How to Host a Successful Snapchat Takeover in 9 Easy Steps
How to Host a Successful Snapchat Takeover in 9 Easy Steps Skip to content Blog Get My Free Trial Image via Bruce Mars under CC0 Strategy
Say you want to run a Snapchat takeover to promote an upcoming event. First, decide exactly how many seats you want to fill: 50? 100? 500? Then, create a unique discount code to see how many tickets the campaign sells. Toploft Clothing took advantage of this strategy in a past campaign. They used a discount code to promote their takeover and track its success. We have an exciting snapchat takeover! Follow along and get a special discount code today! pic.twitter.com/OSlnGH727x - toploft clothing (@toploftclothing) March 20, 2017
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How to Host a Successful Snapchat Takeover in 9 Easy Steps
Learn how to reach new audiences, increase engagement, build your brand, and increase web traffic with this essential guide to hosting a Snapchat takeover. Almost 80 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds are now on Snapchat. Most log on daily, which makes mastering the platform a must for many marketers. Hosting a Snapchat takeover is a great place to start. A Snapchat account takeover is when a social media influencer creates a Story on a brand’s account. Brands arrange these promotions in advance and (usually) pay the influencer. They’re an effective way to build a Snapchat following, promote products, and more. In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know about Snapchat takeovers, including: How takeovers help businesses and influencers How to host one in 8 simple steps Examples of brands that are doing it right What are you waiting for? Let’s “snap” to it! Bonus: Download a free guide that reveals the steps to create custom Snapchat geofilters and lenses, plus tips on how to use them to promote your business.Why run a Snapchat takeover
Takeovers are getting lots of traction right now. From Vogue to Nickelodeon, more and more brands are investing in this trend. Here are just a few ways Snapchat takeovers benefit both businesses and influencers:Gain followers
Growing an audience is one of the main benefits of a Snapchat takeover. When an influencer “takes over” a brand’s account, they don’t just create a story. They also promote the takeover to all their followers. That can mean thousands of fresh eyes on your brand’s account. This benefit goes both ways. A Snapchat takeover also lets the influencer build their audience. Ideally, both the influencer and the brand will end the day with more followers.Diversify your audience
Snapchat account takeovers don’t just affect how many followers you have. They also influence what kind of users you’re reaching. Are you launching a new product or service? Branching into women’s wear? Find an influencer whose audience matches your target demographic. The right influencer will help you tap into a market you wouldn’t have access to otherwise. Again, this benefit applies to influencers too. Snapchat takeovers are win-win for everyone.Show your brand s personal side
Great Snapchat takeovers are raw, unpolished, and personal. They feel authentic, which helps build trust in your brand. Take MedSchoolPosts’s One day in the life series, for example. Each takeover offers a behind-the-scenes look at a medical professional’s career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7DTkYJIH-M “Insider” stories like these help fans feel more connected to your brand. Plus, they offer valuable knowledge that followers can’t find elsewhere.Build connections
You never know who you’ll meet during a Snapchat takeover. You might discover a market you hadn’t considered before, for example. Or connect with an influencer who’d be perfect for your next promotion. Even swapping contact info with professionals in your industry can be useful. Takeovers can be a powerful networking opportunity for influencers and businesses alike.Promote news products or events
Snapchat takeovers are a great strategy for launching something new. They’re a simple way to drum up buzz around products, services, or events. Choose an influencer who’s appropriate for whatever you’re promoting. Ask them to highlight the launch in their story. Offer a special follower discount to gain extra traction. You can even use takeovers for publicity campaigns. Gucci did this really well a couple of years ago. Singer Florence Welch had agreed to become its Brand Ambassador. The brand got model Alexa Chung to break the news in a Snapchat Takeover—with awesome results:Make money
For some influencers, Snapchat takeovers help pay the bills. Average rates start at $500 a story, according to Snapchat influencer Cyrene Quiamco. Influencer rates vary. Some may forgo cash altogether and accept an in-kind payment instead. It all depends on the size of their following and the nature of the takeover. Whatever you settle on, remember that fair payment is key to successful influencer marketing. Make sure the final rate works for both you and the influencer.How to run a Snapchat takeover in 9 steps
