17 August 2022

A 4-Step Guide To Creating A WhatsApp Business Account

Want to build an online presence for your business using WhatsApp? Here's how to create a WhatsApp Business account in 4 steps to stay connected with customers.

Angga Fernandi

Customer Success Executive

Reading time: 4 minutes

Apart from being used for personal purposes, WhatsApp has become a business tool to build communications with customers. If you own a business and are looking for a solution to reach more customers, having the WhatsApp Business app is a must.

As its name implies, the WhatsApp Business app is specifically designed for small to medium businesses. Also, it comes with additional features beyond what the regular WhatsApp app offers.

Besides its ease of use and advantages, WhatsApp Business allows businesses to keep in touch with their customers and market their products and services. That said, you will need to sign up for an account first before bringing your business to the next level.

Stick to the end to know how to create a business account on WhatsApp in 4 simple steps!

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A step-by-step guide to creating a WhatsApp Business account

WhatsApp Business app is free and available for both Android and iOS devices. Moreover, setting up a WhatsApp business account is just a piece of cake. Here’s how:

Step 1 - Download and install the WhatsApp Business app

First and foremost, you have to download the WhatsApp Business app on your mobile phone. This isn’t the same as the regular WhatsApp app. Once you download it, launch the app, and accept the terms of service to proceed further.

Step 2 - Register your WhatsApp Business number

The next step is to create your account in WhatsApp Business. You can use either your personal (existing) number or a new number to register. We would recommend you use a different number for your business to keep your work and personal life separate.

Simply click the [Use A Different Number] option and key in the number.

💡 Note: If you use your personal number for WhatsApp Business, you will lose its function for personal use. Basically, it is not possible to use one number for the two WhatsApp versions at once.

Additional read: How To Get A Virtual Number For WhatsApp

Step 3 - Verify the number

After entering the new number linked to your business account, you will receive a 6-digit code from WhatsApp for the verification process. Should the app not detect the code automatically, you can input it manually.

💡 Note: If you do not receive the OTP code via SMS, you can select the call option.

Step 4 - Build your WhatsApp Business profile

When the verification stage is done, you will officially own a WhatsApp Business account! 😃 What’s next?

You can start filling in the basic information about your business such as your business name, uploading your business logo, choosing a business category, and adding your description as well as a business address.

💡 Note: Do remember that this version of WhatsApp is different from WhatsApp Business API.

Converting WhatsApp to WhatsApp Business

If you decide to register your existing number that is currently used for your personal WhatsApp, here are things you can do for step 2:

Click [Use Your Existing Number].
Click [Continue] when WhatsApp prompts you to move all your personal data including chat history, images, video, and contact information.
Click [Allow] to grant permission for WhatsApp to access photos, media, and files on your device.
Enter the PIN number if 2FA is enabled.

And that’s it! WhatsApp will start transferring all chats and media files to your WhatsApp Business account. You should wait for a few minutes for the process to be done.

For a more detailed guide, check out this article on how you can transition from WhatsApp to WhatsApp Business!

How can you use the features of WhatsApp Business?

Once you learn how to create a business WhatsApp account, there are some useful features you should take advantage of. These features, of course, are not available on your personal WhatsApp account.

Here they are and how you can use them:

Broadcast messaging: If you have a promotional message or announcement to make, you can send bulk messages to all the recipients on your contact list with WhatsApp’s broadcast messaging feature.
Business catalog: A business catalog allows you to set up your business’ products or services for easy viewing and sharing within WhatsApp.
Semi-automation: There are 3 types of semi-automated messages under the in-app tab ‘Business Tools’. You can set up customizable greeting messages as well as quick reply templates to keep your customers in the loop.
Chat labels: Chat labels allow you to tag different chats with customers for easy identification. You can set up labels based on the customer journey or the industry where the customers come from.
Short links: A unique and dedicated link to your specific business account. You can deploy the URL in your emails, social media, or websites.
Metrics: This feature lets you monitor and check how many messages are sent, received, and read in your business account.
Business profile: A business profile will tell your customers what your business is about, when is your working hours, what the product and services you offer, and the official website of your business.

Should you use WhatsApp Business?

The answer is a definite yes! WhatsApp Business is an all-around solution for those who intend to provide exceptional customer support. Moreover, there are plenty of features like semi-automated messages and broadcasts to simplify your tasks and allow you to reach more people in less time.

However, if you’d like to bring your business to a whole new level, you can try NovoChat as an alternative to creating a WhatsApp business account.

NovoChat is a chat marketing platform that helps you nurture and engage with your customers through multiple messaging channels. You can easily manage all your conversations on WhatsApp, Messenger, or Telegram in a shared inbox. Most importantly, you can integrate your own WhatsApp either personal or business number.

What are you waiting for? Get started with NovoChat for free today!