In just a few short years, Snapchat has grown from a small communication app that teens and millennials use, to a full-fledged social media powerhouse, one that brands all around the world are utilizing in their social marketing strategies.
Why is that? Well, it’s partially due to the fact that most people these days have a very short attention span, and it’s increasingly getting shorter. Snapchat taps into that niche of people who don’t have the time to spend more than 10-15 seconds on any one thing. We’re living in an increasingly distracted world. Snapchat is the marketer’s solution to that distraction.
First, if you’re not a Snapchat aficionado, you might be wondering: what the heck is this thing?
Admittedly, Snapchat isn’t the easiest app to understand if you’re a first time user. Yes, the app sort of walks you through the basics of Snapchat, but to really understand all the tips and tricks of it, you need to dig pretty deep.
So, to make your job using Snapchat a little easier, we’ve created a fun and easy list of all the tricks you need to know to make your Snapchat account better and more engaging!
Snaps Vs. Stories
The first thing that needs to be addressed is the difference between Snaps and Stories. When you send a Snap on Snapchat, you are sending it to a select person or group of people. This might work for a personal account, but business accounts need to be a little different.
This is where Stories come in. The Stories section of Snapchat lets you upload individual Snaps into a linear progression. Unlike normal Snaps, Stories last 24 hours and can be rewatched as many times as the user wants in that 24 hour period. They’re perfect for businesses, because it brings people to you, instead of sending out mass Snaps to everyone you follow.
Make It Fun
Okay, so now that the difference between Snaps and Stories has been established, we’ll get into the gnitty gritty details of how to make your Stories engaging.
If you’re going to use Snapchast as a marketing tool, the first thing you need to do is understand why people use the app.
Snapchat is made for quick and temporary info. Unlike other social media networks where statuses can be seen later, you have to make your Snaps have an impact almost immediately. Whereas sometimes statuses need to be interacted with and shared a few times to start seeing the effects, your Snaps need to work right away.
So, you have to make your Snaps fun. Don’t send out boring pictures, and don’t record video that will make people skip your story completely.
Some fun things you can do with your story are things like giving your followers a look at some behind the scenes action at work, covering an event you might be at, asking them questions about the company and what they’d like from you, and even do promotions! (more on promotions later). Social media is all about connecting with your customers, and Snapchat is no different.
Use Filters and Drawing Tools
Snapchat is full of fun features that allow you to personalize any Snap with your own unique flare. One of the ways Snapchat does this is through filters. If you swipe left or right after taking a Snap, you’ll cycle through a number of different filters. Some of these filters edit your photo with a nice overlay, some of them include info at the time of the Snap, such as temperature and time, and others give you unique filters based on where you are currently. These are known as geofilters.
You can also use the filters on your face and transform yourself into a number of fun creations, such as a dog, a beautiful model, and so much more! New filters are added all the time, making filters an ever evolving tool.
Another fun way to spice up your Snap is to draw on top of your Snaps using the Drawing Tool. Snapped a pic of something and need to point out a certain aspect of the photo? Draw an arrow pointing to the focal point? Want to draw a fun flower growing in the middle of your shop? Use the drawing tool! You can even encourage your followers to send pics of their artistic skills to you!
Geofilters
Geofilters are a very cool feature of Snapchat that transform any photo into a personalized work of art. These are special features that work with your location/GPS on your phone. When you’re in an area that has a geofilters setup, you’ll get new filters that are specific to your location, such as a geofilters for town, park, or event. These geofilters are created and submitted by users, and are selected by Snapchat as official filters for certain areas.
A really cool thing about geofilters is that anyone can create and submit their own geofilters. Got an event that you want to promote? Create a geofilters before the event and submit it to Snapchat for a certain time and date range. That way, people who are at your shop or event can use the geofilters to customize their experience with your business!
Use It For Promotions
Promotions are one of the best way to utilize Snapchat for business. Many businesses have been using Snapchat to promote their new products, or specials that they are currently running.
For example, got a new product that you want to show off? Why not give your followers an exclusive “first look” at it?
You can even use Snapchat to send out an exclusive coupon that only people who follow you will know about! It’s a great way to make customers feel like they’re getting a special deal that no one else knows about. Exclusivity is a great marketing skill with proven results.
Snapchat can be one of the most engaging, personal forms of social media out there, but it all depends on how you use it. Take advantage of all the benefits of Snapchat today, and see how it can help grow your business!
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