Messenger apps are huge. The four major messaging apps - Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat and Viber - now claim almost three billion combined monthly active users, which is more than the combined active users on the world's four largest social networks (source: BI.com). Brands understand that one of the main ways to be increasingly relevant to customers is to Phone Number List be where they are; more specifically, communicate where their customers communicate. This, of course, is one of the main reasons why many early-stage brands have started shifting their budgets from TV to social media. Fast forward to 2017, and being “where your customers are” means focusing on one-to-one chat apps like Facebook Messenger and WeChat in China. Indeed, when it comes to the latter, users can not only use the app to chat with friends, but also make mobile payments, play games, stream music and participate in a variety of online and offline services, such as ordering taxis and takeout. To offer such features, WeChat had to open its platform to third parties (i.e. advertisers), which is where Facebook is currently with the development of Messenger; for it to Phone Number List become a more sophisticated product, advertisers have a huge role to play. Moreover, as the success of WeChat shows, users actually want to interact with brands – when it suits them. Engaging with a brand through Facebook Messenger allows consumers to ask the pre-purchase questions that will likely be helpful in ensuring an informed purchase decision. Where the user experience used to be a relatively one-way experience, it has now been enriched with real-time interactions. But what does advertising on Facebook Messenger actually look like? Well, there are two distinct ways for businesses to Phone Number List connect with consumers through this ad format; Facebook Messenger destination ads and sponsored ads. Messenger Destination Ads Like many other Facebook ad formats, Messenger Destination Ads appear in the News Feed; and have a call to action; the distinction is that they don't lead to a similar page or website visit,tions