If you are a direct-to-consumer brand seeking an innovative way to reach young adults, increase engagement, and drive impulse purchases, Snapchat could be the perfect solution.
Snapchat is a social media platform that focuses on pictures and video that, once posted, only remain visible for a limited time. This format is tailor-made for short attention spans, making Snapchat a favorite of Millennials and Gen-Z.
Snapchat reaches more than 300 million daily active users. They spend an average of 30-minutes per day on the app, sending 2 million snaps every minute. Speaking of spending, Snapchat users are 60% more likely to make impulse purchases and they have more than $4.4 trillion in spending power.
With those sorts of numbers, advertising on Snapchat is a no-brainer. But getting it right may not be so easy. We offered a guide to getting started with advertising on Snapchat in an earlier blog. So now that you know the basics, here are our top 10 tips for making the most of Snapchat ads:
1. Stream Live Content for Your Audience
One of the biggest benefits of advertising on Snapchat is being able to use live content to appeal to audiences. This enables you to take your viewers with you wherever you go during your live video.
A great way to use live content is to provide a demonstration of your products, similar to a tutorial. You can also create a live video that answers questions about your business and products.
Using live content to advertise your company makes you seem more relatable to your customers. It allows your audience to see what you are doing at a specific moment and connect with you on a personal level.
2. Create Unique Geofilters
Another effective way to advertise on Snapchat is geofilters. The platform enables you to create your own unique Snapchat geofilters. These filters function locally so whenever one of your customers is within the range of your business, they will be able to use your geofilter.
For instance, if you have a store, you can create a Snapchat filter that enables customers to use it while they’re taking Snapchat photos in and around your shop.
You can also create temporary geofilters for an event or special product. These filters can reach an entire city or even the whole state to promote a new or specific product, such as a movie or concert.
When creating geofilters, make sure that it is clear that your company is sponsoring it. Include your logo or a company mascot in your geofilter design. Creating an awesome geofilter for your company helpsSnapchat users remember who you are want to learn more.
3. Make a Themed Filter or Lens
Snapchat’s most popular features for users are themed filters and lenses. Users enjoy these facial recognition tools to transform themselves into silly characters. You can take advantage of this popularity by creating your own company-sponsored lens for users to use.
For example, if you are promoting a new piece of apparel, create a digital version of the product and then produce a filter that enables users to have a virtual experience of “wearing” it. This is a great way to let users “try on” your product. If they like the way they look when using your Snapchat filter, they may want to buy the real thing!
4. Utilize the Snapchat Story Feature
The Snapchat Story is a very quick and easy way to send a message out to your followers. This feature allows a photo or video to be viewed by all of your contacts for 24 hours. For example, you might take photos of your team or some of your customers using your products. Post them as a Snapchat Story to build awareness or keep your customers engaged on a regular basis. You can also use Snapchat Story feature to promote “snap sales” that are only available for the same 24-hour period as your story.
5. Use Your City’s Snapchat Story
Want to extend your reach beyond your existing customer base and acquire new followers? Get more viewers to see your content by posting a photo on your city’s Snapchat Story. Most big cities around the world like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, London, and Paris have their own city-wide Snapchat Stories every day.
Any user can try to post content onto their city’s Snapchat story. After your photo or video content is approved bySnapchat, anyone in the city will be able to view it. Make sure to include your Snapchat handle when you post so that new people can add you as a contact.
6. Buy Snapchat Ads
Snapchat gives businesses the ability to buy ads, which makes advertising on Snapchat simple. Even if you don’t want to create and post content to your own Snapchat account, you should consider buying Snapchat ads. Snapchat ads show up in various places on the platform.
For example, when a Snapchat user is scrolling through their city’s Snapchat story, your ad may come up in the middle. Your ad may also come up as they’re scrolling through their own contacts’ Snapchat Stories as well. Additionally, when users are reading articles or watching videos on the Discovery Channels, your ads can show up on there too.
Buying Snapchat ads is very useful to get the word out about who you are as a business, especially if you want a large audience. Thus, you can be sure that your advertisements are viewed universally, and not just by people in your city.
7. Include Hashtags and Social Media Handles in Your Posts
Whenever you post something on Snapchat, try to include a hashtag that relates to your business. Doing so enables potential customers to use your hashtag to learn more about your company and find you.
You should also include your Instagram handle or any other social media profile names you have with each post. That way, your customers will be able to follow you via all social media platforms.
8. Get Your Own Discover Channel
Snapchat has a feature called Discover Channels.These channels are viewed by millions of users each day. If your business is a type of media brand, you can request to buy your own Discover Channel. This will allow you to post content on a dedicated, branded channel daily. Users will be able to view your content any time they want via your Discover Channel.
It is also worth noting that if you buy Snapchat advertisements, chances are that your ads will be seen on other brands’ Discover Channels. So even if you don’t have your own Discover Channel, you can take advantage of others.
9. Add Promo Codes When Advertising onSnapchat
Advertising on Snapchat is a great way to offer promo codes to your customers. You can add your promo codes to your Snapchat Story or include them in your Snapchat ad. You can also mention promo codes if you create live videos or a video for your Snapchat Story.
Regularly including promo codes gives your users more of an incentive to follow you on social media. If they know they can only get product discounts by following you on Snapchat, then they will become regular viewers of your content.
Make sure your promo codes are exclusive to Snapchat so that your followers have to use the app in order to find the code. Tell your followers to share the promo codes with friends on Snapchat, so that they begin to follow your account as well.
10. Partner with Snapchat Influencers to Promote Your Business
Snapchat Influencers are people who have a lot of loyal Snapchat followers. Snapchat Influencers put a lot of effort into building trust among their followers. That’s why you should consider working with a Snapchat influencer to help you promote your business. If Snapchat users see one of their Influencers using your product or even just talking about it, they will be inclined to buy your product as soon as they can.
Getting setup to advertise on Snapchat is easy. But getting your campaign right can be hard. But if you apply these tips Snapchat ads can be very effective for your brand. If you would like to learn more about advertising on Snapchat, need help getting campaigns setup and running, or want to connect with Influencers, contact us for a Free social media strategy consultation.
