In the next few weeks I am going to try and explain some lesser known social media platforms (or lesser known than Facebook and Twitter). I’ll give you a quick overview of the app or site and give you some tips on how to leverage it for business.
First up, Snapchat. Snapchat is a photo and video messaging app that has been around since 2011. Snapchat is unique in that all photos and videos only last a brief amount of time before they disappear forever, though you can take a screenshot of snaps to save them . Here are some relevant statistics: Snapchat has over 100 million daily users, and 18% of social media users use it. More than 400 million snap stories are created PER DAY.
In the last year, Snapchat has gone from being a simple sharing app used by teenagers, to a marketing tool that can’t be ignored. Since Snapchat evolved as a casual communication method, it’s critical you find a tone of voice that will be well received by users. The language you use should be easy-to-understand, and your posts should be fun. Try incorporating the drawing feature that allows you to edit your photos which will make your brand seem personable and approachable.
Keep in mind that Snapchat puts a limit on how long shared videos can be and also deletes all snaps within a certain timeframe. That means you have to make an impression, and all within a small period. This makes it an ideal platform for marketing teasers. Putting out a few second video or a cool photo about a product, service, or feature and then ending with a cliff hanger is a great way to get potential customers to click through to see more.
Contests are another great way to utilize Snapchat. Ask users to send pictures of themselves using your product, offering a reward in return. These types of opportunities are good because it asks users to continue to engage with your brand.
As always, use social media to portray the personality of your brand and make sure to do your homework. Use Snapchat to show off what happens behind the scenes of your company and ask different people to help contribute to your snaps. Don’t try to force your Facebook ads to work on Snapchat. Instead, make sure you join the app and follow other relevant companies to see how they are succeeding (or failing) with their content strategy. Then and only then should you create Snapchat specific content and start posting for yourself.
