Craig Mercure 
We have all been there. Some of our best Snapchat moments get ruined because we had to fumble around with the app trying to find the perfect filter for a selfie, or worse yet- miss out on the perfect opportunity to be at a great event that was snapped! We spend more time fumbling through filters and settings than enjoying a casual night with our friends.
Tips and Tricks to Make the Most out of Snapchat
1. Customize your settings
Turn on “Travel Mode” when you are in a location where data is expensive. This will turn off your GPS tracking, which can drain data quickly when it’s on. You will also want to put your phone on Airplane Mode when using Snapchat to avoid a high phone bill.
2. Save your battery power
Snapchat is a notorious battery hog. Make sure you have a charger nearby or at least an external battery pack where you can recharge if necessary.
3. Customize your filters
Make sure that the most appropriate filter for each picture is on and not set to “Auto”. This way, you will always have the perfect filter for your photo.
4. Use Memories
Memories is a feature that was created by Snapchat as a way to store content from your media library to share later on with friends or on other social platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. However, you can actually use this tool to your benefit for editing pictures or videos before sending them. You have nine filters to choose from- try out each one and decide which one looks best on your image.
5. Use chat sparingly
Chat is great if you are trying to ask someone out, send a selfie, or share something funny. But make sure you don’t go overboard with it. Many people find it annoying when someone won’t stop chatting or sends multiple snaps in a row. You might want to think twice before you send that selfie because your friends might not be too impressed with your narcissism!
6. Don’t go overboard with emoticons
You don’t want to come off as desperate, do you? Save the “:)” and “:D” for when you are genuinely happy or amused. Don’t go overboard with the hearts because it will make your friends think of you as a love sick puppy, not a cool kid!
7. Use geofilters sparingly
Geofilters are basically filters that only work in certain locations, such as a particular city or landmark. This is okay to use every once in awhile, but don’t overuse them… it can get annoying if someone uses geofilters in all their images…
How to Make Snaps Longer
Try tapping the screen while recording a video- this will add more time to your clip! You can also press the arrow button at the bottom of a snap before saving it, but make sure you don’t do it too often because people may think you are trying to spam them.
Other Tips and Tricks
– Use “Chat 2.0” to send selfies, videos, or text messages to friends!
– Go live to interact with your family and friends in real time. You can also use Replay to watch these moments later on.
– Draw on your photos or videos using ink! This is especially fun when you and your friends are trying to figure out what to do for the night or waiting in line somewhere.
– Upload stories that last up to 24 hours so that your friends can watch what you’ve been doing throughout the day.
– Search public stories by location, such as “San Francisco”, and find events such as concerts, food festivals, and more!
– You can turn your phone sideways to use Snapchat like a video camera.
Conclusion
Snapchat has a lot of great features that can be easily overlooked, which is why many users are frustrated with the app. But once you learn how to use Snapchat like a pro, it can become one of your favorite apps.
Snapchat is a great app to use with friends and partners. Just remember that the most important thing you should be doing in Snapchat is hanging out, not fumbling around with your settings! Try these tips and tricks to make the most of your Snapchat experience and share something funny with your friends today.
