Of all Facebook-owned social media platform, WhatsApp turns out to be the only one that does not support Ads as yet. Making it one of Facebook’s major properties that isn’t bringing in any profit. However, according to new reports, this could change any time soon – as its reported that the Menlo Park, California-based social networking company will start showing Ads on WhatsApp Statuses and Chats later next year.
Wall Street Journal reported, citing WhatsApp officials, that WhatsApp Status will start showing ads next year. The ads will be powered by Facebook’s native advertising system and will help familiarize users with business on WhatsApp. Facebook is already using the ads in Instagram Stories as a model to serve ads through WhatsApp Status.
“We’ve seen it working well on Instagram and so we’re learning a lot from that,” said Matt Idema, WhatsApp’s Chief Operating Officer, as quoted by Wall Street Journal.
On the other hand, WhatsApp on Wednesday announced new tools that will allow businesses to offer customer support via WhatsApp chats. Customers will be able to start conversations with businesses and get real-time support. The chats will be for free to consumers, however, businesses/companies will have to pay a fee to send messages to its customers
According to The Wall Street Journal, Facebook will charge anywhere between 0.5 cents (roughly UGX1,800) and 9 cents (roughly UGX3,300) per message, depending on the country.
