Snapchat is one of the most used apps in the world. So how should it be used by brands? Here is our Snapchat marketing guide we prepared for you…
First off, what is Snapchat ? Let's start with answering the question and briefly introduce the platform to you...
Snapchat; It is actually an instant messaging application, which was revealed for smartphones in 2011. However, Snapchat's only feature is not to provide instant messaging, but also to offer its users the ability to share stories with 24-hour visibility, and to see the content of popular content producers with the discover section.
Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms, which has reached 210 million daily active users as of June 2019, is among the 10 most popular applications.
In addition, according to Snapchat 2020 Statistics announced , 62% of its users are between the ages of 18-29 and 69% of them are in the age range of 13-17. This means - as can be seen from this data - Snapchat is very popular among young people. Snapchat users, which are dominated by this young audience, create 3 billion videos and photos a day, spend an average of 49.5 minutes on the platform, and log in to the platform 30 times every day.
These numbers, combined with Snapchat's impressive audience targeting capabilities, open up great opportunities for brands and marketers in digital marketing.
7 Essential Snapchat Marketing Tips for Businesses
1. Define your audience with Snapchat Insights
As a digital marketer, your audience is everything if you want to do Snapchat marketing. But your audience isn't everyone. Knowing who your audience is and their tastes will make you stand out. If you are new to this stage, you can do an audience analysis with Snapchat Insights. You can get demographic information such as age group, income status, place of residence, gender, interests of the viewers.
With this analysis, you can learn what kind of videos your viewers want and create video content that way.
2. Set goals
Do you use Snapchat but find your posts successful? Maybe!
Unless you set a clear goal, you can't tell if your content investment is worth the resources.
Good social media marketers have always set goals for themselves. But the top social media marketers have identified SMART. These goals are: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timely goals. (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely)
3. Do a competitive analysis
Analyze yourself and your competitors to reveal your good and bad sides.
So, do a competitive analysis by analyzing the accounts and activities of other brands in your space. Here's how to do it step by step:
Step 1: Define your competition
The best way to identify a competitor is to analyze your audience.
Who else does your audience follow? Do any of these brands look like you? In this way, you create the following profiles of your audience.
Step 2: Research
Now is the time to research for snapchat marketing considering various metrics including:
- How active are your competitors on social media?
- How many people follow your competitors?
- How often do your competitors post?
- How many comments and likes do your competitors get per day?
Step 3: SWOT
SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Strengths: Analyze to understand what your competitors are doing on Snapchat? Does he reply to messages on time; Are their answers interesting or clever? What strategies can you borrow?
Weaknesses: Analyze where your competitors fall short. Slow or inconsistent on social media? Are their publications self-serving?
Opportunities: Where do you position yourself, given your competitors' strengths and weaknesses? For example, if there is no humor in the competitor's post, could you add some?
Threats: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Identify these examples and be prepared for them. And you don't have to do all of this manually.
4. Share great content
More specifically, share great Snapchat Stories .
A Story is a video or photo on Snapchat that lives for 24 hours, then disappears.
Adding content to the story is simple:
- Step 1: Go to your camera view.
- Step 2: Tap the camera shutter button to take a photo OR tap and hold the shutter button to record a video.
- Step 3: Add elements such as text, stickers, and doodles.
- Step 4: Tap the blue arrow and then select “My Story”.
But creating content ( great content ) is difficult. It's hard to grab attention, generate interest, and force people to keep watching.
Whatever content you choose to create, remember to keep it light and, of course, original when doing Snapchat marketing. Snapchat users appreciate originality. This is the reason why so many people are starting to use the platform.
Users also appreciate the high-quality images. Here are a few key Snapchat features to watch:
- File size. Maximum of 5 MB images and 32 MB video.
- File format. Image .jpg or .png. Video: .mp4, .mov and H.264 encoded).
- Full screen canvas 1080 x 1920 pixels. 9:16 aspect ratio.
5. Build your audience
Snapchat doesn't have "Recommended User" lists like Instagram does. That's why it's important to make your account as discoverable as possible when marketing Snapchat.
As a business, go back to snapchat.com/add/yourusername and don't forget to promote your presence using Snapchat icons. You can also use your unique, scannable Snapcode.
Top 5 places to promote your Snapchat:
1. Your website
Your Snapchat icon should go to the header, footer, and sidebar of your website. It should also be available on your “Contact” page.
