How do I market my business on Instagram and WhatsApp?

Instagram: get discovered

• Switch to a professional account, write a clear bio saying what you sell and where, and add a link to your website or store.
• Post reels that show the product in use, how it is made, customer unboxings or quick tips; these tend to reach new people more than static posts.
• Post on a steady schedule you can keep, rather than a burst followed by silence.
• Use highlights for prices, reviews, sizing and how-to-order, so new visitors find answers without messaging.
• Reply to comments and DMs quickly, and collaborate with local creators whose audience matches your customers.

WhatsApp Business: convert and retain

1. 1Install WhatsApp Business and complete the profile with address, hours, website and a short description.
2. 2Add a catalogue with photos, prices and descriptions so customers can browse inside the chat.
3. 3Set a greeting message, an away message and quick replies for common questions.
4. 4Use labels such as new enquiry, order placed and paid to track chats.
5. 5Create broadcast lists only with customers who have agreed to receive updates; broadcasts reach only people who have saved your number.

Rules and etiquette

• Do not add people to groups or send promotions without their consent; it leads to blocks and reports and can get your number restricted.
• Keep broadcasts occasional and useful: new arrivals, restocks, festive offers.
• Give people an easy way to stop receiving messages, and respect it.
• Follow WhatsApp's and Instagram's current business and commerce policies, especially for regulated products.

Link social media to a website or store

Taking every order by chat works at first but becomes slow as you grow, and details get lost. Linking Instagram and WhatsApp to an online store lets customers see sizes, stock and prices and pay instantly, while you keep chat for questions. Shopify stores, for example, can sync products to Instagram shopping features and send WhatsApp order updates through apps or integrations.