#whatsapp conversational platform

[tanlakarix]

How To Use WhatsApp Business API for E-Commerce.

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect product-market fit than chatbots in the age of e-commerce. Live chat conversations – both real and automated, have become the preferred mode of communication with a brand for a whopping 73% of consumers according to research from the Digital Customer Service survey. Additionally, data from Invest shows that customers who use the live chat feature on average spend 60% more than those who don’t.

If you’re considering a viable live chat solution for your e-commerce business in 2021, WhatsApp Business is almost a no-brainer. With over 1.5 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp offers a reach that other solutions struggle to match.

With that said, let’s look at the best ways to use the powerful WhatsApp Business API to build an audience, turn them into paying customers, and then keep them coming back for more.

How to use WhatsApp Business for different stages in your user journey

1. Lead generation/ Customer Acquisition

Converting online prospects into subscribers and more is something WhatsApp is uniquely suited to. When a conversation moves from a browser on the prospect’s laptop to their phone, it automatically becomes more “real” and natural.

Since users actively opt-in to receive marketing communication from you, it automatically moves them further along in the customer journey.

Use chat bubbles on your website to invite visitors to move the conversation to WhatsApp for any queries or solutions they might need.

Make WhatsApp the CTA for your ad campaigns. Guide prospects that click on your Facebook or Google ad to a WhatsApp conversation instead of a landing page. This puts them in a familiar, safe space right from the get-go making it more likely that they will take the actions you want them to.

2. Engaging customers to drive sales

You can reignite your sales funnel within WhatsApp to target new or returning users.

Offer discounts within a WhatsApp chatbot conversation with an automated series of questions that will activate the voucher/discount.

This way, your leads will be able to bypass cumbersome processes like email verification and get straight to the good part – the discounts.

On the backend, you can use the bot to track the status of your vouchers and send reminders to customers who may not have redeemed their offers.

3. Provide a personalized experience for users

The WhatsApp API allows you to obtain the phone number, country code and occasionally the WhatsApp name of anyone who agrees to receive communication from you.

You can use this data in your chatbots to provide region-specific options (such as in their local language) to users. If you want to provide them with more bespoke recommendations, you can ask them additional questions within the chatbot to suggest a specific product or service.

4. Cross-selling with product suggestions

Since you are already conversing with your prospect inside WhatsApp, you can simply use videos and images of the product you are discussing or suggesting. Send your users a mobile-optimized URL that they can go to if they are interested. You don’t need any fancy animation packages or complicated tech.

For example, if you have determined through your questioning that the prospect is interested in running, you can send them a quick video/image with a URL for some shoes you think they would like.

You can also create conversation automation that works as a product finder, guiding the user through a quiz-like series of questions and suggestions until they find something they like.

5. Help Guides/FAQs

According to research by Kinsta, 75% of online customers want to have their query addressed within 5 minutes. WhatsApp chatbots bring down this number significantly, with the ability to continue a conversation that was started on a desktop device on a mobile phone immediately.

Use WhatsApp to send product usage guides to your audience. Note that a usage guide isn’t just about answering FAQs – it can also showcase the benefits of your product.

FAQs are important, except no one likes going to the FAQ page on a website each time they have a query. Just create a WhatsApp bot that acts as an FAQ guide.

Occasionally, you can also send general advice about your niche to your audience. Maybe create a great guide that talks about maintenance or upkeep that your community will appreciate.

6. Abandoned cart recovery funnels

The most conservative estimates of the average all-sector shopping cart abandonment rate still put it at a staggering 70%. That means 7 out of every 10 transactions are not completed.

When you consider that only 41% of cart abandonment emails get opened, much less clicked through, the gravity of the situation becomes clear.

Interestingly, the open rate for SMS (82%, according to Shift) and Facebook Messenger (80%) remains high. When you consider the 1.5 billion user base, this trend makes WhatsApp a great solution for addressing the cart abandonment issue.

7. Purchase confirmations and invoices

WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption, which means it is secure to end sensitive information such as payment confirmations, billing problems, or invoices to your customers. Most people will prefer receiving these details on their phone where they are conveniently accessible whenever needed.

8. After-sale support

Once the order reaches your customer, you can check in with them to see if everything is going smoothly. Product-specific automated WhatsApp messages can go a long way toward fostering loyalty and improving the overall customer experience.

If a customer replies to one of these messages, you can either lead them through an automated funnel or transfer them to a live agent to continue the conversation.

9. Shipping updates

Everyone who has bought a product online has at some point or another found themselves on some strange website, frantically putting in tracking codes and hoping their purchase hasn’t disappeared off the face of the earth.

WhatsApp Business allows you to bypass this by sending shipping updates every time the status of the package changes.

Have you shipped the product your customer ordered? Let them know.

Is their product out for delivery? Let them know.

10. Loyalty programs

Research by Capgemini shows that 54% of loyalty programs are totally dormant, and more than a third of users never know about or redeem their rewards for being part of the program.

WhatsApp is a great platform to create and nurture customer loyalty.

For example, you can have your users solve quizzes or puzzles to earn loyalty points that they can exchange for discounts or rewards.

If your users have collected loyalty points but haven’t taken advantage of them, send them a gentle reminder that encourages them to redeem those points.

11. Collect user reviews and feedback

Collecting genuine user reviews is a challenge. If you send emails asking people to send in their feedback, very few of them ever get opened.

Even people who would want to send in a review usually don’t because of the effort it usually takes. You can shortcut this process by just sending out an automated review request message that encourages the user to simply reply to it with their review.

Think about the sheer number of reviews you could generate if all your customers needed to do was reply to a simple message on their phone instead of the usual process of signups and inboxes.

