Could a Northern Ireland mechanic use Snapchat marketing?

Last week, as I sat in my car awaiting the dreaded MOT test early on a Thursday morning, my mind started to wander.

All around me cars sat in three bays waiting to be tested and inside each was an owner worried about their car failing, more trips to the mechanics and more expenses. This happens 9-5 every weekday, every month, every year.

This seemed like the perfect potential customer group for any mechanic in the nearby area.

Can you imagine if a mechanic was allowed, and able to give up his or her time, to stand on the other side of the MOT test centre and talk to the unfortunate owners of cars that had just failed?

It would be the perfect opportunity to sell a solution to a very real and immediate problem.

Targeted Snapchat Geo-Filters

With Snapchat geo-filters that imaginary scenario is a very real possibility.

Mechanics now have the opportunity to target the small area around, and including, any MOT test centre in the country.

As car owners are sitting in bays waiting their turn they could open Snapchat, swipe across the various filters, and see something like below:

This Snapchat filter promotes “Gary’s Garage”, a fictional mechanics on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, and lets everyone at the test centre know about his “A+ MOT Results”.

Easy!

This same type of thinking could be applied to all sorts of businesses.

Where are the opportunities?

Also, just remember, if you’re making Snapchat filters for business you can’t include phone numbers or email addresses so get creative when targeting your customers!

If you want to get started on your own just download the Counter Digital “Snapchat for Business” free e-book here!

Snapchat is now a massive social media channel, both globally and here in Northern Ireland, and with that attention comes the opportunity to get your business messages out in front of new eyes and ears.

One way to do this is by using Snapchat’s geofilters feature for your business. Filters can be seen within the app during the editing of photos or videos.

For a step-by-step guide on how to create your own Snapchat filters for business download our Snapchat for Business ebook. Right now we’re going to look at some examples to get your brain cogs turning!

One: Lunchtime Specials!

Many local cafes live and die by the customers in their immediate area including residents, workers and shoppers.

A local café could use a custom Snapchat filter, targeting only the streets around them, to notify people nearby about their weekday lunchtime specials.

How many people do you know who take sneaky selfies during work? You could be giving them ideas on where to eat at the same time!

Two: Snapchat Gigs

Northern Ireland pubs and bars are constantly hosting the best local musical talent the country has to offer but as a customer it can be hard to keep up-to-date with what’s happening, where and when.

It’s also clear, after one look at your Snapchat stories over the weekend, that use of the app rockets up during Friday and Saturday nights out.

Create a Snapchat filter telling people about the next big gig and target everyone who enters your bar from 9pm-1am on the busiest nights of the week!

Three: Changing Rooms

Massive brands like River Island and H&M have acknowledged changing room photography for years with social campaigns, competitions and hashtags so why don’t you?

Selfie culture has been around for years so why not use it to push your brand out even further? Target your shop, during specifically busy hours or days, and have your filter appear any time a customer uses Snapchat within your shop and changing rooms.

You could use this space to promote your brand logo, new incoming lines or the latest offers.

Four: Utilise Key Tourist Attractions

2.3 million tourists discovered Northern Ireland’s beauty and charm in 2015 and massive portions of them went directly to our biggest attractions. 850,000 visited the Giant’s Causeway, 622,000 went to Titanic Belfast and 465,000 went to the Ulster Museum.

If you have a product or service you’d think tourists would love you could target them in the midst of their journey around our country.

Five: That New Car Feeling!

Almost everyone takes a photo of their new car just after they’ve bought it. It’s human nature to boast or feel happy after such an important purchase and that makes it the perfect opportunity for car dealer’s to get their brand out there to a wider audience.

Create a custom filter with the garage logo, target your business and focus on the busiest day of the week to try it out.

Counter Talk