WhatsApp has overtaken email when it comes to marketing. WhatsApp marketing increases the chances of sales copy being opened, so, many businesses are considering leveraging WhatsApp as a marketing tool.
One way businesses can increase their WhatsApp green tick while increasing their brand marketing is by getting verified on WhatsApp. The WhatsApp green tick gives businesses a sense of legitimacy and can help increase brand recognition. In this article, we will talk about the process of getting verified on WhatsApp, the eligibility criteria, and other relevant details.
The WhatsApp green tick is a small green check mark that appears next to a verified business’ name or profile picture. This badge indicates that the business has gone through a thorough verification process by the platform. This process is in place to protect users from spam and fake accounts.
The verification process for businesses can be challenging, but brand owners deem it worthy because it impacts their credibility.
Before applying for the green tick, your business must be on the WhatsApp Business Platform. Getting the green tick takes you from a regular Business Account to an official one.
Although having the green tick is the main advantage of an Official Business Account (OBA), there are other advantages to having an OBA over a regular account. One advantage of an OBA is that it displays your business name instead of your phone number during chats.
When you’re ready to get your green tick, you must start with an application through the WhatsApp Business Platform and end with Meta's approval or rejection.
A green badge will signify your status as a verified business on WhatsApp. It distinguishes your brand as credible among the thousands of businesses on the platform. Below are some advantages of a green badge on WhatsApp:
The advantages of getting a green tick all seem to make it an excellent choice for your business. However, there are some cons you should note. The first is that the feature is unavailable on the regular WhatsApp Business Account. You must be on the WhatsApp API to apply for it.
You may also face crushing rejection during the application stages. Despite all these, the verification on its own does not improve your campaign results sizably. You must understand other techniques to increase your sales on WhatsApp.
Often, only popular brands get the verification badge, so you must first attain notable popularity. There are other criteria you need to fulfill to be eligible for a green tick on WhatsApp:
You can apply to get verified on WhatsApp once you meet these requirements, but note that your API provider (also known as Business Solution Provider) cannot influence the process. Some may promise to help you get it. Consider this unrealistic.
The verification decision lies entirely with the Meta team. You should also not pay anyone to get the WhatsApp green tick as the process is free.
It helps to know that WhatsApp greatly considers your business website domain authority and brand reputation. Get news coverage for your business in the weeks before applying for verification. This will help you appear popular enough for a WhatsApp verified badge.
Another major factor that affects your eligibility is the type of business you are into. WhatsApp does not allow some types of businesses on their API platform. The ineligible businesses include:
The WhatsApp legal document lets you view the full list of ineligible business categories. You should also read up on WhatsApp Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. Violation of the platform’s rules may prevent you from ever getting your business account verified.
WhatsApp verification involves the Facebook Business Manager. The relationship between the two platforms is complex, and every business must verify its Facebook Business Manager account before using WhatsApp API.
WhatsApp Business API was launched in 2018 as an alternative to the simple WhatsApp Business account. Following that change, only brands using WhatsApp Business API were eligible to apply for verification. Businesses using WhatsApp Business accounts will have to switch to the API before they are eligible to apply for a green tick.
The big deal with WhatsApp API is that it allows businesses to use external tools to manage their messaging. They use these external platforms, especially messaging apps, to send and receive messages as part of their WhatsApp marketing campaign.
Now that you understand this, begin your quest to get a WhatsApp green tick by verifying your Facebook Business Manager account. WhatsApp also uses this step to determine the legitimacy of your business.
After configuration, ensure that you chat with at least 50 contacts on your WhatsApp Business API. You can then request your Business Solution Provider (BSP) to initiate the verification process on WhatsApp.
You must supply your BSP with the information WhatsApp requires to verify your business account, and your BSP configures a profile for you on the WhatsApp Business API. This step is integral to getting verified on the platform.
Going through the verification process for the first time can be very difficult as there is so much information to consume. It becomes even harder if you are new to WhatsApp and Facebook. You may not understand the differences between the different types of accounts and other specific details.
But don’t let this worry you. Your BSP will do most of the job, and you only need to initiate the process and provide the necessary information. We will explain how to get verified in greater detail later.
Given that the information above can be overwhelming, here’s a recap of the important parts in the sections above:
WhatsApp does not approve every business that applies for verification, so your application may fail even after fulfilling all the above criteria. The good news is that you only have to wait 30 days before you can apply again. This time, you’ll have a better understanding of the requirements and may be successful with your application.
You can also engage the help of experienced third-party agents to help you through the process. These platforms have gone through the process several times and know how to increase an application's chances of success. However, while the application process is free, these platforms may charge you for their services.
Third-party agents help you understand the requirements and meet the verification demands, but they do not give the verification badge, and their involvement doesn’t guarantee a successful application.
If you decide not to use a BSP, you can undergo the verification process yourself. This section will take you through a step-by-step breakdown of the process. To begin, you need an active Facebook Business Manager account and a WhatsApp Business API. You should also enable two-factor authentication on your account. Once you do all these:
Wait a few days after submitting your application. It usually takes 2 to 4 business days before the application is approved. Once your account is upgraded, you will automatically see a green tick beside your business name. In addition, as a WhatsApp Official Business Account user, you will gain access to a few features that are not available on the normal Business Account.
A tip that may increase your chance of getting verified is to reach out to at least 1,000 people daily. You can achieve this by having message templates for different purposes. This will convince WhatsApp that you are active on the platform. It also shows your seriousness with the campaign.
Even if your application is rejected, you will still have access to all WhatsApp business features. However, you won’t have the green tick, and it will display your phone number rather than your business name when texting customers.
WhatsApp is a powerful marketing tool that can help businesses increase sales and engagement. Getting the green tick verification badge can help businesses build trust and credibility with customers. Although the process can be challenging, it is worth it for the benefits it can bring to your business.
Now that you understand the process and requirements, you can begin your journey to getting verified on WhatsApp. Here are some last reminders to keep in mind:
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