Snapchat! Oh, did we scare you? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. While some may have shrugged off Snapchat because it confused them or they thought it was just a platform for teens, it’s actually a great tool for museums to communicate to their audiences – and the recent introduction of Instagram Stories has made some museum social media managers take greater notice of these ephemeral storytelling methods. What unique value do Snapchat and Instagram Stories have for storytelling? What are some of the challenges of these platforms? How do you even take a picture? Ryan Dodge, Shaelyn Amaio, & I will teach you how to worry less about analytics and more about posting stories that celebrate art for art’s sake, and the benefit of your followers. Join us for a discussion of the best practices in Snapchatting and Instagram Stories from a theoretical standpoint, which platform might be best for you or your institution, some examples of excellent uses of the platforms from some of our favorite cultural heritage professionals and institutions, a quick group brainstorm, and a bring-your-own-device, hands-on tutorial in the apps. Participants will leave with an understanding of the platform, some ideas for ways to engage audiences on the app, and, hopefully, a few of their very own Snaps in their very own Stories.

1. DISAPPEARING CONTENT!
Snapchat & Instagram Stories
#MCN2016 • November 3 • 9:45-10:45 am

2. Who are we?
Andrew Mandinach
Video Production
Manager, Balboa Park
Online Collaborative
@MNDNCH
Ryan Dodge
Digital Engagement
Coordinator, Royal
Ontario Museum
@wrdodger
Shaelyn Amaio
Producer of Public
Programs &
Community
Engagement, New
York Transit Museum
@heyshaelyn

3. What are we doing here?
• Talkin’ ‘bout ephemeral content!
– Discussing best practices for Snapchat &
Instagram stories: storytelling, analytics, and
ephemerality
– Showing some examples of fun SC/IG Stories
– Getting hands-on with a tutorial

4. What are we talking about when we
talk about ephemeral content?
• Social media platforms/tools where content
disappears after a set period of time
• Encourages a less formal/filtered view of a
user’s day than other, more permanent
outlets
• The internet is forever… except when it’s not

5. Why ephemeral
content?
• Less formal
• Fun, light-hearted
• Behind-the-scenes glimpses
• Things that might not fit into
the rest of your social media
strategy

6. Why ephemeral
content?
• Low production
investment and
ability to respond
quickly

7. Why ephemeral
content?
• Audience responses and direct communication!

8. BEST PRACTICES
Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying
and Start Telling Ephemeral Stories

9. These stories… are stories.
• How would you make a movie about this?
– Establish where you are/what you’re looking at
– Remember that people may start and stop or only
view part of your story
– Remember to note when something has ended

13. …except when they’re not stories!
• What’s your day look like?
• How can you play with emojis or drawings?
• How can a filter help you convey information?

17. What does good look like?
• Snapchat & IG Stories both
have pretty lean analytics
• Engagement as evidenced
by responses

18. What’s the impact of
ephemerality?
• Freedom to explore and
experiment
• Letting go of perfection

19. LET’S TRY IT
Hands-On Tutorial Time!

20. Covering the basics:
• Taking a photo or video
• Adding filters -- image filters, time/date/temp/altitude filters,
geofilters
• Adding text
• Adding drawings
• Setting the display length
• Sending to Story or Individuals
• Playback and saving your snap(s)
• Finding Friends
• Fun features -- streaks, etc.

21. SCREEN
MIRRORING
INTERLUDE

22. QUESTIONS?
We might even have answers.

23. THANK YOU!
Andrew Mandinach
Video Production
Manager, Balboa Park
Online Collaborative
@MNDNCH
Ryan Dodge
Digital Engagement
Coordinator, Royal
Ontario Museum
@wrdodger
Shaelyn Amaio
Producer of Public
Programs &
Community
Engagement, New
York Transit Museum
@heyshaelyn