Why More Businesses Are Turning to WhatsApp to Connect With Customers

How WhatsApp’s integration with HighLevel is transforming customer communication for UK SMEs.

As digital communication continues to evolve, small and medium-sized businesses are rethinking how they stay connected with customers and prospects. One platform has rapidly risen to the top of that list – WhatsApp.

With over 2 billion active users worldwide, WhatsApp is no longer just a personal messaging app; it’s become one of the most effective business communication tools available.

When HighLevel officially released its WhatsApp integration for UK businesses in Q2 2024, the response was immediate. Within just a few months, 20% of MarketerM8 clients had already opted to add WhatsApp to their CRM setup – and the results speak for themselves.

Why Businesses Are Adopting WhatsApp for Customer Communication

The shift towards WhatsApp marketing automation isn’t just a passing trend. It reflects how customers now prefer to engage with businesses. People want convenience, speed, and familiarity – and WhatsApp offers all three.

Here’s why we believe so many businesses are making the switch:

1. Unmatched Reach and Engagement

With 2 billion users globally, WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms on the planet. For UK SMEs, this means your audience is almost certainly already active on it. Businesses using WhatsApp as a communication channel are seeing significantly higher open rates compared to email or SMS.

On average, WhatsApp messages achieve open rates above 95%, making it one of the most powerful customer engagement channels available today.

2. Cost-Effective and Scalable Messaging

MarketerM8’s WhatsApp integration with HighLevel offers simple, transparent pricing – £0.06 per 1,000-character message. This gives businesses an affordable way to send personalised marketing campaigns, appointment reminders, and automated follow-ups at scale.

Compared to traditional channels like SMS or email, WhatsApp delivers exceptional ROI because you pay for what truly drives engagement – meaningful, conversational messages that customers read and respond to.

3. Personal and Conversational by Design

What sets WhatsApp apart is its human tone. Customers see messages as personal conversations rather than promotions. Whether it’s confirming an appointment, following up after a sale, or sending a special offer, WhatsApp allows businesses to stay personal without being intrusive.

Through HighLevel’s built-in WhatsApp integration, MarketerM8 clients can automate these interactions directly from their CRM – ensuring every message feels timely, relevant, and professional.

4. Proven Adoption Across MarketerM8 Clients

Since the integration launched for UK users in mid-2024, 1 in 5 MarketerM8 clients have chosen to activate WhatsApp within their HighLevel system. Many report higher response rates, faster conversions, and stronger customer relationships.

It’s clear that WhatsApp isn’t just an alternative communication channel – it’s becoming a preferred one. This rapid adoption highlights a wider market shift: customers now expect to interact with brands the same way they do with friends and family – through instant messaging.

Why MarketerM8 Leads the Way

At MarketerM8, we’ve seen firsthand how WhatsApp automation transforms marketing results for UK SMEs. As a trusted HighLevel consultancy, we help businesses implement WhatsApp workflows, automate customer journeys, and stay compliant – all without technical headaches.

Our team ensures every setup is optimised for conversion, from message templates and triggers to audience segmentation. By bringing WhatsApp inside HighLevel, our clients can manage every channel – email, SMS, and chat – in one place.

We believe this is just the beginning. As customer communication continues to evolve, WhatsApp will play an increasingly central role in how businesses connect, convert, and retain their audiences.

Ready to See It in Action?

If you’re curious about how WhatsApp automation can fit into your marketing system, we’d love to show you what’s possible.

👉 Book a discovery call with our team today to explore how MarketerM8 can help your business build stronger connections, higher engagement, and better results through WhatsApp inside HighLevel.