Are you looking for new ways to reach out to a younger demographic? Snapchat is an excellent tool for businesses. Organizations have begun to realize the potential it offers as its popularity has grown in recent years. But first, you may be wondering what exactly Snapchat is and what it is used for.
Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app where users can share photos, videos, and text messages with their friends and followers. In addition to sending messages, Snapchat offers a variety of content formats, including:
- Snap Map – a map that displays the user’s and their friends’ locations in real-time
- Snap Originals – Snapchat’s original TV shows
- Discover – a feature that showcases content from publishers, influencers, and celebrities
- Lenses – augmented reality filters that add cool effects to snaps
- Filters – graphic overlays that can be added to snaps to provide context or a theme
- Bitmojis – the customizable cartoon avatars that can be added to snaps and chats.
- Stories – a collection of snaps that can be viewed for 24 hours and shared either with friends or publicly on Snapchat’s “Our Story” feature.
What can Snapchat do for business and what kind of businesses are using it?
Snapchat presents an opportunity for businesses to target a youthful audience that is otherwise challenging to reach through traditional marketing techniques. The platform boasts a user base of 280 million individuals who utilize it daily, with most of them being under the age of 30. As a result, Snapchat is a suitable choice for companies that are targeting a younger market segment.
Businesses can use a variety of Snapchat features to promote their goods and services. Snap Stories, for example, is a feature that allows organizations to share images and videos with their target audience, and Snap Ads displays full-screen advertisements that appear in the middle of Snapchat Stories. Custom filters and lenses can also be created by businesses for users to apply to their own pictures and videos, which is a great way to encourage user-generated content and increase brand awareness. If you have used SnapChat before, you may have seen lenses from companies like Starbucks, McDonalds, Skip the Dishes, Sephora and more!
A wide variety of companies from many different industries, such as fashion and beauty, food and beverage, and entertainment, are currently using Snapchat. For example, Taco Bell uses Snapchat to promote its products, and the NBA uses it to give fans exclusive access to games and events. Other businesses like RedBubble – a website where artists can sell their art in the form of t-shirts, mugs, totes, etc. – also uses the SnapChat Stories function. Followers simply hit the “subscribe” button to see their favourite businesses’ stories, and in order to find new businesses, they may use the “Discover” section.
Pros of using Snapchat for your business
Using Snapchat as a business can be beneficial. It provides a unique way to reach a younger demographic, as 60% of Snapchat users create content daily. This allows organizations to build a dedicated customer base and increase their visibility.
Snapchat Ads also provide businesses with a low-cost way to reach a large audience. These are billed on a cost-per-impression basis meaning a company only pays when its ad is viewed. This makes Snapchat an ideal platform for organizations with limited resources.
Cons of using Snapchat for your business
As you can see, there are several advantages to adopting Snapchat as a business. However, it is also necessary to be aware of the disadvantages. One significant downside is that using the platform can be intimidating for organizations with less experience in social media marketing. In addition, Snapchat’s features are continuously evolving, making keeping up with the most recent trends and best practices somewhat challenging.
Snapchat’s primary audience includes users between the ages of 18-24, making it an attractive platform for businesses targeting a younger demographic. As such, those businesses that typically only market to an older audience may find that Snapchat is not the best option for them and that other social media platforms may be better suited to help them reach their desired audiences.
Additionally, businesses should be aware that Snapchat users are more likely to be female than male. Therefore, it is essential to know precisely who their target audience is before deciding whether Snapchat is a viable platform for their social media marketing efforts.
Finally, when it comes to advertising, Snapchat falls short of other social media platforms, such as Facebook. Although Snap Ads, custom filters, and lenses can be helpful for some businesses, they may not be appropriate for all. Snapchat’s limited advertising possibilities may be a deal breaker for organizations that seek a more comprehensive set of marketing tools.
What you need to be prepared
If you’re looking into using Snapchat for business, there are several things you should know. To get started, you’ll want to learn how Snapchat works and the features it offers. This may require additional research and testing to understand what works best for your company.
Next, you’ll need a clear strategy for using Snapchat to promote your products or services. This should include a plan for creating engaging content, building a following, and measuring the success of your efforts.
Finally, you must be willing to commit time and resources to your Snapchat marketing efforts. While Snapchat can be a cost-effective way to reach a younger audience, creating engaging content and building a following can take time and effort.
As with any other social media platform, maintaining a consistent presence on Snapchat is a must for achieving success there. This involves frequently sharing content and actively engaging with your followers. It may be necessary to allocate resources toward developing custom filters and lenses that showcase your brand. It’s also important to remember that Snapchat’s user base is very engaged and values authenticity from the brands they follow. To connect with Snapchat users, your content should be original, enjoyable, and genuine.
Another consideration is the need to keep up with the latest trends and best practices on the platform. Snapchat’s features change frequently, so you will want to stay up to date to ensure that your content remains relevant and engaging.
Over to you!
Snapchat offers a promising opportunity for businesses seeking to connect with a Gen-Z and Millennial demographic and produce compelling content. However, you must be prepared to dedicate time and resources to your Snapchat marketing effort, as well as stay on top of its trends and best practices. By implementing a well-crafted strategy, businesses can use Snapchat to enhance brand recognition, establish a dedicated following, and engage with a new generation of customers. Are you interested in learning more about our social media services? Let’s chat!
Written by: Jennifer Hanford, MYOB Blogger