The Top 15 Benefits of Snapchat

If you’re looking for one-on-one communication tools to engage your audience, the benefits of Snapchat are worth looking at. At almost a decade old, the app offers many benefits to better engage your audience, but you may wonder if it’s worth the effort involved in setting up another social media platform. 

Snapchat has around 406 million daily users, making it a top contender in the photo sharing and messaging apps available. Although people of all ages use the platform, it is most popular with Gen-Z users. The younger generation likes the immediacy of the platform and that snaps disappear after being viewed.

Snapchat offers some interesting features that let you interact with your users on a more personal level. Businesses benefit from using the app in a variety of ways. If you’ve been thinking about adding another social media presence for your brand, here are some things to consider and the many benefits of Snapchat. How can Snapchat help your business grow? 

1. Drive Traffic to Your Site

Sending targeted traffic to your site results in higher engagement and more sales. One of the biggest benefits of Snapchat is such a personalized snapshot in time. People look at the snap and may click on a link or seek out your site when you mention it.

Think of it as impulse traffic. Unlike a page on Facebook people can visit at any time, people must follow you on the platform to get snaps you send out. The idea the snap might disappear at any moment creates urgency and users are much more likely to click on them. Snapchat taps into fear of missing out marketing.

Snaps work perfectly for flash sales or to announce a new product. You can even have a set time and day where you reveal new arrivals. People must tune in if they want to see what’s going on.

2. Get Personal

Personalization is the buzzword of the last few years. How can you create a more customized experience for each user and reach them where they’re at? The benefit of Snapchat is it gives you an opportunity to share snapshots of your workday, company history and big events.

Snapchat is quite different from platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. While those social media sites offer ways to promote your business on a professional page, you can also tell your story on Snapchat and gain thousands of new followers. You can even let local celebrities and popular sports figures do takeovers of your account and draw interest.

Don’t be afraid to share the struggles you’ve overcome. Be a bit vulnerable with your followers. It won’t stick around for long and they’ll feel they know you better and understand where you’re coming from.

3. Encourage Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Wise business owners understand the power of word-of-mouth marketing. Referrals from people who already love what you do have much more impact than any ad you could run as a brand. You’ll gain benefits from Snapchat, such as loyalty and customer retention.

If you get some unique buzz going on the platform, people will start talking about you and what you do. You’ll gain followers and build name recognition. You do have to be methodical and come up with campaigns different than other businesses in your industry use, but the payoff is in additional fans.

The goal is to create a street team of followers who aren’t afraid to share about you. Throw a shout out to those who help spread buzz about your company. Look for ways to engage them, such as contests and free offers.

4. Increase Orders

The app connects users with brands via the “Discover” icon. People on the platform may wait for a new photo with a fun filter from their friends and family, but while they’re waiting, they can browse and see chats from different users, including you.

You’ll reach people who otherwise might not have heard of your brand and increase your order base. Offer a special if they rush to your site within so many minutes. Think of them as limited time offers that disappear much as a snap does after it goes out.

It doesn’t cost you anything but time to give the site a try, so jump in and throw out a few offers. See what happens.

5. Stand Out From Competitors

According to the Small Business Administration, there are around 33.1 million small businesses in the United States alone. No matter what industry you’re in, you have competition. They may be on the typical social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, but may not yet be on Snapchat.

Some business owners don’t like the fact that snaps disappear after so many seconds. You can stand out from them by showing you’re with the times and getting in on the “snaption.” Come up with a theme, get your followers involved in a contest and share your story.

However, your competitors may focus on more traditionally popular platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and ignore the possibilities Snapchat offers. If your target audience includes anyone under 30, consider the platform as part of your overall marketing strategy. If you can be the first in your industry or area to embrace the site, you may just gain customers by default.

6. Connect With a New Demographic

Snapchat also helps you expand your audience. You can connect with a new demographic of young, hip followers you might not reach on other platforms. Whether you want to expand an existing business, or you’re a startup with a younger buyer persona, you can use the platform to engage Gen-Z.

Statista reports Snapchat has more men than women on the platform, with 20% being men and 18% women between the ages 18 and 24.

