If you're not using Snapchat for marketing yet, you're missing out! The app is a great way to connect with your audience in a fun and informal way. But if you want to get the most out of Snapchat, you need to improve your Snapchat strategy. Here are 5 ways to do just that.
Snapchat is a helpful marketing tool, especially if you’re trying to reach young adults in a more relevant way. Millennials are the core user group. Nearly 80% of all Americans between the ages of 15 and 35 use Snapchat, with another 30-40% of all other adults in other age groups tapping into the platform as well.
With those numbers, it’s easy to see that Snapchat is a great way to reach old and new customers alike. However, you can’t make the most of it if you don’t understand how it works - and how you can use it to help your business.
Take the time to educate yourself on everything Snapchat can do. This platform started as a fun way to connect with your friends, so you’ll need to think carefully about how you can highlight your brand’s message without ruining the overall experience.
If you’re using other social media platforms to market your brand, you might be familiar with the process of using vertical content that can be used across multiple channels, including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Most marketing experts agree that with Snapchat, this isn’t the best move.
Snapchat is different from many other social media channels. You’re better off reducing your posting frequency than you are reposting old content that you already used on other channels. Reposting can diminish some of your brand’s creative, authentic presence - something you’re probably using Snapchat to highlight.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with cross-promotion! It can be tough for users to find your brand organically on Snapchat. Therefore, you should give your followers on other platforms a good reason to follow you on Snapchat.
Promotion and posting unique Snapchat content is key here, still - there is no incentive for Instagram users to follow you on Snapchat if you’re posting the same stuff there.
And remember, cross-promotion might look a little different on all of your channels. You can share your Snap code on Facebook or Instagram. You can include your code in an email newsletter or even send it out in an offline promotion. What about QR codes? There are lots of ways to reach people, no matter how they’re currently engaging with your brand.
Above all, your Snapchat presence needs to stand out by being fun, engaging, and lighthearted.
With Snapchat, the goal is to keep the end-user in mind. How can you provide them with opportunities to interact with your brand? Try to come up with ways to showcase content that you might not be highlighted in your other channels.
Encourage your Snapchat followers to interact with your brand by:
Keep things as fresh and creative with your Snapchat presence as possible. This is a platform that is constantly changing.
You can even customize the ad experience to make it more interactive. Although most marketers haven’t yet tapped into Snapchat ads - it’s estimated that less than a quarter of all marketers use Snapchat to advertise their products and services - that doesn’t mean you can’t tap into it.
Because Snapchat is really all about vertical content, you’ll be able to test out your creative prowess to get an idea if your ad messaging will resonate with this audience. Make sure you understand the ideal Snapchat ad specs before you start producing content - but don’t be afraid to use things like Snapchat lenses to give you the best ad placement for your brand.
One unique opportunity presented by Snapchat is shoppable ads. With shoppable ads, you can import your own product catalogs to your ads so it’s easier than ever for consumers to buy your products. Doing this is a phenomenal way to increase your mobile transactions and help your brand stand out even more.
Consider teaming up with influencers and other brand advocates. You probably already have a community that’s filled with people who love your brand. Tap into their social media power to help increase brand awareness!
One way to do this is to do Snapchat takeovers. In this, you’ll give select people access to your accounts and let them create stories that enhance your brand’s personality.
By letting others lend their voice to your Snapchat account, you’ll make your account seem less promotional, more authentic, and more fun.
Don’t be afraid to experiment - but make sure you’re not shooting blindly in the dark.
To make the best decisions about what to post and what not to post on Snapchat, you’ll need some real-time insights.
Implement data-tracking tools like Snap Pixel. The Snap Pixel will track and capture data on how users are browsing your website after viewing Snapchat ads and other content.
You’ll be able to see how well your campaigns are doing and also come up with ways to optimize your campaigns.
Track, track, track - then tweak. You need to not only collect data about your social media advertising efforts but also be able to test and measure what’s working. This way, you can improve your Snapchat program that is sub-par into something that is optimized and totally scalable.
Have you tried any of these techniques to improve your Snapchat marketing? If not, give them a try and see how they work for you.
Keep in mind that the key to success on Snapchat (or any social media platform) is to experiment and find what works best for your brand.
Don’t be afraid to try new things, and always be willing to learn and evolve along with the ever-changing social landscape.
