Using on-demand Snapchat geofilters for your business is a great advertising tactic if your target audience uses the app. If you have ever used Snapchat, you know there are many fun filters that come with it. While these filters can be exciting to play around with, they can also be a strategic business move. Snapchat currently has around 312.5 million users, and its numbers are only expected to keep growing. Snapchat’s largest user groups are ages 12-34, with a high concentration of people ages 18-24. Does this sound like your target audience?
Table of Contents
What is a Snapchat Geofilter?
A geofilter is a location-based technology that Snapchat introduced in 2014. It uses geofencing technology that connects with GPS signals to communicate a virtual perimeter. When a device is in the selected area, the user will be able to access the filter. Users apply filters that say where they are, typically a city, so they can share where they are with their friends. They are specialized for each location. Filters can also include something significant that is well known in the area. For example, Chicago (depending on where you are) has multiple geofilters. Some examples are The Bean or if you are closer to Navy Pier, a ferris wheel appears alongside the words Chicago. Businesses can use geofilters to increase their popularity in an area.
Sponsored Geofilters
Snapchat released “sponsored geofilters” for brands to use for their locations. While customers are in stores or walking by businesses that offer these sponsored geofilters, they can open Snapchat and see a new filter appear. However, local SMBs, as known as small and medium-sized businesses, typically don’t have the budget to incorporate these “sponsored geofilters.”
On-Demand Geofilters
Snapchat understood more people wanted access to create their own filters. In response, they recently released on-demand filters for anyone to use. Users started making filters for special events like weddings, birthdays, and any other moments that people wanted a filter to apply over their photos. Local businesses can incorporate these Snapchat on-demand geofilters into their marketing budgets. With the price of these filters starting at $5 per day, businesses can attract people within certain distances from their location without the more expensive sponsored pricing. These on-demand Snapchat filters are great for gaining brand awareness and building up excitement around new products, services, or sales.
Using Snapchat On-Demand Filters for Businesses
These Snapchat on-demand geofilters can be used to help get plenty of information out about your business. Here are some ways you can integrate these Snapchat on-demand filters into your marketing plan.
- In your store, don’t be afraid to add a filter if you have customers who would use their phone in your business. This is great for restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, and other places that provide mainly business to consumer services.
- Promote upcoming events. You can spread awareness about new and exciting events going on in your business. Geofilters don’t have to use location but can also target an event. If you have an upcoming conference or special event, this can bring more traffic.
- Use them for marketing campaigns. This can be the next great addition to your campaign. If you are using advertisements on many platforms, this is a way to add to your marketing scope. The geofencing allows you to target specific locations as well so you can get the right audience. Many big companies do this when introducing new products or services.
- Start a conversation with your customers. These filters can bring conversation and lead to conversions.
- Build brand awareness with the filters. This is one of the biggest takeaways Snapchats on-demand filters will provide. It gets the attention of people who might not know your brand. If your filter is designed correctly, the cost of the filter will pay for itself.
How to Make an On-Demand Snapchat Geofilter
Creating an on-demand Snapchat geofilter is simple. You can upload your own filter you created or start from one of Snapchat’s templates.
Creating Your Own Filter
There are different ways to create your desired filter look. One way is using Adobe Spark Post, which is a part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. This application is very user friendly and doesn’t involve any sort of coding. It allows you to select backgrounds, colors, and add more personality to your filter. If you don’t have Adobe Creative Cloud, you can still create your own filter. Canva is an easy-to-use website that offers templates you can move around to make your own. Snapchat also allows you to start creating from a blank template if you want to design your own. It allows you to create your desired look without having to leave the app.
Filter Tips
When creating a geofilter, make sure to leave room for Snapchatters to see their selfies. Snapchat advises using no more than 25% of the top and 25% of the bottom of the screen. This allows space in the middle of the screen for the picture to be showcased. People are also more likely to use a filter to enhance the photo, rather than to distract from it.
Using a Template
Snapchat offers a selection of amazing templates already made. You can select a variety of different events and see which template it recommends. After selecting, you can make it your own by adding different colors, text, and elements included in the app.
Name Your Filter
After you have figured out the looks of the filter, it is time to get into the logistics of it. Start by naming your filter. Make sure it is something simple, so people don’t get confused by it.
Schedule the Time
How long do you want your filter to last? The minimum is an hour, but you can schedule it for weeks. The price will continue to change based on how long you set the filter for.
Map Out Locations
Choosing how far you want your geofilter to reach is up to you. A map will appear, allowing you to change the shape and size of the geolocation. While you change it, you can see the price fluctuate as well. This location area will be where the filter appears, so select your area wisely.
Submit
After you have checked that all the information is how you like it, you submit it to Snapchat for review. This review process typically takes a day or so. You’ll also confirm your payment here. Payment differs for a variety of reasons.
- How long the filter lasts
- The size of your filter
- The current demand of the selected area
After this process, your filter will be up and running for the perimeters you set. Snapchatters within your geolocation will be able to see and use it.
Keep in Mind
A few things to remember when creating a filter are you can’t use images of people, URL’s, or contact information like phone numbers and emails. This means you have to be innovative when sneaking in a call to action into your filter.
How to Measure the On-Demand Geofilter
Measuring the analytics of your Snapchat on-demand geofilters is easy. Snapchat provides analytics about your filter after it expires. It can show you the usage of your filter and the impressions received on it. Other features of information Snapchat provides are the paid, earned, and total impressions. This is so you can see how far of a reach you received from the filter. There is also a measurement taken on how many times the filter was shared and viewed on people’s Snapchat stories. These metrics sometimes take a little while to appear but provide data for you to see the level of engagement you got from your filter.
What else can Snapchat Geofilters Offer My Business?
Snapchat is forecast to gain more users as the platform continues, but you aren’t only limited to advertising using Snapchat’s geofilters. It also has featured ads that run throughout stories and videos. Snapchat allows advertisements to have links that can take users to external sites. This feature can bring traffic over to your website if the user swipes up. These features are good ways to let people see inside your company. People love seeing the personality and the people who make your company shine, especially if you create content in engaging ways. Snapchat is a growing platform for a wide variety of ages. You can gain a lot of brand awareness and traffic by marketing on this app.
Learn More about Marketing Your Business through Snapchat
Many businesses don’t know how to fully utilize Snapchat. It has free and paid-for ways to market that can help maximize your business. Using on-demand Snapchat geofilters is just the beginning. If you are interested in learning more about geofencing or how to increase your business, let SEO Design Chicago help you. We have experts who are ready to help you grow using digital marketing strategies.
FAQs
- How do I use Snapchat On-Demand Geofilter?
- What is a Snapchat Geofilter?
- How does using a Snapchat Geofilter help my business?
- Is Snapchat useful for businesses?
- How do I make a Snapchat Geofilter?
Contact Us Today!