5 Dos and Don’ts of Snapchat: A Basic Guide

We all have that one friend who constantly sends Snapchat Stories or sends the most generic Snaps. How do you respond to a Snap of a mug or a fax machine? Eventually, you stop viewing that friend’s Stories because they just post far too much about nothing.

Here’s a list of the five Snapchat Dos and Don’ts both individuals and advertisers should keep in mind when Snapchatting.

The 5 Dos

1. Use humor. Snapchat is unique from other networks because of its ability to capture the instantaneous, fun (and sometimes embarrassing) moments. There’s a reason the app has so many silly filters. Even something very basic can be spiced up with a voice and/or face changer. It won’t only make your recipients happy—it will make you happy too.
2. Include some kind of action or call-to-action. You want to make your viewer react in some way, even if it’s just through thought or laughter.
3. Create your own style. Use the impromptu purpose of Snapchat to let your individuality shine through. For example, instead of sending a staged selfie Snap, send one of yourself dancing ridiculously to silly music.
4. Be consistent. You don’t want to be sending Snaps all the time, but a steady flow or minimum of at least twice a day allows you to maintain a following. If you only Snap once every couple of months, you’re not going to increase your Snapchat following.
5. Track your Snap views to calculate click-through rates. For marketers or individuals looking to increase engagement and following, it’s a good idea to track how many views a Snap or Story receives. You can use the information to either change tactics that aren’t working or continue using tactics that are.

The 5 Don’ts

1. Do not take Snaps that are under five or six seconds long unless it’s a very basic, straight-to-the-point Snap. You want the viewer to have the chance to get the message behind the Snap right away.
2. Do not take Snaps that last a full 10 seconds. Unless it’s a video that requires a full 10 seconds to view or a photo containing a lot of information, a photo of something really basic does not need to be 10 seconds long. In fact, a Snap of something simple is more interesting and has more impact if it’s relatively brief. When it drags out unnecessarily, it becomes less interesting and the sender loses appeal.
3. Do not stage perfectionism. What makes Snaps interesting is the ability to capture the fun and quirky moments. Spending too much time trying to perfect a Snap makes it less relatable and less captivating. Even businesses or corporations should get a little silly.
4. Do not send multiple Snaps in a row. Recipients become annoyed when a user constantly sends Snaps. The sender’s Snaps are viewed less and less because they eventually become pointless and repetitive. It’s a good rule of thumb to limit the number of Snaps in a Story to no more than 10.
5. Do not send boring or generic Snaps. For example, avoid sending weather updates or Snaps of stationary objects. The only instances these types of Snaps are acceptable are when 1) you’re teasing a friend about how great your winter is in Florida, or 2) there is a humorous implicit message associated with the object.

For a basic guide to Facebook advertising, see “How to Be a Successful Facebook Advertiser.”

Do you agree with this list? Let us know in the comments section below.