The festive season offers a unique opportunity to engage with your customers and boost sales, and WhatsApp marketing messages can be a powerful tool to achieve this. However, cutting through the noise during this busy time requires a thoughtful approach. By focusing on the quality, relevance, and timing of your messages, you can make a lasting impact on your audience.

Here are some best practices to guide your festive season marketing efforts on WhatsApp:

1. Send Messages Your Customers Want

To build meaningful connections, ensure that the messages you send are welcome and expected by your audience. Start by securing clear opt-ins from customers before sending marketing messages.

• Clear Opt-in Flows: Let your customers know what type of messages they can expect from you on WhatsApp, whether they’re about discounts, new products, or special offers. Make sure to ask for explicit permission for marketing messages—don’t bundle it with other notifications like account updates.

• Opt-out Options: Every message you send should include an easy option for people to opt-out. Respect and actively monitor opt-out requests, and promptly remove these individuals from your contact list.

By keeping opt-in processes clear and offering easy opt-out options, you ensure that your marketing is both customer-friendly and compliant with regulations.

What is considered a good read rate?

According to Meta, WhatsApp is a high engagement platform. We see some businesses that focus on the quality and relevance of their marketing messages achieving read rates ranging from 70-90%.

2. Make Your Message Matter

The content and timing of your messages are just as important as the message itself. Personalized and relevant communication can significantly enhance customer experience and increase engagement.

• Tailor Your Messages: Segment your customer base and craft messages that cater to each group’s interests and needs. Personalization is key to delivering value.

• Keep It Timely, but Not Overbearing: Time your messages carefully to avoid overwhelming your audience. A well-placed message during the festive season can boost engagement, but frequent messaging can lead to fatigue. If a customer stops interacting with your messages, give them a break.

• Optimize Your Content: Capture attention from the first line, as this is the portion most likely to appear on locked screens. Focus on the first five lines of your message, since WhatsApp automatically truncates longer texts. Use incentives like exclusive discounts, free delivery, or early access to motivate action.

3. Leverage Your Engagement Stats

Your WhatsApp engagement metrics can provide valuable insights into how your audience is interacting with your messages. Regularly reviewing these stats will help you refine your strategy and improve performance.

• Track Key Metrics: Pay attention to read rates and message blocks. Businesses that prioritize quality and relevance see read rates ranging from 70-90%. Keep an eye on template performance and quality ratings available through WhatsApp Manager or API webhooks.

• Use the Data: Set high read rate and quality rating goals. If performance dips, review your content and consider refining your messaging. Analyze insights on actions like quick replies and CTA button clicks to understand how your audience engages.

• Act on Feedback: If blocks or low engagement occur, it may indicate issues with opt-in processes, audience targeting, or content strategy. Use these stats to continuously improve.

Holiday deals and discounts remain consistently popular, especially in areas where economic uncertainty is a concern. Many consumers are actively looking for more affordable options and capitalizing on seasonal discounts.

In the APAC region, 60% of shoppers take advantage of seasonal discount sales for most of their holiday shopping.

4. Listen to Your Customers

Your customers’ experience is paramount. Paying attention to their behavior and feedback will help you adjust your messaging approach for better results.

• Respond to Low Engagement: If read rates or quality ratings fall, act swiftly. Remove unengaged recipients from your list, reduce message frequency, and recheck your opt-in practices. Experiment with new content formats and templates to find what resonates best.

• Stay Responsive: Build relationships through two-way communication. If possible, offer an option for customers to chat with a human agent. Fast response times show customers that you care about their experience.

• Test and Adjust: In the lead-up to the holidays, take an iterative approach. Test different strategies, review results, and scale up gradually while monitoring key metrics like quality ratings and read rates. This will allow you to optimize your campaign before peak holiday shopping periods.

The festive season is a time of high activity, and a well-crafted WhatsApp marketing strategy can help you stand out from the crowd. By sending messages that your customers want, delivering them with precision, tracking engagement, and listening to feedback, you can create meaningful connections and drive sales during this crucial time of year. Focus on building relationships, providing value, and offering an enjoyable customer experience—and watch your holiday campaigns thrive.

Ready to elevate your festive marketing strategy? Arrange a demo with an AiChat consultant today and discover how AI-powered WhatsApp messaging can boost your holiday sales.Also read: Elevate your sales strategy with business messaging during Ramadan