For many Ghanaian businesses, WhatsApp is the shop counter. Customers ask questions, place orders and send payment confirmations there. Sellers who manage WhatsApp well reply faster, lose fewer orders and look more professional. Ghanaian adverts for shop and sales staff mention WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business by name, so this is a job skill as well as a business skill.
WhatsApp Business is a separate free app
WhatsApp Business is a free app made for small businesses. It works like ordinary WhatsApp, but adds business tools. Many sellers use it on a separate number from their personal WhatsApp, so business chats do not get lost among family messages. Download it from your phone's official app store.
Key features to set up
- Business profile: your business name, a short description, your town or address, opening hours and a clear profile photo or logo. This is the first thing customers check.
- Catalogue: a list of your products with photos, prices and short descriptions. Customers can browse it without asking you to resend pictures, and you can share a single item or the whole catalogue in a chat.
- Quick replies: saved answers to common questions, such as delivery fees, payment details or how to order. You type a short shortcut and the full message appears.
- Labels: coloured tags for chats, such as "New order", "Paid", "Delivered" and "Follow up". They help you see at a glance where each customer is.