12. User-generated content

User-generated content is proven to improve the trustworthiness of a brand online, but it is also a challenge to gather.

With WhatsApp, you can just have your users send in a picture or record a video of themselves using your product and send it in. Since they are already sharing media regularly on WhatsApp with their friends/family, it makes the process of collecting this kind of content is relatively pain-free.

You can showcase the best or most creative user submissions you find on your other social platforms and your website.

In conclusion, the WhatsApp Business API is a must-have for brands who engage in online commerce. The rise of live chat as a customer service combined with the massive user base and pre-existing user familiarity with the platform points to the vast possibilities of WhatsApp as a communication channel in 2021 and beyond.

For More Info:

[simplifysol]

Using Chatbots for Lead Generation: Strategies and Tips

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage potential customers and streamline their lead generation efforts. One powerful tool that has emerged is the conversational AI chatbot. These intelligent bots can enhance customer interactions and drive lead generation effectively. Here are some strategies and tips to harness the power of chatbots for lead generation.

1. Personalized Conversations

One of the key advantages of a conversational AI chatbot is its ability to provide personalized experiences. By analyzing user data and behavior, chatbots can tailor their conversations to meet individual needs. For instance, when a user visits your website, the chatbot can greet them with a personalized message, asking specific questions that align with their interests. This level of personalization fosters a deeper connection and encourages users to share their information, ultimately generating leads.

2. Engagement Through Multiple Channels

To maximize lead generation, it’s crucial to engage potential customers across various platforms. Integrating your conversational AI chatbot with popular messaging apps, such as the WhatsApp Business Platform, allows you to reach users where they are most active. This integration not only enhances accessibility but also enables real-time conversations. When users can communicate with your business effortlessly, they are more likely to engage and provide their contact information.

3. Automating Lead Qualification

Another effective strategy is using chatbots to automate the lead qualification process. A well-designed conversational AI chatbot can ask qualifying questions to determine a lead’s readiness to purchase. For example, it can inquire about budget, timeline, and specific needs, helping your sales team focus on the most promising leads. This efficiency not only saves time but also improves conversion rates.

4. Multi-Location Review Management

If your business operates in multiple locations, managing reviews can be a daunting task. A conversational AI chatbot can assist in multi-location review management by prompting satisfied customers to leave reviews. By initiating conversations with customers post-purchase, the chatbot can ask for feedback and direct them to review platforms. Positive reviews not only boost your reputation but also attract new leads who are researching your services.

5. Lead Capture Forms

Integrating lead capture forms within your chatbot conversations can significantly enhance your lead generation efforts. When users engage with the chatbot, you can seamlessly prompt them to fill out a form without disrupting the conversation flow. This method increases the chances of lead capture, as users can easily provide their contact information while still interacting with your chatbot.

6. Offering Value Through Content

To convert leads, it’s essential to offer value. Your conversational AI chatbot can provide helpful resources, such as eBooks, webinars, or case studies, in exchange for contact information. This not only positions your business as a valuable resource but also encourages users to trust your brand. When users receive valuable content, they are more likely to share their details, paving the way for future engagement.

Conclusion

Utilizing a conversational AI chatbot for lead generation is a strategic approach that can significantly enhance your marketing efforts. By focusing on personalized conversations, leveraging the WhatsApp Business Platform, automating lead qualification, and managing reviews effectively, you can create a seamless lead generation process. Incorporating lead capture forms and providing valuable content further strengthens your strategy, ensuring that your business remains competitive in the digital age. Embrace the power of chatbots and watch your leads multiply!

[sinchchatlayer]

Engage your customer with valuable chatbot service

Are you eager to grow your business? But, you're not sure how to make a great first impression on your customers. No matter when your potential customer approaches, you should provide an immediate answer to their query. This ensures they don't get frustrated after landing on your online business platform. Providing answers around the clock is not easy, but with the right technology, it's possible. Chatbot platforms and AI technology can provide immediate and personalized customer support, giving you the confidence to engage with your customers. 

[myinstafollow]

Revolutionizing WhatsApp Transfer: The Breakthrough Android to iOS Method

Hey there, tech enthusiasts! 🌟 We are thrilled to introduce you to a groundbreaking solution that will transform the way you transfer WhatsApp data from Android to iOS. MyInstaFollow brings you the most seamless and efficient method to seamlessly transition your WhatsApp conversations, media, and settings without any hassle.

Our expert team has meticulously designed and tested this cutting-edge technique, ensuring that your data remains intact and secure throughout the entire transfer process. With our method, bid farewell to the frustrating limitations that previously hindered your ability to switch between these two major operating systems. Embrace the freedom of accessing your cherished memories and valuable conversations, regardless of your device's platform.

What makes our approach truly exceptional is its user-friendly interface, eliminating the need for complex technical maneuvers. Say goodbye to hours of tedious manual transfers or the risk of data loss. Embrace the future of cross-platform data migration with MyInstaFollow.

Visit our blog post on our website to discover the detailed steps of this game-changing process and unlock the full potential of your WhatsApp experience. Don't let platform constraints limit your digital journey any longer!

Click here to read the full blog post: A New Method to Transfer WhatsApp from Android to iOS

Don't forget to share this exciting news with your tech-savvy friends and spread the word about this groundbreaking development in the world of data migration. Embrace the power of seamless connectivity and enjoy a hassle-free transition like never before.

Stay tuned for more updates, tutorials, and innovation in the tech world, exclusively from MyInstaFollow. Your digital journey just got smoother!

