WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.23.24.22.
What’s new in this update? Thanks to the business version of the app, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a marketing messages feature, and it’s available to some beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Marketing messages |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp Business beta for Android 2.23.24.22 is marked as a compatible update, but some users may be able to get the same feature by installing the previous 2.23.24.21 update. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it’s rolling out to more people over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Akan and Technical MJ TV, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.24.21: what’s new? WhatsApp and Google will stop offering unlimited storage quota for WhatsApp backups! |
MARKETING MESSAGES
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.21.15 update, we announced a new feature to make it easier for users to understand when certain information is elaborated to improve the user experience in business chats. Specifically, WhatsApp had plan to make it clearer when a business uses services provided by Meta and share limited information with them by adding a special event to the conversation. These events are about interactions with offers and announcements generated by marketing messages, a new feature designed to allow businesses to easily reach a larger audience simultaneously. After installing the latest WhatsApp Business beta for Android 2.23.24.22 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is now releasing marking messages!
A new feature called Marketing Messages is available to some beta testers within the Business Tools tab after installing the latest updates of the business app. With this feature, businesses can schedule when their messages should be sent and customize every message with each customer’s name by setting up a template. In addition, they can use marketing messages as a tool to analyze the performances of their messages to learn how they can improve the business experience with their customers. Businesses can test this optional feature by paying a certain fee that may vary from country to country, and they can easily manage the cost of each message they send by always staying on budget.
This feature makes it easier for businesses to reach more people at once with new offers and announcements, like coupons, sales, and promotions, and we consider it beneficial for those small businesses with a more limited reach compared to larger enterprises. When businesses create and share marketing messages, their customers are always notified when they receive such messages. In addition, when interacting with these marketing messages, Meta may get limited information in order to improve the user experience and help businesses understand how they can reduce spam by sending less intrusive content, but this action is always notified in the conversation.
Your privacy on WhatsApp is consistently safeguarded as messages shared in business chats are also protected with end-to-end encryption, and those in business chats that use cloud providers are secured by a service by Meta. However, we acknowledge that you might not feel comfortable that limited information about interactions and offers with marketing messages is shared with Meta in these business chats, even though it does not contain your personal and private details. As a result, it’s important to mention that users are always in control over these conversations and they can report or block such businesses at any time. It’s worth noting that engaging with these businesses is optional, and users have the autonomy to decide their level of involvement. For those seeking a more comprehensive understanding of how WhatsApp ensures user privacy in business interactions, additional information on privacy protections is available on the official WhatsApp website.
The marketing messages feature is available to some beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp Business beta for Android updates from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.
Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on Twitter where you can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.
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