So what does it take to nail a Snapchat takeover? Success can look quite different from brand to brand. But there are some basics that every marketer should know. If you’re new to the Snapchat, check out our beginner’s guide before diving in. Otherwise, read on. These eight simple steps have got you covered.Step 1 Set SMART goals
Great social media campaigns start with great goals. Get clear on what you want to achieve before you start planning your Snapchat takeover. The best social media goals follow the “SMART” framework: Specific: Clear, precise goals are easier to achieve. Measurable: Identify metrics so that you can track your success. Attainable: Make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for impossible feats. Relevant: Tie your goals to your larger business objectives. Timely: Set deadlines to keep your team on track.Say you want to run a Snapchat takeover to promote an upcoming event. First, decide exactly how many seats you want to fill: 50? 100? 500? Then, create a unique discount code to see how many tickets the campaign sells. Toploft Clothing took advantage of this strategy in a past campaign. They used a discount code to promote their takeover and track its success. We have an exciting snapchat takeover! Follow along and get a special discount code today!
Step 2 Choose the perfect influencer
Leave yourself at least a few weeks to select an influencer for your takeover. Finding the right person can take lots of time and careful sleuthing. Here are some best practices for choosing a great influencer: Seek out influencers who align with your brand’s values. Consider their tone and aesthetic. Choose someone your audience can relate to. Scope out their followers. Assess whether their audience demographics make sense for your brand. Have the influencer provide detailed demographic information, if possible. (Snapchat Insights can help with this). Watch out for vanity metrics, like their Snapchat Score. This metric can give you a sense of their influence. But other factors, like view time, are often more important. Once you’ve identified a few candidates, spend some time on their accounts. Watch their stories and see who interacts with them. Ask yourself the following questions as you go: How does the influencer relate to their followers? How engaged are their fans? How does the influencer communicate? Make sure their style and voice align with your own. If you’re still unsure how to start, hiring an influencer marketing agency is an option too. Remember, an influencer doesn’t have to be famous to be engaging. Schools like Nova Southeastern University often ask students to host their Snapchat takeovers. These personal stories are fresh and relatable. They’re a great way to recruit new students—and a lot cheaper than celebrity takeovers!Step 3 Set the time and date
Timing is just as important on Snapchat as it is on other platforms. Our general best practices for when to post on social can get you started. But Snapchat marketing is also unique in several ways. For example, users spend about 30 minutes a day on the platform. They tend to visit in short bursts—about 20 times every day. Keep this in mind when planning your campaign. The ideal timing for your Snapchat takeover will depend on the following factors: What time of day is the influencer’s engagement highest? Weekdays or weekends? Mornings or evenings? How long is their average view time? This will affect the ideal length of the takeover. Where does their audience live? Use the appropriate time zone when you plan. Can you time your takeover with an upcoming event? Parties, product launches, and holidays can all help generate buzz. Use your host’s Snapchat Insights to access the information you need. Always confirm the timing works for them before finalizing the schedule.Step 4 Coordinate with the influencer
Create a marketing campaign plan with a clear timeline. Give yourself at least a week (ideally two) to promote the Snapchat takeover. Make sure you and the influencer are both on the same page. Provide them with key copy points to reference during their story. Set clear expectations for when and how often they should promote the takeover. Organization is extra important when promoting specific events. Give the host any relevant details well in advance. Time, location, and website links are all essential.Step 5 Promote the takeover
Cross-promoting your Snapchat takeover is a must. Share the news across all social platforms, optimizing your message for each channel. Make sure your influencer does the same. A great takeover host will tell their audience to: Tune in at the agreed date and timeFollow your brand on Snapchat
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