Is Snapchat a good fit for your business? Or is it only a fun App for a younger audience? Should older marketers (like me!) avoid this site?
Honestly, it has been one of the most challenging social sites for me to spend time on (granted, my exposure so far has mainly been to keep up with my 3 daughters); and I can’t quite figure out why it’s been so challenging…
Maybe because every post disappears after 24 hours; or you only get 2 chances to view a post…
Maybe I’m trying to multi-task when checking Snapchat, when I need to focus solely on the site (for the 10 seconds I get for a post)…
Or maybe my “older” brain just can’t process these quick posts like the younger generation can… 😉
Whatever the reason, if I serve an audience that is currently using Snapchat, then it makes sense for me to consider it. And the same goes for your digital marketing strategy.
Recent statistics claim that Snapchat has more active users than Twitter, and that 10 billion video views per day occur on this growing site!!
While a small business owner can’t compete with big brands that spend millions to advertise, you can certainly study their approach and come up with some ideas for using this site in your own marketing strategy.
So here are a few tips for using Snapchat:
(1) Start with your target audience. Ask current customers if they use Snapchat. If the majority are there…then take this site seriously!
(2) Search for and check out your competitors on Snapchat. (But note, that users are notified when someone adds them. You can’t really do stealth-mode monitoring like you can on Twitter with private lists.)
(3) Consider Snapchat’s potential for personal branding. If you are the face of your business; or you are a coach, solo-preneur, author…you may find that Snapchat offers a unique way to have a much more personal, informal, fun experience that lets your target audience get to know you.
(4) If you are trying to connect with people on Snapchat and don’t know where to start, you may want to check out the GhostCodes App (for iOs and Android).
You can search by topics or users (from people who have set up a profile on GhostCodes). Featured users are also available in a variety of categories.
You can keep your GhostCode profile hidden if you just want to check it out; or make it visible to others so they can follow you.
(5) Here are a few other ways to find Snapchat users to follow:
If there is a specific influencer you want to find on Snapchat, you can go to their other social media accounts especially Instagram or Twitter to see if they share their Snapchat username and/or snapcode (take a photo of their code on your phone and use it in the Add Friend option on Snapchat).
Do a Google search for “top Snapchat accounts” by industry or topic.
Ask friends / colleagues who they recommend.
I’m curious – have you tried Snapchat? Are you using it for business or personal branding?
Keep up to date with Snapchat and its latest features by following my dedicated Pinterest Board (click here).
If you want to connect on Snapchat (and learn with me!), then here is my Snapcode. Take a shot of it with your camera phone, go to Snapchat – click on the “ghost” icon – Add Friends – Add by Snapcode – and then tap on the photo.
