Instagram isn’t just for foodies vying to get just the right angle on their plate while you wait with a hovering fork. While your friend ‘grams their way to fame, you can be checking your followers and sharing a story of frustration. Start today once you watch our latest episode of Laugh & Learn.
Instagram for Business:
Analytics and Stories
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to connect your Instagram Account to your Facebook Page (using Facebook Settings);
How to see and decipher your Instagram Analytics; and
How to view, engage with, and create Instagram Stories for your brand.
How are you using Instagram for Business? Let us know in the comments below… you may inspire someone in their own marketing strategy!
JJ Abrams is known for many things, but one legacy follows him into each new project: the lens flare.
WAIT, before you go watch The Force Awakens for the 14th time, let’s examine why JJ’s lens flare is important here.
Create Your Consistency on Snapchat
While I certainly do not suggest incorporating lens flares into your video and image efforts (unless they would really add to the overall result), JJ’s use of them has a valuable takeaway for all of us.
When you are consistent in any medium, you generate a few valuable characteristics for your audience:
Credibility. Your audience will see you as an authority on whatever topic you wish to share because you share it every day (or at least very regularly).
Reliability. Whatever else happens in the world, your “lens flare” – wherever you share it – forms a foundation for your audience. That may seem sappy, but it’s amazingly true.
Relevance. Sure, you could just share content that’s completely off the cuff, and that often works great for organic reaction. But by putting in effort to provide a consistent presence or element to your audience, you show them they are important enough for your time & creativity.
Examples of Lens Flare on Snapchat
The best Snapchat Stories, in my opinion, create an expectation of content. I’ll give you a few examples which keep me coming back for more (scan their codes to see what I mean!):
Each day, CammySutra takes us on a walk through the streets of Glasgow, Scotland on his quest to find street musicians.
Snapcode: cammysutra6
Sandra Centorino creates a new challenge for her Snap friends each week called #PSS: Pay-It-Say-It-Forward.
Snapcode: sayitforward
The first Snap for Rachel’s Itsasnaptv each morning is seeing her handwrite the date on her writing pad.
Snapcode: itsasnaptv
Joel Comm has added his #10FastSnaps segment to each day where one-second Snaps guide you through a specific place.
Snapcode: joelcomm
And possibly my favorite is JoeWilsonTV ushering each day with a song accompanying his cat, Mike, with the fast-forward filter applied.
Snapcode: joewilsontv
How do you find your lens flare?
This might be a very organic or a very planned undertaking, but I’d start with your regular day.
Is there something you do just about every day anyway?
When are you most thoughtful or creative? Can you translate that into content?
What is a moment or phase of the day which truly reflects your personality?
Once you think you’ve struck upon an idea, your next question is: how can I use the app (e.g. Snapchat) to present this to my audience regularly? You may or may not want to add a hashtag title to your new segment, though presenting it consistently may allow it to stand on its own.
If you have more insights about how you arrived at our own lens flare, please share it below! Let’s help everyone find what works to keep their audiences engaged.
OK, now you can go watch The Force Awakens. Enjoy the lens flares! OH, and don’t forget to follow me on Snapchat:
MANY thoughts percolate about this platform and its benefits, drawbacks, and the essential fad behind it. Yet one question arose which I am determined to answer for you today:
Can I repurpose Snapchats for marketing?
Yes. Yes, you can.
In addition to geofilters, you can also download/save your Snap right after you capture it.
There are at least two ways to save your Snaps (that’s what you call each snippet you create for your Snapchat Story) to reuse elsewhere:
Save Your Snaps Individually
Once you’ve captured a Snap, the next screen shows you the result (which might be your still image or a really annoying loop of the video you just snapped). Along the bottom, you’ll find a download symbol which, once clicked, will save your image or video to your phone.
Save Your Entire Snapchat Story
Let’s say you’ve snapped off several incredible videos and images to tell your daily Snapchat story. You can download the entire thing!
Hop into your Snapchat app.
You can download/save your entire 24-hour Snapchat Story in one click.
Click the purple + in the bottom right corner to get to your Stories screen.
Along the top, you’ll see a pie-chart image of your Snaps and “My Story.” Click on the triple-dot column on the far right.
Now you’ll see a download symbol. Click and save your Story. Done!
Please note that, because Snaps last for 24 hours before vanishing, you’ll need to download your Snaps before the clock strikes the same time on the next day. However, that’s better than losing them instantly into the vortex of Snapchat history!
What’s the point?
You wanted to repurpose your Snaps, right? Imagine the applications. If you’ve taken the time and care to snap off some great moments which don’t need editing, now you’ve got a ready-made video which can be shared on your website, blog, and social profiles.
As for how I repurpose my Snaps, creating a quick & authentic video for my weekly Really Social Today newsletter has become, well, a Snap! I create a quick outline of the Snaps (scenes), record them (including retakes), and once I’m done I can download my Snapchat story and upload it right into my YouTube channel.
Your Turn
Now that you know for sure you can repurpose your Snaps, list off your ideas for how they can make your content marketing a Snap! (OK, that pretty much meets my cheese quota for the day, but you get the idea.) Share below!
