Snapchat has exploded in popularity over the last few years. Today, over 300 million people use the platform every day.
For a small business owner, tapping into Snapchat‘s highly engaged young user base provides a major opportunity to drive awareness and sales.
But standing out on Snapchat and gaining followers takes effort.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore actionable growth strategies based on the latest Snapchat marketing research. Follow these best practices to attract your ideal audience and build an influential Snapchat presence.
Start by Leveraging Your Existing Network
The first step is tapping into your current personal and professional connections.
According to Sprout Social, users are 5x more likely to engage with brands they already follow on other networks.
Start by auditing your contacts across platforms:
- Sync your phone and email contacts with Snapchat. Send connection requests in the app.
- Cross-promote your account on your other social media bios.
- Share your custom Snapcode image and username across platforms.
This simple tactic allows you to build an initial following from people who already know and trust you.
According to a study by Mediakix, brands see an average 25-50% follower increase from promoting their Snapchat on other channels.
Strategically Grow Your Following with Paid Ads
Once you have some initial followers, paid ads can help accelerate your growth.
Snapchat‘s self-serve Ads Manager makes it simple to create targeted campaigns. Here are some options to consider:
Lenses
Sponsored Lenses allow users to engage with branded AR experiences.
- 75% of daily active users play with Lenses.
- Sponsored Lenses receive 3-4x higher swipe up rates compared to filters.
Geofence your Sponsored Lenses to target users near your physical locations.
Filters
Sponsored Filters are a great option for promotions or events.
- 90% of Snapchatters use Filters.
- Filters have above average swipe up rates of 6-7%.
Commercials
Snap Ads appear in between content within Discover channels.
- Snap Ads average 9 seconds of undivided attention.
- 60% of users engage with Snap Ads by swiping up.
Use Snap Ads to promote your product or service with video content.
Leverage Snapchat‘s Built-In Features
Snapchat offers a variety of organic features to help you stand out and engage your audience.
Spotlight
Spotlight is Snapchat‘s public content feed. Post engaging Snaps here to get discovered.
- Over 125 million Snapchatters watch Spotlight daily.
- Top Spotlight Snaps average 160,000 views.
Lenses
Creating custom branded Lenses for your audience to play with makes your account more interactive.
- Nearly 250 million Lenses are viewed daily.
- Sponsored Lenses boost brand awareness by 20%.
Geofilters
Geofilters enable location-based overlays for Snaps at your business or event.
- There are over 1 billion Geofilter views per day.
- Geofilters increase Snap engagement by 45% on average.
Collaborate with Snapchat Creators
Influencer marketing is essential for tapping into existing Snapchat audiences.
According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the top benefits brands see from influencer campaigns are:
- Increased credibility and trust – 58%
- Raised brand awareness – 55%
- Grew audience size – 55%
Work with Snapchat nano or micro-influencers in your niche to create content or take over your account.
Align with influencers who genuinely like your brand. Nano and micro-influencers often have higher engagement and conversion rates.
Analyze Performance and Optimize
Monitor analytics to identify what content resonates with your audience. Look at:
- Impressions and reach for your Snaps and Stories
- Engagement rates and metrics for your Lenses, Filters and Ads
- Traffic sources driving the most followers
Continuously A/B test different content formats, collabs, and campaigns. Double down on what performs best.
Snapchat offers detailed analytics within Ads Manager and business accounts to optimize your efforts.
Provide Value and Engage Followers
At its core, Snapchat is about sharing authentic moments. Don‘t get overly salesy or promotional. Focus on fun, original content that brings value.
Reply to Snaps and engage with followers. Take time to build genuine connections with your audience.
If you go the extra mile to create content your community cares about, you‘ll see your Snapchat grow and thrive.
Final Tips for Gaining Snapchat Followers
Here are some additional tips for maximizing your growth:
- Post consistently – Grow fastest by Snapchatting daily.
- Use hashtags – Improve discoverability by using relevant hashtags.
- Run contests/giveaways – Encourage follows by offering prizes for engagement.
- Cross-promote – Repurpose Snapchat content across other channels.
- Be patient – Building an audience takes time. Stick with these strategies.
Following this Snapchat guide will help your small business establish a loyal following. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow entrepreneurs succeed on social media.
