In the average day, more than 100 million people use Snapchat, most of them between the ages of 18 and 24. Connecting with the younger crowd can sometimes be difficult, but Snapchat makes it easier than ever. You’ll be able to speak to your demographic via one of their preferred methods of communication, and that’s an opportunity your small business can’t afford to pass up. Snapchat is free, and people are waiting to see your brand’s snap story.
Let someone else take over
Identify popular content creators in your niche. Bloggers, YouTubers and prominent Instagram personalities that appeal to your demographic are always a hit. Allow them exclusive access to your Snapchat for a week or two and allow them to communicate for you. Their followers will be drawn to your Snapchat, and if they like what they see, they might just stick around. Seeing someone whose opinion they value using your company’s products or services will allow them to see how your brand will fit in with their lifestyles.
Provide exclusive sneak peeks
Do you have something new in the works? Snapchat is one of the best ways to let people know. Show product shots or representations of services before they’ve been released to the general public. Your followers will feel like they’re “in on” your innovations, and they’ll have something to be excited about in the future. You’ll build anticipation before your product or service even launches. You can also get feedback while things are still in development, allowing you to tailor things to what your customers need.
Also on StartupNation.com: Q&A with Mark Kaye on Snapchat for Business
Showcase your personalities
This is one instance where small businesses and startups have a clear advantage. There probably aren’t very many of you who work for the business, which means your Snapchat followers will easily be able to get to know your entire team. Have your team post selfies, videos of fun things happening around the office and projects they’re most proud of. Everyone in your business is a content creator. This diversity will help a wider variety of people feel connected to your brand.
Use it to answer questions
What does your product look like in action? What color is it? How big is it? How do you use it? What tools do you use during your service? How do you go about providing your service to your customers? If people want to know these things firsthand, Snapchat is the perfect alternative to a face-to-face demonstration. You’ll be able to send short videos or images that your followers can capture on their phone. It’s the next best thing to witnessing something firsthand, and it’s infinitely easier than setting up a Skype meeting to answer a simple question.
Use Snapchat for games and gimmicks
Snapchat is designed to keep things fun and light. Demonstrate your own personal style of humor and games. Many brands will post a series of snaps, formulated like a game. At the end, a discount code or a sale announcement will conclude the series of snaps. This keeps people engaged with your Snapchat story, giving them a reason to open all of your posts. Some brands use Snapchat to tell fun little stories. You can use these stories to include trivia about your small business. You can even use Snapchat to ask trivia questions and reward the first person who snaps you the right answer.
No matter how your small business or startup uses Snapchat, it’s important to remember that you don’t have a long time to get right to the point. Images disappear in a matter of seconds, and videos are limited in duration. Make the most of every snap.