[sayruq]

Dear Mark Zuckerberg and Leadership, This letter is a follow-up to the letter that was circulated internally on Dec 19, 2023 and deleted and dismissed due to our Community Engagement Expectations (CEE) on what can be discussed internally. Hence, we are sharing our concerns externally. We, Meta employees, wish to express our disappointment and astonishment at the lack of acknowledgement and care the leaders of this company have shown toward the Palestinian community and its allies. In private conversations, we hear from our Palestinian colleagues about family members they have lost in Gaza and family they are working tirelessly to find safety for. However, any open support for our Palestinian colleagues or the millions facing a humanitarian crisis in Palestine is met with internal censorship of employee concerns, biased leadership statements showing one-sided support, and external censorship that is raising public alarm and distrust of our platforms. Internally, we have called out the months of silencing within our workplace forums. While we loudly display “Your voice is valued”, CEE is used as a guise to delete dissenting opinions and silence employees that may simply be seeking solace from their coworkers or raising awareness about building safer products. While in other companies, employees within Employee Resource Groups (ERG) are allowed to connect and speak freely with each other, ERG’s such as Muslims@ and Palestinians@ have faced so much censorship that an employee proposed just deleting the ERG altogether instead of giving the illusion that we can freely build community at Meta. CEE claims to reduce disruptions in our workplace, yet censorship from CEE has caused many of us at Meta to feel disrupted, unheard, and unsafe to the point that several of our Metamates have decided to resign. In the words of our former colleague, any mention of Palestine is taken down - Even when the post was from a colleague expressing their grief. Even when the post was to celebrate the UN International day of support to the Palestinian people. Even when the post is a link to a fundraiser to help the Gazans. Even when asking questions about product bugs that affect Palestinian voices.

One of the original core values of Facebook was to “Be Open” and our current values claim that “We create a culture where we are straightforward and willing to have hard conversations with each other.” Employees have always been first responders to surface issues raised externally to those internally with the power and knowledge to fix them. However when over 450 colleagues came together to sign a letter similar to this one in December, CEE was used to delete the letter and restrict one of the writers from their work devices for over two months while the workplace, product, and policy concerns brought forth were completely ignored. Employees have attempted to raise product concerns related to the conflict only to have their posts and comments censored or dismissed throughout internal channels. Most recently, questions about investigative reports indicating the possibility of governments, ISPs, and coordinated bad actors using Whatsapp data for military targeting have been met with dismissive and insufficient responses or outright deleted throughout internal forums. Meta leaders have posted numerous strong statements of support for our Israeli colleagues along with condemnation of the attack on Israel on October 7th that took the lives of ~1,200 civilians, both on internal and external platforms. Mark stated on his public Facebook - “The terrorist attacks by Hamas are pure evil. There is never any justification for carrying out acts of terrorism against innocent people. The widespread suffering that has resulted is devastating. My focus remains on the safety of our employees and their families in Israel and the region.”

However, bias and inequity is painfully apparent when those same leaders do not similarly share support for our Palestinian colleagues and allies nor condemnation of the attacks on Palestine, which have now taken ~35,000 civilian lives and created a humanitarian crisis of displacement and starvation for ~2 million Palestinians. This has created a hostile and unsafe work environment for hundreds of our Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, anti-Zionist Jew, and anti-genocide colleagues at the company, who have felt consistently alienated and uncomfortable at work. Many have tried to articulate this through posts on Workplace only to be censored, rebuffed, and/or penalized. Feedback shared directly with leadership on Workplace Chat has been met with dismissiveness. Bias and inequity for the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is also apparent when compared to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after which there was an outpouring of leadership support on all fronts, including additional resourcing and investment through various social impact initiatives. The lights in the Dublin office were even painted with the colors of the Ukraine flag. Leadership must do better to achieve true equity and inclusion. Externally, when it comes to Palestine, the dismissive tone and lack of investment by Meta is not new and the company has consistently failed to thoroughly take action on years of evidence of suppression of Palestinian voices on our platforms worldwide. In 2024 the company is still slowly addressing the findings of an independent audit influenced by Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) 2021 letter to Meta on the Palestinian conflict 3 years ago. In the wake of October 7th, Meta has ignored reasonable requests for transparency on our content policies from Senator Elizabeth Warren and other lawmakers around the globe. Numerous civil rights organizations, some of whom are Meta partners, have been met with dismissal on the censorship concerns brought forth - leading to external petitions such as one against Meta’s proposed policy of treating “Zionist” as a proxy for "Jewish”, which collected over 52,000 signatures. While Meta denies any Palestinian censorship or bias to the public, internally groups of employee volunteers have found numerous product and policy issues with disparate impacts to Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab communities since October 7th. The few improvements that have been made were achieved only by appealing to isolated product teams, with minimal senior leadership support or resources. Furthermore, in the wake of global criticism of censorship and moderation, leading into the biggest year for democracy in history, Meta has updated its policy to no longer recommend ‘political content’ by default across Instagram and Threads without clear guidelines of how this would impact content originating from global conflict zones. Meta has continued to fail the Palestinian community through its policies and lack of investment.

“Meta.Metamate.Me.” We believe we are all Meta and are committed to respectfully working together to address the issues internally and externally, while holding firmly to the demands we have been echoing for months: We demand an end to censorship - stop deleting employee’s words internally in order to foster an inclusive environment where all communities feel seen, heard, and safe We demand acknowledgment - share internal acknowledgments of support for Palestinian colleagues and acknowledge the lives lost in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza to recognize our shared humanity We demand transparency and accountability - allocate dedicated resources to investigate issues of censorship and biases on our platforms and openly disclose findings to build trust among employees and the public We implore you to end the silence - issue a public statement urging for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza As tech workers, we have a tremendous privilege to work on products that serve the world, and with that comes tremendous responsibility. We have been proud to work at Meta – and want to continue believing in its mission to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.

