The number of social media platforms accessible to professionals in digital communications can feel overwhelming. The demands of social media are constantly changing, as more platforms come into the mix and others die down. However, the prevalence of Snapchat and Twitter does not appear to be abating any time soon. Keep reading to find out the uses and benefits of these key 21st century platforms for professional digital communications.

Snapchat

Snapchat is perhaps one of the most used platforms for social networking. As a professional in digital communications, keep in mind that Snapchat is best used for personal, expressive and short lived content. This content should always aim to create a quick visual memory for the viewer. There are many features on Snapchat which can be used to increase the awareness and engagement of an organization. These features include: filters, Snap map, news, special effects and much more. Those in professional digital communications should lean into Snapchat and all the benefits that it has to offer. Due to the personal and expressive nature of the app, an organization should make sure that what they are sharing on Snapchat not only humanizes their brand image, but also feels one-on-one to the viewer. While the demographic on Snapchat tends to lean younger, it is still important for all organizations to continually use the platform and share their slice-of-life moments with users in order to succeed. 

Twitter

Twitter is the perfect platform for communications and public relations professionals to showcase the personality of an organization. The quick, up-to-date and fun characteristics of Twitter make it a social networking platform that is great for engagement between an organization and their community. The demographic on Twitter is one which is truly comprised of all ages. The 280 character post limit is also something that professionals in digital communications need to keep in mind when creating content. Frequent engagement on Twitter is crucial for success on the platform. Professionals in digital communications must make sure that while they are creating great tweets for the brand, that they are also actively checking on consumer sentiment and quickly communicating with users who tweet about the organization. Tweets on the platform should be ones that are: relevant, clever, humorous, concise and entertaining. A prime example of an organization creatively using Twitter to increase brand awareness and engagement is Arby’s tweet poking fun at the famous musician, Pharrell Williams, for his hat choice at the 2014 Grammys. This one tweet “earned 384-times Arby’s normal reach on Twitter” (https://marketingland.com/guy-behind-arbys-tweet-pharrell-williams-rocked-grammys-72222). 

These insights into the world of Snapchat and Twitter are sure to help one succeed in their professional use of both platforms. As for any platform to succeed- engagement is crucial! Come back next week to discover more about the importance of Youtube and TikTok within digital communications!