Using Snapchat as a Marketing Tool
Snapchat is a popular video and image sharing app. It has become one of the most popular social media platforms but can it be used by businesses as a marketing tool?
Originally, Snapchat allowed Android and iOS smart-phone users to send and receive images that could only be kept for a short time, once received.
However, Snapchat has evolved and users can now use the ‘story’ function where your photos and videos can be broadcast among your followers, with the ‘snaps’ staying available for 24 hours.
According to Snapchat, the app enjoys average daily usage of 186 million people globally. The average Snapchat user uses the app over 20 times a day and spends an average of 30 minutes on the app, creating and sharing 3 billion snaps every single day. Aside from providing a gateway to a younger, more mobile savvy audience, Snapchat has created smart marketing tools that extend reach and help businesses connect with audiences in unique ways. Snapchat provides a variety of paid marketing options to meet specific business goals. You can create a smart Snap Ad, a quirky Sponsored Geofilter, or interact with your potential clients through a Sponsored Lens.
Snap ads are paid-for, full screen, three to ten-second vertical adverts that you can create yourself on the Snapchat platform. They appear in between friends’ stories and Snapchat content such as Snapchat’s stories or publishers’ stories. The person watching can swipe up at any time for more info, maybe to read an article, or visit a website. Snap Ads are highly targeted.
Filters and lenses are paid for promotional tools. Filters add images such as your company logo or animations such as cartoon ears to faces in a photo. They are useful tools if you are trying to build brand awareness. Lenses also add content to a user’s photo, in the form of augmented reality elements such as animations. For example, your brand can be set to pop up on the screen during a selfie.
You can also build your brand, for free, using Snapchat. For example, you can build your firm’s story on the platform and tell your audience about your latest products and services. You can also build groups on Snapchat in order to share useful tips with existing customers, demonstrate new features or new products to your client-base, etc.