Snapchat launches feature to call businesses

Swipe Up to Call l allows customers to make a direct phone call with a business they see advertised on Snapchat - with no additional fees for the consumer. The new feature is in response to the cultural preference in the Middle East to call a business directly, rather than visiting a website or filling an online form, to learn more about a product or service advertised on Snapchat.

The Swipe Up to Call feature is now available to all Snapchat advertisers in the Middle East, who can test the product for $20 per day. Saudi Telecom Company and Zain Group are among the first advertisers to take advantage of Swipe Up to Call.

It is expected that Swipe Up to Call will be embraced by advertisers across multiple sectors, for example;

• Car showrooms will be able to allow customers to book test drives or to schedule their next service;

• Food and beverage sector advertisers can use it to make it easier for diners to make a reservation or place an order;

• General customer service enquiries;

• Real estate agents can use Swipe Up to Call by promoting images of their properties and provide a seamless option for interested tenants or buyers to get in touch directly by calling

Brayden Ainzuain, Snapchat’s head of Product Marketing for Mena and APAC said: “Swipe Up to Call offers brands and advertisers a unique opportunity to connect with their customers in real time in a way that is natural for them.

“We developed Swipe Up to Call based on advertising trends we noticed and we are excited to bring this feature to the Middle East. We know that SMEs in particular prefer to add a contact number to their advertising communication and this new feature will make it easier for potential customers to get in touch with swipe of their screen.” – TradeArabia News Service