This is great news for brands marketing to this core demographic, but be careful \u2013 Snapchat has some unwritten rules, and probably no age group is as in-tune to faux pas as 13-to-25-year-olds.<\/p>\n\n To help you avoid those potential blunders, here\u2019s everything you should know before using Snapchat for your branded content:<\/p>\n\n Snaps are 3-10 seconds long. So if your snap story is, say, 100 seconds, that means you\u2019ve snapped at least 10 times that day; probably more.<\/p>\n\n Snaps are supposed to be fun, interesting snippets of your day \u2013 not a chronology of every mundane activity.<\/p>\n\n Brands are more at risk for \u201cover-snapping\u201d if their focus on the platform is promotional, and they\u2019re just trying to get as much reach as possible.<\/p>\n\n Research into what people expect from brands on social media suggests this isn\u2019t a good strategy.<\/p>\n\n Gallup\u2019s State of the American Consumer study<\/a> explains: \u201cSocial media sites are highly personal and conversational[\u2026] Consumers who use these sites do not want to hear sales pitches[\u2026] This content should be original to the company and not related to sales or marketing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n So snap sparingly, and keep it fun.<\/p>\n\n Along the same lines, 10 seconds is a pretty long time to have someone\u2019s full attention, especially since attention spans continue to drop<\/a> every decade.<\/p>\n\n For best results? Only use the seconds you need to convey your message.<\/p>\n\n If you\u2019re snapping to show off a great haircut, for example, three seconds is plenty of time.<\/p>\n\n A key difference between Instagram and Snapchat<\/a> is authenticity. People will take 50 selfies from every angle and post the perfect one on Instagram, but Snapchat is more about keeping it real.<\/p>\n\n You\u2019re not looking for likes, just something that resonates. And authenticity is a great way to build a personal connection with your audience.<\/p>\n\n One example: nobody realized how relatable Sour Patch Kids could be, until they added SourPatchSnaps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Successful brands on Snapchat use the platform much in the same way as everyone else. Sharing snaps that \u201ckeep it real\u201d can make your brand more relatable.<\/p>\n\n Millennial Snapchat users continue to make this mistake all the time, and some brands might need reminding, too.<\/p>\n\n For one, it\u2019s illegal, and even if you\u2019re parked, it can still make you come off as reckless.<\/p>\n\n So don\u2019t snap and drive \u2013 or snap while doing anything else questionable or illegal, for that matter.<\/p>\n\n Just like any social platform, Snapchat is about engagement for brands. Focus on creating branded snaps that resonate with your audience, but also take time to reply to their snaps and build a relationship.<\/p>\n\n GrubHub<\/a> is one brand that really knows how to start a conversation on the network:<\/p>\n\n Snap posts only survive for 24 hours, but that doesn\u2019t mean your message won\u2019t live on in screenshots and the minds of your audience.<\/p>\n\n Don\u2019t make the mistake of sending a snap you might later regret.<\/p>\n\n Better yet, try to make your snaps a businesswide effort. Enlisting other employees<\/a> to help create great branded snaps will encourage the authenticity<\/a> mentioned above by giving your followers an inside look at the company.<\/p>\n\n It will also minimize your chances of sending a snap you might later regret if you have multiple people planning your branded content together.<\/p>\n\n When you send a snap, you have the option to send it directly to individuals and include it as part of your story<\/a> that all your friends can see.<\/p>\n\n Pick one, and don\u2019t do both.<\/p>\n\n People like receiving personalized snaps just for them, but if they\u2019re going to see it in your story as well, that kind of defeats the purpose.<\/p>\n\n Snapchat has a lot of cool features and effects to spice up your snaps, like the speed filter, and the ability to edit your snaps. You can even puke rainbows<\/a> if you want.<\/p>\n\n But these features should be used as artistic tools and nothing else. If the filter doesn\u2019t do anything to enhance your snap, it might just come off as annoying to your audience.<\/p>\n\n Here\u2019s another great example of GrubHub<\/a> making good use of artistic tools in their branded content:<\/p>\n\n Snapchat actually makes it pretty easy for brands to get creative on the platform and draw in their audiences.<\/p>\n\n You\u2019re allowed to use brand assets, such as a personalized ghost logo:<\/p>\n\n Place these around the web \u2013 they\u2019re actually \u201csnapcodes,\u201d as in, scannable codes that make it easy for people to find your brand\u2019s profile.<\/p>\n\n Brands have plenty of different social platforms they can market to, and many make the effort to have an appearance on all of them.<\/p>\n\n But don\u2019t bite off more than you can chew. In my experience, having a brand profile and never using it looks worse to your audience than not having one at all.<\/p>\n\n It can be daunting to sign up for a new social platform and start from scratch building a following. But if you know the right tricks, you can have an active profile pretty quickly.<\/p>\n\nSnapchat audience<\/em><\/p>\n\n
Don\u2019t Over-Snap<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alienroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-18.jpeg\" "\\"9")
<\/figure>\n\nOnly Use the Seconds You Need<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
Always Keep It Real on Snapchat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
SourPatchSnaps<\/em><\/p>\n\n
Don\u2019t Snap and Drive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
Spend Time Replying<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
Think Before You Snap<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
Don\u2019t Make Duplicate Snaps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
Be Artistic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alienroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-73.png\" "\\"9")
<\/figure>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alienroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-72.png\" "\\"9")
<\/figure>\n\nActually Use the App<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n