If you're a current or former Meta worker please sign the letter here

[corover0987]

Chatbots are computer programs that have been designed to learn and mimic all human conversations. This can be done by using artificial intelligence and calling it conversational AI. There are certain necessary practices that can help you feed into conversational AI. Within this framework of discussion, we will go through the practices that are implemented in conversational AI.

[syncloudsoftech]

What are the benefits of WhatsApp Marketing Platform?

- Using WhatsApp Marketing Software, you build personalized relationships with customers through 1:1 Live Chat support in real-time on WhatsApp.

- WhatsApp messages have a 98% message open rate & 45-60% click-through rate. This is 5x more than emails & SMS.

- WhatsApp Marketing Softwares allow you to send WhatsApp Broadcasts to unlimited users, thus helping you increase conversions by 45-60%.

-Using an official WhatsApp Marketing Software, apply for a verified Green Tick on WhatsApp which can boost your brand's credibility.

[prasadtracedealsuniverse]

Lead Generation And Conversion Channel

According to a recent study published by Business2Community, 82% of consumers want immediate responses to their questions when they are interacting with a brand online. Business Insider predicts that by 2023, chatbots will save companies in the healthcare, banking, and retail sectors upwards of $11 billion!

Chatbots are everywhere, and of all the platforms to build these automation flows on, WhatsApp stands out from the pack. With over 2 billion users globally, adopting WhatsApp as one of your main channels for support, communication, and content distribution is a no-brainer. It is an environment where potential customers are already comfortable, making them more agreeable to your messaging.

Let us delve into what makes WhatsApp a uniquely strong option for chatbot automation, customer service, lead generation, and engagement.

Unparalleled reach

As we have mentioned, WhatsApp is by far the most widely used messaging app in the world today. Billions of messages are exchanged daily between users of all demographics. A German study showed that around 63% of WhatsApp users use the app daily, which is significantly more than apps like Instagram (13%).

From these numbers, we can infer that WhatsApp has become essential to people’s texting. Unlike calling a 1-800 number or writing an email, messaging a business on WhatsApp feels natural.

The wide reach also means that WhatsApp is the best channel for receiving important or urgent notifications such as shipping updates or a flight getting delayed.

High alignment between user intent and platform capabilities

According to a Tyntec study, most users polled would like to get tasks like tracking deliveries, schedule delay updates, and appointment settings are done on WhatsApp. With the help of solution providers like Karix, the WhatsApp Business API allows businesses to greatly reduce the number of steps it takes to perform common tasks and move them closer to conversion without leaving the chat window.

What’s more, the API encourages businesses to reply to incoming messages quickly by enforcing a 24-hour Session Messaging window.

Automation and scalability

Research done by Autodesk shows that approximately 50% of user queries can be answered by chatbots. This automation run 24/7 and can solve multiple problems simultaneously.

This cuts down the staffing cost for customer service agents massively. It also frees up human resources for utilization in more complex or nuanced tasks that cannot be handled by an automated conversation.

Additionally, when you use a platform like the WhatsApp Business API, you can code your chatbot to raise a ticket with all the details of the user’s problem making it much easier for a human agent to gain context when the ticket is transferred to them.

WhatsApp Lead Generation and Conversion Use Cases

One of the wonderful things about WhatsApp Business is that all the conversations must be initiated by the customer. This opt-in mentally moves them one step further along the journey to conversion since they voluntarily engage in the conversation.

Let us talk about a few ideas for how WhatsApp Business can be used to create deep customer connections, generate new leads, and convert them into paying customers.

Automobiles

Nobody likes being cold called at random times of the day about ‘a new car you might be interested in.’

The WhatsApp Business API allows businesses in the automotive space to reach out to potential customers about new product launches in an engaging and non-intrusive manner. A lot of your potential buyers are most likely already using WhatsApp regularly.

By creating a series of conversational flows that highlight the key features of the vehicle, you can pique the interest of potential buyers.

If they proceed far enough into the conversation and indicate enough interest, you can offer them the option to schedule a test-drive session within WhatsApp.

One of the major consideration’s prospects have when they are looking for a vehicle to buy is comparing the features of the car they’re looking at to others on the market – ‘Product X vs Product Y’. This is where the flexibility of WhatsApp as a platform shines through – you can easily send prospects product comparison videos, FAQ documents, spec sheets, and brochures over chat so they can go through all the technical details they need to make an informed buying decision.

In addition, sending them engaging videos which show the car in action on different terrains and locations can really solidify their vision of seeing themselves owning and enjoying the vehicle.

To reach out to as many potential buyers as possible, you can target your specific demographic with click-to-WhatsApp ads on Facebook and Instagram.

Retail

WhatsApp is a great tool to improve conversion rates from the traffic you are already generating through your website and your social media platforms. Instead of asking people to opt-in to an email newsletter or communicate via a different third-party chatbot service, you can just drive them to a WhatsApp conversation to continue the conversation.

Within WhatsApp, it is much easier to gauge user intent and gently nudge them toward a conversion by offering specific product links and product guides.

For example, if they are considering a specific piece of furniture, you can send them different finishing options to help them visualize how it would look in their living room. Additionally, you can send them detailed product guides and images/videos of other customers using the same or related products so they can make a more informed decision. Send them links to buy the product in question at the appropriate time within the chat. If they so desire, give them the option to speak to an expert who can answer any other questions they may have before buying.

Finance

If you are a banking firm or a financial advisory company, WhatsApp is a great platform to create lasting customer relationships and offer priority service to high-value clients.

Business owners are usually inundated with all kinds of unsolicited emails offering them memberships to exclusive clubs and ‘top-secret’ advice that will supposedly transform their businesses. The last thing they need from you is another few emails in their inbox which they won’t even open, let alone read.

