Can you use Snapchat for business?

Snapchat, the social media platform using pictures. But would you have ever thought that you would use it for business? The chances are probably not. Snapchat is seen as the gimmicky millennial platform which is more for socialising. But in actual fact more and more companies, celebrities and also social media influencers are using the platform to promote themselves as well as their business ventures. Therefore begging the question, can you use Snapchat for business?

What is Snapchat?

Snapchat launched in 2011 and took the world by storm. At the time it was one of very few apps which really dominated the photo social media scene. As of 2020 even with the rise of Instagram and YouTube it is still in the top 15 social media platforms used worldwide. 

Now asking can you use snap chat for business is always going to be one which is more centered around your audience. All that can be said is that more than 218 million people use snapchat daily. This is millions and millions of images exchanged frequently. 

Benefits of Snapchat for business

As with all social media platforms it is about choosing which ones work for you and which ones don’t. Snapchat will also fall into this category as it does attract a very specific user base. If any of the following points seem like they relate to your brand and its story, then it is well worth considering. 

Connect with a younger demographic 

If your business is aimed at those under the age of 35 then you will want to explore snapchat. This is because 82% of those who use the platform are under that age range. Ensuring that you target your content on this statistic will give you success. Taking a look at what other brands similar to yourself are doing there will give you a direction to go in. 

Another interesting fact is that one third of those on Snapchat cannot be found on Instagram. Therefore if you find yourself heavily investing on the platform, it may be worth exploring Snapchat as a strand to that also. 

Knowing your target demographic also allows you to really tailor the content you produce. Everyone Is Not a Demographic: A Guide to Target Markets for Small Businesses

Get users to interact with your brand

With the use of stories Snapchat helps you to be able to create more of an interactive feel to your marketing. As a platform, Snapchat actually reports that 60% of people are actually more likely to make an impulse purchase. Great for business!

When Snapchat created the discover button this is when brands jumped onto the platform. On this page you will find brands that use the platform for marketing such as Cosmopolitan, The Sun and various clothing brands. By housing them all together yes it’s competitive, but also gives your customer a destination.

Show your brands playful side 

Sometimes business can be very serious, and for brands that are able to show a different side this may appeal to other areas of your target audience. It is not unheard of for brands to put on competitions for their staff or even followers. This can be great engagement for all involved, and also show a different side to the company.

 Should I use it?

Without knowing your business it is hard for us to give you a straight yes or no answer. You are going to need to do some self evaluation here. Questions you need to ask yourself

• What is my target age group and demographics 
• What products or services do we sell, and will this suit the platform 
• Can we be interactive and creative with our audience 
• Do we mind doing video ads

If you can answer most of these confidently, and they match the points we have made above then yes do it. Attempting to break a new social media platform is never going to be easy and will take time. However, it may open your market further and allow you to appeal to more of your audience.

To Conclude

Snapchat has been one of the most popular social media platforms over the past 9 years. With the rise in other platforms it has seen a slight decrease, however is very much targeted at the below 35 year old age range. Can you use Snapchat for business however is a question with a simple answer of yes. Make sure it suits your audience and you can create the right content then you will see the benefits.