WhatsApp has started piloting a program for businesses. And we will be offering you all the info you need to know about the current WhatsApp pilot business program right now. We will also be updating this article in the future once new information is released to the public.
WhatsApp’s Business Pilot Program
At the moment, the program can pretty much be summed up in 2 parts:
1. The Program Survey
To apply for a spot in the program, you need to complete this survey. Don’t worry – it’s confidential.
Essentially, you’ll need to provide some basic contact details and info about your business, such as:
- Your name
- A contact email
- The phone number that your company uses on WhatsApp
- The country your business is located in
- Your company’s name
- What type of phone you have and use (if it’s an Android, you’ll also need to provide the email address you have linked to Google Play on your main phone)
You’ll also have to specify which domain of activity best characterizes your company (there’s a pre-set list of options, and you can add your own too).
It’s safe to assume that the pilot program will be able to accommodate both small-scale and large-scale businesses since the survey asks you to choose between testing WhatsApp Business or WhatsApp Enterprise.
Still, please keep in mind that the total number of companies that can participate in this pilot program is limited. As a result, don’t expect to get in just because you complete this survey. According to WhatsApp themselves, the survey you complete is for “information purposes only.”
2. The Verified Business Account
If you are selected to participate in the pilot program, your company’s account will show up on WhatsApp as a “Verified Business Account.” The account name will be accompanied by a visual mark (basically, a green checkmark) that will be a clear confirmation for users of the fact that the business account is verified and approved by WhatsApp.
Now, in case you do end up being a part of the program, keep on important thing in mind: Don’t abuse this privilege. If you pester users too much or come off as being too salesy, they can easily block your business account.
WhatsApp did not mention if that would affect your position in the pilot program, though we can guess that getting blocked too many times would definitely not work in your favor in the long run.
We’ll Be Sure to Keep You Updated
We’ll keep an eye out for any other future developments with this pilot program, and we’ll let you know as soon as we find out something worthwhile.
In the meantime, you can check out our other article – if you haven’t already – on how to use WhatsApp for your restaurant or retail business without having to rely on a certified company account.
