WhatsApp’s rise in popularity is soaring and, with over 1.5 billion monthly active users across 180 countries, its growing relevance can’t be ignored. Despite its growth and impact on businesses, so many people (including you) are not using it to get customers. 

I cannot overemphasize the impact of WhatsApp in today's world. For me, it has been my greatest asset in driving traffic to my blogs, convert fans I met on other social media platforms to friends who support and believe in what I do. Currently, I have over 8,000 WhatsApp contacts, but when I started, my contacts were not up to a thousand. In fact, my contacts on WhatsApp were my friends, families and colleagues. Some were supportive while others specifically told me not to send them my broadcast message. These were people very close to me. The people I expected supports from (you can relate right?). 

I know how painful it can be when the support looks far from you. One of the reasons why you are not getting customers through WhatsApp is because

1. You Expect Too Much From Your Friends and Family
Just like you, I expected too much from my contacts when I started. I was frustrated when the result wasn't coming. This was because I didn't realise in time that friendship does not mean customers. In fact, over the years, I have come to understand that the people who will support your business are those friends that you met online, people who do not know who you are but connects with you because of what you do and how good you are at what you do. 

If you are really good at what you do, your good work will speak for you through these people. So, spend less time persuading your friends to post your business, instead, spend more time reaching the right audience.

Do not get me wrong, there are a lot of your friends that will support your business, but for how long? Well, some will continue to support you because you mean a lot to them, the truth is, these friends are few. In fact, you don't want to disturb anyone (or do you?).

What I Did
I expect little to nothing from the people who know me. I channel my energy into meeting new people and posting good songs to my blog (becoming valuable to my audience).

 See Also: You Can Learn From This New Strategy Top Brands Are Using To Reach Prospects  

2. Separate Onlookers From Participating Audience
One of the reasons why you are not making customers out of your WhatsApp contacts is because you have not taken the time to separate onlookers from the participating audience. If you want to make customers out of your WhatsApp contacts, you have to go through this pain. I described the process as pain because it is a whole lot of work. But if you can go through it, you would have taken a bold step towards success.

What I Did
First, I bought a new sim card strictly for business. I installed WhatsApp Business and created an account with my business line. After that, I took the time to create a broadcast list. I created a message with a link to join the WhatsApp Business. Guess what, only 200 people clicked to join the first day. Frustrating right? 

But, as I continue to provide valuable contents to my audience, my contacts started adding up and so was my broadcast list. I included my WhatsApp number to every song on my blog, this way, people started sending me WhatsApp messages asking for a song they will love to get. I urge them to save my phone number, then I send them the song.

Today, I have over 8,000 WhatsApp contacts with over 30 broadcast list. When I post an article to my blog, I share to these amazing community I have built from the ground. Of course, everyone will not respond to the message, but, I have an assurance that it is what they are interested in.

For you, it is even better.

For example, if you are into catering (food, cakes etc), you have to spend a lot of time reaching out to people who engage such contents on Instagram and Twitter. If you run a sponsored ads, for instance, the people who engage your contents are prospects, you shouldn't let them go just like that convert them into a WhatsApp contact. It is very important. 

You can also organise a free training on WhatsApp. The people who show interest are your prospects. These and many more ways are strategies you can use to build a community that is interested in what you do.

 See Also: Top 7 Side Business You Can Start Without Quitting Your Job

3. Your WhatsApp Status Is Doing You More Harm Than Good
WhatsApp status allows you to share text, photo, video and GIF updates that disappear after 24 hours. It is a great way to display your services to all your contacts (at least for 24 hours). But, when you use it wrongly, it brings more harm to your business than good.

Except you want to lie, there are some people you've either blocked them or you completely ignore them when you check the status of other contacts. Imagine if that is your business page. An account that is known for posting 10 to 40 images daily cannot be taken seriously.

If you are one of those who post 10 to 40 images and videos of your products and services every day, you need to stop it at once.

Yes, you need to remind your contacts of what you have, but flooding them with it is dangerous. They will get tired of seeing your long status and, you don't want that.

What I Did
I post to my status the most important things. 5 at most!

Let us use someone who sells clothes, shoes and bags for example. You can post an image of office wear in the morning, a casual dress at night on Mondays. Let these images run through  Tuesday and on Wednesdays, you can post the image of office shoes in the morning and sneakers or casual footwear in the evening.
On Fridays, you can post a corporate (casual) outfit in the morning and in the evening, strictly casual wears. On Sundays, Church clothes and in the evening, Office wears that will run through Monday morning.

You can even make suggestions of what to wear to the office on Sunday evening. This way, your status will be an interesting watch and your contacts will be on the look to have an idea of what to wear to the office.

Permit me to stop here. If you will love to get more tips, send me a message on WhatsApp, I will be happy to share.