As the game of catch up and one up is in progress between Instagram and Snapchat, let’s review why both platforms are significant to a Corporate Event Planner NYC and how their events can capitalize from them.
It appears the fight for power between Instagram and Snapchat will not come to an end any time soon. Just a few weeks ago, Instagram introduced a new feature called “Face Filters” that allows users to decorate their faces with masks and other accessories (digitally). This feature is a part of Instagram’s Stories (a collection of pictures and video clips that disappears after 24 hours). Sounds quite familiar, right?
Social media is no longer new to a corporate event planner NYC and neither are countless of its technological developments. In reality, it looks like a race of “me too” businesses…a desperate rivalry if you will. Both platforms are trying to one up each other with their features. Although, there is a bigger picture here and it is based on the way social media – or more importantly, the users have evolved.
The Snapchat vs. Instagram Timeline
2010
October: Instagram launches on iOS as a simple platform for sharing photos online
2011
July: Snapchat first launches as “Picaboo”, for iOS.
September: version 2.0 of Instagram launches with live filters and new image editing features.
2012
March: Picaboo becomes Snapchat.
April: Instagram is released for Android.
April: Facebook acquires Instagram.
October: Snapchat launches an Android app.
2013
October: Snapchat launches Snapchat Stories, collections of images that can be viewed multiple times over 24 hours.
November: Instagram introduces sponsored posts targeting US users.
December: Instagram adds Direct, an image based instant messaging feature.
2014
May: Snapchat adds ephemeral text chat and video calling.
June: Snapchat launches collaborative collections based on events.
July: Snapchat introduces Geofilters, a way to location-tag snaps.
August: Snapchat adds “Live”, allowing users to follow events live.
October: Snapchat announces ads from brands, including paid Geofilters.
2015
January: Snapchat launches Discover, featuring content from brands like ESPN, CNN, Vice, National Geographic, Yahoo News, and more.
June: Instagram adds multiple calls to action to its advertising product, including installing an app, signing up for comms, or links to purchases.
September: Snapchat announces Lenses which attaches AR elements to the user’s face.
September: Instagram ads go global.
2016
March: Instagram switches from a chronological feed to an algorithm.
March: Snapchat launches voice calls
June: Snapchat acquires 3D face-scanning startup, Obvious Engineering.
July: Snapchat launches Memories, allowing users to save snaps to private collections.
August: Instagram launches Stories, collections of images that disappear after 24 hours.
August: Instagram launches Events which collates content around events
September: Snapchat becomes Snap Inc.
October: Facebook filters
November: Instagram launches live video, allowing users to stream live for up to an hour. Live videos are not preserved after the broadcast has finished.
Live videos on Instagram are not preserved and are removed from the service once November: Instagram launches disappearing photos and videos in Instagram Direct.
November: Instagram Live
December: Snapchat introduces group chats for up to 16 people.
December: Instagram launches stickers
December: Instagram adds location tags and graphics that pull in time and weather data like Snapchat’s Geofilters.
2017
February: Instagram launches a feature allowing users to post slideshow-like posts containing up to 10 images.
March: Snapchat adds search functionality to stories, allowing users to find events that interest them.
April: Snapchat introduces World Lenses, adding augmented reality to snaps.
May: Instagram announces Face Filters (AR overlays which attach to facial features) to stories.
May: Instagram introduces location and hashtagging on Stories, allowing them to be found in Explore (search).
May: Instagram adds links, plus portrait and landscape options to Direct.
May: Snapchat announces Custom Stories allowing users to create custom stories around events.
FOMO – The Opportunity for a Corporate Event Planner NYC
Sharing clips of an event is ideal for a corporate event planner NYC because it creates a way to share moments in real-time. For those who are not partaking in the event but are following your pages online, it will create FOMO (fear of missing out). For event planners, this is a golden opportunity to show your talent while making future attendees realize your events are not to be missed. Frankly, which platform is used for this purpose is not relevant. What is important is that your existing event attendees are also sharing out moments so that everyone at the event is flooding the feeds. That will cause their friends or followers to also get bitten by the FOMO bug.
Advertising on Instagram Vs. Snapchat
Both platforms are now offering prominent advertising selections for a corporate event planner NYC to choose from, but Snapchat seems to be ahead of the game. The Snapchat’s Geofilters, a brand can efficiently sponsor an event or location. However, Instagram’s new location tagging and hashtagging in the Stories section works very similarly but isn’t available yet as an advertising option. Surely, it’s only a matter of time until that changes.
Which platform do you use more for events?
