Charity Support: Why You Should Be Utilising Whatsapp For Business

• 11-01-2020

Smartphones are building an increasingly connected future, so how can your charity be a part of it?

Embracing digital can be challenging for charities of any size, but it's important to remember a digital transformation does not happen overnight or in a one-off isolated project. Statistics show that 2 in 5 people now own a smartphone globally and around 87% of smartphone owners regularly use messaging apps. Almost 98% of Whatsapp messages are both opened and read, with many of these messages within the first 5 seconds being sent, according to research undertaken by Hootsuite.

The platform can be accessed via app or the web and has arguably become one of the most popular and widely used apps of today. In 2019, WhatsApp served more than 2 billion people worldwide, with over a billion daily active users! 

Smartphones and mobile technology can be used very creatively by charities and non-profit organisations, however, only around one-third of charities are currently utilising messaging apps, such as Whatsapp, to engage and communicate with their target audience and donors. According to JustGiving, fundraisers raised £975,000 from WhatsApp sharing in 2015. It has become increasingly necessary for organisations to offer quick and easy virtual donations and payment methods. This has even advanced to the blockchain with cryptocurrency and NFT auction donations, check out our recent article on this here.) 

In recent years, more and more charities have got on board with using Whatsapp as a fundraising vehicle and set up their own WhatsApp Giving features (for example, in 2018, Islamic Relief UK raised £180,000 through WhatsApp alone). 

As charity donor habits continue to change, it is vital to consider how your organisation could make the most out of mobile. With the rise of mobile-ready donation apps like JustGiving, GoFundMe and Paypal, it is now easier than ever for donors to connect with your charity mission in just a few taps. The quicker, easier and more convenient - the better! 

Whatsapp Business was created with small businesses in mind and is a fantastic feature for charities looking to outreach to new audiences and share their message. It has an array of functionalities such as Whatsapp Stories, broadcast messages, groups and segmentation, automation and more. All of these functions are a great way to engage, communicate and interact with donors on a large scale in a cost-effective way (Whatsapp Business is free!).

 Technology is at the heart of everything we do. We live it, love it, and have years of experience. What this means for you is that we know what works and what doesn't in the real world, what customers expect and how we can help you deliver it. We get excited about the positive effect digital can have within an organisation and we keep our finger on the industry pulse so that we remain on the cutting edge. However, as well as being technology enthusiasts we understand its role is to support business. Everything we do is focused on making your business more efficient for you and your team, as well as enhancing the experience for your customers. If you're looking to level up your digital technology and communications game, we'd love to work with you.

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EnergiseTech Team