Want to get started with a WhatsApp group? Check out the WhatsApp group chat help area first.
Shutterstock WhatsApp group chats are now a common feature for WhatsApp users who want to organise a holiday, a meal or just keep in touch with friends who are miles apart. The +1.5 billion WhatsApp users are using Groups and businesses want to get into the arena. 2) Create a recognised post type for important information. All interesting ideas – and there are millions more – but how do you keep the groups usable? Sure you can mute them (and large groups recommend you do) but that is not what admins or WhatsApp need. Here are some top tips group admins should consider: 1) Regularly post community guidelines and notes about the ‘reply’ functionality. Want to get started with a WhatsApp group? Check out the WhatsApp group chat help area first.
In the last six months, I have been approached by businesses that are using them for; news roundups, research panels, Insta-pod recruitment, traffic generators, social planning and (gulp) pitching stories. 3) Figure out what works (or what’s missing) by using a tool like WhatsAnalyzer or ChatVisualizer (check terms and conditions first). The content contained will vary from group to group but if you create a post that is easily recognisable (image, emoji, ASCII) people are more likely to spot the post in more active groups (plus it’s easy to search for). Although thanks to WhatsApp’s 256 member rule (the maximum number of people in one group), the ‘just a few friends connecting’message seems to have gone on the window. Instead, WhatsApp groups need to focus on be useful and give a good amount of signal. 4) Get quick feedback using Google Forms and Doodle. 2) Create a recognised post type for important information.
Use the data to determine when to post, topics to post about and members you might want to contact to be more active or ask if anything different needs to be done. Here are some top tips group admins should consider: 1) Regularly post community guidelines and notes about the ‘reply’ functionality. 3) Figure out what works (or what’s missing) by using a tool like WhatsAnalyzer or ChatVisualizer (check terms and conditions first). One group even goes further and gets members to help create a Google Doc on the subject that is then edited by admins and then sent to everyone. All interesting ideas – and there are millions more – but how do you keep the groups usable? Sure you can mute them (and large groups recommend you do) but that is not what admins or WhatsApp need. The content contained will vary from group to group but if you create a post that is easily recognisable (image, emoji, ASCII) people are more likely to spot the post in more active groups (plus it’s easy to search for). 4) Get quick feedback using Google Forms and Doodle. It may sound strange but one of the best WhatsApp groups I am in schedules specific times to discuss topics (similar to Twitter chats or AMA on Reddit). Instead, WhatsApp groups need to focus on be useful and give a good amount of signal.
Using bit.ly can also add an extra layer of measurement for WhatsApp group admins (and users). A handy tool that completes data visualisation on your exported chats. 5) Schedule discussions. In the last six months, I have been approached by businesses that are using them for; news roundups, research panels, Insta-pod recruitment, traffic generators, social planning and (gulp) pitching stories. Ask a question or 20 using Google Forms or schedule a meet-up easily with a quick link from Doodle both make running large groups more manageable and fairer. This is unlikely to work for every group but it could be a good way to limit endless rivers of updates and create something usable faster. The +1.5 billion WhatsApp users are using Groups and businesses want to get into the arena. Using bit.ly can also add an extra layer of measurement for WhatsApp group admins (and users). Use the data to determine when to post, topics to post about and members you might want to contact to be more active or ask if anything different needs to be done. This is unlikely to work for every group but it could be a good way to limit endless rivers of updates and create something usable faster. Ask a question or 20 using Google Forms or schedule a meet-up easily with a quick link from Doodle both make running large groups more manageable and fairer. It may sound strange but one of the best WhatsApp groups I am in schedules specific times to discuss topics (similar to Twitter chats or AMA on Reddit). Larger and more socially-focussed groups especially benefit from doing this (especially reminding people about ‘reply’ functionality) as it can help topics stay on track and members know when to dip in and out and avoid self-promotional posts. A handy tool that completes data visualisation on your exported chats.
Whether a new group or an established one it never hurts to post community/group guidelines and names of group admins in case people have questions. One group even goes further and gets members to help create a Google Doc on the subject that is then edited by admins and then sent to everyone. Larger and more socially-focussed groups especially benefit from doing this (especially reminding people about ‘reply’ functionality) as it can help topics stay on track and members know when to dip in and out and avoid self-promotional posts. Although thanks to WhatsApp’s 256 member rule (the maximum number of people in one group), the ‘just a few friends connecting’message seems to have gone on the window. 5) Schedule discussions. Whether a new group or an established one it never hurts to post community/group guidelines and names of group admins in case people have questions. Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Shutterstock WhatsApp group chats are now a common feature for WhatsApp users who want to organise a holiday, a meal or just keep in touch with friends who are miles apart.
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Paul Armstrong 1970, How To Run A Successful WhatsApp Group, Viewed 23 February 2020, <https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2018/04/29/how-to-run-a-successful-whatsapp-group/>.