There’s no surprise that I’m a big believer in the impact of social media for business. Social media is always evolving, which is a good thing for entrepreneurs because it’s constantly offering new ways to market brands more effectively. The world of social media can allow you to learn something new everyday, and to be honest, it’s guaranteed to keep you on your feet.
Our latest social media obsession is Snapchat, the photo and video-sharing service with one distinguishing feature: the content disappears within a matter of seconds never to be viewed again. Today, there are about 26 million Snapchat users in the U.S., and about 400 million “snaps” are sent out each day. Since you have to entice viewers within a matter of seconds, this outlet can be pretty tricky. However, with the right inspiration, you’ll be able to conquer Snapchat in no time. Here are a few ways that companies are using Snapchat to bring in more business:
Behind-The-Scenes Footage: Whether you’re filming a commercial or setting up for an event, showing your followers what happens behind-the-scenes in your business is a great way to get people excited. Providing Snapchatters with an exclusive glimpse of footage they can’t see anywhere else will have them on stand-by waiting for more.
We’ve seen the NBA give basketball fans exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of players arriving off the bus at the 2014 NBA Draft. This was a smart move considering most sports fanatics are die-hard fans that will do anything to get their hands on exclusive footage.
The Sneak Peak: Launching a new product? Snapchat is the perfect way to introduce it to your customers. Many brands are reducing anticipation by giving a quick sneak peak on Snapchat to their power users and loyal fans.
Taco Bell is a brand that has nailed the sneak peak strategy. Last year, the company used Twitter to encourage people to follow Taco Bell on Snapchat for a “secret announcement,” which ended up being the addition of a new menu item. Through this strategy, they were able to increase their following on Snapchat and now have tons of people aware of the new product.
Insider Information: If you’re throwing an event or party, sponsoring an event or hosting a seminar or webinar, use Snapchat to give attendees information they can’t get anywhere else. Here’s a golden nugget: don’t send out the same content via Snapchat that you’re posting on Facebook and Twitter. The purpose of Snapchat is to show your viewers content they can’t see elsewhere.
We saw Heineken use the insider information strategy at Coachella when they sent pictures to fans as clues to surprise shows. Users who responded with the right band got an early confirmation of a show at the beer sponsor’s stage.
Do you think Snapchat could benefit your business? Leave us a comment below.
