What Non-Millennials Should Know about Snapchat
It can be challenging for me, a 25 year old, to keep
up with the newest social platforms and mobile
apps, so I cannot imagine what it is like for non-millennial
professionals.
Take Snapchat as an example. Although I was a little late
to join the “ephemeral” messaging app’s bandwagon, I
have since fully embraced the company that reportedly
turned down a $3 billion offer from Facebook. In recent
weeks, I have started using the app more frequently, and
data shows that I’m not the only one. In fact, the company’s
23-year-old CEO Evan Spiegel revealed that the
messaging app processes more than 350 million snaps a
day, and you wouldn’t be far off to assume the majority
of these snaps are being sent by the millennial age group.
SUBSCRIBE FREE to Website Magazine - 12 Issues
After a few weeks of sending silly “selfies” and
pics of my “adorbz” puppy (see images) to my
old college pals and high school-aged sister, I was
surprised to find out that some
brands are also active on Snapchat.
At first I was unsure of how
this somewhat trivial app could
be used as a marketing platform,
but then the images started rolling
in. While some brands hit
the virtual nail on the head, others
would be wise to participate
in a “Marketing to Millennials”
workshop. For those companies
and others still unsure of the
Snapchat craze, here is a crash
course from an ’88 baby:
Don’t Be Boring
Unless you're Beyonce, most millennials don’t care about behind-the-scenes pics of your office. Just like any other type of content, snaps that are not engaging will be easily forgotten if not totally ignored.
Sex Sells (This is Snapchat After All)
A few of the brand snaps I received were pretty racy (I’m looking at you Karmaloop), but they were also among the most memorable. This doesn’t mean that your enterprise should compromise its image in the name of millennials, but adding an edge to your snaps — like the video I received of someone “twerking” with a coupon code — will make recipients not only remember your brand, but also tell their friends about it.
Make Snaps Last
Not all snaps are deleted after they are viewed, because in Oct. 2013 Snapchat unveiled a feature called “Stories,” which enables users to combine snaps to create a narrative that can be viewed anytime within a 24-hour period. This feature is ideal for retailers launching flash sales or for brands showcasing unique events, as the New Orleans Saints do on game days.
Personalization Wins Cool Points
Sex might sell, but personalization rules. The most memorable brand snap I received was from GrubHub, who directly replied to a message I sent to them that had nothing to do with ordering food whatsoever. But will I order through the company in the future? You can count on it.
Spread the Word
After discovering a few brands
on Snapchat, I reached out to friends to see if they
were following any companies on the platform, yet
none knew what I was talking about — not even
my younger sister who uses Snapchat like it’s her
job. Bottom line, if your enterprise is putting resources
into a platform or channel,
it is vital that your audience
knows about your presence.
All that said, Snapchat is a very
young platform that will continue
to change almost as fast as
its snaps are deleted. Only time
will tell if it has real legs to stand
on or if it will be thrown to the
wayside by its fickle, primarily
millennial user base. At the end
of the virtual day, professionals
who quickly adapt to new technologies
are put in a better position
to withstand the test of time,
regardless of the generation they
identify with.
About the Author: Allison Howen is an Associate Editor at Website Magazine


Leave Your Comment
Login to CommentBecome a Member
Not already a part of our community?
Sign UpSign up to participate in the discussion. It's free and quick.