September South Florida Bloggers Meetup Recap – Snapchat

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is priceless. It is exactly what keeps the multi-billion dollar TV and video revenue growing faster by the minute. And although you may not be the next rising star, we know just how to get your feet wet and grow your following.

Our September meetup with the South Florida Bloggers was all about Snapchat. Some may see it as the modern-day “Dear Diary,” where all is documented and exposed live for 24 hours. But we are about to catch you up with two of Miami’s local Snapchat influencers, Jose Resendez and Amanda Taylor, who joined us at Los Ranchos Steakhouse at The Falls for an afternoon of meaty content.

The Prequel – Snapchat 101

Jose and Amanda agree that one of the first things a newbie to Snapchat must know is that you have to make it a habit of being active on your account. The more you snap, the more you get a hang of it. Here is what a seasoned “Snapchatter” might be doing: selfie-mode 24/7. Break the ice, as Amanda says, and push through that stage so that your followers get to know you so much better. It is fine to snap a coffee mug here and there, but the bottom line is people want to see your life.

When you are starting out, it is also a good idea to get to know your audience. They are watching you after all, so might as well follow back and see what is on the other side. Figure out your following because as Jose mentioned, it gives you a sense of what gets them tuning in. Pro-tip from Amanda is that you can view how many people screenshot your snaps and that also tells you what your viewers like.

All Roads Should Lead to Snapchat

You might be juggling multiple social media accounts all at the same time. So why make Snapchat a priority? Well, as Jose and Amanda see it, potential clients happen to really like it. To answer your next question, yes, you can take a few extra steps to drive your current following on other outlets to your Snapchat. One suggestion from Jose is that you print your snap code on your business card. Make sure it works and then you can start reaching new peeps!

Also, Amanda notes that you can have your snap code handy by saving it on your camera role. Then you can post it to other platforms — such as Instagram — and get them to check out fresh content on Snapchat first. Why give them first dibs? Well, turns out Snapchat is (technically) undiscoverable. In plain English… a follower on Snapchat really went out of their way to find you, so they really, really like you!

And if you are keeping score, so is Snapchat. There is no count of your followers, unless you sit there and count them individually, but Snapchat does give you the sum of your engagement. It goes something like: Snaps posted + Snaps returned. Your content also gets views, which keep adding up through the next 24 hours. This count might be very useful with clients because you can report back how many viewers your content reached.

What if a brand wants to work with you for compensation? Amanda suggests that you keep it real. Your followers can pretty much tell if you are sharing an ad, so you might as well tell them. People appreciate honesty and it pays—pun intended—to give them a disclaimer. Throw in some language for your sponsors. Jose finds it helps to tell your followers that the next few snaps are related to a compensated campaign — save yourself from repeating it every time.

After some more Q&A, bloggers enjoyed bites from Los Ranchos Steakhouse. The first sampler plate was a variety of delicious treats like quesadillas, fried cheese cubes, and fried plantain chips. Everyone was then served a mixed plate with chicken and chimichurri-marinated steak strips, rice and plantains. Their signature “Tres Leches” dessert was the perfect close to satisfy our sweet tooth and was also enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee.

Join the South Florida Bloggers today to find out more about next month’s meetup!