If you are wondering how far Snapchat, the limited-time image/video sharing app has gone, here are some Snapchat stats that prove its power:

The number of the active monthly users on Snapchat is 200 million and 400 million snaps are shared daily. On average, a user spends 25-30 minutes every day viewing videos shared through the app. What’s more, almost 1 in every 3 U.S millennial who has access to the internet also actively uses this platform. 

Snapchat keeps surprising us with its staggering growth and I can stack up more striking stats on and on, but I believe that you already got the point.   

Besides the huge user base, this popular visual social networking app really shines with its unique user engagement ability. Because of the nature of fleetingness, messages on Snapchat need to be viewed before the expiration date with a high-level of concentration. What’s more, Snapchat enables brands to easily and subtly slip into users’ day-to-day activities with push notifications. 

In short, Snapchat is a sizzling Social Media tool that provides great opportunities for businesses and marketers to shine on.

Build the audience base

Unless you are ready to splash your budget on running advertising campaigns initially, growing your audience base organically is the cost effective option.

I assume that you already have established a presence on other Social Media Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter since Snapchat is definitely not a suitable starting point for the entry level players. Also, having a strong presence on other social networks provides you with shortcuts when growing the Snapchat following.

To begin, there are 4 easy ways to find potential followers:

#1. Google search the usernames or snapcodes (like a QR code) of the celebrities and brands who are active on Snapchat.

#2. Search the term “follow me on Snapchat” on other social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and you will get brands and people who are open for connection on Snapchat.

#3. Sign up for Snapchat Directory to discover and add new friends from there.

#4. Use the Add Friends From Address Book feature on Snapchat

Don’t forget to alert your email subscribers. Put your snapcode on your business card, brochures and integrate Snapchat with your website.

Definitely take your time and gradually accumulate your audience on a daily basis. And if you want to grow your audience even faster, here are the boosters to accelerate your speed–leverage your fans’ power on those platforms to Snapchat by shouting out your Snapchat presence, loudly.

#1. Cross promote it on other social media channels. Be a little more daring: replace your profile pictures on other social media accounts with your Snapcode.

#2. Running highly targeted Facebook ads.

#3. Provide privileges and ignite curiosity. Tell your fans and followers on your other social media channels that you will share special content on Snapchat exclusively to your Snapchat followers at a specific time slot.

Make the best of the realness

The compelling side of Snapchat is its community which has been built with the concretes of “in-the-moment” content. Its content is different from the pre-planned, aesthetically crafted and faultless marketing communication materials that are designed to educate or convert the audience. Instead, it consists of “real time”, “actual events”, “genuine people” and their “authentic stories” with a “casual tone” which other social media platforms are starting to lose.

Thus, it is imperative to capitalize on the timeliness and realness of Snapchat when promoting your brand. Here are some ways to make your Snapchat presence “real”:

#1: Share the authentic view of your business events. It doesn’t have to be an Oscar night. Make it immersive and let your audience enjoy it too.

#2: Share behind-the-scene daily business operation. If you are not in an unlawful business, then allowing your audience to take a peek at your office culture and your motivated staff will build up your credibility.

#3: Create the buzz and get your audience excited by sharing new ideas or new products.

Snapchat influencer marketing

Influencer marketing has become an important part of social media marketing strategies in the past few years. In fact, 52 percent of companies have the stand-alone budgets for orienting marketing activities around these influencers for sponsored social content.

Besides the influencers’ massive reach capability to help increase your brand awareness, content that is shared through influencers can generate up to 3 times more conversion.

The biggest demographic on Snapchat, teenagers, tend to follow two types of users on Snapchat: those people they know and those who are deemed to be “influencers”. 

When you choose the Snapchatters to partner with, make sure that you examine their personality (since they are the ones who talk to your potential customers about tell your brand story), content quality, relevance to your brand and of course, their popularity on Snapchat.

Offer special perks

The temporality of Snapchat creates a sense of urgency when it comes to marketing promotions. Just like how the eCommerce websites put up “48-hour CLEARANCE, PROMO CODE-spring 2016 and “Free shipping ends April 22*” to lure the “special offer hunters” and impulse buyers, make sure to inform your followers on other social media platforms that you will offer special giveaways on Snapchat at a specific time.

Tips:
#1: Encourage your followers to send snaps with your product included in the image/video to win the promo code.

#2: Reveal the promo code in your 10-second Snapchat image/video

#3: Ask followers to watch your Snapchat story which will stay visible for 24 hours and answer the questions to win a special offer.

A few more thoughts

In a nutshell, this 5-year-old social media platform is edging to be one of the mainstreams. Hope you have fun exploring Snapchat. Leave us a comment and let us know how it goes.