Have you tried Snapchat yet? Launched in 2011, it’s a messaging app that allows you to send photos and videos (known as snaps) to individuals and groups of contacts. Unlike other social networks, content doesn’t stay on the channel, and can be set to disappear after it has been viewed for a certain number of seconds.
Snapchat has grown rapidly since it launched, and it is still one of the fastest growing social networks, with over 100 million people using it every day to send over 400 million snaps. It’s wildly popular with millennials, and in the US, over 60% of 13 to 34 year olds use the app. So should your business be getting involved?
How can businesses use Snapchat?
The opportunity to connect with the millennial audience – which can be difficult to target accurately – is one of the main reasons businesses are getting on board with Snapchat, but it isn’t suited to all businesses. It’s best for those looking to reach a younger audience, especially businesses with engaging content to share. Some of the ways Snapchat has been successfully used by businesses include…
Coverage of live events
Snapchat stories are perfect for covering live events – this function joins together your latest snaps, playing them in chronological order for 24 hours after they are posted.
Video: https://youtu.be/88Cu3yN-LlM
Behind the scenes coverage
Snapchat is a great platform for businesses to provide exclusive insider-access. For example, the World Surf League used Snapchat to send athletes pictures and autographs to fans who engaged with their account during major events.
Advertising
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guGvV8LCx7o
Snapchat has its own publishing platform, Discover, but at the moment this feature is for selected advertisers and is invite only. Unlike most online video platforms, the content is full-screen and vertical, so there’s no need to turn your phone around.
Snapchat tips
Want to give this new network a go? Here’s some tips for getting started…
- Snapchat is a mobile app, so you will need a mobile or tablet to download the app on the App store or Google Play.
- Remember that people can screenshot snaps, so even if you set your snap to disappear after a few seconds, it might live on for longer.
- When you sign up, choose your username carefully as you can’t change it later!
- If you want to reach more people, make your stories public so they can be viewed by everyone, not just those who follow you (Go to Settings > Who Can View My Story and select Everyone).
- Promote your account by sharing your Snapcode (this is your profile picture, and other users can scan it to add you).
Plan before you snap
Snapchat can be an excellent way to reach certain demographics, but it’s important to get a good understanding of the channel and put in place a content strategy before you start sharing snaps. If you’d like help getting started with social media, start by getting in touch with our expert team today.