Why should you use Snapchat for your marketing?
You might think that Snapchat is not worth using so why would I tell you to use it?
Yeah, I know, even today, the app still has some negativity around it.
However, if you use it for only what works for you, you don’t need to worry about any of that.
You might not know though that Snapchat was the first to introduce Stories, short form vertical videos that disappear after 24 hours.
Now, that is a flagship feature of Instagram and Facebook. It was even available for a while on LinkedIn and Twitter.
What’s so great about Snapchat?
As you might have already seen from the screenshot of the video, there are a few reasons why I like to use Snapchat for my stories.
- Videos are 60 controlled seconds
- There are thousands of cool filters to use
- You can save video with no watermarks
- You can build another following of fans
Of course, those are the only reasons to use Snapchat, but they are the main reasons I use it.
Reason #1: Videos are 60 controlled seconds
Okay, so what’s the deal about the videos being 60 controlled seconds?
Can’t you record that just as easily using your phone’s camera?
Yeah, you could but what I mean by controlled is that it automatically stops recording when you reach the 60 seconds.
You don’t need to worry about it being 1 second too long and then trimming it with video editor.
It’s always a maximum of 60 seconds, automatically and you’ll see later on why that’s a great number.
So, just click the record button and let it do it’s thing while you do your thing.
Reason #2: There are thousands of cool filters to use
Since Snapchat has been around for longer than Instagram or Facebook stories, this should be no surprise.
Yes, you can use filters on all 3 Story platforms but Snapchat has a lot more options.
Of course, depending on your content and audience, you might feel like some filters aren’t ones you’d use.
You might even think you shouldn’t use any filters but keep in mind people on social media expect entertainment too.
Just have fun with them, you’ll find some you enjoy using.
Reason #3: You can save video with no watermarks
Now, this is probably the reason I like recording with Snapchat the most.
Even though you can record and save your Reels on Instagram or your videos on TikTok and both those platforms let you do a lot more variations, they watermark your videos.
Not that it’s a bad thing to have your TikTok or Instagram user name burned into your video, but posting it elsewhere tells people (and the platform) you didn’t use native recording.
Of course, if you record with Snapchat and upload the video to Instagram or Facebook, the platform certainly knows you didn’t use native recording, but your audience won’t know.
For me, I just find it’s easier because I want a video that’s just the right length to share elsehwhere.
Reason #4: You can build another following of fans
Yeah, this one is a stretch for sure but it does have some value.
I know that for me, I probably have about 4000-5000 “friends” on Snapchat and get about 20 views on my stories every day.
So, over a week, I might get 100 unique people seeing me on Snapchat.
If I really wanted to, I could focus some specific efforts on Snapchat to grow it more but since I’m using it as a springboard to my other platforms, it’s got to be content for them.
But, if you did want to, you could do different content for Snapchat stories than your other stories.
All you’d need to do, is record the video, save it and just not post it to Snapchat stories.
Instead, record a new video specific for Snapchat and post that only there.
It would mean extra work, but probably not that much – so something to think about as Snapchat audience is older today than it was 5 years ago.
Conclusion
It might seem like using Snapchat is silly as it means yet another account to setup and another app to install.
I get that, but look at the benefits versus those drawbacks. Personally, I find it’s worth it.
Of course, I’ve have my Snapchat account since 2016, so your audience growth there would be different, but you could use it as I describe to record.
Those 60 second, unmarked recordings, can then be used as:
- Your Instagram Story
- Your Facebook Story
- An Instagram Reel
- A Facebook Reel (well, actually 2 since max on Facebook is 30 seconds)
- A TikTok video
- A TikTok Story (did you know that was a thing?)
- Even a post on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
As you can see, you can do lots with that one 60 second video
Watch the video as I go through the process of recording, saving and sharing.
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