Recently, the META CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, launched a new feature on Whatsapp, known as “Whatsapp channel”. The feature is just like the Telegram channel or Instagram broadcast channel, but the Whatsapp channel seems to have more limited features than the later. However, the new Whatsapp channel can still play some roles in your businesses, in one way or the other.
How Does The Whatsapp Channel Work?
The interface of the whatsapp channel is just the same with the normal whatsapp chat or group. But the Whatsapp channel has some features that are quite different. We shall be discussing the features of whatsapp channel alongside how it works.
- Whatsapp Channel is Public
The whatsapp channel is public, and users will be able to search, find and “follow” any whatsapp channel, just like a facebook page that anyone can search and follow.
Whether a user is following a channel or not, they will be able to see any post made by the channel. This is unlike whatsapp group where only members of the group can see the group’s posts. Because of this, the Whatsapp channel gives more visibility to your business.
Whether a user is using the Whatsapp messenger or Whatsapp business, they will still be able to see and follow their favorite whatsapp channels. However, they would need to update their whatsapp to the latest version, before they can access whatsapp channels.
- Creating Whatsapp Channel is Only Available on Whatsapp Business
To create a whatsapp channel, you must use the Whatsapp Business, because the option to create a whatsapp channel is not available on the Whatsapp messenger. However, you would also need to update the Business Whatsapp to the latest version, before you can see the option.
- There is no end-to-end encryption on whatsapp channel
Once you have created your whatsapp channel, it becomes ready for use instantly. You can now post any kind of post you want your audience/followers to see. But make sure your posts adhere to whatsapp policies, because there is no end-end encryption on whatsapp channel. This means that all the messages you drop on your whatsapp channel are being monitored by the whatsapp, just as it happens on facebook where your account can get blocked if you post unsupported contents.
- Followers Can’t Comment on Posts
While your followers will be able to see your posts on your channel, they won’t be able to comment or reply on the post. They can only react with emoji. Just like a locked whatsapp group where only the admin can send messages.
So the major limitation on whatsapp channel is that your followers won’t be able to comment or reply to your posts, they will just be there looking at your posts, without being able to say anything, as if they are in a prison. This actually, will reduce engagements, and will make the channel very boring, as followers won’t be able to express their views on your posts.
Since your followers won’t be able to express their views on your posts, it also becomes difficult to know when you are doing the wrong thing; it becomes difficult to know when your audience are not agreeing with your posts; it becomes difficult to know where to make changes in what you post for them.
- Phone number and Profile are private
On whatsapp channel, both the phone numbers and the profile of followers and admin are private. In this, the admin won’t be able to see the phone numbers or profiles of their followers, and followers won’t be able to see that of the admin and other followers.
This makes the whatsapp channel more private than the whatsapp group. Because on whatsapp group, any member or admin can see your phone number or profile. This is one important feature that is going to drive much of the audience to whatsapp channel, because they will now feel safe being on whatsapp with people, without anyone being able to copy their number or chat with them privately.
How Can Whatsapp Channel Help My Business?
Despite the few limitations I outlined earlier, Whatsapp channel can still help your business significantly. Whatsapp channel is going to help your business gain more visibility and reach a wider audience.
- Easy accessibility to your business
Whatsapp is one of the most used social media platforms. According to BankMyCell, Whatsapp has about 2.7 billion monthly active users.
This is to tell you that most people visit Whatsapp more regularly than some other social media platforms. This means that if you put your Whatsapp channel and any other social media channel on publicity, you are likely going to get more followers on Whatsapp channel, because Whatsapp seems to be more common to people than some other social media platforms.
Since phone numbers and profiles are private on whatsapp channel, users can now find it safer to follow your whatsapp channel than they would have done to your whatsapp group. I noticed that people don’t always like to join every whatsapp public group, because they wouldn’t like their profile and phone numbers to be public, which can make them vulnerable to online scammers. But with the whatsapp channel, people no more need to bother about this, as everything is now private.
- Unlimited Followers
On whatsapp channel, you now have no limit to the number of people that can follow you and have access to your business posts. This is unlike whatsapp group where there is a limit of only 1024 members. Of course, the more audience you have for your business, the more prospects you have.
