Snapchat Introduces Sponsored Snaps and Promoted Places for Advertisers
October 11, 2024 (V SOCIAL MEDIA OF HOLLYWOOD) – Snapchat has announced the introduction of two new advertising formats, Sponsored Snaps and Promoted Places, which are now being tested with launch partners Disney, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell. According to the company, these new placements are designed to enhance how businesses engage with users across two widely used features on Snapchat: the Snap inbox and Snap Map.
Sponsored Snaps allow businesses to deliver full-screen vertical video messages directly to Snapchat users. The Snap appears in the user’s inbox, distinct from other Snaps, and is opt-in, meaning users can choose whether to view the message. If a user does not view the Sponsored Snap, it will be removed from their inbox. Businesses can include a call-to-action link in the Snap, allowing users to respond directly or visit a designated webpage.
Promoted Places, the second new feature, highlights specific locations on the Snap Map to help users discover businesses they may want to visit. The Snap Map, which is frequently used for exploration, will showcase these places of interest, potentially increasing foot traffic. According to Snapchat, their internal data shows that marking a location as a “Top Pick” on the Snap Map results in an average visitation lift of 17.6% for frequent Snapchat users.
Snapchat is also exploring future enhancements to these features, including potential integrations with CRM systems and AI chatbot support to facilitate easier interactions between businesses and customers.
Read the full press announcement here.
Source: Snapchat
Snapchat Expands Safety Measures to Protect Users from Online Exploitation
October 4, 2024 (V SOCIAL MEDIA OF HOLLYWOOD) – Snapchat has introduced new measures aimed at improving user safety, with a focus on preventing online exploitation such as sextortion and child sexual abuse. The platform has implemented advanced technology, including tools like PhotoDNA and CSAI Match, to detect and block harmful content. New in-app warnings for suspicious contacts and improved friending protections have been added to enhance safety for teenage users.
In addition to its technical updates, Snapchat has expanded its Family Center tools, which allow parents to monitor their teens' interactions on the platform. The company has also increased its global Trust and Safety teams, as well as its Law Enforcement Operations team, to support investigations and address potential threats. Snapchat collaborates with law enforcement agencies both in the U.S. and internationally, particularly in regions where online exploitation is prevalent.
The platform remains involved in industry-wide efforts to address online harm, participating in programs such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Take It Down initiative. Snapchat also works with global coalitions like WeProtect and the Tech Coalition to share information and develop strategies to prevent child exploitation.
Snapchat continues to raise awareness about online safety through public education efforts, including research initiatives like the Digital Well-Being Index. These efforts aim to provide insights into online behaviors and risks, helping users, parents, and industry partners stay informed.
Read the official release from snapchat here.
Source: Snapchat
Snapchat Launches Season 2 of "Phantom House" for Halloween 2024
Photo Credit: Snapchat
Oct. 3, 2024 (V SOCIAL MEDIA OF HOLLYWOOD) – Snapchat has announced the return of its popular horror-themed content series Phantom House for Halloween 2024. Season 2 of the series features four new episodes, each filled with chilling stories that blur the line between reality and the supernatural. The episodes will be available as Snap Story compilations and star popular Snapchat creators Tue Nguyen, Jake Koehler, Rachel Levin, and Caryn Marjorie, each bringing their unique approach to their own episode.
In collaboration with Atomic Digital Design, Snapchat is also introducing four AR Lenses that correspond with each Phantom House episode. These Lenses allow users to immerse themselves in the eerie environments of the series, from zombie-infested freezers to demon transformations, creating a more interactive and shareable experience for Snapchatters.
The series has partnered with brands including Maybelline New York, State Farm®, and Hulu, which are sponsoring various aspects of the content. Maybelline is integrating branded content into one episode and launching custom creator content, an AR Lens, Commercials, and Snap Ads. State Farm will release an immersive AR Lens, alongside other digital content, while Hulu is promoting its Huluween campaign and the Hulu Originals film Carved through AR Lenses, Commercials, and Snap Video Ads.
Episode 1 of Phantom House is currently available on the series' Public Profile on Snapchat, with new episodes releasing every Tuesday.
To watch, visit Snapchat’s Phantom House profile.
