7 Reasons to Embrace Snapchat: So Snap to it!

"Snapchat? Not another social media site..."

"Isn't that just for young folks? Why should I be there?"

"I don't get it and so I just deleted it"

You know, now that I've been branded a social media influencer, one of the things I have learned is to keep learning. I have to evolve in order to maintain my expertise. This is partly why I have let go certain social media sites like Vine and Pinterest because they weren't ideal for my target and objectives. But the truth is, I too avoided Snapchat, mostly because I tried it and then didn't get it.

However, is 'not getting it' one of the WORST reasons to avoid an action? If I didn't get people, I might not have become a good networker or find my true love. If I didn't get school, I may have dropped out. If I didn't get health, I may have had far more massive complications with my fitness.

However, I do listen, evolve, learn and grow, especially to people in my network. When both Gary Vaynerchuk and Brian Fanzo have been promoting it, I decided to try it out more. I first asked my nephew and niece, both 21, to help me navigate. Then I did my research. Finally, I started playing with and creating stories. Now after almost 500 posts... I get it

Here is where I see the appeal, especially for young folks, but it can be for others too.

1. Innovative platform for video

Every video site like YouTube, Periscope and even Facebook have been trying to find a method to have video conversations, similar to the way we might do with Skype. Snapchat does that in an easy format. Now people are having video conversations back and forth, something that even the almighty YouTube and Facebook are still working on.

2. Immediacy

There is a reason why people love Twitter, Periscope or live FB video -- it is immediate access to people. More importantly, there is a greater sense of connection being there as things happen. Snapchat takes this to a new level. Because while you can take a picture on Instagram or Facebook and then post it later, on Snapchat it has to be RIGHT AWAY. It can only be in the moment. That's powerful for some.

3. Easily Build and Share stories

Being able to build a create a story around your day, your event, and even your business adds a level of authenticity and realism that is great for your brand. I used my recent speaker trip to Abu Dhabi to really take advantage of this and started to get even more engagement.

4. 24 hr disappearance

Because the images and video do not stay or cannot be saved anywhere by viewers (the user can save on their own phone), this does 3 important things:

1. Creates a Sense of Urgency: People will feel the need to see your story or amazing capture before it disappears
2. It begins to Fuels more posts: Users will want to fill the pipeline with more content
   
3. It allows even more authentic shares: When you know the content disappears, you may be more willing to share vulnerable, private or intimate moments (excluding the x-rated ones), maybe even say bolder, funnier and innovative things.
   

5. No likes or comments

We can avoid most of the needless drama with trolls and the psychology of gratification. The user/follower experience is focused purely on the idea that you follow what you love.

6. Creative outlet

Snapchat has some fun creative features where you can make silly faces, put a video in slow or fast motion, add the time, the temperature, speed and much more. So it has a way to keep it entertaining and fun even for the user to come up with engaging content.

7. No WiFi needed

Seriously, this is even better than you realize. While in the desert, I had no WiFi, thus making Facebook, Linkedin and many other apps not very accessible. My Snapchat kept working, storing the images and videos of my building story. Once back at the hotel, The WiFi kicked in and made them all live. This functionality encouraged me to use that app more than the other ones I had. I could put something in Instagram, but then would have to wait until I had WiFi to share that before adding another. Snapchat lets me do it on the fly sans Wifi. Brilliant!

Snapchat is a new way to engage, build a brand and engage a tribe. I get it now.

The question is, do you get it now? Will you get it now?

If you do, Snap to it them! FOLLOW ME @raehanbobby. Meanwhile, share your thoughts below.

Bobby Umar

www.raeallan.com

416-838-2526

Twitter: @raehanbobby