What Is Snapchat? Why You Should Use

If you are Gen-Z you may be familiar with Snapchat because it is favorite among teens to send streaks (Snaps) with friends. Since its launched in 2011, it upgraded features like message dissappearing, lenzes, filters and privacy have attract the users to have fun on platform.

It allows users to share moments, activities, personal photos and messages to friends that disappear after a while. However, it is different from other social media platforms like making fun with filters and connecting with friends through streaks and safety. So, what is Snapchat? here is a guide for you.

Let’s get started.

Snapchat is an American multimedia messaging app developed by Snap Inc. This platform was a simple photo-sharing app mainly used by screen-obsessed teens and young adults fascinated by the disappearing messages feature, which was the key attraction that made this app popular.

The days when this app was only used for sharing pictures between your friends are over. Snapchat has exponentially grown since its release in 2011. With the introduction of new features, this platform has become a must-have for increasing your business. 

Now, users can create a Snapchat public profiles to share stories and spotlights that do not disappear after a while until you delete them. Plus, Snapchat plus subscription also enhaces the user experience with more features.

Snapchat may not be suitable for all types of businesses out there. If your focus is on Gen Z as your target market, this app is the best option for you to grow your brand. This platform is the most practical marketing channel if your target consumer base is between the age of 13 to 34. 

However, many similar apps are serving Snapchat alternatives that marketers use for their marketing. Also, we believe that people falling in the much older age group may adapt to this platform in the coming years.

Message Disappearing

Snapchat is known for its privacy and disappearing features of messages, whether text, photos, or videos. However, you can set the limit for your snaps or pics to whether they disappear after one view or 24 hours. One thing to keep in mind: anyone can take screenshot, but the Snapchat app will notify you if someone takes a screen short.

Snapstreaks

Spanstreak is a major feature of Snapchat that connects two users to send at least one snap in 24 hours. There is no limit to how many days of streaks you can make with friends. It is a fun activity and lets you share your moments with loved ones.

Snapstreaks increase snapscore and Snapchat shows special emojis and hearts called Snapchat planets in front of friends. These hearts and planets are assigned based on your activity and chats with your friends; for example, Snapchat’s yellow heart is a sign of happiness and loyalty to a friend.

Snap Map

Snapchat map is another great feature for finding your friends’ locations if they haven’t turned on ghost mode. You can turn on ghost mode on Snapchat to hide your location; otherwise, your friends can see your location. The map also shows signs of any event or news anywhere in the world.

Snapchat Stories

Same as Facebook or Instagram stories, Snapchat also allows users to add a 10-second story that will disappear after 24 hours. Although the story will disappear after 24, users are free to delete it at any time.

It is entertaining and easier to share your favorite photos, videos, moments, or anything you want. Snapchat allows you to share private stories or group stories. Most users select a silly Snapchat story name to add more fun.

Snapchat AI

Snapchat AI is a new feature on Snapchat. It uses NLP to conversate like with human with humans. The developers have added this feature to offer a seamless user experience. you can ask anything as you question, and it robust answers based on web data.

If don’t want AI pinned on your Snapchat, you can get rid of AI but you need a Snapchat plus subscription.

This platform has evolved over the past couple of years by bringing new features like Stories, which will disappear after 24 hours, along with Discover, which allows brands to promote their content.  

According to statistics, there are 432 million Daily Active Users (DAUs), and over 5 billion Snaps are created every day. It is expected that over $1trillion of direct spending power will be in the hands of Gen Z and Millennials. In the US alone, 75% of the 13 to 34-year-old population uses this app.

You can easily understand why Snapchat is the best mode for growing your business by observing these numbers. Congratulations! You have found another excellent marketing medium to reach your customers. But this may be a bit overwhelming if you have never used this app.

Here is why you use Snapchat:

1- Share Stories

After creating your Snapchat account, ensure your active presence by posting content frequently.  The simplest way is to share stories focusing on your product. Posting stories like this will remind your customers about your brand, keeping it fresh. 

The key is to be consistent and straightforward. People tend to skip stories if there are many of them. So posting stories about four times a day and updating them every 5 hours will give you a good result. This process will prevent stories from being skipped, and your engagement will be high.

2 – Promote User-Generated Content

Another great way to increase your engagement with followers is to promote the content made by your followers. Ask the users to send photos and videos of them using your product. Reposting this in your story will improve exposure to your business. 

Like this, you can also set up challenges from time to time, asking them to perform a simple task by using your product, and you could award the winner with a gift card or voucher of a certain amount or anything similar to this.

3 – Involving Celebrities or Influencers

The following marketing strategy to increase engagement and followers is with the help of celebs and influencers. As these people have a stable following, you can leverage their influence easily. By allowing an influential person to take over your account, you can spread your brand to a broader user area.

You may have to pay the influencer for the service they gave by giving them a commission or a certain percentage of your sales. If both of you have a common interest or an agreement in the promotion of your brand, then you don’t have to worry about paying them. 

4 – Linking Your Account To Other Media Platform

Linking your Snapchat account with other Social Media platforms is the simplest way to attract more users to your brand. Many platforms will allow you to do this. The only thing you have to do is copy the link to your Snapchat account and then paste it in the Bio section of your desired social media app.

You can find the Bio section in the Edit Profile option in your app. Think of the amount of traffic you can generate if you adopt this strategy! Make sure that you don’t modify the link of your account in any way. If the link you entered is wrong or broken, it will not direct other users to your account.

5 – Offering Promo-Codes and Discounts

The primary objective of your business is to create profit. You can yield the desired result by generating sales. And what motivates a customer to buy something? 

Customers are motivated when they have to pay less than the actual price of your product. 

When you don’t have any relevant content to share, the best you do is give offers and discounts of a certain percentage. This step is a great way to boost your sales to some limit.

6 – Giving Exclusive Access

To be treated like a VIP is undoubtedly something that gives a sense of specialty or joy. But in reality, most of us don’t get to experience this feeling. Suppose you’re at a promotional event; you can share some exclusive content or behind the scenes in your story. 

You can also select a group of followers and give them early access to your product, giving them the feel of VIP treatment. This type of Story will increase your engagement as it makes them unique and it’s good publicity.

7 – Sharing Relevant Content

The snaps you share must not only revolve around your brand. Using this platform, you can show your followers that your company or brand is aware of around them. But this does not imply you should share random content left and right. Always do research and think twice before you put something out there. 

You could always talk about donating to various charitable organizations or any other type of social involvement to make a difference and stand out from the crowd.

To stay out of trouble, we suggest you not share something that involves religion, politics, race, or in fact, any other controversial matter. Once the damage is done, the effect is irreversible. 

8 – Engaging With Your Followers

The most important way to increase your brand value is by maintaining a good relation with your followers. The user getting a message or response from your business shows that you care about your followers. 

You can communicate with your followers on the fly through Direct Messages (DMs) when a follower responds to your story. 

Snapchat has become an unavoidable part of the marketing field. It is an app that is undervalued or underestimated by many as they don’t know its potential. Only a few have realized that this is not just an app, but it is an untapped elixir of growth.

If your business does not have a Snapchat account, this is high time to create one. Even if you’re new to Snapchat or trying to up your Snapchat game, we are sure that the strategies shown above are the most realistic practical ones you can use.