For a long time, there was a misunderstanding that it was forbidden to use WhatsApp Business as a private individual, but this is a misconception. If the business account in the WhatsApp app continues to be treated in a GDPR-compliant manner, you are generally not prohibited from using WhatsApp Business privately.
Private use of WhatsApp Business
In this article, the Chatarmin team would like to introduce you to the advantages of using the WhatsApp Business app privately. We would also like to highlight the most useful features of WhatsApp Business for freelancers and influencers. These people in particular can benefit enormously from private use of the business WhatsApp app.
Use WhatsApp Business privately - comprehensive communication around the clock
Almost 2 billion people around the world have installed the WhatsApp app, and businesses and self-employed people in particular also use the business app to communicate with customers and business partners and to carry out WhatsApp marketing measures to increase their own awareness and sales. It is therefore not surprising that many companies see the WhatsApp Cloud API as a factor in using the popular messaging platform as a means of communication and advertising.
The high open rate of messages of over 90 percent allows you to achieve good customer reach – a success rate that outdated email cannot match.
For individuals: Are you allowed to use WhatsApp Business privately?
If you run a business and want to communicate with customers outside of your business hours, you can still use your WhatsApp Business API. Contrary to what some users fear, you are allowed to use WhatsApp Business privately. You used to be able to do this by simply interacting with two different SIM cards on your phone.
This allowed you to use two different WhatsApp app accounts on one phone. However, this admittedly cumbersome approach is no longer necessary, because since 2023, WhatsApp allows you to use multiple accounts on the same device.
Instructions: How to set up another account on WhatsApp Business
Do you want to use WhatsApp on your device not only for private messages but also for the WhatsApp Business version? No problem, because we will explain how you can link the WhatsApp Business platform to your private device in just a few steps.
To set up another WhatsApp app account, you only need to follow 3 steps. Chatarmin offers you a structured overview of how to use your company profile on your private device:
Step 1: Open the Messenger app and go to Settings Step 2: Now click on the “Account” option Step 3: Now tap on the “Add Account” option and set up the second WhatsApp account
Using WhatsApp Business privately - these are the advantages
Using WhatsApp Business can also have numerous advantages for your private life and we at Chatarmin would like to summarize some of them here, so that you are aware of the functions you can use in connection with a WhatsApp Business API to enhance the content of chats with other users:
Use the practical quick replies to answer recurring questions automatically Benefit from built-in welcome messages or out-of-office replies to ensure direct customer contact at any time of the day or night
You can create a URL and share your WhatsApp profile with other users
Further advantages of WhatsApp Business
The integration of bots is also one of the advantages if you want to take advantage of the possibilities offered by the WhatsApp Business app. Chatbots are an integral part of modern marketing elements and they help to facilitate communication with users or to continue it outside of actual business hours.
Using chatbots is therefore one of the features that companies appreciate when using the WhatsApp Business API. Finally, we would like to draw attention to the effective way of communicating via WhatsApp Business, because the open rate of over 90 percent is a compelling argument for using the tool and chatting with users privately, even outside of your company's opening hours.
These are the most important functions when using WhatsApp Business
Apps like WhatsApp Business provide your company with various functions that add value in terms of marketing, customer communication and accessibility. In our opinion, the following points are of particular relevance and will help you to use the WhatsApp Business tools effectively for your chats in your private life as well.
- Marketing opportunities such as creating your own company profile
- The WhatsApp Business app shows contacts your company's opening hours
- You have the option to include a product catalog in your WhatsApp messages
- Send automatic replies or integrate a bot for chats
- Use the option to view useful message statistics for the chats
- GDPR compliant: adheres to data protection rules according to the GDPR
As you can clearly see, there is more than just one advantage to using WhatsApp Business, so you should consider using the app for private purposes as soon as possible.
WhatsApp Business can also be of great interest to freelancers or influencers for private use
Do you want to reach as many people as possible when using apps and use tools that make your messages stand out for marketing purposes? WhatsApp is undoubtedly the No. 1 app for freelancers and influencers who want to improve their market position. By using a WhatsApp Business account for both private and business purposes, you can always stay up to date, send a quick reply to inquiries or use functions to connect with social networks.
Influencers can easily link their social networks to the WhatsApp Business app
As an influencer, you benefit from a link between your WhatsApp Business account and social media like Instagram and Facebook. Your WhatsApp number is displayed to customers on your social media profile, giving them the opportunity to contact you directly via WhatsApp with just one click.
Where can you download WhatsApp Business for your smartphone?
Do you recognize the many advantages of WhatsApp Business, but have not yet installed the popular app on your smartphone? That's not a problem at all, because WhatsApp Business can be downloaded for free from the following official app stores:
- Google Play Store
- Apple App Store
Do I have to pay for WhatsApp Business as a private individual?
If you use WhatsApp Business privately, the application is free for you. WhatsApp Business costs only apply once you have reached 1000 conversations. It may take some time before then, because as a private individual, it is indeed difficult to exceed the free offer of up to 1000 conversations.
Using WhatsApp Business privately: Is customer data secure?
For the purposes of data protection, the WhatsApp Business API has secure end-to-end encryption. This means that customer communication is fully GDPR compliant, and if you also use your WhatsApp Business account privately, your company doesn't have to worry about violating data protection rules.
Professional chatting with a personal WhatsApp account: Follow the basic rules of the GDPR
Using your work WhatsApp account on your personal device is a useful backup for you and allows you to access a variety of practical features and tools for contacting other users via the popular messenger. You should always keep the GDPR in mind and regularly check for important changes related to GDPR compliance, which your company must of course adhere to.
Conclusion: The private use of WhatsApp Business offers you and your company numerous advantages
We hope that this article has helped you to understand the advantages of a privately used WhatsApp Business account. Being able to answer business messages from your company on your private cell phone, without using your personal email address, is a useful feature, because many users are much easier to reach via WhatsApp anyway.
Chatarmin supports you in using the WhatsApp Business app
If you have any questions about how to use WhatsApp Business or the benefits of doing so, the Chatarmin team is happy to help you with your request to contact your user contacts privately from your business account.
