Key takeaways:
- WhatsApp is now integrated into Google My Business listings in France.
- The feature is visible on mobile for about 30 to 40% of internet users.
- It allows businesses to chat directly with their customers via WhatsApp, thereby strengthening conversational commerce.
- Brands like Partoo are already using this option with AI-based conversational agents.
Google Business Profile and WhatsApp: a game-changing partnership
Until now, businesses could display a phone number, a link to their website, or a button to send a message via Google Business Profile. They now have an additional option: WhatsApp !
After the feature launched in the United States last week, Thibault Renouf, CEO of Partoo, alerted this morning to the rollout of WhatsApp on GMB in France:
This integration allows users to contact a business directly on the messaging app with one click, without going through a phone call or a form. A step forward for the conversational commercewhich relies on the fluidity and immediacy of exchanges. The potential downside: if you don't have a professional phone number, your personal WhatsApp will be shown to potential customers. A choice to make!
This feature is being rolled out gradually and is not yet visible to all internet users FrenchAccording to Partoo, a local SEO specialist, 30 to 40% of mobile users in France can currently see this button on some Google My Business listings.
How does the WhatsApp button on Google My Business work?
Adding WhatsApp to Google Business Profile listings is relatively simple:
- Businesses activate the option from their Google Business Profile account.
- A WhatsApp button appears on their GMB listingallowing internet users to start a conversation with one click.
- Messages open directly in the WhatsApp application on the user's phone.
This feature facilitates direct contact between a brand and its customers, notably for quick requests: opening hours, product availability, appointment scheduling, etc.
The WhatsApp button appears on the "Le P'tit Plus" card, allowing a conversation to be started. Source @ Abondance
Why is this new feature a turning point for conversational commerce?
The addition of WhatsApp to Google My Business is part of a underlying trend : that of conversational commerce. More and more consumers prefer to interact with a brand by message rather than by phone.
Here's why this integration is strategic:
- A favored communication channel : WhatsApp has more than 2 billion users worldwide, and its use as a customer service tool is growing rapidly.
- A quick response to customers : Unlike emails or calls, a WhatsApp message is often read and handled immediately.
- Better handling of requests : Businesses can automate certain responses and streamline their customer service.
For retailers with multiple outlets, this feature can also centralize message management and simplify interaction with customers.
Our expert's opinion
"The integration of WhatsApp into the Google My Business listing adds a new dimension to customer relations for a local business. It helps further strengthen the customer experience and will, without doubt, if used well, improve its conversion rate."
Thibaud Lapacherie
SEO Manager, Abondance
How to test if WhatsApp is enabled on Google Maps?
Want to see if the feature is active for you? Here’s how to test:
- From your mobile, open Google and type the name of a local business into the search bar.
- If you are among users with access to the feature, you will see a WhatsApp button appear on the business listing.
- Tap it to start a conversation with their AI chatbot.
Because this option is being rolled out, it’s possible that not all users see it yetBut its adoption should accelerate in the coming weeks.
A new video on this topic will be added today to the "Google Business Profile" course available on FormaSEO. Interested in the topic? Want to finally reach your local customers and be present online? Order our Google Business Profile course !
The article “WhatsApp arrives on Google My Business listings in France!” was published on the site Abondance.
