Guide
WhatsApp Business for shops: profile, catalogue, quick replies and labels, step by step
How shops, hotels and clinics in Braj can set up the free WhatsApp Business app properly: business profile, catalogue, greeting and away messages, quick replies, labels and when to automate.
- By the Braj Digital team
- Updated
- 7 min read
In Mathura and Vrindavan, most customer enquiries arrive on WhatsApp: "room available?", "price?", "shop open today?". The free WhatsApp Business app has tools that answer these faster and keep orders organised, but most owners never switch them on. Here's how to set it up properly in under an hour.
WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business?
WhatsApp Business is a separate, free app from WhatsApp, made for businesses. It adds a business profile, a product catalogue, automatic greeting and away messages, quick replies and labels. You can move your existing business number to it; back up your chats first so nothing is lost.
Tip: Keep one number for the business, separate from your personal WhatsApp. It looks more professional, and the number stays with the business if staff change.
Step 1: Complete your business profile
- Name exactly as on your signboard and Google listing
- Category, such as Hotel, Bakery or Clothing store
- Address with the right map pin, and your business hours
- A short description: what you sell and who you serve, in Hindi or English
- Website link and email, so customers can check you're genuine
Step 2: Add a catalogue
Add your products, rooms or services with a photo, a price (or "price on request") and a short description. When someone asks "what do you have?", send the catalogue link instead of twenty photos. The same link can go in your Instagram bio and on your website.
Step 3: Turn on greeting and away messages
A greeting message goes to people who message you for the first time, for example: "Namaste! Thanks for contacting us. Please share what you're looking for and we'll reply shortly. Our timings are 10 am to 8 pm." An away message goes out when you're closed, so nobody feels ignored.
Step 4: Save quick replies for common questions
Quick replies are saved answers you send by typing a shortcut. Useful ones for most shops:
- /location: your address with a Google Maps link
- /timings: opening hours, including festival changes
- /upi: your UPI ID or QR code for payment
- /price: your price list or catalogue link
- /thanks: a thank-you after purchase, with your Google review link
Step 5: Use labels to track every order
Labels are coloured tags on chats. A simple set such as New enquiry, Price sent, Paid, Delivered and Follow up shows at a glance who is waiting for you and who hasn't paid yet, so no customer slips through.
When the app isn't enough
The app is built for a person replying by hand. When you get more messages than one person can answer, need several staff on one number, or want automatic booking confirmations and reminders, you need the WhatsApp Business Platform (the API). It works through an approved provider, Meta charges for messages sent through it, and customers must agree to receive them. This is where business automation comes in: we connect it to your website forms and bookings.
Rules that keep your number safe
- Message only people who contacted you or agreed to hear from you. Bulk messages to bought lists get numbers banned.
- Broadcast lists only reach contacts who have saved your number, so ask regular customers to save it.
- Don't use unofficial "modded" WhatsApp apps. They break WhatsApp's terms and put your account at risk.
- Reply quickly. A fast answer often decides whether a customer buys from you or the next shop.
Want every WhatsApp enquiry from your website to arrive with the customer's details already filled in? That's built into every website we make.
