Moving Followers to WhatsApp and Viber Lists, the Right Way

On Facebook and Instagram, you never fully own your audience. A post may reach a small share of your followers, and the rules change without warning. Messaging apps work differently: in Georgia, many people check WhatsApp and Viber far more often than any feed.

A small list of customers who agreed to hear from you can be one of the most valuable things a local business has. Here is how to build one honestly and use it without annoying anyone.

Why a messaging list is worth the effort

• Direct reach: your message lands in the same place as messages from friends and family.
• Fast action: a bakery can say “fresh lobiani in 20 minutes” and get orders the same morning.
• Less dependence on platform algorithms and ad budgets.
• Personal tone: messages feel closer than public posts, which suits loyal regulars.

The flip side: because messaging is personal, unwanted messages feel more intrusive. Respect matters even more here than on social media.

Consent comes first

Never add people to a group, channel or broadcast list just because you have their number from an order or a booking. Ask first, and keep the request clear.

• Tell people exactly what they will receive and how often: “About two messages a month with new menu items and offers.”
• Let them join actively, for example by sending you a word or tapping a join link, rather than being added silently.
• Make it easy to leave, and remove anyone who asks right away, without arguing.
• Keep numbers private. In a broadcast or channel, subscribers should not see each other’s numbers; avoid open groups where everyone’s phone is visible unless members agreed to that.
• Follow Georgian personal data rules and the messaging apps’ own business policies. If you are unsure, ask a professional for advice before collecting numbers at scale.

Choose the right format

Each app offers several ways to message many people, and the options change over time, so check the current features in the app itself. In general:

• One-way channels or communities work well for announcements: new collections, daily specials, event dates. Subscribers usually cannot see each other.
• Broadcast lists send a message to many people individually, and replies come back to you privately. In WhatsApp, broadcasts generally reach only people who have saved your number, which is another reason to ask them to save it.
• Group chats suit small, close communities, such as a running club or regular course participants, where members want to talk to each other.

Many businesses in Georgia use both apps: Viber is common among older customers, WhatsApp among younger ones and tourists. Start with the one your customers mention most.

Invite followers from social media

• Post a clear invitation once in a while: what they get, how often, and how to join.
• Add the join link to your bio or a Highlight called “Updates” or “Offers”.
• Offer a reason to join that is not available elsewhere: early access to new items, a small welcome gift, or advance booking for busy holidays.
• Mention it in person: a QR code at the till leading to the join link works well.

Want to hear about new desserts before anyone else? Join our Viber channel. Two or three messages a month, no spam, leave anytime. Link in bio.

What to send, and how often

Treat the list as your most loyal audience. Send less, but make it count.

• Useful news: new menu, new season’s collection, changed hours on a holiday.
• Time-limited offers, with clear rules. Our guide to promotions that protect your margin helps here.
• Booking reminders before busy dates such as 31 December, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.
• Occasionally, a personal touch: a thank-you after a good season, a short photo from the kitchen.

For most small businesses, a few messages a month is plenty. If people start leaving after each message, you are sending too often or the messages are not useful enough.

Start this week

1. Ask five regular customers which app they prefer, WhatsApp or Viber.
2. Set up one channel or broadcast list in that app and write a one-line description of what subscribers get.
3. Post an invitation on Instagram and Facebook with the join link and a clear promise of how often you will write.
4. Prepare your first two messages: one piece of news and one small exclusive offer.

Social media brings new people in; your messaging list keeps them close. If you need help keeping the social side active so the list keeps growing, SocialAI can plan and publish your Facebook and Instagram posts, including occasional invitations to join your list.