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Messengers Platform as a Sales Tool: Basic Principles and Strategies
March 18, 2025
•
8
min read

Messengers Platform as a Sales Tool: Basic Principles and Strategies

Messengers Platform as a Sales Tool: Basic Principles and Strategies 35
George Miloradovich
Researcher, Copywriter & Usecase Interviewer

Messengers like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram are transforming how businesses sell. Why? Because they’re fast, personal, and effective. Here’s the big picture:

  • 98% open rates (vs. ~20% for email) and 60% click-through rates make messaging a game-changer.
  • Customers want real-time responses - 71% expect instant communication.
  • Businesses like MissPompadour and Dior are already using WhatsApp for consultations and promotions.

Key strategies include:

  • Building a contact list with opt-ins, links, and sweepstakes.
  • Writing clear, benefit-focused messages with strong CTAs.
  • Automating responses while keeping a personal touch.
  • Connecting messengers to CRMs for tracking and efficiency.

Quick Comparison of Platforms:

Platform Strengths
WhatsApp Business Order updates, consultations
Facebook Messenger Appointment management, promotions
Telegram Chatbots, group messaging

Start by choosing the right platform, crafting strong messages, and automating workflows for better sales results.

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Core Sales Strategies for Messaging Apps

Building Your Contact Base

Boost your messenger contact list using strategies that outperform traditional email marketing. While email campaigns typically see opt-in rates around 1.95% and open rates of 15.66%, messenger marketing delivers far better results - 81% open rates and 34% click-through rates.

Here’s how to grow a strong contact base:

  • Set Up Multi-Channel Entry Points: Add M.Me links across your digital platforms - website footers, email signatures, social media profiles, and even QR codes on printed materials.
  • Time Your Opt-Ins Strategically: Focus on visitors logged into Facebook, those showing purchase intent, or users about to leave your site.
  • Run Targeted Sweepstakes: Campaigns like Explore Peoria's Halloween-themed sweepstakes have shown success. They gained 414 new subscribers and achieved open rates between 92% and 99%, with click-through rates ranging from 11% to 24%.

Once your contact base is established, the next step is creating messages that drive action.

Writing Sales Messages That Work

Crafting effective sales messages is about delivering value and capturing attention. Michael Halper, founder of SalesScripter, explains: "Creating a sales message is organizing the key, attention-grabbing messages".

Here are some essential tips:

  • Start with Value: Begin your message with something your audience will find genuinely helpful or interesting.
  • Focus on Benefits: Highlight how your product solves problems or improves the customer’s life, rather than just listing features.
  • Leverage Social Proof: Use customer testimonials or case studies to back up your claims.
  • Include Clear CTAs: Make sure your call-to-action is specific and easy to follow.

Once your messages are engaging, automation tools can help you manage follow-ups efficiently.

Automating Customer Conversations

Messaging platforms let you automate interactions without losing the personal touch. Automation can boost agent productivity by 30%, and tools like Latenode can handle routine questions while maintaining a conversational tone.

"The most successful companies are those that embrace both AI and human interaction, leveraging the strengths of each to provide a seamless and enriched customer experience." - Nicolas Babin, International Senior Executive and Consultant

To take it a step further, use sentiment analysis to identify frustrated customers and route complex issues to human agents automatically.

Setting Up Sales Workflows

Building Your Sales Pipeline

A well-structured sales pipeline guides prospects from their first interaction to making a purchase, often using messaging tools to streamline the process.

  • Research and Preparation
    Start by examining your current sales process with your team. Pinpoint any bottlenecks or areas that need improvement.
  • Define Clear Stages
    Break down the customer journey into well-defined steps, such as:
    • Awareness: Initial outreach via messenger platforms
    • Interest: Sharing product details tailored to the customer
    • Consideration: Addressing specific customer questions or concerns
    • Decision: Presenting quotes, offers, or solutions
    • Purchase: Finalizing the transaction
    • Follow-up: Providing post-purchase support or gathering feedback
  • Implement Automation
    Use automated tools to handle repetitive tasks like routine responses. This keeps your leads engaged and frees up time for more personalized interactions.

After setting up these stages, connect your messaging tools to your CRM system. This ensures all interactions are tracked and organized in one place.

Connecting Messengers to Your CRM

Linking messaging platforms to your CRM helps you maintain seamless communication with your customers. In fact, 71% of customers now expect companies to provide real-time responses.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

  • Choose the Right CRM
    Pick a CRM that integrates smoothly with your messaging apps.
  • Enable Tracking
    Ensure all customer interactions are logged and categorized automatically.
  • Automate Workflows
    Set up templates and triggers for common customer scenarios, making responses faster and more consistent.

Tracking Sales Results

Your CRM data can provide insights into every stage of your sales workflow. Focus on these metrics to fine-tune your process:

Metric Benchmark Why It Matters
Click-Through Rate 60% (far above the email average of 23.9%) Indicates strong engagement with your audience
Response Time 78% of customers buy from the first company to respond Faster replies often lead to more conversions
Conversion Rate Varies by industry Measures the overall success of your sales efforts

Additionally, keep an eye on customer satisfaction, sales cycle length, and lifetime value. With 77% of consumers spending most of their screen time on messaging apps, fine-tuning these metrics can have a big impact on your results.

Boost sales with Pepper Cloud: CRM System with WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, & Telegram Integration

Advanced Sales Techniques

Advanced sales strategies go beyond basic workflows, focusing on engagement through dynamic media, timely promotions, and personalized follow-ups.

