In this lecture I will share my insights about building communities using WhatsApp. Thoses inisghts were gained after building 2 very strong tech groups that got the media attention. * You can hear the full presentation on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/morad-stern/building-communities-on-whatsapp-1 * Read more about it on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/actually-you-can-build-professional-communities-using-morad-stern?trk=mp-reader-card

1. 1
WhatsApp: Powerful Tool
for Building a Community
Morad Stern
Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HPE

2. Part 1:
Results of using WhatsApp as a community platform
Part 2:
What is WhatsApp?
Part 3:
Strategies for building WhatsApp community!
2
Let’s Talk About…
Photo Credit: WhatsApp

3. 3
Community is Power
• Mashable
• Wall Street Journal
• CNN
• Uber
• Waze
• LinkedIn
• Flipboard
• Bloomberg
• Lenovo
• Amazon
• Forbes
• The Next Web
• Women Who Code
• Warner Bros
• Twitter
• TechCrunch
• eBay
• Microsoft ventures
• Google ventures
• MarketWatch
• Outbrain
• Fortune
• SlideShare
• Government US & France
“Global Tech Leaders WhatsApp group” Is one
group that I’ve build, using WhatsApp, brings
together participants from around the world
who are senior management in the following
tech companies:

4. 4
Community is Power
“What’s Bill Gates phone
number?” - A short article on
Forbes (Israel) about my Global
Tech Leaders WhatsApp group
Photo Credit: Screenshot, Forbes

5. 5
February, 2016:
Photo Credit: WhatsApp

6. 6
WhatsApp Attributes
• IM network (ultra fast when comparing to
social networks)
• Requires SIM card (minimum fake accounts)
• Private and Group chats
• Geo, images, video and voice sharing
• Links sharing

7. 7
WhatsApp Attributes
• No geo barriers
• No way to find groups…
• No way to share outside (except screen
capture)
• Acquired by Facebook on February, 2014

8. 8
Latest Upgrades
• WhatsApp via Chrome (“WhatsApp
web”)
• Voice chats
• Option for backup using Google Drive
• Groups’ capacity extended to 256
participates (100)

9. 9
Research
70% of Smartphone
owners would never
leave their
WhatsApp app.
More than Waze
(57%)
Bezeq, 2014
Photo Credit: Screenshot, Calcalist

10. 10
Alternatives?
• Viber
• Telegram
• WeChat

11. 11
Creative: Media
Photo Credit: Screenshot, Mako
During the Israeli national elections one of the
leading news site created and followed a
dedicated groups for candidates on Viber and
WhatsApp

12. 12
Creative: getting headlines (!)
I invited Israel’s Minister of Finance and
the British ambassador to join my
WhatsApp group - and it hit the main
headlines (!)
Photo Credit: Screenshot, TheMarker

13. 13
Creative: creating news
A conversation inside
WhatsApp group - that
become an article
Photo Credit: Screenshot, Mako

14. 14
Creative
… The same article is now
back as a WhatsApp
conversation…

15. 15
Creative
Interesting example of a
newspaper that invite its
readers to send pictures and
updates from live news events
Photo Credit: Screenshot, Extra

16. 16
Creative
(Physical) Photo shop in Israel that uses
WhatsApp to receive photos from
costumers and to update them when to
come and pick their printed pictures
Photo Credit: Vladimir Fedotov, Flickr CC

17. 17
Creative
Residents of the favelas in
Brazil uses WhatsApp to
update with live gun shooting
Photo Credit: Alex, Flickr CC

18. 18
Creative
Doctors in Africa use
WhatsApp to examine patients
from distant regions
Photo Credit: Screenshot, TechZim

19. 19
Strategy
Ask yourself
• What's your topic? -Be clear
• Who are the participants? – Variation will
enrich your group’s discussion
• What’s the value of being a member in
your group? (VIP, events tickets, fame)
Notice
• It requires trust (phone number)
• It takes time and hard work
• It’s OK to silent your group…
• There is a limit of 256 participant (which is way
too much)
• No way to search for groups inside WhatsApp
• …You are using Smartphone - use it’s different
functions (camera, GPS, sound etc.)
Photo Credit: WhatsApp

20. 20
Strategy
Here some great stuff you can do:
• Invite VIP to your group: It has an amazing
affect! Don’t forget to print-screen and
share on social networks!
• My son (10 years old) used to record himself
every morning reading the whether forecast
and sharing it in the family group. Nice
• Use the geo sharing option in conference –
to locate other group members
• Meeting a group member face to face?
Selfie yourself and share with the group!
Photo Credit: WhatsApp

21. 21
Before you go!
• Think twice before
sharing information
• Check for typo
• Don’t hurt anyone
• Check again if you’re
in the right group
• You cannot erase a
message once it is
shared
• Think twice before
adding someone to
your group
Photo Credit: Blondinrikard Fröberg, Flickr CC

22. 22
One more thing…
• People are more sensitive on this platform
• No limit for characters use but keep it short
• 3rd party statistics tools
• Try to expand your WhatsApp group’s
connections with more social networks and
platforms

23. 23
Morad Stern, @Morad
Thank you!
This lecture available also on
You can read more about it on
Photo Credit: SoundCloud, LinkedIn