How to Use Snapchat for Business

Snapchat. You probably think it's just for teens sharing silly pictures. But guess what? It's becoming a big deal for businesses. It's a way to connect with younger people and get them to love your brand. It's all about showing real, quick, and cool stuff. Want to get good at Snapchat for your business? It can really help your visual marketing. And, it can make your brand stand out!

Why Use Snapchat for Business?

Okay, before we get into how to use it, let's talk about why. Why bother with Snapchat? It's because of what makes it different and who uses it:

Young People Love It: Lots of users are between 13 and 34. They like seeing cool pictures and real messages from brands.
People Pay Attention: Stuff on Snapchat disappears fast. This makes people want to look at it now.
You Can Get Creative: Snapchat has filters and stickers. You can use these to tell fun stories about your brand.
Talk Directly to Fans: You can send messages right to people. This helps build relationships.
Cool Ads: Snapchat has different kinds of ads. They let you show off your stuff to the right people with eye-catching content.

Getting Started with Snapchat for Business

First, you need a Snapchat account for your business. Here's how to do it:

Make an Account: Download the Snapchat app. Then, make an account just for your business. Pick a username that matches your brand.
Fill Out Your Profile: Add a profile picture (your logo is great). Write a short description of your business. Include a link to your website too.
Learn the App: Get to know Snapchat. Check out the camera, stories, and discover pages.

Snapchat Content Strategies for Businesses

Want people to like your Snapchat? You need good content. Here are some ideas:

Behind-the-Scenes Content

Show the real side of your business. Snapchat is great for this. Share pictures of your office, your workers, and what you do every day. It builds trust. For example:

Show a day in the life of your CEO.
Give sneak peeks of new stuff you're making.
Share fun moments with your team.

Product Demonstrations and Tutorials

Show how your products work. Make short videos showing them in action. Or, create easy guides on how to use them. This helps people learn and buy. For example:

Make a makeup tutorial with your brand's makeup.
Show how your software solves a problem.
Create a quick guide on how to put your product together.

Exclusive Deals and Promotions

Give special deals to your Snapchat followers. This makes them want to keep following you and buy your stuff. For example:

Offer a discount code just for Snapchat followers.
Give a free gift to the first 100 followers who ask for it.
Give early access to new products.

Interactive Content and Polls

Get people involved! Ask questions, make quizzes, and do Q&A sessions. This helps you get feedback. Use Snapchat's poll stickers to ask questions and get answers right away. For example:

Ask which product people like more.
Make a quiz about your brand.
Host a live Q&A with your CEO.

Contests and Giveaways

Make things exciting with contests and giveaways. Ask people to send snaps about your brand for a chance to win. This gets people talking about you. For example:

Ask people to snap a photo of themselves using your product.
Hold a contest to write the best caption for a funny photo.
Give away a free product to one lucky follower.

Event Coverage

Show what's happening at events. Share snaps from conferences, trade shows, and product launches. This gives people a look inside your brand. For example:

Share snaps of speakers at a conference.
Show off your booth at a trade show.
Broadcast interviews with people at the event.

Leveraging Snapchat Features for Business

Snapchat has lots of tools that businesses can use.

Snapchat Stories

Snapchat Stories are snaps that play in order and disappear after 24 hours. Use them to tell a story. Important for visual marketing! For example:

Do a countdown to a product launch.
Give a behind-the-scenes tour of your factory.
Share tips about your industry.

Snapchat Filters and Lenses

Filters and lenses are fun things people can add to their snaps. Make your own to promote your brand. This is a fun way to get people to know you. For example:

Make a filter that adds your logo to snaps.
Make a lens that turns people into a character from your brand.
Make a geofilter for a specific place, like your store.

Snapchat Discover

Snapchat Discover shows content from brands. Work with Snapchat to create a Discover channel. This helps you reach more people. For example:

Make a series of articles or videos about your industry.
Create sponsored content to promote your brand.
Make interactive games to get people involved.

Snap Ads

Snap Ads are full-screen video ads that show between stories. Use them to reach the right people. This helps get people to your website. For example:

Make a 10-second video showing your product.
Share a testimonial from a happy customer.
Ask people to visit your website.

Snapchat Geofilters

Geofilters are location-based filters. Make them for your business or event. This is a cheap way to get people to know your brand. For example:

Make a geofilter for your store that encourages people to take photos while shopping.
Make a geofilter for an event that promotes your brand.
Make a geofilter for a specific neighborhood.

Measuring Your Snapchat Success

See how well your Snapchat is doing! Here are some things to watch:

Views: How many people saw your snaps.
Screenshots: How many people took a screenshot. This means they really liked your content.
Swipe-Up Rate: How many people swiped up on your ads to go to your website.
Completion Rate: How many people watched your whole ad.
Engagement Rate: How much people are interacting with your content.

Use Snapchat's tools to track these things. You can also use other tools to get more information. Look at your numbers and change your strategy if you need to. Test different kinds of content to see what people like best.

Best Practices for Snapchat for Business

Here's how to do Snapchat right:

Be Real: Snapchat users like real stuff. Don't be too corporate.
Be Visual: Focus on making cool videos and pictures.
Be Quick: Get to the point fast. Keep your snaps short.
Be Consistent: Post often to keep people interested.
Talk to Your Fans: Answer messages and comments. Ask questions.
Tell People About Your Account: Let people know you're on Snapchat. Promote it on your website.
Stay Updated: Snapchat is always changing. Learn about new features.

Snapchat for Business: Examples of Success

Lots of businesses have done well on Snapchat. Here are some:

Taco Bell: They're known for fun Snapchat content.
Sephora: They share makeup tutorials on Snapchat.
National Geographic: They share cool photos from around the world.

These examples show how Snapchat can help your brand. You just need to use it right.

Conclusion: Embracing the Power of Ephemeral Marketing

Snapchat is a cool way to connect with younger people. If you show real and fun content, you can get them to love your brand. From visual marketing to talking directly to fans, Snapchat has lots of tools to help. As Snapchat changes, keep learning about new features. So, use Snapchat to grow your business!