Snapchat is a social media platform that’s exploding in popularity with the millennials. Snapchat has 100 million active users seeking a fast engagement with a friend or brand.
Even politicians are using the platform to engage with this influential group. 71% of their user base is under the age of 34 so if you don’t sell to the under-34 crowd, Snapchat is likely not the best use of your small businesses’ marketing time and dollars. However, if you’re targeting this demographic, read on.
Snaps — pictures or 10-second videos shot on the Snapchat app — are an effective way to humanize your business online. Small businesses have come onboard to create brand awareness and shape user behavior. Snapchat Discover and Branded Geofilters are two upcoming features that entrepreneurs should be paying attention to. According to the Snapchat site, Discover is a “fun way to explore Snaps from different editorial perspectives. Discover includes channels from top publishers that are refreshed every day.” Geofilters are ”special overlays for Snaps that can only be accessed in certain locations. Users choose the geographic area they want filters to be available in and upload an image asset. All images must be original artwork and have to be approved by the Snapchat team.
Marketing campaigns that can be valuable for your business are similar to other social media platforms and include:
- Behind-the-scenes features showing how your products are created and shipped.
- Employee or company founder introductions
- Tips and advice about your area of expertise or your company’s products.
- Positive customer product reviews.
- Coupons and special offers.
Fun is the style so think outside the box to attract the young crowd. Here’s a list of big brands that are doing it right: How 12 Brands Used Snapchat. There are lots of good ideas here that could shaped to fit your small business goals. Additionally, Forbes has a good tutorial online about how best to use Snapchat for your small business.
Finally, you might not have the bandwidth to manage another marketing initiative, especially one that requires some social media savvy. If so, you’ll need to hire an outside consultant who specializes in small business social media or assign a savvy team member to produce and post content. Our blog features some helpful information here: Small Business Marketing Tip: How to Hire a Social Media Strategist.
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