How To Grow Your Business With SnapChat

Introduction.

Snapchat is often thought of as just a fun social media app where people send goofy pictures and short videos.

But here’s the thing: it’s one of the most powerful tools for growing your business if you know how to use it right.

This platform might seem a bit intimidating if you haven’t used it much before, but don’t worry! I’m here to break down everything you need to know to make Snapchat work for your business.

We’ll go through how to get started, tips for creating content that clicks with your audience, and some success stories from brands that are already crushing it on Snapchat.

Why Snapchat?

I get it. You might be wondering why Snapchat, out of all the social platforms, deserves your attention. Snapchat is still seen by many as the playground for teens and young adults, but the numbers don’t lie—this app has grown into a serious player in the social media marketing game.

Here are some solid stats that will make you sit up and take notice:

Snapchat has over 375 million daily active users. That’s a lot of eyeballs! While the app started with a younger audience, it’s becoming more diverse over time. According to Snap Inc., nearly 50% of Snapchat users are between the ages of 18 and 34, but there’s also an increasing number of older users as well.
Users spend over 30 minutes a day on Snapchat. If you want to reach your customers where they’re spending their time, this is it. That’s more than enough time to showcase your products, tell your brand’s story, and engage with your audience.
Snapchat ads have one of the highest engagement rates in the industry. This means people are paying attention to what you post. The potential for interaction with your brand is huge, especially with interactive features like polls, quizzes, and AR filters.

Getting Started with Snapchat for Business

Let’s talk about the basics first. If you haven’t set up a Snapchat account yet, here’s what you need to do:

Create a Business Account: It’s important to sign up for a business profile on Snapchat so you can access all the tools designed for marketing. Business accounts can access Snap Ads, the Snap Pixel, and insights that help you track your performance.
Optimize Your Profile: Your Snapchat profile should reflect your business. Make sure your username is easily recognizable and that your bio and link to your website are visible. Consider uploading a brand logo as your profile picture.
Set Up Snapchat Ads: Snapchat offers several ad formats—Snap Ads, Story Ads, Collection Ads, and AR Lenses. Each of these formats has its own unique benefits. If you want to drive traffic to your site, you might want to start with Snap Ads, which are short video ads that play in between users’ Stories.
Link Your Website: If you want to drive sales, make sure to link your online store or landing page to your Snaps. Snapchat makes it easy to add links through the swipe-up feature, allowing users to take immediate action.

Creating Content That Engages Your Audience

Now comes the fun part—creating content. If you’re thinking about posting your regular social media photos and calling it a day, think again! Snapchat has a more casual, creative vibe, so your content needs to be entertaining, engaging, and unique.

Here are some tips to help you create Snaps that will stand out:

Be Authentic: Snapchat users love content that feels personal and real. Skip the over-polished ads and try sharing behind-the-scenes moments or sneak peeks of upcoming products. People love seeing the human side of your business.
Use Filters and Lenses: Snapchat’s AR filters are one of its coolest features. Create custom lenses that feature your branding or allow users to interact with your products in a fun way. For example, if you’re a beauty brand, design a filter that lets users virtually try on makeup.
Storytelling is Key: Snapchat’s Stories feature allows you to string together a series of Snaps, which is perfect for telling a story. You could use Stories to showcase how your product is made, tell customer success stories, or even share tips related to your industry. Keep it snappy—remember, each Snap is only a few seconds long.
Engage with Polls and Questions: The best way to get users involved with your brand is to ask them questions or host polls. This can help you learn more about your audience’s preferences and get feedback on your products.
Leverage User-Generated Content: Encourage your followers to share their Snaps featuring your product. Reposting these can help build a community and show social proof, which is crucial for getting new customers.

Snapchat Ads: A Deep Dive

Let’s go into a bit more detail on Snapchat Ads. If you’re serious about using Snapchat to grow your business, you’ll want to get comfortable with the advertising options available. Here’s a breakdown of the main ad types:

Snap Ads: These are full-screen vertical video ads that appear between user Stories. They’re skippable but usually have a strong call to action, like visiting your website or downloading your app.
Story Ads: These appear in the “Discover” section of Snapchat. Story Ads let you tell a longer story with multiple Snaps, which is perfect for showcasing a product line or explaining the benefits of your service.
Collection Ads: If you’re an e-commerce business, Collection Ads are a great option. They allow you to showcase a series of products in a single ad. Users can swipe up to learn more or shop directly from the ad.
AR Lenses: If you want to get creative, AR lenses let users interact with your brand in a way that feels like magic. You can make lenses that let users virtually “try” your product or engage in a fun, interactive way. It’s one of the most creative ways to advertise on Snapchat.

Tracking Your Progress

After you start posting, it’s important to track your progress. Snapchat offers insights that tell you how many people viewed your Snaps, how many interacted with your ads, and which types of content performed best. Use this data to refine your strategy and keep improving.

Why Some Businesses are Thriving on Snapchat

It’s not just big brands that are using Snapchat to grow. Small businesses are also seeing success on the platform. For example:

Warby Parker, the eyewear brand, used Snapchat’s AR Lenses to let users try on different pairs of glasses. This created a huge buzz and resulted in more sales.
McDonald’s launched a filter during a limited-time promotion that encouraged people to visit their restaurants. The result? A huge boost in foot traffic.
GoPro uses Snapchat to share user-generated content that shows off their cameras in action. This kind of content makes the brand feel more authentic and relatable.

Conclusion

Snapchat offers a ton of opportunities for businesses to grow their reach, engage with customers, and boost sales. It’s all about being creative, engaging, and staying true to your brand.

So, are you ready to give Snapchat a try and take your business to the next level? What’s your first step going to be—creating that AR lens, starting a Story, or running your first ad campaign?

Let me know your thoughts!