Due to the Coronavirus lockdowns, people have been seeking means to stay connected with their loved ones as well as finding means to combat boredom. Like other social media platforms, Snapchat has also seen an increase in usage amid the lockdowns.
Earlier, Snapchat released an update on its usage trends as well as some keynotes on trends that have gained momentum. This could give an insight to marketers who are seeking to improve their performance during this time.
Starting off with usage, Snapchat has said that there has been a 50% increase in video calls on the app and people are now spending 25% more time on Snap lenses. More messages are being sent among close friends, the discover content has also gained more attention and there has been a rise in group chats as well.
The increase of usage that social apps are seeing may not come as a surprise but this is something important to note. Retailers who have been forced to shut down their stores can focus on eCommerce to reach potential buyers through social media apps during this rough patch that economies all over the world are facing. But its not just retailers who can make use of social media to connect with their target audiences.
Snapchat has noted that people have been interested in shopping online for athleisure, pet items and home essentials, and have shown broad interest in fitness, music, mobile gaming, interior decoration and cooking. Moreover, online mediation services have also been getting a lot of attention.
Due to more engagement on the app, Snapchat days that ads are performing well and there has been a 36% increase in install volume for apps and a 19% boost on swipe-up rate during the month of March.
Many businesses may not be able to operate during this pandemic and there is likely to be a significant economic impact due to the shutdowns. But brands do have an opportunity to connect with users online as data shows that users have been looking for products online.
And although this is not the ideal time to consider ads or outreach, but in already difficult conditions economic impacts can be reduced if businesses are able to find ways to continue their operations online.
