Facebook owned messaging app WhatsApp has been advertisement free since its launch. However, in an attempt to monetize WhatsApp, Mark Zuckerberg led Facebook will be introducing a new feature on the social networking platform.
Using a feature similar to the click to Messenger ads previously rolled out by Facebook, the company will be adding a Click To WhatsApp button to advertisements. The new update will allow advertisers to introduce a button on their ads so that users can directly message them through WhatsApp. According to reports, over a million Facebook pages have already included WhatsApp numbers to their posts to boost business.
The new ad unit aims at creating a link between Facebook and WhatsApp so that people can call or message businesses via WhatsApp with the click of a button. The feature will be rolled out in North and South America, Africa, Australia and most of Asia.
However, Facebook will be releasing the feature in Europe at a later date as currently, according to Europe’s data protection laws, data sharing between the two platforms is not allowed. Therefore, TechCrunch reported, the social media giant may observe how the feature is used elsewhere and fine tune all the issues from outside the company.
This upgrade comes on the heels of WhatsApp’s WhatsApp for Business announcement. Speaking about the latest update, the Product Marketing Manager of Facebook, Pancham Gajjar said, “Many people already use WhatsApp to communicate with small businesses. It’s a fast, convenient way to stay in touch. By adding a click to WhatsApp button to Facebook ads, businesses can now make it even easier for people to learn about their products, set up an appointment or use their service.”
Currently, WhatsApp claims to have over 1.3 billion monthly active users while Facebook has 1.37 billion daily active users. This integration of WhatsApp and Facebook will help multiple businesses reach a larger audience.