Instead, you could create a click-to-WhatsApp campaign that targets business owners and high-income individuals and offers them no-fluff advice and answers to important questions they have. You can ask them a series of questions to gauge if they will be a good fit for your service. Once they are vetted, you can assign them a combination of automated chat flows and a personal customer service rep that will be available to answer their queries any time of the day or night.

WhatsApp messages have an open rate of over 95% across the board (99% in some cases) which in combination with all the other advantages WhatsApp has over traditional channels like SMS or email (automation, multimedia, interactivity) makes it a frontrunner for any lead generation or conversion campaigns you may want to undertake. Whether it is answering a few final doubts before the prospect clicks ‘Buy’ or impressing them with the spontaneity of your customer service to turn them into repeat buyers, WhatsApp Business is a must-have for brands who want serious growth.

We hope this article opens a few new frontiers for you to consider with your marketing campaigns. For more cutting-edge research and insider tips on using WhatsApp Business, stay tuned to the blog!

For More Info:

https://www.karix.com/products/whatsapp-business-api/

Reference Article:

https://www.karix.com/articles/why-whatsapp-is-a-fantastic-lead-generation-and-conversion-channel/

[allthegeopolitics]

Discord, one of the largest group chat apps in the world, announced on Tuesday that audio and video calls inside the platform will now be end-to-end encrypted (E2EE), meaning even Discord won’t know what users in those conversations talk about.  In the last 10 years, end-to-end encrypted chat went from being a rare exception — think Skype in the mid-2000s — to a technology used by the world’s most popular chat apps, such as iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, and Facebook Messenger, among others. Discord was born as a group chat platform for gamers, with an emphasis on audio calls for users playing online games together, but also became popular with people who simply want a place where a large number of people can interact. 

Continue Reading

[missedmilemarkers]

When Opportunity Calls… A Musician’s Tale of a Potential Scam and How to Protect Yourself

My Background: From Internet Security to Photography

Before I became a full-time photographer, I spent years working in internet security for some of the biggest names in the industry. I’ve seen firsthand the types of schemes people fall for, and while it might seem shocking to me, it’s important to understand that anyone can be caught off guard. There’s no shame in it, and you should never feel embarrassed if it happens to you. That’s why I’m offering a free service to anyone who wants it—if someone is asking you for money in any form, consult with me first. I’ll help you determine if the offer is legitimate or a potential scam.

The Call That Almost Hooked Me

It started with a phone call—one that seemed like just another cold sales pitch. You know the type—someone claiming to have stumbled across my music and expressing an almost over-the-top level of admiration. They had a proposition, one that sounded too good to pass up. But as the conversation progressed, red flags began to pop up. Here’s a dramatized version of how it went down:

The Fictional Conversation: "An Offer You Can’t Refuse?"

Scammer: “Hello! I recently came across your music and was absolutely blown away by your talent. We’re launching a new platform for emerging musicians and would love to feature your work. We’re even willing to pay you upfront—$500 just to start!”

Musician (Me): “That sounds interesting! Could you tell me more about your platform? What’s it called?”

Scammer: “Of course! We’re called ‘HyperCompuGlobalMegaTech,’ a new but rapidly growing platform. Our goal is to showcase the best emerging talents. We’re so impressed with your music that we’re willing to cover all your costs, including studio time, to produce exclusive tracks for us.”

Musician (Me): “That’s quite generous. I’d love to learn more about your business. Could you provide some references or connect me with other artists you’ve worked with?”

Scammer: “Oh, we’re still building our roster, so most of our artists are new and haven’t been featured widely yet. But trust me, the exposure you’ll get is invaluable! We’re also offering a bonus—an additional $1,000 if you can produce new music for us within the next month. And guess what? We’ll even give you access to a top-tier recording studio!”

Musician (Me): “This sounds almost too good to be true. I’ll need to verify your business name and do some research first.”

Scammer: “There’s no time for that! Opportunities like this don’t come around often. We’re offering you a once-in-a-lifetime chance! If you wait, we might have to move on to another artist. Let’s move this conversation to WhatsApp so we can finalize the details more quickly.”

Musician (Me): “I understand, but I’ll need to be cautious. Could you provide some form of verification outside of our communication?”

Scammer: “Look, we believe in you and your talent, and we’re just trying to help you grow. Don’t overthink it! You’re missing out on a huge opportunity here.”

Breaking Down the Warning Signs:

Verification of Business: Always verify the business name and check for congruence in their information. Legitimate businesses will be happy to provide proof of their operations and connect you with others in their network.

Escalating Offers: If the offer keeps getting sweeter without you even asking, this is a major red flag. Real opportunities are often competitive, and businesses rarely need to persuade someone this aggressively.

Pressure Tactics: Scammers thrive on creating urgency. If you feel rushed to make a decision, take a step back. Legitimate opportunities don’t disappear overnight.

Transfer of Communication: Shifting the conversation to a different platform, especially one that’s less secure, can be a tactic to avoid tracking and accountability.

Too Good to Be True: Ask yourself—am I hoping for something too perfect? If the opportunity seems like it could solve all your problems at just the right time, it’s worth scrutinizing.

A Cautionary Tip:

If you find yourself in a situation like this, one of the best ways to buy yourself time is to use a polite excuse. Say something like, “I’m sorry, my significant other just walked in,” or “I just got in the car and I cannot speak right now” This will give you the time you need to step back and evaluate the situation—and reach out to someone like me for help.

My Photography Business:

It’s not unusual for me to be approached about selling my artwork. I’ve sold many pictures to a wide variety of clients, and all of my work is presented on a very unique metal canvas. Whenever a buyer is interested in my work, I dictate the terms. If I have a metal print on hand of the item, it’s yours. If I don’t, I will get it produced and delivered directly to you—guaranteed. Every genuine buyer has always agreed to my terms, and I know the value of what I’m offering. My snapshots are unique moments in time that can only be from me and no one else.

