You’ve mastered Facebook posts, shares and ads. You’ve got the Tweets handled with the right mix of not too few, not too many; not too safe, not too crazy. You have a YouTube channel for your videos and commercials plus a weekly blog to spread your expertise and a monthly e-newsletter to share news with clients, potential customers and fans. You have personal and corporate LinkedIn pages to share and network with other in your profession. Instagram – no problem. Content is king are you are on top of the world with a crown.
So, where’s your Snapchat?
Businesses have been slow to get on the bandwagon with it, partly because of a misunderstanding about what it is, how it works and how it can benefit them. There is also a feeling that Snapchat is a platform for teens who want to share funny face filters with their friends. And it is this… and more.
So, it’s time to explore Snapchat. The number of users each day is a surprising of 150 million people and they are spending an average of 30 minutes on the app. And the user base is dominated by that young, hard-to-reach group of 18-24 year olds followed by 25-34 years olds. Facebook by comparison has a larger user base, an older demographic spending an average of 20 minutes per day. For more national and worldwide stats and demographics, see links below.
http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/snapchat-statistics/
https://blog.hootsuite.com/snapchat-demographics/
What Is It?
Snapchat is a picture, photo and video sharing app. Here’s the catch: the “snap” is only available to the recipient for 10 seconds. There are all sorts of effects, filters and lenses which make this a fun app to use and create. It’s also fun to receive snaps and this is where a business can be creative and craft a compelling snap.
How Does It Work?
This is one of those things where you just have to try it to learn and experience it. Download the app, set up an account and join the party. They Snapchat folks are always adding new features and making updates to keep things fresh and original. The good news? It’s on the easier end of the scale so jump in and play around with the videos, photo and stories.
How Can It Benefit?
Companies have found success using Snapchat to introduce new products, give exclusive access and pre-market previews to fans or customers and to promote events. Amazon for example used Snapchat to introduce Alexa and Starbucks introduced a personal filter for coffee lovers to snap themselves with. McDonalds used it to showcase a behind-the-scenes look at the making of their new hamburger commercial with LeBron James. Snapchat also has advertising opportunities. One is called Snaps Between Stories for ad placement, as the name implies, in bet
ween users’ stories.
Snapchat has not made it to Baby Boomers and this is one of the reasons why it continues to be so popular with Millennials – they won’t find mom using it! Until then, take advantage of a distinct social media platform with a growing audience.
Leisa Chester Weir
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