A shop can have a perfect agent answering in six languages and still be quiet, because nobody is messaging it. Opening the conversation is its own problem.
The wa.me link
A link that opens a WhatsApp chat with your shop directly. The format is simple — your number in international form without the plus:
https://wa.me/94771234567 opens a chat. Adding ?text= pre-fills the first message, which removes the "what do I even say" hesitation.
Pre-filling matters more than it sounds. "Hi, I saw the blue dress on your page" gets a useful conversation started; an empty box often gets closed.
Where to put it
- Facebook and Instagram profile buttons, and in the bio itself.
- A QR code printed at the counter — people scan while they are already deciding.
- On the parcel or receipt, so a happy customer can reorder in one tap.
- Your Google Business Profile, which is where "shop near me" searches land.
- Your website, on every page rather than a buried contact form.
Stop making people ask for the price
"Inbox for price" costs more sales than it protects. It buys a message from the few who bother, and loses everyone comparing three shops at once.
The instinct behind it is understandable — you want the conversation. But an agent that answers instantly with the price gets you the conversation anyway, without the customer resenting the detour.
The measurement worth doing
Count new conversations per week before and after you place a QR code or add the link to your Instagram bio. It takes a month to know which placement actually works for your shop, and the answer differs by trade.