Snapchat and Content Marketing

In this new age of social media, everyone from Utah to the East Coast is constantly connected and their preference for media channels is always changing. Right now, the self-destructing-photo app, Snapchat, is a major tool being utilized in the world of content marketing. Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner recently explained that if businesses in Utah and around the country has a target audience between the ages of 15 and 25, they “need to be on snapchat.”

The app was originally developed to send pictures from one user to the other. The pictures are timed to last anywhere between one and 10 seconds, depending on the preference of the sender. The app has since evolved, incorporating instant text messaging, geo tags and even a money-wiring feature. 

However, the feature most important to those in the business of content marketing is the app’s potential to intimately connect with a given audience. Through the Snap Story feature, a series of videos and photos can be made available to all of a user’s Snapchat friends, making it possible for organizations to connect with a large audience via smartphone.

One example is Republican presidential candidate, Senator Rand Paul. Not too long ago, he gave out his snapchat handle on Twitter and asked users from Utah and across America to send him questions. He then answered any received questions through his personal Snapchat Story.

As great as Snapchat is, an article on Forbes stresses the importance of the attitude an organization portrays when considering Snapchat as a content marketing tool. If the message is a serious one, such as a product recall, Snapchat should be avoided. 

Snapchat was originally designed to send self-destructing videos and photos, meaning the attitude of Snapchat users tends to be less than work-friendly. Forbes suggests that for organizations planning on using Snapchat for content marketing, it is important to “humanize the brand,” and keep things light.

Regardless of what a business type is, in Utah and the rest of the country, marketing tactics are rapidly changing and Snapchat is bound to become more commonplace. As such, it is important for organizations to stay ahead of the proverbial curve, because for all we know, Snapchat could soon be a thing of the past. However, for now, it is on the forefront of audience interaction and should be considered a viable means through which long-lasting reputations can be built and maintained.

Ian Carry writes for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. He writes for many other clients as well. Follow on Twitter