Snapchat is on fire. The mobile app, launched back in 2011 and now valued at $16 billion, has reached 7 billion daily video views. Its fresh take on video content has made a believer out of me.

Being skeptical to join the craze, I dipped my feet in a few months back to see what all the hype was about. I will now say, along with 200 million others, I’ve fallen in love and for good reason.

Snapchat has evolved into a brand hot zone.

Not only are The Wall Street Journal, Mashable, Buzz Feed, and ESPN paying the big bucks to be featured in the apps Discover page, but also brands like Starbucks and Coca-Cola are making personal accounts and joining in the Snapchat fun.

Take a look inside the Discover page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbOMqA2AOIk

So what’s the draw for brands? There’s value in the ability to send out visual information. After all people only retains 10% of what they read, compared to the combined 50% of what they see and hear.

Snapchat’s platform is engaging and easy, and it seems to only be getting better. Yes I can watch my friend’s crazy Saturday night antics on their snap story, but I’m becoming an even bigger fan of the content brands are putting out there.

It’s pretty cool to watch a Starbucks barista make a new epic concoction on one page and then the backstage frenzy of a high fashion runway show on another. Basically if you haven’t hopped on the Snapchat train yet, it’s worth a test run especially if you are a brand on social.

Happy Snapping!