Here we are again! Another social platform has entered the scene and the industry is buzzing about what this means for plastic surgeons. The new platform is Snapchat!
To the surprise of many of our clients, Snapchat isn’t actually that new. The social platform has been around since 2011 but is just starting to gain traction in the aesthetic industry. Early adopters like Dr. Miami have reaped the benefits by being one of the firsts to the scene. With upwards of 50,000 viewers per day and a surgery waiting list 18 months long, it’s no wonder people are buzzing about what this new channel and it’s amazing results could mean for other practices.
Why Snapchat could be a good solution for plastic surgery practices
1. There are fewer restrictions: Both Facebook and Instagram have rules against nudity. While Facebook has become a bit more lenient over the years, rarely taking action against violations of their Page Guidelines, Instagram is a different story. Instagram states in their Terms of Use that, “Violation of these Terms of Use may, in Instagram’s sole discretion, result in termination of your Instagram account” and we’ve seen numerous accounts disabled or terminated as a result. Ouch! This is exactly what happened to Dr. Miami and the reason he decided to try Snapchat. Snapchat currently has no limitations or rules around nudity.
2. You can reach new audiences: It’s no secret that millennials aren’t really using Facebook and that they’re very active on Snapchat. While millennials might not be the target audience for most aesthetic practices, Carlos Gill, the global head of social media for BMC Software, believes millennials are expected to generally outspend baby boomers by 2017. This demographic is open to the idea of both non-surgical and surgical procedures as young celebrities like Kylie Jenner share openly about their procedures. Snapchat can be a great way for the younger demographic to get educated, research doctors, and consider different treatments and procedures for the future.
3. It doesn’t need to be perfect: Content for Snapchat is created entirely through your mobile device. This means no professional equipment or editing is needed. This is a huge benefit for practices because video creation can be a costly investment. In addition, you can save any photo or video taken with Snapchat directly to your phone and repurpose them.
Like all social platforms, Snapchat isn’t going to be right for every practice. It’s important you know your goal and strategy before diving in. Measure your results, track time and investments, and make sure this is a smart use of your resources. It will take some time to build a following and be successful.
We invite you to share your opinion on this hot topic in the comment section below!
Until next time!
-Ashley
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