If your hotel doesn’t already have a WhatsApp presence, now is the time to start one – and if it does, it’s time to revamp your strategy and take things to the next level.
The wildly popular messaging app has over 2 billion monthly active users, and since many of them are young, digital-savvy travelers who are using the app every day to make plans with friends, chances are good that they’re also looking at their phones.
WhatsApp isn’t just for sharing pictures with your friends anymore – it's also quickly becoming one of the most important marketing channels for businesses, especially hotels.
WhatsApp presents an incredible opportunity to attract new customers and keep existing ones updated on the latest news and events from your hotel business – if you know how to do it effectively. Here are some effective ways of using WhatsApp marketing for hotels that can help you build more meaningful relationships with your guests and increase your direct bookings in the process.
WhatsApp is an effective marketing tool that can be used in a variety of ways. Here are the ways hotels can use to market via WhatsApp:
Creating a business profile on WhatsApp is simple. You can either create a new account or simply convert your personal account into a business account. Make sure you include your hotel name, website and address details. If you’re having trouble creating a WhatsApp business profile, check out this easy guide to create WhatsApp business account.
Check Now: Step-by-Step Guide to Create WhatsApp Business Profile
Not many hotels use the WhatsApp platform to connect with their guests, but those that do are seeing a significant return on investment. To get started, all you need is their WhatsApp number and some creativity!
Once you have their numbers, create broadcast lists based on their booking patterns like corporate customers, frequent guests, and many more.
WhatsApp is a great way to reach guests and provide them with helpful information. You can inform guests of hotel amenities e.g., where they can find the closest grocery store, Wi-Fi connection, etc.
Hotels can help them with directions to the hotel, ask guests if they need any assistance when arriving at the hotel, sending out messages about special events happening at your hotel and many other helpful information.
Hotels can use WhatsApp business to promote special deals and discounts by creating a series of messages that showcases the different deals you’re offering. This will help bring in more customers who might not have been aware of your business.
After guests check-in to your hotel, you can offer them some deals and discounts which will result in upsells for your hotel. If you’re not using WhatsApp for your hotel’s marketing, you’re losing too much of dollars in revenue.
When using WhatsApp for marketing your hotel, we’d suggest you use message templates as it will save you a lot of time. You can create a particular template for different messages such as welcome message, sharing local areas (shopping options, restaurants etc.), keeping your guests updated on weather conditions and events in the region, inviting guests to ask questions, offering exclusive deals and, many more.
It’s no secret that this technology is changing the way we do business. It’s also no secret that people are using it more and more. However, if you’re not using it in your hotel, you’re probably missing out on a major opportunity to increase guest satisfaction and loyalty. WhatsApp is a great and effective way to stay in touch with your guests. It’s also a free marketing tool.
Now, you need to do is analyze the success of your current WhatsApp marketing campaign. You can do this by looking at your statistics and seeing what type of content or call-to-actions are working best, then optimize your campaign from there. The goal is to create a more personalized marketing strategy that targets the right people with the right message at the right time.
There’s nothing that you cannot tell your guests using WhatsApp. But the following are some common types of messages that hotels can send to their customers on WhatsApp.
If you’re looking to connect with your guests and provide them with a personalized experience before they arrive, consider sending pre-arrival messages. These are messages that are sent out in advance of the guest’s stay and can be used to let them know what they can expect when they get there.
After checking in, your guests are often left without a way to contact you or speak with someone at the hotel. This is where post-check-in messages come into play. Post-check-in messages allow you to communicate with your customers outside of the initial check-in process. It also allows them to contact staff if they have any questions or concerns.
Hotels can use WhatsApp Business to send support and service messages. These messages are an opportunity for hotels to provide customers with updates about their stay and ensure that everything is running smoothly.
Using WhatsApp for customer support is very effective way of improving guest experience as most of the customers want to get their problems resolved on WhatsApp only.
In order to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, hotels should send post-checkout messages. These messages are an effective way of ensuring customers feel like they are still a priority even after they have left the hotel.
A post-stay survey is an ideal way of finding out information about your customer’s experience. Asking the right questions, such as how they found you, what they liked most, what could have been better etc., will help you improve your business and make sure you are providing a high-quality service.
If you’re looking for a WhatsApp marketing solution for your hotel, you should use WhatsApp chatbot to automate your marketing efforts. It improves the customer experience as they get instant answers to their queries on WhatsApp.
It allows you to send promotional messages and 24/7 customer support while enhancing guest satisfaction.
It’s time to step up your social media game and get on top of the competition. If you’re still using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as your only marketing strategy, now is the time to take a new approach – WhatsApp marketing!