As TikTok steals the show, you may wonder — is Snapchat still relevant in 2024?
With over 363 million daily active users and 75% of 13-34 year olds active on the platform, Snapchat remains a powerful way to reach young millennials and Gen Z.
And with the right strategy, Snapchat offers serious opportunities to expand your followers this year.
After helping dozens of brands, influencers and bloggers blow up their Snapchat audience, I‘ve discovered what truly works to convert viewers into devoted followers.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share the latest must-know hacks to ignite major Snapchat growth with real data, actionable insights and expert advice.
Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
Leverage Snapchat‘s Unique Features
The key to Snapchat is tapping features other platforms lack to create novel content. Take advantage of these unique offerings to grab attention:
Snapchat Lenses
Snapchat Lens Studio allows you to design your own lenses — essentially augmented reality filters that transform selfies. Whether adding cartoon effects, fun backgrounds or wacky facial tweaks, customized lenses stop scrollers in their tracks.
In fact, Snapchat notes that over 200 million people engage with AR every day on their platform. Lenses drive major engagement.
And good news – you don‘t need a huge following to have your Lens approved. Even nano and micro-influencers can leverage Lens Studio to create share-worthy lenses.
Spotlight
Think of Spotlight as Snapchat‘s version of TikTok. This is where viral videos live.
Scoring a Spotlight feature exposes your content to millions of new viewers. And Snapchat shares ad revenue with top creators, so financially lucrative partnerships can develop from Spotlight fame.
My client Sara grew her following over 1000% literally overnight after Snapchat featured her quirky dance video in Spotlight.
So brainstorm fun concepts that align with trending memes, songs or topics. Quirky, humorous and uplifting videos tend to crush it.
Hook Viewers with Addictive Stories
Stories enable next-level creativity to reel in followers. Some ideas:
- Give behind-the-scenes sneak peeks
- Poll followers to spark conversation
- Tease upcoming launches to build intrigue
- Feature user-generated content from devoted followers
Check out this example from beauty brand Urban Decay. They promote user looks while crediting the creators:
This makes followers feel valued. And it inspires new UGC in hopes of being featured next.
It‘s a best practice I always recommend clients implement. Reposting follower photos and videos is an easy way to churn out content while growing goodwill simultaneously.
Contests Convert Followers
Contests entice people who may have never discovered you otherwise to start following. And current followers love opportunities to win prizes or experiences.
Kylie Jenner offered fans a tour of her makeup factory as a contest award. The prize tied closely to her brand‘s identity, playing into her followers‘ aspirations.
Other contest ideas:
- Photo contests – Ask for user-submitted images around themes like "Living Your Best Life" or "Travel Dreams"
- Caption contests – Supply an image and have followers submit funny captions
- Trivia – Test your followers‘ knowledge about you, your brand or niche
- Hashtag campaigns – Prompt users to create and share content featuring a custom hashtag
No matter the focus, ensure prizes motivate entries. Team up with relevant brands to supply hot giveaways like coveted technology, gift cards or getaways.
Collaborate with Micro-Influencers
Mega-celebs boast millions of followers. But their engagement rates frequently tank under 1% making conversions unlikely.
Alternatively, micro-influencers with 5K – 100K very engaged followers make excellent partners.
According to Markerly, influencers with under 1 million followers achieve engagement up to 7.2% — beating celebrity rates handily.
Explore collaborations like:
- Influencer takeovers – Grant account access to an influencer for guest Snaps
- Rich link posts – Have influencers share your profile link or other URLs to redirect their audiences
- Cross-promotions – Mutually shout out each others‘ profiles
- Co-created content – Brainstorm fresh Show concepts together
Thoroughly vet any influencers beforehand to ensure authentic engagement and prevent brand safety issues. Use data services like HypeAuditor to validate follower quality.
Advertise Strategically
For brands playing the long game, Snapchat Advertising amplifies word-of-mouth in powerful ways.
Commercials, shoppable ads and sponsored lenses represent some formats available. And Snap‘s vertical video orientation makes ads feel natural amid friends‘ Stories.
Digiday‘s Snapchat statistics show over 75% of Snap Ads are watched in full. Compare that to Facebook‘s video completion rate of just 29% per Adstage.
Start small with $20 per day while testing ad variations. Monitor performance then scale budgets up gradually as you pinpoint what moves your metrics.
Analyze Performance
Constant optimization requires closely monitoring metrics. Fortunately Snapchat‘s built-in analytics offer robust insights.
Review key indicators like:
- Reach
- Shares
- Screenshots
- Saves
- Exits
- Follower growth
The data reveals content resonating best with your audience so you can fine-tune approaches.
See what posts trigger exits to identify weaknesses. Check if certain filters, captions or people perform better. Then design future content based on those winning elements.
Scheduling Snaps for Success
With properly timed Snaps, you ensure followers constantly see new material in their feed.
But beware – flooding followers alleviates FOMO but risks annoyance.
Find balance by posting:
- 1 Snap per day minimum – Allows steady visibility without overload
- 2-3 Snaps on big days – Capitalize on major holidays, events or product launches when attention spans peak
- 60-90 minutes maximum lifespan – Expiring content compels immediately checking Snaps before they vanish
Also mix casual check-ins with more polished productions. Behind-the-scenes spontaneity makes followers feel like insiders.
BuzzFeed brilliantly balances raw, real-time peeks with slick graphics and animations — blending breaking news, humor and viral content.
This variety retains intrigue so followers check back habitually.