P.S. For those who might have missed it, “HyperCompuGlobalMegaTech” is a little nod to The Simpsons—because even when discussing something serious, it’s okay to have a laugh.

A Free Offer to Help You Stay Safe:

If you’ve ever received a similar offer or if you’re currently in the middle of one, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m offering free consultations to help you determine if what you’re dealing with is legitimate or a potential scam. With my background in internet security, I can provide you with the tools and knowledge to protect yourself.

Conclusion:

Remember, not every incredible opportunity is a scam, but if something feels off, trust your instincts. A little caution can go a long way in protecting your hard-earned work and reputation. And if you ever need a second opinion, I’m here to help. Together, we can ensure that when opportunity knocks, it’s the real deal.

Get Involved:

Have you ever encountered a situation like this? Share your story in the comments, and let’s start a conversation about staying safe in the digital world!

[tanlakarix]

Enhancing Customer Experience with WhatsApp Chatbots

WhatsApp has taken gigantic strides in the past few years, ascending to becoming the world’s most popular messaging app and now gradually making its mark as the preferred platform for brand-customer communication. The 2 billion+ user base makes it a predominant choice for brands looking to add conversational commerce to their offerings.

With the WhatsApp Business Platform, brands can use chatbots and automation to acquire leads, promote their products, and offer a 24/7 online customer support channel.

In an age where customer experience is at a premium, brands that offer a fantastic customer experience bring in 5.7x more revenue than their competitors who do not offer a good customer experience. (Source: Forrester)

With that in mind, let us look at some ways in which WhatsApp enables brands to upgrade their customer service experience.

Making commercial communication more conversational with WhatsApp

In a time without chatbots, users would have to navigate cumbersome menus and sections on brand websites to find the product they were looking for. If the website isn’t extremely well-designed, this whole experience would take a lot of clicks and several minutes of the user’s time.

With WhatsApp chatbots, you can bypass this hassle and simulate the experience of walking into a store and having the sales rep walk you through the entire perusal and purchasing process.

For example, if a customer wants to find a nearby physical store that stocks an item, they saw online the conversation could go something like this.

Brands can also use WhatsApp’s CTA buttons to easily send payment links to customers at the appropriate moment. For example, a restaurant could send a quick payment link to a customer over WhatsApp following a quick conversation where the customer mentioned their order details and address.

With WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, brands can safely share documents like invoices and receipts within the chat window to make it easily accessible to their customers.

WhatsApp provides contextual data that brands can use for bespoke customer experiences.

Online experiences over platforms like WhatsApp are not just limited to replicating the app or website that a brand has, instead, you can also use the unique conversational capabilities of WhatsApp and the context of the conversation to create intuitive, highly personalized, and satisfying customer experiences.

With natural-language processing automation solutions like those provided by Karix, you can delve deeper into a buyer’s mindset to give them the right information at the right time in their journey. For example, you can naturally recommend a pair of shoes from your catalog in a chat window after a conversation has been initiated around similar or complimentary products, making your interaction more data-driven and contextual.

WhatsApp can integrate seamlessly with a CRM, allowing you to utilize past consumer data to foster long-lasting customer loyalty with a 24/7, always-on, personalized customer support system.

WhatsApp chatbots make it easy for brands to re-engage dormant customers and abandoned carts.

WhatsApp is much more effective at re-engaging customers than traditional methods such as email or SMS because of its contextual and conversational flow. This allows brands to re-engage with dormant users and those who have abandoned a purchase midway with the right nudges like a coupon code or a discount to incentivize the purchase.

WhatsApp chatbots allow brands to offer robust post-sales support.

Post-sales support is one of the pillars of a great customer experience. With WhatsApp chatbots, you can have an always-on, 24/7 support presence that your customer can take advantage of immediately.

With a combination of automation and human agents for solving more complex queries, you can drastically reduce the time it takes to resolve support queries. AI-powered WhatsApp support solutions are incredibly cost-efficient and can be scaled easily to adapt to incoming demand.

Two of the most common user support queries — tracking orders and refunds — can be seamlessly enabled over WhatsApp, dramatically improving the user experience.

WhatsApp is also a comfortable place for brands to collect user feedback, given that people are already used to sending text messages back and forth on the platform.

WhatsApp Chatbot use cases.

Let us look at a few different ways in which WhatsApp chatbots can be deployed, depending on the industry you service.

Retail — Exploration + Lead Capture

One of the most common ways to use a WhatsApp chatbot if you are a retail brand is to use it to highlight your product catalog while simultaneously leading the user through your defined journey and collecting lead data based on their responses at each step of the way.

Banking — Faster Query Resolution + Online Banking

In the financial and banking sector, brands can use the powerful capabilities of the WhatsApp Business Platform to create a fantastic customer experience that is built on robust customer support.

As we have discussed, the scalability of WhatsApp chatbots and the ability to integrate with intelligent third-party solution providers like Karix makes it possible for brands like AU BANK to simplify banking for their customers.

For AU Bank, Karix’s WhatsApp solution powered by our advanced conversational platform allowed customers to initiate service requests and open a savings account, all through a chat conversation.

Travel — Booking Details + Schedule Changes

WhatsApp chatbots are incredibly useful for travel brands. For a sector that relies a lot on competitive pricing and timely notifications, chatbots allow brands to send customers all the important information right to their phones.

This means that invoices, booking confirmations, delays or flight cancelation notifications, discounts, and loyalty rewards can be sent straight to a customer’s phone using WhatsApp’s secure end-to-end encryption.

