Snapchat Ads vs Instagram Ads: Which Is Better?

It’s impossible to exclude social media networks from your marketing strategy in 2020. Choosing the right channel is the first step to a great campaign. If you can’t decide whether to invest in Instagram or Snapchat ads, we’ll explain the difference to help you make an informed decision.

But remember, the right channel is the one your audience is. What works for one business doesn’t always work for other companies. That’s why it’s a good idea to research your target audience first.

Snapchat Ads

Snapchat has many more features than most other social media, including Instagram. It was the first app to introduce filters, stories, and is now experimenting with virtual reality as well. It’s not surprising that Snapchat offers different ad formats, and some don’t even look like typical ads. Here are the three main forms of Snapchat ads available:

1. Additional Ads – Classic snap ads are the most widely used form of advertising on this platform. It is usually in the form of a video that users watch and then they can scroll up to your website for more information. This type of advertisement is also great for lead generation because instead of driving users to your website and driving traffic, you can direct them to subscribe to your newsletter.
2. Filters – Have you ever seen a branded filter on Snapchat? They’re so fun and refreshing, and it’s hard to forget them. The best time to install branded filters is for some big events like a basketball game. Of course, you should do your research first and make sure your target audience will be there.
3. Lenses – Lenses are similar to filters, but the goal is to create fun lenses that people will want to use. They are better suited for products rather than service-based businesses, as you can actually put your product inside the filter. However, if you are a small business this may not work for you unless you are extremely creative. Companies that have had great success with lenses include big names like Red Bull and the NBA.

Instagram Ads

Compared to Snapchat ads, Instagram ads look more traditional. However, this does not mean that they are not effective. Instagram is still one of the most important platforms and is great for increasing your brand awareness and selling products at the same time. We suggest that Instagram is better for BB marketing, as Snapchat is often used by younger people who are still reading.

Instagram offers two types of ads:

1. Sponsored Posts – Sponsored posts can be a great option to showcase your new product, and people tend to spend more time looking at a post than a disappearing story. To get the most out of it, make sure you have great photos of your product and choose your target audience carefully.
2. Story – Instagram stories are more lively and interactive and remind us of some Snapchat formats. The biggest benefit of this format is that it can be used to tell the story about your brand. You can create a series of paid stories, and if they’re interesting enough, most people will click on your profile or link to learn more about your brand.

What is better?

It’s hard to say which format is better or more effective, as various factors are important. But the most important thing is to find where your ideal audience spends most of their time. When you know this, you will know where to set up the campaigns and where to invest your money.

If your audience spends time on both Snapchat and Instagram, you can use a simple strategy used by big companies like Coca Cola. Use Instagram to create brand awareness and informative campaigns about your brand. On the other hand, use Snapchat to express your creativity and improve your relationships with your customers.

Snapchat is ideal for customer relationship management as it allows you to be more spontaneous and create fun campaigns. But keep in mind that Snapchat users interact more with brands they’re already familiar with.

The final decision

Personally, we prefer Snapchat ads because they’re more fun. But that doesn’t mean you should rely solely on Snapchat ads, especially if it turns out your target audience isn’t there. Therefore, do your research before investing in any campaign. Of course, you can try both networks to see what works for you.

Do you prefer Instagram or Snapchat and why? Let us know in the comments section below.