Snapchat and Nonprofits join forces

A few weeks ago I blogged about predicted social media trends for 2014, and SnapChat was one of the major predictors to be used by bigger name brands. Accordingly, a post from Social Media Today took the idea to the next level and discussed how nonprofit organizations can be using SnapChat.

One of the important goals of nonprofits is to find the idea or point that is going to capture the heart strings of their target audiences. By doing so, people are more likely to donate money to an organization they can relate to or sympathize with.

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One of the main points the article from Social Media Today discussed, is the opportunity to tell a story with the "Story" feature on Snapchat. Nonprofits always have a back story behind the organization that fuels messages and discussions. Having this option on such a new-wave piece of communication is an asset when appealing to younger generations who respond to the idea of that story.

Taking that to the next step, Snapchat has the ability to share information quickly and fleetingly. In today's fast-paced society, the idea of receiving quick information is very appealing, especially to younger generations. While bigger brands and companies are using Snapchat to offer quick deals and updates about the company, nonprofits can take the same idea and tailor it to their specific uses and audiences.

Instead of offering deals or discounts, nonprofits can use the fleeting seconds to show volunteers working on a project or people setting up for an event. They could also use it as an awareness tool. Sending quick facts and figures can not only raise awareness about the issues behind the organization, but also portray the need for people to donate, every nonprofit's ultimate goal.

This transitions into the next technique as well. Organizations can offer quick incentives through Snapchat as an award for donating funds.

There are multitudes of opportunities for nonprofits to use Snapchat. It isn't just for Taco Bell to offer deals or teen age girls to send photos of goofy faces or their kitty cats. There is some serious industry value in this app, and organizations that utilize this tool position themselves on the forefront of technology and also give themselves value when it comes to the younger generation.

Like the article discussed, story telling is becoming such a huge part of the draw toward Snapchat. It's becoming more than just a quick and goofy photo sharing medium, but becoming a real marketing and communication technique for larger companies. The story telling part of Snapchat directly correlates with the mission of nonprofits, which is to tell a story to elicit an emotional response to gain support and traction in the community.

So in the next few months and years I expect to see a lot of nonprofits utilizing Snapchat. Maybe I'll even suggest it to a few clients...

Until next time,
Nikki Darling