By Vivian Ojomu
How relevant can WhatsApp be to media organisations? You might think increased reach, better engagement but is it possible to generate revenue directly from WhatsApp as media? Well, according to Mustapha Ahmed of Lavun Community Radio, it is! He shared his organisation’s experience and innovation making sales through WhatsApp on this month’s NAMIP Community call.
Here are a few tips he shared regarding generating revenue with WhatsApp. According to Mustapha, “Lavun Community Radio (LCR) uses WhatsApp’s extensive user base to enhance its social media presence. By leveraging WhatsApp’s reach, LCR keeps the community informed about trending issues and engages the audience on a personal level.
Some key lessons that can be learned from Lavun Community Radio’s use of WhatsApp to generate revenue:
- Build communities: Find your niche and target audiences and develop them. Lavun did this by building a community beyond their radio waves. They kept community members outside the local geographic scope connected through the WhatsApp platforms.
- WhatsApp can also be an acquisition source. It was used to promote upcoming programs and build anticipation. As well as galvanize potential participation.
- Tailor content to the interests of the community you have built: This ensures that the content is relevant and engaging to the target audience. They created unique content and used the WhatsApp platform as a republishing tool for those who missed the original broadcasts.
- Put a price on it: Listeners who missed unique broadcasts reached out via WhatsApp to pay for audio files. This is a way to generate revenue and ensure that those who are interested in your product are able to access it.
By following these tips, organisations can use WhatsApp to generate revenue and engage with their audiences in a more personal way.
Here are some additional tips for using WhatsApp to generate revenue:
- Create a dedicated WhatsApp account for your organization. This will make it easier for people to find and follow your content.
- Use eye-catching images and videos to promote your content. This will help to capture people’s attention.
- Use clear and concise language in your messages. This will make it easy for people to understand what you are offering.
- Offer discounts or other incentives for people to subscribe to your content. This will help to encourage people to pay for your content.
- Monitor your results and make adjustments as needed. This will help you to optimize your efforts and generate more revenue.
In summary, WhatsApp can be used to reach a wider audience, generate revenue, and engage with your audience in a more personal way.