Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Twitter's idea of innovation is increasing the message limit. That's why it is becoming the Myspace of the 2010s. If you recognize who he is sharing the stage with in that photo, it shows just how desperate he is to convince people that Twitter is still relevant.

I looked up who it was in the photo and I now understand your comment completely.
 
Well if you aren't a big brand or celebrity and you seek attention, Snapchat is a good way to share short clips of your life with your friends and subscribers. Corny? Maybe. Younglings are doing this.

But, in that case, why not just record a short video clip and toss it on YouTube (or somewhere it can be repurposed as needed... and shared with Facebook, Twitter, etc). I suppose if your goal is to get all the younglings on SC to follow you and that's the only place they are, it makes sense.

But, I guess I'm questioning the compelling nature of the platform overall, such that it's one-day going to be the next Facebook/Twitter. Or, to put it another way, is it just 'the next thing' in a fad sort of way, or is there something compelling about the platform aside from flavor of the week.

(Note: I recognize how powerful 'flavor of the week' can temporarily be in our - *squirrel* - culture. So, I'm not arguing that it isn't a popular thing people are jumping on at the moment.)
 
But, in that case, why not just record a short video clip and toss it on YouTube (or somewhere it can be repurposed as needed... and shared with Facebook, Twitter, etc). I suppose if your goal is to get all the younglings on SC to follow you and that's the only place they are, it makes sense.

But, I guess I'm questioning the compelling nature of the platform overall, such that it's one-day going to be the next Facebook/Twitter. Or, to put it another way, is it just 'the next thing' in a fad sort of way, or is there something compelling about the platform aside from flavor of the week.

(Note: I recognize how powerful 'flavor of the week' can temporarily be in our - *squirrel* - culture. So, I'm not arguing that it isn't a popular thing people are jumping on at the moment.)

I guess the compelling feature is the feeling that you can text or send a photo/video knowing that it will go away and not come back to haunt you. Obviously this isn't entirely true but I guess it is less likely on the SnapChat platform than Twitter and FaceBook.

Does SnapChat have staying power? I think so. It has been around for years and has been steadily gaining momentum. Started off with primarily teens/college folks using it and now people of all ages have embraced it. Business are now trying to get in on it. I don't see SnapChat disappearing anytime soon. FaceBook tried to buy them out for a billion in the early days so clearly Zuck saw potential as well.

Below are links how one celeb uses SnapChat to build his brand and push wares.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/a...-snapchat-is-a-major-key-to-success.html?_r=0

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertis...sibility-helped-make-him-king-snapchat-169644
 
I was a leader in a high school youth group for three years. (I just recently moved). Twitter is alive and well with the Millennial/Generation Z crowd.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SteveW928
I guess the compelling feature is the feeling that you can text or send a photo/video knowing that it will go away and not come back to haunt you. Obviously this isn't entirely true but I guess it is less likely on the SnapChat platform than Twitter and FaceBook.

Does SnapChat have staying power? I think so. It has been around for years and has been steadily gaining momentum. Started off with primarily teens/college folks using it and now people of all ages have embraced it. Business are now trying to get in on it. I don't see SnapChat disappearing anytime soon. FaceBook tried to buy them out for a billion in the early days so clearly Zuck saw potential as well.

I guess my question, though, is what's the point of that for business use (aside from some businesses saying really *dumb* things and getting themselves in trouble on social media... but like you say, it isn't like it can't be made permanent!). Businesses are going to try and use *anything* they think can get them some more eyeballs, but that doesn't mean it's going to last.

I can certainly see the celebrity aspect, as it's kind of getting a peek into their life. But, I find it hard to believe (long-term) that it would be a platform to build that status. Maybe once the status is built, using other platforms, then it would be a thing. But, platforms like that don't sustain on a few people using them successfully. They have to eventually monetize it... with some substantial reason for a broad user-base to be there.
 
I guess my question, though, is what's the point of that for business use (aside from some businesses saying really *dumb* things and getting themselves in trouble on social media... but like you say, it isn't like it can't be made permanent!). Businesses are going to try and use *anything* they think can get them some more eyeballs, but that doesn't mean it's going to last.

I can certainly see the celebrity aspect, as it's kind of getting a peek into their life. But, I find it hard to believe (long-term) that it would be a platform to build that status. Maybe once the status is built, using other platforms, then it would be a thing. But, platforms like that don't sustain on a few people using them successfully. They have to eventually monetize it... with some substantial reason for a broad user-base to be there.

Well If I was a business, I would use it in multiple ways:

1. Short clips of employees working together building the product. This would be an attempt to garner interest in the product and company.
2. Clips of of employees having fun in the office. This would be to attract new hires and demonstrate we are are modern and fresh brand.
3. Do product giveaways and Q and A sessions to build up followers and garner interest in the brand/product.