Source: Snapchat
Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel Reflects on 13-Year Milestone in New Letter to Staff
September 3, 2024 (V SOCIAL MEDIA OF HOLLYWOOD) – In a message to employees, Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel commemorated the company’s 13-year milestone by reflecting on its significant achievements and outlining future goals. The note highlighted Snap's recent progress, including reversing two years of declining revenue and reaching over 850 million global users, as the company continues to evolve in the competitive digital landscape.
“Thank you so much for your extraordinary efforts and dedication to our business," Spiegel wrote to the Snap team. He emphasized the company's success in building a sustainable cost structure, improving earnings and cash flow, and growing content engagement by 25% globally in the second quarter of 2024. The message came as the company works to further strengthen its advertising business and diversify revenue streams, including through its subscription service, Snapchat+.
Spiegel acknowledged the slower growth in Snap’s advertising business compared to competitors, noting that this has been a factor in the company's share price performance. However, he outlined the company's strategy to focus more on its lower funnel business, which generates more predictable revenue through smaller advertisers and direct response objectives. “Lower funnel revenue is ‘stickier’ because it is more closely tied to key business objectives and positive returns on ad spend," Spiegel explained.
Looking ahead to 2025, Spiegel said Snap will focus on accelerating growth in both upper and lower funnel businesses by introducing new ad placements like Sponsored Snaps and Promoted Places, as well as leveraging machine learning to improve ad performance and offer better insights for advertisers. “We’re going to start surfacing more unique and actionable insights to advertisers based on the diversity of engagement on Snapchat,” Spiegel noted, referencing the potential of Snap’s features like the Snap Map.
Spiegel also mentioned Snap's continued investment in augmented reality (AR) and generative AI, which have become central to the company's product strategy. These technologies are expected to further enhance user engagement and offer new opportunities for innovation on the platform.
Reflecting on the company's journey, Spiegel praised the team for navigating challenging market conditions and driving Snap’s growth over the past 13 years. "The reason that I’ve dedicated so much of my life to building Snap is because I believe deeply in the power of technology to make a positive impact in people’s lives,” he stated.
To read the full letter, click here.
Source: Snap Inc.
Snapchat Introduces New Personalization Features for Snapchat+ Subscribers
Photo Credit: Snapchat
(V SOCIAL MEDIA OF HOLLYWOOD) - Snapchat has announced new features to enhance user personalization, available through its Snapchat+ subscription service. With over 9 million subscribers, Snapchat+ offers exclusive and pre-release features aimed at improving user connectivity and customization.
The latest updates for Snapchat+ subscribers include the ability to design a personalized house on Snap Map, visible to themselves and friends with whom they share their location. Users can choose from various customization options, ranging from realistic designs to imaginative creations like candy castles. Additionally, subscribers can now have their custom pet appear beside their Bitmoji in chats, adding a personalized touch to their conversations. Another new feature allows users to send Snaps with expiration options lasting 0.10, 0.25, and 0.50 seconds, enabling quicker and more flexible communication.
In addition to these exclusive features, Snapchat has introduced new options for all users. The Bitmoji Builder now includes a live mirror feature, allowing users to select features that closely resemble their appearance. Additionally, new AI-powered lenses, such as the "My 5-Year Old Self" lens, offer users a nostalgic transformation experience.
Source: Snapchat
Snapchat Drives Audiences to Watch TV Shows and Movies, Reports Samba TV
Photo Credit: Snapchat
July 1, 2024 (V SOCIAL MEDIA OF HOLLYWOOD) - New research from Samba TV indicates that advertising on Snapchat can significantly increase viewership for TV shows, movies, and sporting events. The study reveals that Snapchat campaigns produced an 84% lift in tune-in on average.
Samba TV's tune-in reporting shows that Snapchat not only drives existing audiences to engage with content but also attracts new viewers. The study found that 79% of Snapchat impressions were served to households that had not been reached by traditional TV ads. Additionally, one in three tune-ins driven by Snapchat came from new viewers, encompassing heavy, medium, and light TV viewers.
The effectiveness of Snapchat's ad formats was further demonstrated by campaigns utilizing multiple ad products. Samba TV found that campaigns using three to four ad products saw more than twice the lift compared to those using only one to two ad products.
With over 800 million monthly active users and reaching more than 75% of 13- to 34-year-olds, Snapchat offers substantial opportunities for advertisers to enhance viewer discovery and retention.
Source: Snapchat