Make Your Profile Discoverable
Fantastic content means nothing if nobody uncovers your profile. Shine spotlights on your presence across channels:
- Website – Embed Snapcodes on site pages
- Email signatures – Include Snapchat handle
- Business cards – Print Snapcode prominently
- Product packaging – Design QR-like Snapcode for scanning
- Social media profiles – Link to Snapchat via buttons/mentions in bios
Physically displaying your Snapcode at events/stores offers another visibility boost when attendants scan to add you.
These digital and real-world breadcrumbs help Snapchat land on followers‘ radar so they can dive into your captivating content.
Encourage User-Generated Content
UGC brings authenticity that branded posts alone rarely achieve. So motivate UGC by:
- Re-sharing user photos/videos – Credit creators when possible to inspire more submissions
- Featuring followers in Stories – Let fans guest star in content
- Contests/Challenges – Spark buzz by prompting UGC around themes ("Show us how you relax on Sundays!")
- Behind-the-scenes access – Reward top fans with VIP-only Snaps
Savvy brands also repurpose UGC across channels to extend reach. Re-gramming Instagram Stories as Snapchat content gives previously published material renewed traction.
Interact 1-on-1
Despite social media‘s broadcast style environment, the most popular profiles converse like real people.
- Reply to messages – Don‘t leave Snaps sitting pending
- Like user posts – Double tap on videos/images you enjoy
- Answer questions in Stories – Reveal personal perspectives
- Feel out feedback – Poll followers on potential products/initiatives
Making each follower feel valued cements loyalty. And when people sense genuine connection, they organically rave about you for the ultimate word-of-mouth marketing.
Optimize Your Profile
First impressions matter, so ensure new visitors understand exactly who you are within seconds.
- Write clear bio copy – Explain what you do, why it matters and what makes you distinct
- Show logo – Instant brand recognition when people land on your profile
- Pin sample content – Preview Snaps showcasing your vibe
Also link out to other social platforms so followers can explore more of your work with one click.
Stay Relevant with Trends
Strike while hot topics remain front-of-mind rather than stale news.
Use Snapchat Trends and Snap Minis to pinpoint rising trends. Identify memes, events or influencers your audience cares about right now.
Then brainstorm creative ways to put your spin on trending conversations.
Timely, relevant content earns huge engagement that outlives fleeting news cycles.
Create FOMO
FOMO (fear of missing out) compels checking apps obsessively to stay looped in. Manufacture FOMO with cliffhangers:
- Omit key details – Provide just enough context to tease what‘s coming
- Split announcements across multiple Snaps – Share it piece by piece for suspense
- Hide hints in cryptic captions – Make followers work for it
- Poll for preferences – Have followers vote on future content topics so they‘re invested
Suspense glues attention while followers crave closure. Once you hook them, they‘ll flock back persistently to see each reveal.
Go Live Frequently
Live video offers unrivaled adrenaline that post-production can‘t replicate.
Go live to:
- Give exclusive previews no one else sees
- Allow followers to guide the experience
- Build hype for launches by unveiling products first
- Reveal VIP perspectives
The experimental format showcases raw passion and off-script commentary you can‘t convey otherwise.
Use live shows to amplify franchises around holidays, events or causes too. Add interactive stickers and annotations to boost engagement.
Pro Tip: Promote upcoming live streams in your bio or Story to ensure followers tune in.
Collaborate with Brands
Co-created content reaches entirely new segments while injecting fresh energy into your feed.
Explore opportunities by:
- Championing brand partners – Authentically shoutout or endorse brands you love
- Hashtag campaigns – Design custom hashtag drives together
- Takeovers – Give sponsors brief Spotlights in your Stories
- Product seeding – Exchange content spotlighting gifted items for new goods
When partnerships organically align with your brand identity and audience interests, everyone wins. Followers discover relevant new brands while you expand visibility.
Just ensure transparency around sponsorships meets FTC guidelines requiring conspicuous #ad disclosures.
Consistency Rules the Game
With 500+ million Snaps created daily competing for attention, cutting through the noise requires a persistent presence in followers‘ feeds.
Here’s proof consistency pays off:
- A Sprout Social analysis of fast-growing Snapchat accounts showed they averaged 1 Snap every 1-2 hours
- Socialinsider research found top media publishers like CNN and BuzzFeed post 5-10 times per day
- Buffer examined various posting cadences and determined higher Snap frequency generated bigger engagement
So block out creation time on your calendar. Rally team members to assemble content if needed so you constantly supply fresh Snaps.
Play the Long Game
Snapchat builds relationships and community unlike any other digital space. That means growth can start slowly before momentum snowballs thanks to word-of-mouth and UGC.
So stay patient and keep nurturing your audience for compounding returns.
Let your personality shine through regular interactions. Go behind the logo to reveal what fuels your brand‘s purpose. Foster a tight-knit group who feel they really know and trust you.
When followers sense genuine friendship, they‘ll organically recruit new members into your squad.
Before you know it, you’ll have a thriving Snap Fam.
By now I hope you see Snapchat remains a pivotal platform, especially for reaching younger demographics.
You hold the power to accumulate followers in big numbers if you embrace Snapchat‘s uniqueness. Show off your creativity. Reward top fans. Join pop culture conversations. Ask for feedback. Go live spontaneously.
The more you infuse interactive experiences native to Snapchat into your strategy, the faster your following can reach new heights.
It just takes consistency, experimentation and nurturing authentic connections. Do that and your Snaps will never disappear from followers‘ memories or camera rolls.
To quickly boost your Snap game today:
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Add a quirky or interactive custom Lens. This immediately makes your brand more visible, playful and sharable for exploration beyond friends.
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Join a viral meme or trending topic. Insert your brand seamlessly into hot conversations.
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Poll followers on content requests. Let fans guide your approach to produce Snaps perfectly tailored to their interests.
Then watch your views and followers grow as you tap Snapchat’s immense influence.
