Email's crowded. Social is noisy. Cookies are crumbling.
So where are brands turning for more meaningful, direct engagement?
Into your DMs. Literally.

From WhatsApp to Telegram to Facebook Messenger, messaging apps are quickly becoming the next big playground for marketers—and not just for chatbots or customer support. We’re talking full-scale campaigns, personalised offers, community building, and even shopping—all inside your favourite messaging app.

📱 Why Messaging? Why Now?

The numbers speak volumes:

• WhatsApp: 2 billion users

• Telegram: 900 million users

• Messenger: 931 million users

But it’s not just about reach—it’s about intimacy. Messaging apps offer a direct, clutter-free space where brands can build 1:1 relationships, not just blast messages into the ether.

Unlike feeds packed with ads and doomscrolling, messaging platforms feel private, personal, and immediate—making them perfect for targeted engagement and conversational commerce.

🛍️ What Does Messaging Marketing Look Like?

It’s more than auto-replies. Leading brands are already getting creative:

• Sephora offers appointment booking and personalised beauty tips via Messenger.

• Unilever’s Dove launched a WhatsApp bot to promote body positivity with young audiences.

• Zalando uses Telegram for exclusive product drops and fashion alerts.

• KLM sends boarding passes and real-time flight updates via WhatsApp.

Messaging isn’t just a support channel anymore. It’s a strategic, conversion-driving marketing tool.

🤖 The Tools Behind the Trend

Thanks to advancements in chat automation, AI, and customer data platforms (CDPs), messaging experiences are now scalable and smart. You can segment audiences, trigger timely messages, run feedback loops, and even A/B test tone and visuals—all in-app.

Some tools powering this revolution:

• Twilio, ManyChat, Intercom for automation

• Meta’s Click-to-Message Ads for discovery

• WhatsApp Business API for scale

⚖️ The Catch: Consent and Creativity

There’s a fine line between value and spam. Messaging is personal, so brands must earn the right to be there—through opt-ins, useful content, and thoughtful timing.

The brands that succeed won’t treat it like another broadcast channel. They'll use it to listen, converse, and delight.

🚀 The Bottom Line

Messaging apps aren’t just the future—they’re already reshaping how brands connect with people.

The brands that win will be the ones who treat chats like conversations, not campaigns.