How To Effectively Engage On Snapchat

03 May How To Effectively Engage On Snapchat

Regardless of whether we use Snapchat or not, most of us have heard about the application. The app allows users to share videos and images with each other. The videos then disappear almost in an instant. For many of us, it has become part of our morning ritual to check our social media accounts. For many of us, this would be Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Could the new normal be to check your Snapchat as soon as you wake up, instead?

Snapchat became a favourite amongst teenagers when the app was first released in 2011. As Snapchat continues to evolve and grow, so too do its users. The user base of brands that engage with Snapchat-audiences has also evolved.

How Is Snapchat Different?

B2C has predicted the demand or authenticity in the future of marketing technology. This presents an opportunity for brands. They can build and sustain authentic and meaningful relationships with their customers.

Snapchat understands this.

This app is not about showing your best side and standing out from the rest with your impressive photo-ready pout. The photo effects are not designed to give the impression of being professional, as is the case with Instagram. You don’t have the option to edit like on Facebook. This translates to producing and sharing authentic experiences.

There is no news feed on Snapchat. This means that unlike Facebook, you do not have the option of paying for adverts to pop up.

Don’t Make A Snap Judgement

So far, it might sound like Snapchat has no appealing benefits. This is because you shouldn’t compare it with existing, well-known apps. It is completely unique.

Snapchat does offer a permanent public space in the form of an online magazine layout in the Discover channel feature. Users can post content (be it text, pictures, or long and short videos) on this space. There is also the opportunity to include advertising snaps between the stories.

Several brands have already taken advantage of the opportunities presented by Snapchat. They can guarantee that people who follow them are in fact interested in the content they produce. These are genuine supporters of the brand.

How To Get Your Brand To ‘Snap, Crackle, And Pop’

Curated suggests seven ways of growing a brand in an ever-changing world of social media on Snapchat:

1. You could use ‘teasers’ to share content about the brand, that would typically not be in the foreground of your advertising strategy, such as behind the scenes footage and images. This will further strengthen the relationship between the brand and the consumer on a deeper personal level, resulting in loyalty and a long-lasting relationship.
2. Instead of sending out promotional emails (which are ignored by most), brands can snap their deals and offers on Snapchat. Consumers have the option to screen-shot the deals and use them either in store or online. This activity is recorded and marketers can quantify the success of a campaign by the number of screen-shots taken or the codes used.
3. Brands can use the ‘My Story’ feature on Snapchat to create a series of short videos that tell a story. In this way, a brand message is delivered in a more creative and engaging way.
4. In keeping with the culture of Snapchat, brands can produce content that is fun and exciting, which further makes the brand relatable and fosters authenticity in how they communicate with their supporters.
5. Snaps can only be 10 seconds longs, which means that you will have to be creative in creating content for SnapChat that is effective in delivering the message you set to get across to consumers and is memorable and stays with them.
6. Snapchat is also a great platform to run competitions. Audiences can enter by sharing snaps of themselves and how they enjoy your product, for instance. This content can then be shared on other social media platforms to further increase brand visibility and reach.
7. Filters were introduced to Snapchat to add to the fun and excitement of the app. Brands are now able to create their own personalised filters. If a consumer is at their favourite fastf00d restaurant, for example, they can use the location filter of the eatery and share it on Snapchat. This is another way to build brand awareness through Snapchat.

Be A Runner In The Social Media Race

One could consider digital marketing as the linchpin of the industry. It represents the abilities to reach and control critical segments in the marketplace. Snapchat used to be just for teens but this is changing. More mature markets, with spending power, are starting to own the Snapchat experience as their own. Despite what you think and your thoughts about the photo and video sharing application, its popularity continues to grow amongst adults. This makes Snapchat a considerable candidate in the social media popularity race.