Tips to reduce the WhatsApp Business API pricing

the WhatsApp API offers the business a powerful tool for enhancing communication with their target audience, streamlining customer support, and enhancing engagement. However, one of the common challenges that businesses especially small to medium businesses are facing is the WhatsApp business api pricing. The cost will be based on factors such as message volume, regions, and service providers the business like to adopt. So, in this blog, let us learn more about the factors that will help optimize the cost with more benefits.

Learn the Pricing Models

Before fixing the budget for the Whatsapp API integration, it is necessary to completely understand how the pricing will work.  So, the pricing will include the following.

Type of Message: When it comes to types of messages, there are two types: session messages and template messages. When it is a session message, these messages are exchanged within 24-hour window following the customer’s first contact. This will be free or very low charges. When it is template messages, these messages are sent outside of a 24-hour window like notifications or promotional content are considered template messages and are chargeable.

Message Volume: When the business wants to send more messages, the cost will be high. This will also offer a tiered pricing model with discounts for higher volume.

Regions or Countries: With the WhatsApp business api pricing, it will vary depending on the geographical regions, international messages are typically more expensive compared to any other local ones.

Business Solution Providers: Whatsapp will work with authorized business solution providers to deliver the API. Choose the BSP accordingly.

Optimize the Message Templates

One of the huge factors that will affect the overall pricing is the use of templates. These are pre-approved, standardized messages sent outside the 24-hour session window. These templates are highly charged and so, this should be handled properly. Some tips for optimizing are as follows.

Use templates only when it is necessary: When you are deciding to send the template message, ensure that the customer has not engaged with the business in the last 24 hours.

Keep the templates concise and effective: These template messages should be clear and actionable. the business can also reuse the templates to save costs.

Personalize the template messages: ensure that the templates are dynamic by integrating personalized information like the customer’s name, order number, or support request.

Limit Unwanted Messing and Focus on Customer Segmentation

Reduce the volume of messages sent, especially the template messages. the business can over-communicate or send messages to customers who are not actively engaging, leading to high costs.

Segment the audience: The business can group the audience depending on their behaviour, needs, or engagement history. So, the business can send the messages selectively for only the audience who will benefit from it. This can cut the cost considerably.

Opt-in and Opt-out mechanism: Ensure the audience who do not wish to receive the messages can easily opt-out notifications. The business can send welcome messages or reminders to ensure that they want to continue receiving updates, preventing unwanted spamming.

Revaluate the message frequency: Sometimes, the business will start sending messages frequently thinking that they are constantly in contact with their audience. Here, it is important to analyze whether frequent communication is genuinely adding value to the messages.

Automate Communication with Chatbots

Automation is one of the most effective ways to reduce messing costs and streamline customer interactions. With the WhatsApp API integration with chatbots, the business can handle queries, offer information, and even complete transactions. This will further help in reducing the need for template messages. Here are a few ways that chatbot will help.

Automate FAQs: Any business will have a large number of queries like order status, store hours, or product details. The chatbots can handle these and reduce manual intervention.

Pre-screen inquires: Chatbots can filter out the basic inquires and pass more complex issues to the human. this will allow to focus on other tasks.

Round-the-clock support: The chatbot will be available 24/7 and this will instantly respond to the questions. So, the business can address the customer with their needs quickly.

Use WhatsApp for Customer Retention and not Only for Acquisition

Many businesses will use this Whatsapp API integration for customer acquisition, but it is also a great tool for customer retention. Reducing the dependency on paid advertising or paid channels for customer acquisition can reduce the overall cost of communication. This will build a strong relationship between the audience and the business, where the business need not adopt more campaigns.

The Bottom Line

To put it in a nutshell, the Whatsapp Business API is an invaluable tool for businesses looking to streamline communication and enhance the customer experience. If cost is the barrier to enjoying the benefits, the guide might have helped you in optimizing it. so, follow the tips and make use of the API.