Why WhatsApp Marketing Is the Best Budget Option for Small Businesses
If you’re a small business owner and want to grow without burning money on ads, WhatsApp marketing is your secret weapon.
With over 2 billion users, WhatsApp is more than just a messaging app. It’s a platform where small businesses can:
- Engage customers directly
- Send personalized messages
- Achieve up to 98% open rates
- Automate replies and campaigns
- Close sales, all without ad spend
At Serri, we’ve helped 75+ brands scale from 20 to over 1,000 chats per day, many without spending a single rupee on ads.
In this blog, we’ll explore how to master WhatsApp marketing for small businesses using the free WhatsApp Business app and smart growth tactics.
How WhatsApp Business Helps You Look Professional for Free
WhatsApp Business was made for small business owners like you. It’s free and has useful features that help you look professional and stay organized.
Before you dive into setting up your account, here’s a quick overview of the key features that will help you get started.
Your Business Profile is where you add your logo, contact info, business hours, and a short description so customers know more about you.
The Catalog lets you show 5–10 of your top products, making it easy for customers to see what you offer.
Labels help you sort chats by tagging them like “New Lead” or “Hot,” so you can keep track of important conversations.
Quick Replies are saved messages that enable you to answer common questions quickly.
Greeting and Away Messages automatically send messages to customers when you start a chat or are not available.
Status Updates allow you to easily share news, offers, or updates with your customers.
Now that you know what these are, here’s a checklist to help you set everything up!
Setup Checklist:
- Business Profile (Logo, contact, Business hours, about)
- Catalog with 5–10 top products
- Labels like “New Lead” or “Hot”
- Quick Replies for FAQs
- Greeting and Away messages
- WhatsApp Status updates
💙 Serri Tip: Post on Status 3–4x weekly offers, testimonials, or new arrivals. It can boost replies by 30%.
Step-by-Step WhatsApp Marketing Plan for Small Businesses
You don’t have to be an expert to get started with WhatsApp marketing.
This simple plan will guide you through the important steps so you can connect better with customers and grow your business.
Take it one step at a time, and you’ll see progress before you know it!
Set Your Goals
Start simple:
- Get more orders
- Improve support
- Increase repeat purchases
Understand Your Audience
Know who you’re talking to:
- Demographics, pain points, interests
- When they’re online
- What offers resonate
This helps you send relevant messages, not spam.
Create a Weekly Content Calendar
Here’s a sample:
- Monday: Announce a new product
- Wednesday: Customer review/testimonial
- Friday: Flash sale or limited-time deal
💙Serri Tip: Stick to a schedule. Even 2–3 updates per week can grow trust and conversions.
How to Get People into Your WhatsApp Funnel
After making a plan, you need to make it easy to connect with you.
A WhatsApp funnel helps you guide people from just hearing about your business to becoming active customers.
Let’s discuss some organic growth tactics through which you can connect with your customers easily
Organic Growth Tactics:
- Add a “Chat with us” button on your website or Instagram bio
- Place WhatsApp QR codes on packaging, receipts, and store banners
- Offer something in return: “Scan for ₹100 off your first order”
Budget-Friendly WhatsApp Marketing Strategies That Work
1. Make Broadcasts Personal (Not Boring)
A Broadcast lets you send one message to lots of people in one go!
It’s an effective tool to share important updates, promotions, or announcements.
The goal is to communicate clearly and thoughtfully, ensuring your audience stays interested and connected.
WhatsApp Business app lets you broadcast a message to 256 people, but don’t copy-paste dry promo texts.
✅ Do:
- Start with their name
- Use emojis and urgency
- Sound like a friend
Example:
“Hey Riya 👋 Just launched our Diwali gift box 🎁 — only 7 left! Want one saved?”
❌ Don’t:
“Dear customer, we have an offer. Please buy.”
Brands using conversational WhatsApp marketing get up to 4x more replies.
