Since its launch in 2011, Snapchat has made its mark on the world of social media. Although other social media platforms have adopted some of the app’s trademark features (24-hour stories and interactive filters), there’s no denying that Snapchat set the trend from the start.
Snapchat’s infamous filters are known for being a fun, creative and playful way to spice up a selfie. Most of the filters you’ll see are available to all users, but geofilters are location-specific, whether it’s for a particular city or event.
You’re probably already aware of the huge popularity of Snapchat filters, but did you know that you can create your own? Since Snapchat introduced this feature, brands of all sizes have seen impressive results.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process and teach you how to create a Snapchat filter, step by step.
Why are brands creating Snapchat filters?
In 2022, Snapchat remains one of the top 15 most used social media platforms worldwide. world. It may be surpassed by apps like Facebook and Instagram in terms of user base, but Snapchat’s marketing offers a competitive edge that you simply can’t get with other platforms.
About 293 million users are active on Snapchat every day. Millions of snapshots are taken, sent and viewed.
While these millions of users connect with friends and family on the app, they are likely to discover new brands through filters, geofilters, lenses and promoted ads. Once in the app, 60% of Snapchat users are also more likely to make an impulse purchase.
Above all, what sets Snapchat apart is also one of the development opportunities for most organic brand you will find on any social network. platform: filters.
Snapchat users love to share filters, even if they are branded. Whether used to promote events, introduce new products, or get your business in front of new eyes, filters offer an organic way to reach Snapchat’s broad audience.
Companies that take advantage of this opportunity have seen significant results. Sour Patch Kids, for example, developed a geofilter campaign that increased their followers by 120,000. Other companies, such as Amazon and Starbucks, have used geofilters at universities across the country to target the campus demographic.
Is there a difference between filters and lenses?
Before we begin, it’s important to know the difference between Snapchat filters and Snapchat lenses. Snapchat.
While filters can add text, color effects, and overlays, lenses are a deeper AR experience. A lens can transform the way you look at the world around you. That can include 3D effects, full body transformations, or even objects and characters that appear on your screen.
Snapchat’s filters tend to be fixed, whether it’s an image or a text banner that you can slide over a photo or video. For example, you might find location-based banners with creative text, a time or date overlay, or a filter that makes any video look like an old recording.
How much does it cost to have a custom Snapchat filter?
Even though the filter itself is created it’s relatively cheap, you’ll still have to pay to run a custom Snapchat filter or geofilter. That being said, it is one of the more affordable options for advertising on social media.
Creating an on-demand geofilter starts at $5. The price mainly depends on the size of your design, where you run it, and how long it will last. You can let it run for anywhere from one hour to 30 days.
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Types of Snapchat Filters
Most Snapchat filters can be divided into two types: regular filters and geofilters.
Regular Filters
“Regular” filters are usually predetermined by Snapchat, though they will rotate regularly. The type of filter can differ from simple overlays to an artistic banner. Some filters can change the color and tone of your photo, like black and white or sepia tones, while others will add a simple overlay indicating the temperature, time, date, or even how fast you’re moving.
Other filters will include a colorful banner with a specially designed font. For example, one such filter features the words “Spring Break Confession Cam” in block letters, while on-screen art makes it look like you’re using a recorder to capture photos or video.
Geofilters
Geofilters are similar to regular filters in that they typically feature slide-out banners that you can add to the bottom of your image. However, they are much more suitable for ads since they are tied to a specific location.
Some built-in filters will be tied to local cities, universities, or landmarks. However, you can make your own Snapchat filter and link it to a geographic area of between 20,000 and 5 million square feet, depending on the price.
How to Make a Snapchat Filter for Your Business
Although it may seem intimidating at first, the process of creating a filter is easier than you might think. think . From mastering the design process to setting up your geofilter location, we’ll walk you through how to create a Snapchat filter for your business.
1. Design Your Filter
The first and most important step is to design your filter. If you don’t have a lot of design experience, you can work with various templates that Snapchat offers to create a simple text-based overlay.
However, you can also create and upload your own, as long as it is under 300 kilobytes and has a resolution of 1080 by 2340 pixels.
There are some apps out there that let you create a custom Snapchat filter. Most have a user-friendly interface, so even those with no design experience can create their own attractive filter.
With Adobe Spark Post, you can create backgrounds, images, and text to customize your Snapchat filter. Another great option is Canva, which has a special setting that allows you to create a new geofilter or modify an existing one. Canva also offers a sticker library full of pre-made graphics, some free and some paid, that you can add to your design.
Please note that your filter must be approved by Snapchat before it can be activated. With a commercial filter, your design will be labeled “sponsored” and you won’t be able to use any contact information, such as phone numbers, email addresses, or URLs, as a call to action.
2. Upload Design to Snapchat
Once your design is ready and optimized for upload, head over to Snapchat’s on-demand site and click “get started.” You will then need to sign in to your Snapchat account.
Next, it’s time to load the layout. Once it’s uploaded, a preview will appear showing you what your filter will look like on a user’s phone. This is a great opportunity to spot any issues that need to be tweaked: colors not blending with the background, or an image taking up more than 25% of the screen, for example.
3. Set the date, time and location
On the next screen, you will be asked to select the duration for which you want the filter to run. Make sure your date and time are ready to go; you will not be able to change them once you have submitted the filter.
Next, it’s time to select the location. Enter the address in the search bar. It could be a store location, an event location, or even a general location such as a busy area of town or a university if you want to have a wider network. Then, use the mouse to draw a box around the selected area.
4. See your metrics
Now, it’s time to reap the rewards of your hard work. After the filter expires, you will have access to some basic analytics to measure the performance of your filter. The data will show you how many people viewed your filter and how many used it.
Creating Snapchat Filters: Final Thoughts
Not only are Snapchat Filters easy to create and cost-effective, but they are also incredibly engaging for customers. Users love to share original and fun filters on their photos, branded or unbranded. So don’t be afraid to exercise your creativity and think outside the box. Whether you’re making simple tweaks to existing templates or creating 100% original designs, you have the potential to make your next Snapchat campaign unforgettable.
There’s a whole world of video marketing potential on Snapchat, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to make an impact on a platform that’s already oversaturated with awesome filters. If you want to create a successful ad campaign on Snapchat or any other social platform, learn more about how a quality video campaign with QuickFrame can help you achieve it.
Related: Snapchat Video ad specs and placements
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