Believe it or not, Snapchat can be an effective addition to your marketing mix. Granted, it may not be the first application that comes to your mind when you are thinking of social media for your business. What is Snapchat? It is a photo and video messaging mobile-only application where you create a snap and you can define how long people can see the content. A snap is a photo or video that can last up to 10 seconds. After that period, the snap is permanently erased from the phones and the Snapchat servers.
Reasons to be on Snapchat:
Perfect to target teenagers and young adults. If your target demographic ranges in age from 13 to 25, you’re in luck. Snapchat is quite popular with this age range, and 80% of users are in the US.
You can easily build your friend’s list by bringing them from the other social networks. Let your fans and followers know that you are on Snapchat and create a contest to quickly generate more friends and engagement.
Accessibility to your snaps. Ever since Snapchat introduced “My Story” feature, which is similar to a status update, everyone in your friend’s list can see the photo or the video as many times as they want for 24 hours. When stories are updated, the friend’s list receives notifications and your account is moved to the top of their timelines. There is no way your followers will miss your story as happens with tweets. Now, a business has more reasons to participate than ever.
Companies with a Snapchat account are more “fun”. Most companies that consistently use Snapchat are perceived to be more playful to their audience.
New way of social media engagement and advertising. Snapchat is continuously growing and has more to show. In November 2013, Facebook made an offer of 3 billion dollars to acquire the newcomer application and the startup refused. Snapchat dreams big and looks like it decided to do so.
The easier way to create and share photos and videos. Although they cannot be edited and exist for a certain period of time, maybe the ephemeral and not so perfect nature of the photos in a world full of digital editing, Photoshop etc. made it true and catchy. Additionally, the short expiration date forms an excitement and willingness to buy.
How to use Snapchat for your business:
Each Snapchat post creates an unexpected surprise and urgency for sales. Therefore it makes it an excellent way for sharing offers, coupons, deal of the day. 16 Handles, a frozen yogurt company used Snapchat for sending discount coupons. The user could open the discount snap when they were at the cashier and ready to redeem it. This was also an outstanding beginning for creating a list of followers.
Share a sneak peek of your product/project. Those photos and small unedited short-lived videos produce exclusivity and enthusiasm.
Present photos or videos of the work place/employees. There is an unlimited source of content within the working environment; different projects, people, products/materials or production processes that could inspire diverse variety.
Support engagement and encourage communication from both sides. Snapchat followers should share with you as well. When a follower participates in a Snapchat contest, they create content that will be seen by their followers under their “My Story” and will multiply the brand and reach of that company.
Make announcements via snaps. The news and the fact that there is something to be said visually for a limited time can trigger followers, who voluntarily select to read about your brand.
Show your events or participation in a conference, event sponsorship, etc. Live coverage from events grabs your target audience’s attention and keeps things relevant and interesting.
Have you used a Snapchat business account yet? Tell us your experience, or give us thoughts and suggestions in the comments section. Alternatively, join the conversation on Facebook or follow and tweet us at @gtechdesigns
GTECH Designs is a Baltimore-based web marketing firm that is committed to helping impact-makers spend more time doing good. For more information, contact us at 410-775-4100, email us at [email protected], or visit our website at www.gtechdesigns.com.