Those who use Snapchat may not be quite as active on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. It’s important to spread your efforts across different platforms as your time and budget allows to reach the widest range of potential customers possible.

7. Build Rapport

Snapchat gives you an opportunity to interact with others, send messages, add a custom filter people can use and build general rapport with your audience.

You’re offering a new way to consume content other businesses in your industry may not use. If you can keep your snaps fun and lighthearted, you’ll gain a lot of traction with the younger crowds.

You can also use the platform to show your human side. Showcase your top employees, share a little about your company culture, highlight your top customers and why you love them.

8. Show You’re Current

Having a business presence on Snapchat shows you understand what your target audience enjoys and you’re current with the popular social media platforms.

Spend time perusing other brands, follow them and get a feel for the types of snaps they share. You can also sponsor a filter for some additional exposure.

Get your customers on board with some user-generated content (UGC). For example, host a contest where the person with the most snaps wins your UGC contest and gets a prize. Think outside the box and add new marketing strategies to get the word out on the platform.

9. Offer an Omni-Channel Experience

Snapchat is another platform where you can expand your online presence. You may have some crossover traffic, but you might also reach people who aren’t on other platforms. While you should cater posts to each social media site, you can cover similar content and really drive home things such as new product releases or upcoming sales.

The more exposure people have to your brand, the more likely they’ll remember your name and turn to you when they have a problem you can solve with a product or service.

10. Reach Local Audiences

Snapchat offers geofilters, so you can target your ads to local users in the exact demographic you want. You don’t want to just throw stuff out there and hope it sticks somewhere. It’s much wiser to use your ad budget for the platform to get your brand in front of just the right people.

Snapchat also offers community filters so people can see snaps from those in their area. Benefits include an extremely targeted audience looking for what you offer and in your vicinity. Geofilters help small businesses such as restaurants and service companies serving a local clientele.

11. Young Consumers Will Grow With Your Brand

With Snapchat being one of the most popular social media platforms today, you can find users from various age groups. Around 20% of users between 13 and 17 are currently on Snapchat. If your target demographic is part of the younger crowd, you can certainly find them on this app.

Yet, as you target this younger age group, you’re doing more than gaining customers today. It’s significant in the long term because you’re building a loyal fanbase for the future. They’ll remember your brand as they grow up, giving your business a big edge.

While you may be focusing on the “now,” Snapchat will allow you to create lasting relationships. Therefore, you’re inviting people to grow with your brand, which is an investment that can pay off for years to come. 

12. Your Account Will Always Look Fresh

Snapchat will always make your business shine with newness. Unlike other platforms where old posts stack up, Snapchat keeps things fresh. Your snaps stay live for just 24 hours, which means each day brings a new chance to capture your audience’s attention.

Think of it as your brand getting the chance to make a debut every day. Your customers will look forward to seeing what you’re sharing next. The content you post keeps your account exciting, with Snapchat’s format inviting you to be bold and spontaneous. 

13. Capture the Latest Trends

Snapchat has always had the ability to set new trends on social media. Therefore, being on this platform puts you at the center of this vibrant community. With users wanting to show off the latest memes and viral content, you can ride the wave and integrate them into your marketing strategy.

This shows your customers that you’re up-to-date, relevant and in the know. Whether face-swapping with your furry friends or doing the latest challenge, Snapchat gives you the tools to leverage these trends. This makes it easier for you to connect with today’s savvy audience and increase engagement.

14. The Snapchat ‘Snap’ Feature

Snapchat’s Snap feature is a unique tool that can help your business stand out. This feature is all about capturing moments in an instant. With a quick “snap,” you can take a photo or a short video and share it right away with your followers.

It’s a great way to give your customers a peek behind the scenes and sell new products, showing them launches and stories behind your business. However, your snaps are more than just posts — it’s a strategic way to invite your customers to join your business journey. 

Incorporating this tactic into your marketing strategy will benefit you by keeping your audience engaged. Yet, it also creates a sense of community. Take away the storefront of your business and use Snapchat to become a part of your customers’ daily lives.

