Whether you are in the dreaming or planning stages of an event for you company, it’s true that Snapchat may not be the first social platform that comes to your mind. Some of you may even be afraid of the Snapchat world. Don’t be fooled by the Snapchat ghost logo, because it doesn’t have to be scary and it’s actually a lot of fun! There are so many reasons to be excited to use Snapchat for your marketing efforts.
Let’s start with the fact that Snapchat currently has over 200 MILLION users. It’s incredibly popular with young women and students. Why do so many people love Snapchat? It’s all about sharing your experiences with your friends as they happen. The app enables users to send pictures, texts and video messages to their followers. The catch? They disappear after they are viewed. Users have the option to save images and videos to their stories, where they will live for 24 hours.
Snapchat is the Perfect Addition to Your Events
Snapchat is a huge contributor in driving a sense of FOMO (a millennial term known as “fear of missing out”). If you want to know more about FOMO, check out our prior blog to get the scoop! Snapchats are sent and received instantly, so users can see their friends enjoying an event while the event is happening in real time. If followers can’t make it to the event, they can still feel like they are there.
Getting started on Snapchat is quick and easy! We encourage you to start a company Snapchat for your events and start building a connection with the younger audience. Let’s talk about how to create a Snapchat geofilter for your event.
What is a GeoFilter and How Do I Create One?
A Snapchat Geofilter is an illustration or “filter” for Snapchat photos that can only be used within a specific geographic location, down to 20,000 square feet (half of a city block). Once you start using Snapchat, you’ll start to notice that most cities have geofilters and you’ll start seeing them as you attend events, festivals and concerts. To create a geofilter for your business, you just need to submit an illustration to Snapchat right here. Your filter will be reviewed and upon approval, it will go live on your specified dates. Any photos or videos taken by Snapchatters at your location can be layered with your filter.
What are the Steps to Create a Geofilter?
- Choose the location and amount of time that you wish for your geofilter to be active. We recommend including buffers on the geography and time, so that the filter will be active an hour or two extra on either end and be sure to capture the entire block around your event. This way you can engage with a larger audience.
- Submit an illustration on the Snapchat website. They make it easy by including customizable templates that you can use or the option to design your own.
- Submit your geofilter at least a week before you want it to be active.
- The cost varies based on the size of your area and the timespan, but the price starts out around $5 for 20,000 square feet.
Keep These Things in Mind
Snapchat pictures are either sent to friends or added to your attendee’s Snapchat stories, so anyone who views their image will be exposed to your business! Users can also download their images once taken, so it’s never unusual to see your branded images posted to Facebook and Instagram. In fact, we encourage you to ask your event attendees to share their images on Facebook or Instagram and then tag your company. Here are few design tips to keep in mind:
- Geofilters need to be saved in PNG format with a clear background and 300kb in size or less.
- Only use top or bottom quarters of your screen so your filter won’t cover the original user’s image.
- If you don’t have design experience, you can easily edit one of Snapchat’s geofilter templates, available for download on the geofilter submission page.
Because your geofilter is likely only active during the event itself, it’s a great way to build awareness and excitement for your next event. Snapchat users will be able to see their friends having a great time! Not to mention, you are also building your brand in a modern way. Are you ready to go? Submit your own geofilter design to Snapchat here.
Rethink out of the Box 