In addition, travel brands can use WhatsApp chatbots to assist prospective flyers and existing customers with a 24/7 always-on support channel for any queries or assistance they might need.

WhatsApp chatbots are incredibly versatile and hold great potential for upgrading your existing customer experience. If you want to learn more about chatbots, bookmark the Karix blog and revisit it often!

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Top Strategies for Managing Online Reputation Across Multiple Locations

Managing online reputation is critical for any business, especially for those with multiple locations. Each branch or outlet has its own unique community, audience, and customer feedback. Maintaining a consistent and positive reputation across all locations is essential to ensure trust, credibility, and customer loyalty. Here are the top strategies to effectively manage multi-location reputation management while leveraging tools like the WhatsApp business platform and conversational AI chatbots.

1. Centralized Reputation Management

For multi-location businesses, a centralized platform for monitoring and responding to reviews is essential. This allows a business to maintain a consistent brand voice across all locations while addressing local concerns. Investing in a multi-location reputation management tool helps streamline this process by consolidating feedback from different review platforms into a single dashboard.

2. Proactive Customer Engagement

Responding to customer reviews and queries is not enough. Proactively engaging with customers before they leave reviews can significantly improve your reputation. Utilizing tools like the WhatsApp business platform allows businesses to engage with customers directly, offering real-time support and updates. This personal touch can lead to higher customer satisfaction and fewer negative reviews.

3. Utilize Conversational AI Chatbots

Implementing conversational AI chatbot across different locations can offer seamless customer support. These chatbots can handle routine customer queries, respond to FAQs, and even gather feedback. By ensuring that customer inquiries are answered promptly and accurately, businesses can improve customer satisfaction and avoid negative reviews.

4. Consistent Brand Messaging Across All Platforms

Maintaining consistency in communication and branding across all platforms and locations is essential. Whether you’re engaging with customers via social media, email, or your website, the tone, style, and messaging should reflect your brand values. Tools like WhatsApp business platform allow businesses to manage customer communication in a unified manner, ensuring consistency across all locations.

5. Local SEO Optimization

Each location of a multi-location business should have a strong presence in local search results. Optimizing your business listings, including Google My Business profiles, helps each location appear in relevant local searches. Encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews specific to each location enhances the online reputation of that branch.

6. Monitor and Address Negative Reviews Quickly

Negative reviews are inevitable, but how you handle them determines the overall impact on your brand’s reputation. With a multi-location reputation management system, you can quickly monitor negative reviews and respond promptly. By addressing customer concerns in a timely and professional manner, you can mitigate the damage of negative feedback and turn unhappy customers into loyal ones.

7. Leverage Data Analytics to Track Reputation

Use data analytics to track reputation trends across multiple locations. By identifying patterns, such as recurring complaints or areas where customer service is lacking, businesses can make data-driven improvements. Conversational AI chatbots can also provide valuable insights by tracking customer inquiries and concerns, helping businesses adjust their strategies.

8. Personalized Marketing Campaigns

Utilizing customer data collected via WhatsApp business platform or other channels allows businesses to run targeted marketing campaigns specific to each location. Personalized marketing helps create stronger relationships with local customers and improves brand reputation at each location.

Conclusion

For businesses with multiple locations, effective multi-location reputation management is critical to maintaining a positive brand image. By leveraging tools like the WhatsApp business platform, conversational AI chatbots, and local SEO strategies, businesses can ensure consistent communication, resolve customer issues quickly, and enhance their overall reputation across all branches. These strategies not only help in building trust but also create a loyal customer base that values the brand across different regions.

[sinchchatlayer]

Engage your customer with valuable chatbot service

Are you eager to grow your business? But, you're not sure how to make a great first impression on your customers.  No matter when your potential customer approaches, you should provide an immediate answer to their query.  This ensures they don't get frustrated after landing on your online business platform.  Providing answers around the clock is not easy, but with the right technology, it's possible. Chatbot platforms and AI technology can provide immediate and personalized customer support, giving you the confidence to engage with your customers. 

In short, you are on time to engage your prospective customers.  The evolution of the Best chatbot platform helps give a quick answer for this purpose.  It becomes super easy to sustain the interruption-free conversation using conversational AI.  Whether you are present or not for a particular question, AI chat will recognize text and answer your requested query appropriately. As a result, you are apt to engage your customers throughout the day.

Why should we use a chatbot platform?: If you want to satisfy your targeted audience, then choosing an AI platform is your best bet.  No matter when they land on your portal, you can provide quick assistance for each query. In addition, it fulfills the customer's needs, provides useful messages, and offers product recommendations.  Chatbot platforms are designed to understand and cater to your customer's needs and preferences, making them feel valued and understood. Adopting a chatbot is meant to reduce your physical presence, especially during odd hours.  In this way, they provide personalized services and suggestions. Now, you can confidently engage with your customers, knowing you have the right tools at your disposal.

Ensure when and where your customer:  Do conversation marketing practice in different places. But, a value-aided tool helps you to know your customers' availability when and where.  Indulgence in the conversational AI platform ensures you enjoy the customer-friendly features and functions.  Moreover, you can engage your customers with web pages, digital ads, and many more.  The innovation in this tool will let you know where your customer is active and comfortable.

If you are looking forward to WhatsApp ai chatbot in your application, then you can end your search with Sinch professionals. Now, you do not input text to answer your customer. We provide a conversation AI chat facility to enhance business productivity and efficiency.

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Ralf Beste of Germany’s Foreign Office said the Russians were ‘looking for cracks of doubt or feelings of unease and trying to enlarge them’.

It is absolutely a threat we have to take seriously.

A network of more than 50,000 fake accounts posting as many as 200,000 posts a day sought to convince Germans that the government’s help for Ukraine was undermining German prosperity and risking nuclear war.