15. Show Off Your Creative Side With Filters

Snapchat filters are fun and engaging and can be an excellent way to show off your creative side. By adding an artistic element to your snaps, you’re doing more than making them look good. In reality, you can make your brand more memorable.

Snapchat has plenty of filters that allow you to turn a simple snap into a visual feast. It’s something that can grab your audience’s attention and stick in their minds. Additionally, Snapchat’s filters are constantly updating, so there’s always something new to share.

Plus, if a snap seems to catch the attention of users, they can immediately respond. Therefore, Snapchat makes a great conversation starter. 

The Downsides of Using Snapchat for Marketing

Snapchat offers numerous benefits for small businesses to implement marketing strategies. However, not every social media platform is perfect. Therefore, you must be aware of the disadvantages that Snapchat may bring to your marketing efforts. 

1. Limited Targeting

While Snapchat has a large, active user base, one drawback it has for marketing is its limitation in targeting. When you compare it to platforms like Facebook, Snapchat has less in-depth targeting options. Therefore, it’s more challenging for businesses to reach a certain demographic. 

You also can’t target groups through selections like interests or shopping habits. This makes it tough to reach the right people with your ads. Although many may see your ad, they may not necessarily be the people you want to see your offering. This limitation can be a huge challenge for businesses to create effective campaigns. 

2. Limited Analytics

Another downfall of Snapchat is its limited analytics. Unlike other platforms, Snapchat doesn’t give detailed data. You won’t be able to see how users interact with your ads. This makes it more challenging to understand how your content is performing. 

Without good analytics, there’s no way of knowing how to make your content better. The only information that Snapchat shares with you is the amount of views and images shared. You also gain insights into who views your clips and stories. With this being the only source of feedback, it may be a waste of time and resources to advertise on Snapchat.

3. Content Has a Short Lifespan

Your stories on Snapchat are only available for a limited time. On Snapchat, Posts and ads disappear quickly, often within 24 hours. This means your audience has a short time to see and react to your content. People who don’t check their Snapchat often may miss everything you post. This makes it harder to create a lasting impact. 

The only solution is to keep creating daily content for your followers. This means spending more time and money on making good content. However, the short life span that content has also makes it more forgettable, especially when running limited-time promotions. 

4. Vertical Video and Photo Format Only

Another setback of using Snapchat is that it only allows for vertical viewing. This format can be limiting and make it feel unnatural to those who enjoy the horizontal experience. Additionally, many ads and content are made in horizontal format. So, to use Snapchat, businesses must create new, vertical versions. This means extra work on your end and possible additional costs. 

Also, most content looks better in a horizontal format. What if you wanted to show off a landscape or a group photo? In vertical format, this makes it challenging to show the full picture well. As such, businesses may have a hard time sharing their best content on Snapchat effectively.

5. Time Constraints of Video

Snapchat has significant time limits on videos. Videos on this platform have to be short, usually kept down to under 10 seconds. There is little time to show your content or tell a story. Making a video that’s short but still catches people’s attention and explains your product well is difficult. While you could make more than one video, people may choose to move on quickly after watching the first few. Therefore, you’d have to get super creative to make your message clear and interesting within a few seconds. 

6. No Resharing Option

Snapchat doesn’t have a resharing option. On other social media platforms, someone can share your ad or post with their friends if they like it. This helps your message spread to more people. Yet, people can only reshare your content on Snapchat if they take a screenshot and upload it. With this being more work, it’s unlikely for someone to take the time to do this unless it truly caters to their interest. Therefore, Snapchat may make it harder to reach more people and grow an audience.

Overall, Snapchat’s pros may outweigh the cons, so investing in the platform for marketing may be worth it. 

Gain Multiple Benefits of Snapchat

Getting set up with your own account is easy on the platform. Friend some of your closest allies and start playing around with the snaps to see all the things you can do. Study other business owners and their efforts.

Once you have a feel for how to interact on the app, go ahead and start sending out messages and collecting followers. Regular snaps give you more traction than only occasional posts. Most of all, have fun with this platform. It isn’t meant for anything too serious, so keep things light.