Facebook Announced New Lead Generation and Customer Connectivity Tools.

Facebook is launching new business tools to assist businesses in generating more leads and engaging with customers across multiple platforms.

Facebook is introducing new free and paid business tools to help businesses find new customers and connect with them in new ways.

Furthermore, Facebook unveiled additional features that will be available next year and are now in testing.

Here's a rundown of all the new and forthcoming Facebook business updates. 

Update on Click-to-Message Ads 

Facebook is making changes to its click-to-message advertising, which encourage customers to contact with businesses via Messenger, 

Instagram Direct, or WhatsApp. 

Businesses can now invite customers to connect via all messaging platforms where they are available to talk, whether owned by Facebook or a third party.

Facebook could not disclose an exact list, but "all" should be an all-inclusive list of smartphone messaging apps.

Based on where a conversation is likely to occur, the Facebook ad will default to the chat app. That must imply that it will start the app that the consumer uses the most frequently?

Start a WhatsApp conversation from Instagram. 

With the launch of a new function involving WhatsApp and Instagram, Facebook is exercising its integration muscles.

Businesses may now add a WhatsApp click-to-chat button on their Instagram profile. If users prefer WhatsApp to Instagram DMs, this may inspire more customers to communicate with businesses.

And, beginning shortly, businesses will be able to develop ads that link users to WhatsApp directly from the Instagram app. 

Send a Message to Get a Quote 

A new Facebook tool will allow businesses to invite clients to seek a quote.

Businesses can personalise their request form by picking 4-5 questions to ask customers before sending them a message.

The customer can then instantly obtain a quote from a Facebook business by completing a simple questionnaire on Messenger.

This feature is currently being tested with a limited number of advertisers. 

Instagram Lead Generation 

Facebook plans to test both paid and organic tools to help small businesses find and qualify leads from within the Instagram app.

This adds another business rationale for using Instagram, and Facebook claims that it will be a more cost-effective way to generate leads than existing options. 

Testing Features 

The following features are being tested at the moment. There is no set release date for any of them, though Facebook is known to rigorously test such features before making them available to the general public.  

Facebook Business Suite Updates 

These tools are being added to Facebook Business Suite, a free web-based dashboard that allows you to manage your Facebook and Instagram activities in one location.

Emails: Facebook is testing the ability for businesses to manage emails using the Inbox app, as well as send re-targeting emails via Facebook Business Suite. 

File Manager: File Manager is a new feature in Facebook Business Suite that allows businesses to create, manage, and post material.

Post Testing: Facebook is introducing post-testing in Business Suite, allowing businesses to test and compare different versions of a post to discover which one people are more likely to engage with. 

Workplace Accounts 

Facebook is developing a new account type dubbed a work account, which would allow business-minded individuals to log in and use Business Manager without the need for a personal account.

Businesses will be able to manage these accounts on behalf of their employees, with access to enterprise-level features such as single sign-on connections.

Facebook intends to test work accounts with a small number of businesses for the rest of the year. In 2022, the availability will be expanded.