Thanks to our Tech Admin Darlington Letala, who updated us on the launch of Whatsapp Channels in Zimbabwe! Sometime back we once discussed about this on the forum and some of you can relate.
Typical of most tech innovations—there will be early adopters, late followers and outright laggards. For competitive advantage we have opted for early adopters and are on a vigorous campaign to get our Subscribed Members to create Channels and also follow each other.
The intention is by next year each and every subscribed member has at least 500 followers. Following the next person is almost mandatory.
But what are the benefits of Whatsapp Channels? Zvinopei?
Brand Visibility: How many people view videos on Youtube with 3 views? This is why some go to the extent of buying views. Whatsapp Channels to rise in prominence over the coming years and the benchmark will be number of followers. Of course not all as the content posted will add value and attract more followers.
- Market Place: In the not so distant future, you will be able to search for books for sale, cars for sale, vacancies…practically anything. Those with more followers will stand out. The Algorithms will propel those with high number of followers to the top. With more than 4 billion Whatsapp users across the globe and an estimated 6 million Whatsapp users in Zimbabwe. And in Zimbabwe Whatsapp being the preferred social media app….opportunities abound for early adopters.
- Your Shop & Website: First we had Whatsapp Business Accounts coming with catalogue feature facilities enabling clients to view your products. The problem was these accounts were not searcheable—therefore Whatsapp Channels essentially connects individual Business Accounts and making them searcheable across the globe. You can now search BBC, CNN and follow on Whatsapp—BIG ADVANTAGE! Whatsapp has replicated Facebook ….although not fully yet but we can see the direction.
- Small Businesses Advantage: When Whatsapp was introduced, many corporate viewed them as social groups that add little value. Small businesses joined and benefited when Business Groups and Business Accounts were opened. Companies cannot participate in Whatsapp discussions—they cannot laugh, share jokes or be human….a Competitive Advantage for small businesses where the owners are intertwined with their businesses.
This is a disruption that is going to confuse many corporate boards as its going to be tough to ask for followers or even being followed unless they do vigorous promotions and this comes at a cost. The corporate sector likely to come as laggards and will have to rely on sponsored chatboxes. As of today—most corporates at zero followers on Whatsapp Channels—and small businesses urged to move with speed!
- Future Payment Platforms: The evolution of Whatsapp shows Individual accounts opened, Groups opened, Business accounts opened, Communities opened, Channels opened—and surely predicting the future should be easy. Expect payment platforms to be integrated into Whatsapp. Visa cards on Whatsapp? Western Union, Mukuru and Sendittoo on Whatsapp? RTGs system on Whatsapp? Of course local payment systems could take more time just like Starlink. But by as early as 2025, we could see payment systems incorporated.
As ZBIN we are super excited—This is Manna from Heaven for small businesses and we know there are few spaces where this is being discussed. Some could even go for years oblivious to the recent tech advancement.
And being a closely networked forum of an active 100k members now paying dividends as we are encouraging our 20,000 Whatsapp communities to speedily embrace Whatsapp Channels and following each other too.
The starting point is our Subscribed Forum and we are set to have the biggest community signed up with a lot of activity already underway.
