“Data shows that more than 2 billion users worldwide send 100 billion messages on WhatsApp every day, and the message opening rate is as high as 98%”
On March 25, 2025, Huajin Overseas was invited by WhatsApp & Meta and Hugo to participate in the Cross-Border Growth Overseas Conference. The meeting was held at the Marriott Hotel in Nanshan District, Shenzhen from 14:30 to 17:30 in the afternoon.
As cross-border e-commerce competition becomes increasingly fierce, independent website advertising costs soar and platforms are seriously involuted, sellers are in urgent need of finding new growth breakthroughs. Data shows that more than 2 billion users worldwide send 100 billion messages on WhatsApp every day, with a message opening rate of up to 98% – this “green chat software” that has long been ignored by Chinese sellers is becoming the most trusted communication tool for overseas consumers.
This article will analyze how cross-border sellers can leverage WhatsApp to build overseas private traffic pools at low cost and double their GMV from customer acquisition, conversion to repeat purchases.
01—Why is WhatsApp the “golden channel” for cross-border sellers?
1.Covering high-value markets: Users in emerging e-commerce markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico, and Southeast Asia are highly dependent on WhatsApp, with an average daily usage time of more than 3 hours;
2.Reaching customers at zero cost: No need to pay platform commissions, messages go directly to the user’s chat list, and the opening rate is 5 times that of emails;
3.Deep interaction scenarios: Supports text, voice, video, file transfer, and even voice/video calls, which is easier to build trust than traditional email marketing;
4.Avoiding platform restrictions: Independent site sellers can directly guide users to jump to WhatsApp communication to avoid the risk of being blocked.
02—Three WhatsApp growth strategies that cross-border sellers must learn
Strategy 1: Accurate customer acquisition—directing traffic from the “public domain” to the “private domain”
- Shopping cart abandonment recall: embed the WhatsApp button on the checkout page of the independent website, and customer service intervenes in real time to provide coupons, which increases the conversion rate by 40%;
- Package card diversion: a “Scan the code and add WhatsApp to receive the after-sales gift package” card is attached to the product, and the conversion rate of repeat purchase users is as high as 25%;
- Ad jump to WhatsApp: set a “Click-to-WhatsApp” button in Facebook/Google ads to directly settle inquiring customers.
Case: A 3C seller in the Indonesian market redirected users to WhatsApp through advertising, adding more than 8,000 targeted customers in a single month and reducing customer acquisition costs by 60%.
Strategy 2: Activate private domain – use “chat marketing” to improve conversion rate
- Group operation: Establish VIP customer groups by country/category, and send limited-time discount codes every day (with independent website exclusive links);
- Status marketing: Use the “WhatsApp Status” function to release 24-hour flash promotions, and use countdown tools to create a sense of urgency;
- Smart chatbot: Set keywords to automatically reply (such as “tracking” to trigger logistics inquiries), saving 80% of customer service manpower.
Tips: Avoid mass spam! Send personalized content through user tags (such as “high customer unit price” and “mother and baby category”), and the open rate can reach 70%.
Strategy 3: Fission repurchase – creating a closed loop of social e-commerce
- Rewards for old customers to bring in new customers: Users who invite 3 friends to join the WhatsApp group can get a $5 coupon;
- Member Day Interaction: Launch “WhatsApp exclusive live broadcast” at a fixed time every month to showcase new products and answer questions in real time;
- After-sales care: Send a tutorial video after the order is signed, follow up with a satisfaction survey after 3 days, and promptly transfer negative reviews to private chats.
Data: Through the WhatsApp Member Day event, a clothing seller shortened the repurchase cycle from 45 days to 22 days, and increased the average order value by 35%.
03—Avoidance Guide: 3 Red Lines of WhatsApp Operation
- Compliance Operation: Avoid sending a large number of messages in a short period of time, and new accounts should not initiate more than 50 conversations per day;
- Respect for privacy: EU users must obtain explicit authorization from GDPR, and indicate “how to unsubscribe” at the beginning of the message;
- Localized speech: Arab countries avoid sending marketing information on Fridays, and Latin American users are more accepting of emoticons and voice messages.
Conclusion:
Seize the new trend of “chat business”
While domestic merchants are fighting in the WeChat ecosystem, cross-border sellers are building a global private domain network through WhatsApp.
Take action now:
Check whether the website/package card is embedded with the WhatsApp entrance;
Use tools to achieve customer segmentation and automated marketing;
Train at least one WhatsApp operation specialist who is proficient in multiple languages.
In the next three years, WhatsApp will become a standard for cross-border brands – whoever establishes deep customer connections first will be able to break through in the red ocean market!
