WhatsApp to help business owners grow WhatsAppreneurs

Doing this, WhatsApp announced the launch of the WhatsAppreneurs campaign, which will profile small entrepreneurs from Africa, who are using the WhatsApp Business app to grow their business and reach more customers.

Checks by The Guardian on Statista showed that as at Q3 2021, 91.9 per cent of the Nigerian population used the platform for one thing or the other.

Besides, it was also gathered that WhatsApp was downloaded by over five billion times on iOS/Android; downloaded 13 million times in April 2021 alone; available in over 180 countries and in 60 languages; 100 billion messages sent on the platform every day; used by 54 per cent of millennials and over a third of baby boomers daily; generated an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion in 2020, which was up from an estimated $0.2 billion in 2016. More than 2 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere.

WhatsApp explained that the new campaign would highlight the stories of Small and Medium Business owners in Africa, and help them and others like them learn more about business growth opportunities available with the WhatsApp Business app through a virtual educational webinar.

Commenting on the launch of the WhatsAppreneurs campaign, Public Policy Director for Africa, Balkissa Ide Siddo, said: “Across Africa, small and medium business owners are using the WhatsApp Business app to develop their business, showcase their products, close sales, and connect with their customers. The WhatsApp Business app provides a tool to help businesses thrive in their markets, reach more customers, and grow their businesses consistently. We are delighted to be a part of the success stories of small businesses who are so important to communities across Africa.”

WhatsApp explained that small businesses represent a sizable percentage of the economic population demonstrating great potential for growth, opportunity creation, and overcoming poverty post-pandemic, there is a need to provide support through digital tools to help them scale.

The platform said the WhatsAppreneur campaign serves the purpose of providing the resources businesses need to unlock their growth potential and help build a more resilient, inclusive, and empowered society.

“In addition to helping businesses grow, the WhatsApp Business app also provides an opportunity for businesses to create a much deeper and stronger relationship with their customers, often starting with real-time 1:1 conversations via chat, unlike transactional phone calls or SMSs. The WhatsApp Business app is free and allows users to create a business catalogue on WhatsApp that can be viewed by users from anywhere,” it stated.