You may have heard about the latest online craze. Today, it seems like everyone is saying: “Video is the next big thing.”

There is no doubt that video is seeing a huge rise in popularity. Instagram, Facebook, and other social media networks are prioritizing video more than ever, and more and more video-focused networks are growing, such as Youtube, Periscope, and Snapchat. One of the biggest and fastest growing is Snapchat. This app is growing faster than ever, especially among millennials. According to Snapchat:

• More than 60% of U.S. 13 to 34 year-old smartphone users are Snapchatters.
• 7+ Billions video views every day on Snapchat.
• Over 100 million daily active Snapchatters and growing.
• Vertical video has up to 9x completion rate compared to horizontal mobile video.

Based on these stats, there is a huge audience using Snapchat, and there is a great opportunity for businesses to use Snapchat to reach this audience. Many companies have already jumped at this opportunity. So, how can you use Snapchat, and is it worth it?

1. Live Events

Snapchat is all about the here and now. Stories that are posted expire within 24 hours, and being current and relevant is very important. As a business, you can post pictures and videos from live events, drawing interest from your followers.
The NBA is a great example of this. They post close-up video from before, during, and after games, post photos and videos from exclusive events, and even share interviews and other exclusive content. This won’t work for every brand, but it’s a very good option to consider.

2. Geofilters

In the past, Snapchat advertising was very expensive. Recently, they’ve started trying to include cheaper options, including the ability to create your own geofilter. A geofilter is a filter placed on a photo based on your location. Pricing depends on your chosen radius and how long you want the filter to be available. This is a great option for an event or specific location.

3. Advertise

In addition to geofilters, Snapchat offers many other advertising options. While still relatively new to advertising, Snapchat has made big improvements to their advertising options and reporting data. In addition to ads placed in snap stories, companies can also sponsor a story.

4. Contests and Promotions

Paid advertising isn’t the only way a brand can use Snapchat. By building a following and promoting your Snapchat account on other social media networks, you can drive brand engagement on Snapchat. You can offer promo codes, discounts, or even hold a scavenger hunt. Many businesses hold contests or promotions through Snapchat.

5. Behind-the-Scenes

Finally, a good way to use Snapchat is to promote behind-the-scenes content. Because Snapchats expire after 24 hours, this creates a greater demand and private content becomes even more alluring. What can you share with your fans that they won’t see on other social networks? This could include company outings, office tours, or even event preparation. Be creative. The opportunities are endless.

These are in no way the only options for Snapchat. The fact is that the younger audience is using Snapchat, and they consume video like crazy. How can you break into this opportunity, and how can you connect with fans?

Have you used Snapchat for your business or did we miss any awesome ideas? Leave a comment below!

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