Azura Platform Review: The Best Messaging App for Business
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Introduction
If you're a service provider who works online, you need a reliable, easy-to-use tool to communicate with your clients. Client experience will make or break your business, regardless of how incredible your service is.
This post explores the Azura communication platform and why it's quickly becoming the go-to messaging app for business communication.
What is Azura?
Azura is a female-founded (by Natasha Zoryk, LOVE her!), customizable messaging platform for businesses. You may have experience using Slack or Voxer, and it functions similarly to those platforms in that it's a way to keep in touch with clients and team members, without relying on emails or swapping personal cell phone numbers.
Top Features Making Azura the Best Messaging App for Business
While Azura's goal is the same as its competitors, the experience for everyone involved is significantly better due to the following features.
Intuitive User Interface
With so many platforms required to run a successful online business, I appreciate that Azura keeps things simple. The interface is incredibly intuitive.
You have the ability to create custom channels, depending on what your business needs. Organize files into easy-to-access folders. Add an important outbound link where clients/team members can see it. Utilize the homepage feature so all the information is easy to access.
Mobile and Desktop Version Available
Azura has both a desktop version and a free mobile app for users on-the-go. Personally, I prefer the desktop version so I can take my time crafting thoughtful replies, but I know some clients frequent the mobile version for its convenience.
It's worth noting that Azura didn't always have a mobile app. It's fairly new at the time of writing this post, and that's a testament to the fact that the founder and Azura team are always listening to their community and improving the Azura experience.
Customizable Branding
This is where Azura really shines. You have the ability to add custom branding, including fonts, logos, space icons, colors, and more to make the space feel like you.
No more ugly orange and bold fonts (lol Voxer) when your brand is soft and feminine. The customization features allow you to create a community space as unique as your brand.
Voice Notes and Transcripts
Some people are talkers—myself included. Azura has built-in features for sending voice messages that are automatically transcribed on the spot. This is incredibly important for accessibility. It's also helpful if you're not in a space where you can listen to a message and you'd rather read a transcript.
Schedule and Automate Messages
If you run a group program, mastermind, or membership inside Azura, you're likely sending messages on a consistent basis. Azura allows you to schedule and automate messages, which saves so much time.
Personally, I run free and paid challenges in Azura throughout the year. I typically send daily messages, and those are all scheduled in advance.
External Portal Links
Azura allows you to add an external portal link directly within the platform. There are many different ways you can use this—link to course content, link to a booking page, link to another relevant resource, etc. Inside my Bloom Membership, mine links to a private booking page where members receive $100 off their strategy session, a perk exclusive for members.
Virtual Breakout Rooms
Breakout rooms is a feature I'm intrigued by but haven't personally explored yet. This feature includes live audio streaming, so you can open up a breakout room with users inside the program. I envision this being supportive for connecting with coaching students, live workshopping ideas for a group program, or simply chatting through a challenge with a team member.
Azura is the Voxer Alternative
No hate to Voxer—I've used it many times throughout the years in my business. BUT I wholeheartedly believe Azura is the best Voxer alternative due to these reasons.
Easy to Find Messages
Voxer quickly becomes a black hole when you need to find a specific message. If you don't stay on top of the notifications, it becomes very difficult to find old messages you need.
With Azura, you may search for specific messages within channels to find them. Also, the messages don't disappear, so you can always go back to what you need.
Feminine and Stunning Design
One of the most obvious differences between Azura vs. Voxer is the design. As mentioned, the Azura platform is completely customizable to your business. Make it feel elevated and professional or energetic and fun—either way, it can and should feel like you.
Organize Chats into Channels
Voxer is one big group chat which occasionally is fine, but often times I've found it to be a big headache. For example, I've been a part of masterminds and group coaching programs in Voxer, and I felt like questions and comments were shouts into the void. This is because a whole group of people were thrown into one chat, and it's difficult to see every single notification.
In Azura, chats are separated into strategic channels, each with its own purpose. There may be a channel to celebrate wins, one to ask questions, and one for content reviews.
You can even create a broadcast channel to send one-way reminders out to your community. This makes it so much easier to stay on top of notifications and keep things simple and streamlined.
How I Use Azura in my Bloom Membership
Now that you know what sets the Azura platform apart and why it's my favorite messaging app for business, here's a very practical example of how I run my marketing community, Bloom, inside of Azura.
First, I added custom channels based on the community's needs. We have:
#introductions: for networking and connecting with members outside of the space
#calls: for our monthly call schedule and easy access to our Zoom links
#accountability: to state what your goals are each week for added accountability
#brainstorming: to ask any and all business and marketing questions and receive answers from myself and fellow members
#wins: to share and celebrate business and life wins with fellow members
Next, I built out our homepage inside the space with the new member orientation video, a breakdown of all the channels and how to use them, and other important links and reminders like their private coaching discount and information on how to manage their membership.
Lastly, there's an external portal link for members to book their $100 off strategy session with me—a perk exclusive just to active members.
I keep my Azura space super simple for members—and they love it. Everything is easy to find, very straightforward, and of course beautiful and on-brand.
Try Azura for Free
Ready to try Azura out for yourself? They have an amazing free version that includes 1 space and up to 10 members, or you can try a paid version free for 7 days.
Click here to try Azura out for yourself and get 10% off your first month with code “BUDTOBLOOM”, and I promise you'll love it as much as I do!
