You might already be using Snapchat to market your business. It’s a great way to reach out to your customers, to give your business a human face, and to connect with people quickly and on a platform they already use every single day. Snapchat can also be a powerful tool when it comes to marketing your event. The whole concept behind Snapchat is immediate communication. Here’s how you can use this concept, along with the Geo-Filter tool, to market an upcoming event:

1. Generate buzz leading up to your event.

In addition to all of the other channels you are using to market this event, you should be using Snapchat to generate interest in your event. Whether this is an invite-only event or you are just hoping to get as many people as possible to show up, you can use 1:1 messages, in your specific location, to invite people to that event. 1:1 snaps are going to feel more personal, more deliberate, and therefore more enticing to the people that you want to come. This is especially effective if you are only inviting specific people, but can be just as useful if you want to invite everyone in your immediate area.

2. Make sure your geo-filter mirrors the spirit of your business and your event.

A geo-filter is one of the best ways to set your event apart and to get it to stick in the mind of your customers or clients. In order for your geo-filter to be effective, however, you need to create one that actually encapsulates your business and the event. You have a lot of freedom when it comes to creating these, but your customers will only use them if they are actually appealing and have relevance to you and the event.

3. Create an on-demand geo-filter leading up to your event.

You can utilize your customer base to market your event for you by creating a geo-filter that they can use on their snaps even before the event begins. If you mention this in your 1:1 snaps, you can encourage your followers to use them. Of course, this has to be a filter that they will actually want to use. Snapchat is a highly visual social media, which means that people are going to care about how the filters make them look. Make sure your filter puts your users in the very best light and captures the spirit of the event.

4. Create an on-demand geo-filter for use during your event.

Snapchat now gives you the ability to create a specific geo-filter, which can be used specifically for your event. Your attendees will be able to overlay your filter or filters on the snaps they send while they are at your event, which automatically markets you and your event to their followers. And because many users also utilize filters to take screenshots that they then post on other social networks, you’ll get even more reach.

5. Use geo-filters to create a contest.

Want to really build buzz for your event? Challenge your followers to create the best or most creative snap using your geo-filter. The winner should actually get something tangible, whether it is entrance to your exclusive event, a discount on the product you are launching at the event, a free service, or something similar. Encourage people to channel their creativity to engage with your brand. Even if they don’t win, people will have your event in mind and will be more likely to show up when you need them to.