How to Use Snapchat for Your Small Business

The idea of an app that allows users to produce vanishing images and videos has been around for six years, and it’s safe to say it won’t be disappearing any time soon. When it first launched, Snapchat was seen as just another platform geared towards millennials. However, with ever-evolving, easy-to-use features, the platform has grown to boast over 100 million daily users, and brands have successfully learned how to get in on the action.

If you’re not convinced that Snapchat is actually a valuable investment for your business, check out these statistics:

• 60% of all smartphone users are now on Snapchat.
• Snapchat reaches 41% of all 18-34 year olds daily in the US alone.
• Snapchat has more active users than Twitter, with over 150 million.
• Snapchat claims over 10 billion video views per day, surpassing Facebook’s 8 billion video views.
• Snapchat ads are seen anywhere between 500,000 to a million times per day.
• It’s highly addictive, as seen in the fact that daily active users spend 25-30 minutes per day on the app, compared to 50 minutes of Facebook, Instagram and Messenger combined.

So how can you leverage the success of this leading social media platform into an asset for your brand? Here are just a few simple ideas you can implement now:

Behind the Scenes Posts

The entire platform is about storytelling; that’s why the update stream is called “Stories.” And these stories should most definitely include images or videos that aren’t always picture perfect. It’s important to show all that goes into everything your brand does, whether it’s a big gala or the everyday tasks that result in the products or services that your audience loves. This type of content will help users feel more connected with the brand through the use of transparent sharing. The relationship is everything!

Geofilters

Geofilters are graphic overlays that can be added to a Snap from anyone in your pre-defined location. While these do come with a price tag, it’s fairly reasonably priced based on how many days you’d like for it to be available and how large of an area you’d like for it to cover. These can easily be used for special events, product releases or just because! They’re super easy to design and create, but make sure you’re in love with your geofilter because they’re viewed an average of 800 million times per day.

Takeovers

Whether it’s a fun staff member or an industry influencer, handing the Snapchat reins over to one selected person for a short amount of time (for a day or even a whole week) is a way to mix up your content and to help give a different perspective on exactly what goes on at your brand headquarters. From day-to-day to behind-the-scenes to events, why not take a look at it from one individual’s point-of-view? Or better yet, try Snap Spectacles, the sunglasses developed by Snapchat to instantly record and upload anything you see directly to your account.

How-To Videos

There’s a reason why Tasty videos are so popular; there is just something mesmerizing about watching a product go from creation to completion and experiencing the feeling that you could actually accomplish it yourself. And it’s not just limited to food! Recipes are a sure-fire way to engage your audience if you’re a restaurant, but you could also create how-to stories that feature your products or give helpful tips to resonate with your audience’s interests. Think about what your customers normally ask you and create a short tutorial on how to do it!

Keep in mind: Snapchat’s not for everyone. Make sure you understand your demographic first before launching a whole Snapchat crusade. Although the platform is picking up steam in a variety of age ranges, the main audience is comprised of those between 18-34 who are social and digital media savvy and who value a relationship with the brands that they use.

If you’re not sure if your audience would respond to Snapchat or if you’d like a custom-tailored Snapchat experience for your brand, we’d love to help.