If it’s for sale, readily available to consumers and desirable, there is no doubt it can be gamified.
Gamification is a new word being used by marketing firms in a retail world that is increasingly influenced by applications like Snapchat. Simply put, gamification is a combination of gaming and gratification that companies use to stimulate interest in products or events.
Here’s how it works.
Suppose you want to let customers know about a new product you are carrying. You can use Snapchat to create a game in which players have to send snaps of a series of specific objects to receive a special discount on the product. You can also use this type of game to lead customers to a special sale or event at your location or on your website.
The game can be accompanied by sneak previews of the new product to stimulate interest and encourage people to begin forwarding snaps, chatting and texting. The objects in the game can be related to the new product or clues. Since Snapchat images and videos only last a few seconds, it is important to keep them simple.
The game can be reinforced, and reach can be expanded, by promoting it through social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. This will encourage friends of your contacts to take an interest in the product or the event and increase your follower rates.
This is only one example of a game that can be played through Snapchat. Other types of games include posting a question or a clue with the first person to respond with a snap winning a discount or a prize; sending a snap to customers and asking them to identify the image to win a discount or prize; sending a special key word or discount code that customers can use for a limited amount of time when buying products from you; or sending snaps of a product that is on sale that day only.
It is important to create a sense of urgency in any marketing promotion using Snapchat. Limit the length of your promotion or your event. Make it happen now, and beat your competitors at their game.