A web chat SMS feature is an effective way to leverage your online presence and attract new customers seeking information or looking to make purchases.

Manage all your messages with Partoo

Partoo centralises messages from your apps and web chat SMS in a single mobile application. Respond easily to all your customers’ messages from one place, no matter where they contact you from!

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WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp Business is a communication tool specifically designed to meet the needs of small businesses. This specialised version of the popular messaging app offers features that facilitate direct, efficient, and personalised interactions between businesses and their customers.

There are two ways to use WhatsApp for your business:

• WhatsApp Business App: Designed for small businesses needing a modest set of features to cater to their customers. It offers automatic replies, message templates, profile creation, tags, and offline messages.
• WhatsApp Business Platform (API): Targeted at medium and large businesses, the WhatsApp API allows you to add your own functionalities and integrations.

How to Use WhatsApp Business in Customer Relations:

• Set up automated messages for greeting and offline messages. Save time by creating templates for quick responses.
• Use catalogues to showcase your products or services elegantly within the app. It serves as a mobile, intuitive storefront for your customers.
• A shared inbox for your team allows collaborative management of incoming messages, as well as conversation analysis and quick responses to improve customer relations.
• Multimedia messages, such as videos, audio files, photos, and PDFs, can be shared to exchange information with your customers.

Facebook Messenger for Businesses

Facebook Messenger is the instant messaging service of Meta Business Suite, the platform used to manage Facebook. You can handle your professional communications directly from Messenger, one of the most widely used messaging apps globally.

How to Use Facebook Messenger in Customer Relations

• Configure automated messages to provide instant responses to frequently asked questions.
• The absence calendar automatically sets your Facebook page to “Unavailable” during specific hours, informing customers of your unavailability and when you’ll be able to respond.
• The chat plugin for websites allows visitors to contact you via Facebook Messenger.
• Engage with customers who sign up for an event on your Facebook page through Messenger.
• Earn the “Very responsive to messages” badge by maintaining a 90% response rate and a reply time under 15 minutes—a definite plus for customer relations!
• Paid ad integration allows targeted and personalised messages directly in Messenger, improving your conversion rate.

Instagram Direct for Businesses

Instagram Direct transforms direct messaging into a powerful tool for business visibility, customer engagement, and growth. By leveraging Instagram’s interactive and visually engaging platform, businesses can effectively communicate with customers.

How to Use Instagram Direct in Customer Relations:

• Set up automated messages to provide instant answers to common customer questions.
• Predefined responses save time when replying to frequently asked customer queries.
• With your Instagram shop integration, products tagged in your posts and stories can be viewed and purchased directly through direct messages, streamlining the purchasing experience.

Tip

You can connect your Instagram Direct account to your WhatsApp Business number, providing multiple contact options for your customers.

You can connect your Instagram Direct account to your WhatsApp Business number, providing multiple contact options for your customers.

Other Interesting Messaging Applications

Although WhatsApp Business, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram Direct are among the most popular, other platforms like Telegram, Signal, and WeChat have also made significant inroads in professional communication.

These messaging apps, each with unique features and security protocols, offer small businesses various options to connect with their customers, generate new leads, and boost sales. Feel free to explore these apps to determine which one best fits your needs.