Russian disinformation campaigns to undermine support for Ukraine in Europe have grown significantly in scale, skill and stealth, one of Germany’s most senior diplomats has warned.

“It is absolutely a threat we have to take seriously,” Ralf Beste, head of the department for culture and communication at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, told the Financial Times. “Overall, [there] is an increase in sophistication and impact to what we have seen before.”

Russia is combining greater subtlety and plausibility in its messaging with automation to make its disruptive attacks more effective and harder to combat, he said.

“There is probably a lot going on we can’t even see. More and more conversations are happening in private . . . channels on Telegram and WhatsApp. It is very difficult to understand what is happening there.” Beste’s department has a dedicated cell that leads the German government’s efforts to track and stop Russia’s information operations overseas.

Germany has emerged as one of the Kremlin’s main targets for disinformation over the war in Ukraine. Under the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Berlin has dramatically revised its security and defence policy and become the second-largest donor of military aid to Kyiv after Washington.

Disagreements over the shift run deep — particularly among supporters of Scholz’s own Social Democratic Party — and many Germans are concerned over economic growth and the impact of the country weaning itself from Russian gas supplies.

Beste said: “[The Russians] are looking for cracks of doubt or feelings of unease and trying to enlarge them.”

His department this year uncovered one of the biggest attempts to manipulate German public opinion yet, on the social media platform X.

A network of more than 50,000 fake accounts posting as many as 200,000 posts a day sought to convince Germans that the government’s help for Ukraine was undermining German prosperity and risking nuclear war.

The network sought to “launder” such claims by making them look as if they had been published as opinions in reputable news outlets such as Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung. But it also simply sought to amplify existing anti-Ukrainian views and make them appear to be more widespread.

Last week the Czech government, acting with other European states, accused the Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk of secretly cultivating a network of influence among European politicians to spread pro-Russian narratives and undermine support for Kyiv.

Countering such efforts is hard, Beste said, and indicates the extent to which Russia has moved on from the days of running infamous “troll farms”, which employed real people to spread dissent, often in a clumsy and obvious manner.

Beste said: “[Now] it’s not just a question of information that is verifiably true or false. It’s more than that. It’s about skewing opinions. Trying to tilt the balance of debate. Or to convince people that the frame of the debate is different to what it is in reality.”

The techniques being used were more like “nudging”, he said, referring to the concept in behavioural science of using small social and informational cues to subtly shift opinion or action.

“If you say, for example, ‘there is increasing doubt that XYZ . . . ’ then you will make people more receptive to doubts about that topic,” Beste said. “They are taking elements of reality in these campaigns and then warping them to create a different impression.”

Trying to rebut such campaigns is hard because the basic elements are often unfalsifiable, and engaging can often counterproductively lend claims to credibility.

Artificial intelligence tools are also a serious concern because of their ability to mimic human behaviour.

“AI is clearly something we have to watch very carefully,” Beste said. “What I worry about is how it will be used to create the impression of interaction . . . You enter a de facto second world, not just fake pieces of information or fake films or pictures but an entire alternative information ecosystem.”

[sayruq]

In February, Adham, a 20-year-old Palestinian, was visiting his family’s home in the West Bank. One night while scrolling through Grindr, the gay messaging app, he received a message from an anonymous user “hey,” the user wrote, before “tapping,” the platform’s function for expressing interest. The user, like Adham’s, had a blank profile that included only minimal information about his interests and whereabouts, specifying only where he lived. (Drop Site News has changed his name to protect him from retaliation.) They hit it off and were chatting for a few hours before Adham shared that he was a university student in the West Bank. That prompted the user to share his thoughts on several professors at the university who had recently drawn attention for voicing pro-Palestine views. “He wanted me to be disgusted by them,” Adham told Drop Site. “Why are you trying to convince me that this doctor is a bad person just because he's against the occupation? It feels weird at first. Just bizarre.” Adham chalked it up to a difference of opinion and the two continued to chat. Eventually Adham sent the user his number so they could message on WhatsApp. Once the conversation moved off-platform, the user revealed his identity to Adham. “That’s when he said he worked with Israeli intelligence,” he said. Using Adham’s number, the user had identified him and began sending him messages with the names and photos of his family members he had found on their Facebook profiles. Adham hadn’t even shared his name with the user, much less anything that could point him to his family members—he’s not out to his family. “I started crying and I didn't know what to do,” Adham said. Adham blocked the profile on Grindr, but soon began receiving SMS messages repeating the same threats. “It was a whole night from 12 to the sunrise,” Adham said. “He kept threatening me, saying he will expose me.” The user told Adham he sought intelligence on Adham’s cousins who, at the time, were in an Israeli prison, awaiting trial on suspicion of their involvement with the al-Qassam brigades, Hamas’s military wing. “He told me that I should go to their homes, search and question their parents and get as much information about them as possible,” Adham recalled. “He said that you can't run away from us. We, you know where you live,” Adham said. “So I just get the SMS card, I throw it, I turned off my phone.” In the morning, he checked his mother’s phone continuously to make sure she hadn’t received any messages. One of his friends had his Grindr chats and images sent to his friends and family after receiving similarly threatening messages from a user who claimed to be an Israeli intelligence official. Drop Site could not verify the messages to Adham came from an intelligence official. But a former official with Unit 8200, Israel’s signals-intelligence agency, confirmed the involvement of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. The Israel Defense Forces declined to comment.

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The reason for you to land here is solely that you have not been able to engage your customer to your channel as per the expectations. This is the best place that you reached. Here, we will have a deep conversation about the whole perspective through which the Whatsapp chatbot functions. As you might have thought that any Whatsapp bot is required to answer the following three questions to function properly: