Are you getting the most out of Snapchat?

I recently blogged about the benefits of using Instagram for Marketing, well not far behind is the quickly growing mobile marketing tool- Snapchat. Just when we thought Social media was the newest form of marketing, along comes this form of temporary social media, and I'm about to familiarise you with the strengths and weaknesses of using Snapchat for your business.

There are many well known brands that have already adopted the concept of Snapchat. Particularly brands looking to target the younger audience.


'70% Snapchat users are mostly girls and women younger than 25', report suggests from Business Insider.

The 10 second photo sharing app is an ideal platform for Women younger than 25 and with the growing number of photos snapped per day it is no wonder brands are jumping on board to engage with their young audience.

For example, Mcdonalds used Snapchat photography app to engage with their audience about the launch of their new restaurant.

So where does that leave you business in terms of using Snapchat as a way to communicate with your market?

If your company doesn't fit the niche Snapchat demographic then there would be no point to put Snapchat in your marketing strategy. Especially as there are no metrics to identify the opening rate from your recipients, or online traffic.

Although if your brand DOES fit the younger audience and you are prepared to carry out heavy promotion beforehand to increase your user base, then there is no reason why your brand should not venture to this newer platform.

When joining Snapchat your content needs to be carefully considered as there are limitations to the visuals you send out. The camera app and the doodle function are the only tools your brand has to be creative with and there is no editing functionality, so ensure you are creating a mischievous, attention grabbing and fun image.

For example, Lingerie brand 'Miss Crofton' used Snapchat to build their user base on Facebook with a mischievous image, which goes well with their branding and belief that lingerie is only seen for a few seconds.

Whether you are trying to target a new audience or just add some variety to your social strategy, snapchat is a viable option for a two way conversation.

Some ideas for your snapchat marketing could be new product sneak peaks, discounts, behind the scenes and targeted videos.

The younger generation care on what's now and this is a great way of sharing present moments.Be fun in your approach and be more like a person, rather than a logo.


Although Snapchat is typically the younger audience and has a lot of features missing in comparison to other mobile apps, this could change and enhance to become a more popular and user friendly channel for businesses.

Facebook are already gunning for a similar concept and will be launching their version of slingshot coming soon...

5 things to consider before using Snapchat marketing:
- Promote your existence on other channels, especially Facebook & Twitter.
- Grab the recipients attention with fun images.
- Be creative in your approach as you only have 10 seconds to impress.
- Advertise discounts.
- Take customers behind the scenes for an insight on your business.