Why Is The World Going Crazy For Snapchat? (And Some Of My Top People To Follow)

It may have started as a platform teens used primarily to send dirty pictures on, but Snapchat has quickly evolved into one of the most exciting and powerful social networks we have. Snapchat, the brainchild of three creative kids from Stanford University, burst onto the scene in 2011. As of 2015 it's said that the company is worth up to $20 million, and as many as 6 billion videos per day are being viewed. The app became instantly popular with teens as it was fresh, fun and unlike anything else that existed - in the fact that content disappeared after it had been viewed. However, it quickly became popular in circles outside the millenials that first adopted it, thanks to the fact it was a breath of fresh air amongst the relatively boring and run-of-the-mill other social networks out there. When Snapchat introduced 'Snapchat Stories', the game completely changed; this turned the photo messaging app into its own social network, with users being able to tell and view a story over a 24hr period. Now this is undoubtedly Snapchat's most popular feature, with over 1 billion stories viewed per day. Although initially it wasn’t initially taken too seriously as a communication method for marketing campaigns, it quickly became apparent that brands and bloggers alike could adopt this technology in order to push their own messages and develop an intimate relationship with their followers.


Given that it’s been around for a lot shorter time, it’s amazing that more more of us are familiar with Snapchat than with Pinterest or LinkedIn; the picture sharing app also has more users than Twitter, Pinterest or LinkedIn (based on percentage of the population who are active users.) Snapchat has achieved the same amount of growth in twelve months as Twitter has seen in four years combined, with it now being ranked as the second most popular social network behind Facebook. The world is going crazy for it - but why? Snapchat is an inexpensive, easy to use medium that allows bloggers to communicate with their  audience and show off their personality, creating a deeper and more 'raw' relationship with their readers. The limited editing and filter options make it feel more 'real' and intimate, while the fact you can doodle or add eye-heart emojis on top of a picture ensure it feels fun and refreshing against the over-edited images we now see on Instagram. Snapchat allows you to be 'in the moment', to provide a snapshot of your day or quickly send off a picture of your lunch without worrying if it fits in with your theme. For those of us that can't quite get into vlogging, it allows a conversation to camera that feels natural without having to spend hours in front of editing software.

It's quick, it's easy, and because nobody can see how many followers you have it's an utter level playing field. I personally love the fact that there's no sense of competitiveness when it comes to Snapchat; only you can see who's following you and only you can see how many people have viewed each snap. Rather than focusing on numbers, users are focusing on creating fun and engaging content that will have their followers coming back for more. Unlike other channels, where too much content can be overwhelming or perceived as spammy, on Snapchat it's all about uploading as much as possible; although i struggle to sit through a five minute YouTube video, I'll happily watch 35 snaps back to back and not get bored. If you've yet to get on-board with the platform or are looking for people to follow, here are five of my faves that will give you a great taster of what Snapchat has to offer.

emshelx
I love the fact that Em snaps everything she's doing, while chatting you through products and experiences. It really is an extension of her blog and gives you a real insight into what she's getting up to - there's always loads of snaps to see too!

Eva Longoria 
If you ever wondered what went on in the *real* life of a Desperate Housewive, then you NEED to follow Eva. She's absolutely hilarious and doesn't hesitate to make herself look like a wally. She embraces the filters wholeheartedly and even gets her buddies (i.e. Victoria Beckham) involved.

Lydia Elise Millen 
God could this woman be any more stylish? If you thought her Instagram pictures were edited and perfected, her Snapchat will show you she really is that gorgeous - and her life really is that amazing. She gives you an added insight into what she's doing and spends a lot of time chatting while in her car, which I love.

meganjanelillie
Megan doesnt really do YouTube videos, so this is a great way to get to know the cute little pixie behind the blog. She's as sweet as a button and always looks utterly fabulous, so you're in for a treat on her Snapchat. From shopping hauls and random chats, to makeup looks and a peek into her bedroom, she's a fab Snapchatter.

Poppy Dinsey
I've known Poppy for a long time and she's blooming hlarious. 'Keeping it real' was a phrase penned for her, as her last Snapchat was filmed sat in a football shirt with a bizarre filter on her face. If you want something utterly unfiltered and relatable, give her a follow.

And of course ME! You can follow me (@LBQblog) for an insight into my life, sneaky looks at products before they make it anywhere else, the boring bits of me watching telly, snaps of my hamsters misbehaving and generally having a chat to camera about what I've been up to. I've never been that inspired to film videos, and Periscope is becoming awash with trolls, so Snapchat is definitely something I'm focusing on and thoroughly enjoying right now. I hope to see you over there!

Are you a fan of Snapchat? Do you have any top tips of people I should be following?