2. Your email signature
Conventional wisdom says that the most read part of an email (after the subject line) is the signature. This is because 1) most people immediately scroll to the bottom of an email to see who wrote it, and 2) it stands out visually on the page.
This means your email signature is highly visible and the perfect place to display your Snapchat icon.
3. Your newsletter
Again, your Snapchat icon should go to the header or footer of your newsletter. It should be visible and obvious.
4. Your Ads
This includes digital and print ads. Don't be shy as your goal is to get as many Snapchat followers as possible . View your Snap code anywhere.
5. Event Notifications
If you attend trade shows or conferences, make sure your Snapcode is accessible where visitors can see it and scan it (for example, shoulder height from your booth).
It's also important that you post consistently and at the right time. Snapchat users check-in an average of 30 times a day, with an average of 50 minutes a day online. Use Snapchat Insights to find when your audience is most active, then post regularly during that time.
Do you need to grow faster? Consider Snapchat ads.
6. Master little-known features
There are so many Snapchat hacks, little tricks and features that can make a big difference if you use them properly and consistently.
Here are the top five hacks you should know:
- 1. You can draw impressive details by turning on the zoom feature of your phone.
Drawing is difficult. Drawing with your finger on your phone is even harder. These Snapchat widgets will help you out.
How to do it on iOS:
How to do it on Android:
- 2.You can use characters to frame your snapshots.
It's a frame but designers call it a mask...
For example, “0” creates a nice oval border and “A” gives you a thick triangular border.
How to:
- 3. You can pin an emoji to a moving target.
Simple, fun and engaging.
How to:
- 4. You can edit your pages with Magic Eraser from your Snaps.
Beautiful! You took a great shot… other than that, a little something.
That's what the Magic Eraser is for.
How to:
- 5. You can distort the sound with Voice Filter
This is fun. More importantly, it draws attention.
How to:
7. Measuring results
Use Snapchat analytics to measure your results and then prove your return on investment (ROI) .
Snapchat analytics help you understand your audience, learn which content performs best, and discover key engagement times. The better you know this information, the easier it will be to gain a competitive advantage in the market.
Here's how to access and use Snapchat analytics:
- Step 1. Open Snapchat. Tap the icon to open it.
- Step 2. Go to the home screen. Tap your bitmoji in the upper left corner.
- Step 3. Access Snapchat Insights. Tap the “Insights” button under “My Story.”
You will see a dashboard that looks like this:
1. Unique looks
This is the total number of people who opened the first video or image in your Snapchat story and watched for at least one second.
You can see your unique views weekly, monthly and yearly.
- 2. Show time
This is the total number of minutes your viewers watched your Snapchat story.
Similar to Unique Views, you can view your View Time by week, month, or year to gauge the success of your content at that time.
Examining this data will help you understand 1) what day of the week is best for you and 2) how long your story will take.
- 3. Completion rate
This was the number of people who watched the story from the beginning to the end.
You can see this information day in and day out and use it to analyze how well your content fits with your audience.
- 4. Leave rate
This will tell you when viewers stopped watching your story.
It's an incredibly powerful insight to help you identify and replace non-working content.
- 5. Demographics
This is a breakdown of the percentage of men and women who watch your story. You will also find the age range of your viewers.
You can use this information to understand the age, interests, and location of your audience; these can inform the type of content you share.
Want cleaner Snapchat hacks, tricks and features?
8. Try Snapchat ads
If your audience isn't growing as fast as you'd like (or need), from a Snapchat marketing standpoint, Snapchat ads will help you get followers with a faster clip.
There are several types of Snapchat ads to choose from:
- Snap ADS
This is a full-screen, vertical video ad that lasts 10 seconds or less.
You can use it to drive people to your website, install an app, or just watch a brand video.
- Sponsored Lenses
This is a type of ad that allows users to replace their images (usually selfies) with your branded filters and logos.
Users do this because it's fun. And when they share, your brand gets exposure. It's a win-win.
- Sponsored Geofilters
This is a graphic overlay for Snapchatter to place on their snaps
Nearly 1 billion Sponsored Snapchat Geography Filters are viewed every day , so the potential to be seen is incredible.
- On-Demand Geofilters
This is the cheapest, easiest and fastest way to get started with Snapchat advertising.
It can be used like a Sponsored Geofilter, but in an ultra narrow space like a city block. You can create one per minute and pay as little as $5 to stream live. An excellent option for small businesses
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