Dive Brief:

• Kik— a messaging app popular with a younger demographic—has expanded its features to allow brands more option on the platform. 
• Since August, Kik has been testing a Promoted Chats feature that allow brands to set up "chat bots" to respond with automated messages to users who subscribe.
• Now the messaging app is kicking the feature up a notch with sponsored Keywords that will respond with new messages any time certain words are used. 

Dive Insight: 

While Snapchat has been hogging headlines with its new ads, Kik has sort of been running under the radar. Brands should be taking more notice though because the platform has 150 million users— 6.5 million of which already follow brands on the app. It could be a solid opportunity to reach the highly coveted younger demographic.