2. Make Shopping Fun with Your WhatsApp Catalog
WhatsApp Catalog is a place where you can showcase your products or services. It helps customers easily see what you offer and order from you right in the app.
You don’t need Shopify or a website. Your WhatsApp Business catalog can do the selling for you.
Tips for Using Catalogs:
- Use clean, clear images
- Short, benefit-driven product descriptions
- Focus on 5–10 bestselling items
A D2C skincare brand generated 41% of total sales from the catalog alone.
💙 Serri Tip: Feature 2–3 items on your WhatsApp Status every Friday.
3. Run Campaigns Like a Pro (Without Paying for Ads)
Here are some easy WhatsApp campaign ideas:
- Giveaways: “Reply WIN to enter!”
- Limited-time offers: “Valid till midnight ⏳”
- New launch alerts: With product videos
- Thank-you messages: Voice note after first order
💙 Serri Tip: Ask your customers for quick feedback after a purchase.
It not only improves your service but also increases engagement and builds loyalty.
Example:
“Hey Ankit! 😊 How was your order experience? We’d love your feedback — just reply with a quick note!
4. Automate Your WhatsApp Marketing (Even Without the API)
Automation saves time and makes you look professional.
Use These Built-in Automations:
- Greeting message for first-time chats
- Away message after hours
- Quick replies for FAQs like “Do you deliver?” or “What’s the price?”
💙Serri Tip: When you’re ready to scale, use Serri Zen to automate entire campaigns with flows, buttons, and triggers.
5. Track What Works (You Don’t Need Fancy Tools)
You can optimize WhatsApp marketing using simple tracking.
Track These Weekly:
| Metric | Why It Matters |
| Replies per message | Know which offers work |
| Status views | Track content interest |
| Chat-to-order ratio | Measure conversions |
| Link clicks | Spot purchase intent |
A Serri user 2.5x-ed their orders by testing 3 message types in a Google Sheet.
6. Combine WhatsApp With Other Channels
Your WhatsApp marketing works better when it connects with other platforms.
Multi-Channel Sync:
- Add WhatsApp links in email campaigns
- Post WhatsApp QR in Instagram bio/highlights
- Add “Click to Chat” to your website
This drives consistent lead flow into your WhatsApp funnel.
When to Switch from WhatsApp Business to the API
Stick with WhatsApp Business until you:
- Hit 256+ contacts
- Need automation & retargeting
- Manage a sales or support team
- Want more structured flows
If you tick any of the points above, it’s time to upgrade to WhatsApp Business API.
Facebook provides the WhatsApp Business API, but doesn’t provide a platform to use. Here, an official Meta tech partner, Serri, comes into place.
Serri helps you get the WhatsApp Business API and provides WhatsApp marketing services.
Why Small Businesses Trust Serri Zen
Serri Zen is built for small business growth with no tech hassle.
With Serri, You Can:
- Send unlimited broadcasts
- Track performance
- Use chatbots for sales & support
- Sync across multiple team members
Brands using Serri Zen report up to 11% conversion, organically.
Book a quick demo and turn WhatsApp into your smartest salesperson.
FAQs
1. Is WhatsApp marketing effective for small businesses?
Absolutely. It allows personal connection, high engagement, and can drive sales without spending on ads.
2. How do I start WhatsApp marketing for small businesses?
Download WhatsApp Business, build your profile, set auto replies, and start sharing offers regularly via broadcasts and Status.
3. When should I upgrade to WhatsApp API?
When you outgrow the free app, or you need things like automation, multiple team members, or want to send broadcasts to more than 256 people, you can upgrade to WhatsApp Business API.
4. Is it possible to use WhatsApp Business on more than one device at a time?
Now WhatsApp Business is available for one main device, but you can connect to WhatsApp Business on a PC using WhatsApp Web.
5. Is WhatsApp safe for use in communicating business information?
The application provides the features of end-to-end encryption for its messages, thus providing a secure means of communication between you and your customers.