How to sell on WhatsApp: the complete playbook
Learn how to sell on WhatsApp: setting up a catalog, taking structured orders, pricing, follow-ups and turning status views into customers.
Selling on WhatsApp is not hard because the tools are missing. It is hard because chat is messy: prices scroll away, orders arrive as a paragraph, and you spend your day answering "how much?" instead of packing orders. This playbook fixes the messy parts.
Step 1 — Set up WhatsApp Business
If you are selling from a personal number, move to the free WhatsApp Business app. It gives you a business profile, a catalog of your products, quick replies and labels for customers. Keep your personal number for friends; give buyers the business one.
Step 2 — Give buyers one link, not a photo dump
The single biggest upgrade is replacing screenshots with a catalog link. When someone asks what you sell, you send one URL. They browse at their own pace, see live prices, and send an itemised order. This is where a digital product catalog beats everything else.
Step 3 — Make ordering one tap
- The customer adds items to a cart on your catalog.
- They tap "Send order on WhatsApp".
- A structured message arrives with items, quantities and total.
- You confirm availability, payment and delivery — all in the chat you already use.
No new app for the customer, no account, no checkout to abandon.
Step 4 — Turn status views into customers
- Post a new collection to your status and link the catalog in your bio.
- Use WhatsApp broadcast lists (people who opted in) for restocks.
- Add the catalog link to your WhatsApp Business profile and every reply template.
- Put a QR code to your catalog on packaging and shopfronts.
Step 5 — Keep the catalog current
A stale catalog loses trust. Mark items sold out, remove discontinued ones, and refresh prices weekly. Because a MyShp catalog updates live, this takes seconds — and every customer sees the change immediately.
Common mistakes
- Hiding prices behind "DM for price" — it adds friction to every curious visitor.
- Sending 20 photos in one burst — a link is kinder and searchable.
- No follow-up — a simple reminder 24 hours later recovers a surprising share of carts.
- Mixing personal and business chats on one number.
Ready to set it up? Create your free catalog, then read how to share the link everywhere.