Using Media and Interactive Tools

Every month, businesses send over 2 billion messages to customers. Pipedrive, for example, saw impressive results with personalized video messaging - doubling their monthly recurring revenue, increasing close rates by 25%, and boosting engagement by 62%. Marcus Sheridan emphasizes the effectiveness of video for personalizing outreach, improving demos, follow-ups, and proposals.

Here’s how you can leverage video effectively:

  • Screen sharing for product demos
  • Personal video messages for meeting follow-ups
  • Video walkthroughs for pricing proposals
  • Video responses to customer questions

Creating Effective Promotions

Time-sensitive offers can significantly increase conversions. Flash sales lasting just three hours, for instance, achieve nearly 15% transaction rates. Messenger platforms, with instant messages generating a 60% click-through rate, also play a major role in driving promotional success.

Here are some promotion ideas to consider:

Promotion Type Success Metric Best Practice
Flash Sales (3 hours) ~15% conversion Add a countdown timer
Early Access Offers 60% FOMO-driven sales Offer exclusive access to subscribers
Limited-Time Bundles 2.8% sales increase Add value with time-sensitive bonuses

One standout example is a family-owned Mexican restaurant that used SMS and Messenger for a holiday promotion. Their eight-day tamale campaign reached 3,547 subscribers, leading to 819 positive responses, 29 order initiations, and a sellout of 27 dozen tamales.

Following Up With Customers

Timely follow-ups are key to maintaining customer interest. By combining automation with personalization, businesses can effectively manage interactions. Chatbots, for instance, handle routine tasks while still leaving room for a personal approach.

Best practices for automated follow-ups include:

  • Setting up 24/7 customer support with chatbots
  • Using automated funnels for consistent engagement
  • Hosting group chats for newsletter-style updates
  • Sending personalized offers based on past interactions

"Manychat transforms social media engagement and drives direct results, making it essential for creators and entrepreneurs"

For example, entrepreneur Kahlea Wade used Manychat to implement strategic follow-ups, generating over $70,000 in course sales in just three weeks. This highlights the impact of a well-planned messenger marketing strategy.

These advanced techniques enhance customer interactions, ensuring every touchpoint delivers measurable results.

Solving Common Problems

Overcoming common challenges is essential for improving messaging performance and creating efficient sales workflows. Here's how businesses can address key issues.

Handling Multiple Conversations

Did you know that 78% of customers purchase from the first responder? Managing multiple conversations effectively is critical for staying ahead. Messaging platforms offer features like automated assignment rules, chatbots, and CRM integrations to help teams stay organized and responsive.

Here are some effective strategies:

  • Set Up Assignment Rules
    Distribute conversations based on factors like team expertise, workload, customer segment, or time zone.
  • Leverage Automation
    Use chatbots to handle routine inquiries, allowing your team to focus on more complex customer needs.
  • Centralize Communication
    Integrate messaging tools with your CRM to streamline customer interactions in one place.

Keeping Messages Consistent

A consistent brand voice builds recognition and boosts conversion rates. To maintain uniformity across messaging, try these approaches:

  • Use pre-approved templates that reflect your brand's tone and style.
  • Standardize responses to ensure customers have a cohesive experience with your brand.

Protecting Customer Data

Messaging platforms deal with sensitive customer information, making strong security measures a must. Platforms like Manychat demonstrate this with certifications like SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO/IEC 27001:2013.

Key security practices include:

  • Encryption
    Protect data with encryption standards such as TLS 1.2 for data in transit and AES256 for data at rest, adhering to FIPS 140-2 guidelines.
  • Access Control
    Use multi-factor authentication, conduct regular access reviews, and revoke access promptly when necessary.
  • Compliance Monitoring
    Conduct regular audits, implement automated monitoring systems, and maintain a clear incident response plan.

"We manage access based on a 'Need to know' and 'Least privilege' principles. Our team members are only authorized to access data that they reasonably must handle in order to fulfill their current job responsibilities".

Implementing these measures safeguards your operations, builds customer trust, and ensures the integrity of your messaging-based sales efforts.

Next Steps

Ready to ramp up your sales using messenger platforms? Here’s a practical guide to help you get results.

Start by defining clear goals for your messenger-based sales efforts. Are you looking to increase outbound conversions, improve customer support, or create more personalized communication? Having specific objectives will shape your approach and ensure you stay on track.

Next, choose the right platform for your audience. Use tools like web forms, surveys, or social polls to gather customer feedback. Different groups prefer different apps - some lean toward WhatsApp, while others prefer Facebook Messenger.

Here are some real-world success stories to inspire you:

  • Skinny Mixes converted 13.41% of site visitors into Messenger subscribers by using strategic promotions on their customer chat widget.
  • Earth Fed Muscle boosted their return on ad spend by 14x after switching to click-to-Messenger ads.

Key Steps to Get Started

  • Set Up Your Business Profile: Make a professional impression with a polished profile. Use high-quality logos, list your services, and highlight achievements to showcase your value.
  • Integrate with Your CRM: Link your messenger platform to your CRM to centralize customer data and automate responses. This streamlines communication and keeps everything organized.
  • Launch Your First Campaign: Start with a welcome series using sponsored messages. Target users who’ve shown interest but haven’t made a purchase. Fun fact: 1 in 9 abandoned cart messages sent via Messenger or SMS results in a conversion.

"The reality is that business messaging will probably be the next central pillar of our business as we work to monetise WhatsApp and Messenger more." - Mark Zuckerberg

Finally, prioritize building authentic connections while adhering to data security and engagement best practices. Keep an eye on your results and scale up what works. By following these steps, you’ll create a streamlined and effective messenger sales strategy that delivers.

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