Snapchat continues to grow. But it also requires careful planning and a focused approach if you’re going to get the most out of it. Here is a getting started guide.
If you’re just starting to dive into the world of Snapchat marketing, it can be quite intimidating.
At this point, there are hundreds of thousands of user accounts that brands are marketing to via Snapchat. And considering the fact that it is growing at such an exponential rate, you are probably wondering how your brand can get hold of some of that precious real estate.
The first step? Check that it is right for you
Snapchat has a demographic that is very firmly in the under 35 age group.
You need to consider whether you can make things relevant to this demographic or not.
For example, if your brand is targeting six-year-olds (weird, but hey), Snapchat may not be the right platform for you.
So tell the people
Snapchat is great for marketing, but useless if your audience doesn’t know about it. Start by creating an account and then share it with your current customers via email or social media. Post on Instagram, Facebook and any other platform where your brand has a presence.
Investigate the bad guys
Research your competitors and what they are doing on Snapchat. Look around your industry on Snapchat. See who has an account and what they are doing with it. If something works, see what you can make it similar. If they are doing something effective, you know what works.
Make your goals clear. Calculate your goals on the platform and make sure they are clear to anyone who has responsibility for the account. Have clear objectives that fit your business goals and can be met within your budget.
Create a content calendar. Remember: Snapchat is not a magic wand. You need to have some kind of content strategy for this to work for you. Find out what kind of stories will be published on the platform and how often. A good plan, even a basic one, will give all team members an idea of what they are trying to achieve through their work on the platform.
Look at your brand identity and make sure it is consistent with Snapchat as well. Snapchat offers some unique lenses and filters, but it’s also about their logos and colors.
Commitment too
Snapchat only works when you focus on engagement. It can be a great job, but if you work hard to interact with other users, you will start to build a useful presence.
So follow other Snapchatters. They won’t come to you (especially if you’re new) and you won’t get anywhere as a brand until you interact with other users. Follow people who are typical of your audience.
Also, be sure to reply to Snaps and messages that are sent to you. It’s easy to do and you can prove it’s real by responding quickly with an authentic voice.
Post at the right time. Timing is everything with Snapchat, from the time of day you take the photo to what you’re talking about. Do some research or watch your rivals’ times and see when they post to get the best engagement (and least competition).
Using analytics to see when competitors post help. And once you know when to post for optimal reach, commit to posting regularly.
Use the platform functions
From filters to drawing tools, you can use functions that allow you to customize your work. This helps with the identity of the brand. Group several snapshots together to tell a story, and include some background music as well. Snapchat is all about playing with tools, and once you use them regularly, they become indispensable to your branding efforts.
Finally, announcements
Ads are really ingrained on Snapchat now and have proven to be a great way to reach specific audiences and convert, mainly because there are so many adjustments that can be made.
Snapchat allows you to target similar audiences, for example. This means that you can find an audience that looks like your own followers, and then target ads to them. It’s a super useful feature that will allow you to get even more out of your campaigns.
Author: Sahail Ashraf
Sahail, an award-winning content writer and marketer, is a professor but still writes content for brands like Locowise and publications like The Gamer.
You can find Sahail in a million places online, but he’s mostly found at sahailashraf.com.… See full profile ›
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