Can this all be done on other platforms? Yes sir! I would be doing the same things there too.
 
Can this all be done on other platforms? Yes sir! I would be doing the same things there too.

I guess that's the thing. Are there already enough of my potential audience there who are going to find/follow me? Or, would I just be creating content for this extra platform, just because it's supposedly some new cool thing I've got to be on.

IMO, right now (i.e.: until I'm famous enough that people would seek me out on such a platform), there's little reason to be there. I've got the accounts created, but would producing content be anything but wasted time? If I could just create content, like I do for every other channel, and *also* post it to SC, then it would make sense (i.e.: say a podcaster might post to Podbean as well as iTunes, even though it only had like 0.?% of listenership... as why not?). But, with SC, you have to specifically create new content for it, for an audience of, possibly, zero.

And, I know I could produce content there, and put in a good bit of work to *convince* people they should go there to see what I'm producing... but, again, why? It just doesn't seem like an ideal platform for that. Why make my audience go to a special place to see content that evaporates in 24-hours, when there are TONS of channels they can follow me at *their* convenience. It seems almost all downside for the consumer. (i.e.: Snapchat... the ideal platform for narcissists? :) )
 
I guess that's the thing. Are there already enough of my potential audience there who are going to find/follow me? Or, would I just be creating content for this extra platform, just because it's supposedly some new cool thing I've got to be on.

IMO, right now (i.e.: until I'm famous enough that people would seek me out on such a platform), there's little reason to be there. I've got the accounts created, but would producing content be anything but wasted time? If I could just create content, like I do for every other channel, and *also* post it to SC, then it would make sense (i.e.: say a podcaster might post to Podbean as well as iTunes, even though it only had like 0.?% of listenership... as why not?). But, with SC, you have to specifically create new content for it, for an audience of, possibly, zero.

And, I know I could produce content there, and put in a good bit of work to *convince* people they should go there to see what I'm producing... but, again, why? It just doesn't seem like an ideal platform for that. Why make my audience go to a special place to see content that evaporates in 24-hours, when there are TONS of channels they can follow me at *their* convenience. It seems almost all downside for the consumer. (i.e.: Snapchat... the ideal platform for narcissists? :) )


Well it is a free tool that has a huge audience. Some of that audience may only use SnapChat and no longer use the other services. These may still fall into your target audience so why not go after them if it only costs a few minutes of your time? I would use FaceBook, your own personal website and Twitter to booster your following on SnapChat by posting your SnapChat handle on there. Hopefully from there word of mouth kicks in based on good marketing techniques and outstanding product/services.

You have nothing to lose but a little bit of time. Try it. Win!
 
Well it is a free tool that has a huge audience. Some of that audience may only use SnapChat and no longer use the other services. These may still fall into your target audience so why not go after them if it only costs a few minutes of your time? I would use FaceBook, your own personal website and Twitter to booster your following on SnapChat by posting your SnapChat handle on there. Hopefully from there word of mouth kicks in based on good marketing techniques and outstanding product/services.

You have nothing to lose but a little bit of time. Try it. Win!

For sure, I'll likely experiment with it some. I guess I'm just predicting/arguing that it's more of a fad platform than others like Facebook and Twitter, and trying to understand why some of the entrepreneur crowd seem enamored with it.

(Edit: Wow, perfect timing... on Day 19 of the Podcast Success Summit, there's a session on Snapchat, "Snapchat Marketing 101 w/ Mark Kaye." I'll have to see what he says. http://www.podcastsuccesssummit.net/sessions/ ... available for the next couple of days for free.)
 
Last edited:
I'm 29. I have email, a land-line (no cell service where I live) and a phone that sends text messages. I'm not really sure why we keep trying to reinvent communication. Short of VR where you can be a thousand miles away and your friend looks like they're in the same room, I don't really see how we can improve things any more than we already have.

You clearly fail to grasp the benefits of these new communication methods. With your old stale methods, if you break wind, you only get to notify a few close friends, via your laboriously cultivate mailing list. With the alternatives, you can inform thousands of total strangers of your noxious emissions virtually instantly.
 
You clearly fail to grasp the benefits of these new communication methods. With your old stale methods, if you break wind, you only get to notify a few close friends, via your laboriously cultivate mailing list. With the alternatives, you can inform thousands of total strangers of your noxious emissions virtually instantly.

Guess I need to jump on this bandwagon of fart syndication.
 
Twitter is massive in education circles; it's a great way to develop your own personal learning network. It's also the way in which I get a lot of my news, (or links to).

I must admit though, I'm more of a lurker than a sharer. It can be hard to know what to put out there.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.