At first, many of us didn’t quite understand how Snapchat could be used for a business.

The messaging app originally seemed like a fad with a short shelf life (like Pokemon GO). But after four years of activity, Snapchat has evolved. It has now garnered 150 million active daily users, making the app more popular than Twitter.

The most recent Snapchat change, Memories, allows the service to cater to a larger user base. Your target audience might not be on Snapchat right now, but according to the standard adoption curve, it’s only a matter of time. 

So what can an auto dealership use Snapchat for? Your automotive marketing team here at 9 Clouds has a few ideas!

3 Ways to Use Snapchat for Auto Dealers

1. Promote Events with On-Demand Snapchat Geofilters

A Geofilter is essentially a Snapchat lens customized with small art graphics that can be placed over a user’s photo. 

Honda Sponsored Geofilter

When a Snapchatter within a set location takes a picture, they have the option to select an On-Demand Geofilter from that location. That way, the user can communicate to their followers where, when, and why they took a Snap.

So if your auto dealership is having an event or sale, encourage your shoppers to use the app when they purchase a vehicle. After all, the first thing many of us want to do upon buying a car is share the exciting news with our family and friends!

Here’s an example of a Geofilter that Honda created. The sponsored filter is a promotion of one of Honda’s most popular vehicles, the Honda Civic, after its redesign.

On-Demand Geofilters start at just $5. Visit this page to ensure your design meets official Snapchat artwork guidelines. 

2. Encourage Sales Staff to Promote Inventory with Snapchat

Visuals are the new storytelling medium.

A Snapchat Story is a compilation of images and short videos that lasts for 24 hours. Businesses and dealerships can use Stories as an opportunity to create a compelling narrative for their followers.

Have your sales team take photos and videos of new inventory and post them to your Story. Doing so will give your followers a chance to get up-close and personal with your vehicles in real time.

Add a touch of personality to your posts. Share your company culture, and let your followers get to know the people behind your brand.

3. Share an Exclusive Service Coupon on Snapchat

There’s definitely a sense of immediacy with Snapchat. This makes it a great medium to share coupon opportunities! Encourage your followers to screenshot a Snap or use an exclusive code for discounted service at your dealership.

A strategy like this entices your leads and customers to shop while making them feel like they are “in the know” on offers others may not be getting.

To create a coupon on Snapchat, you can simply take a picture of your current physical coupon, or you can create one within the app. Send it to your Snapchat Story, so each of your followers can see it and has 24 hours to redeem the private coupon.

Get Snappin’ With Snapchat Auto Dealers

The best way to learn more about Snapchat is to follow accounts and study how users and brands are interacting. Many of the lessons you will learn can also be applied to your Instagram account.

If you’re still feeling a little hesitant about using Snapchat for your auto dealership, the least you can do is download it and start building an audience. Test things out, and learn how to use it by practicing.

Once you feel like you have a handle on Snapchat, give some of our ideas a try, and let us know how it goes.

Add us on Snapchat! Just open the app, and press and hold over this picture. You can also search for the username See9Clouds.

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