When it comes to making money on social media, many entrepreneurs and content creators tend to look to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for their mainstream appeal. As a result, they often overlook less popular platforms like Snapchat, which can be an online goldmine in the hands of someone who knows how to use all of its features and traffic-generating potential.
With a solid active user base, Snapchat has all the features to help online businesses and content creators thrive on the platform—whether it’s monetizing content or selling products. And if you’re looking to learn more, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s find out how to make money on Snapchat.
How Snapchat Works
Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app that allows users to send photos, videos, and text messages (called “Snaps”) that disappear after being viewed. Today it has 422 million daily active users according to Statista and was actually one of (if not the) the first platforms to popularize “ephemeral” content, making the app particularly appealing to younger audiences looking for a more casual, private way to share moments.
Snapchat’s appeal lies in its focus on visual, real-time interaction, with many features that can help an online business such as:
- Stories: Users can post photos and videos that are visible for 24 hours, ideal for promotions or quickly showcasing products.
- Lenses and Filters: Snapchat’s Lenses use augmented reality (AR) to apply playful effects to users’ faces and surroundings, while Filters let users apply graphic overlays to their snaps.
- Snap Map: This feature lets users share their location with followers and see where others are on a global map and it also shows major events and content shared by users at specific locations.
- Discover: Snapchat’s Discover tab features content from major publishers, brands, influencers, and media outlets. Being found on Discover is the best way to succeed on Snapchat.
- Spotlight: It highlights user-generated content in a vertical video format, similar to TikTok. The best feature on the platform to promote viral content and offer users a chance to be rewarded for high-performing videos (more on this later).
- Snap Ads: Full-screen vertical video ads that appear between Stories or other content. These ads include interactive elements like swipe-up links, app installs, or long form content. One of the best features for businesses inside Snapchat.
Who is Snapchat For?
Snapchat primarily appeals to younger audiences, especially those born late 90’s to early 2000’s. Its user base is characterized by individuals who prefer real-time communication and visually rich, playful interactions.
However, it also serves a variety of other groups, including brands, influencers, and businesses. If you want to make money on the platform, it’s important to understand the target audience on the app. Let's take a look at the different groups of people who use Snapchat.
Younger Audiences
Snapchat is most popular among teenagers and young adults. Its short-lasting nature, along with features focused on amusing content like filters and augmented reality lenses, appeals to this demographic. A demographic who value humor, creativity, and casual communication over more permanent social media posts.
Influencers and Content Creators
Many influencers, especially those targeting a younger audience, use Snapchat to share their daily lives and promote products—mostly through affiliate marketing. Snapchat’s Spotlight feature also allows creators and online businesses to reach a wide audience and even earn money through viral content.
Brands and Businesses
Businesses and marketers use Snapchat to reach younger consumers through Snap Ads, Story Ads and AR lenses, connecting with a tech-savvy, trend-conscious audience by promoting targeted advertising, interactive campaigns, and collaboration with influencers.
Casual Users
Snapchat appeals to casual users who just want to stay connected with friends in a lighthearted way. The temporary nature of Snaps encourages more spontaneous, less curated sharing, compared to platforms like Instagram or Facebook.
How to Make Money on Snapchat
With its focus on sharing and creating visually appealing content, Snapchat can be a very good way to make money. Building an audience, producing consistent content, and exploring different revenue streams are the key to monetizing Snapchat efficiently.
Here are some of the most effective ways to make money on Snapchat.
1. Create Engaging Content to Build Your Brand
To make money on Snapchat, content is the foundation. Snapchat’s photo- and video-driven nature is ideal for showcasing products, services, or personal branding in an engaging way.
Snapchat can be used to build relationships with potential customers by showcasing products in creative ways. Think behind-the-scenes looks of how your product is made or customer testimonials. Entrepreneurs should post daily updates, product launches, and other business milestones to build a loyal customer base.
Also, you can make money just by growing your presence on the platform. Snapchat has a Stories Revenue Share Program where the app rewards users for posting Stories consistently by distributing a portion of the ad revenue over the course of a month to each creator. You can withdraw the rewards whenever you want. However, there are some basic requirements your account needs to fulfill to participate:
- Have at least 50,000 subscribers on your Public Profile
- Have more than 25 million views or 12,000 hours of viewing in the last 28 days
- Have posted a public story for 10 days, each with at least 20 snaps (messages) per day for the past 20 days
This may seem like a difficult requirement to meet, but if you’re already using Snapchat to promote your products and services, this will be considered a welcome monetary gain.
2. Promote and Sell Your Products or Services
Snapchat offers multiple ways for sellers and business owners to promote and sell their products directly to their audience, whether they’re physical or digital goods.
With Stories it's possible to showcase products, being especially effective for businesses selling clothing, accessories, or unique handmade items. Also, Snapchat’s real-time nature makes it ideal for hosting flash sales or offering time-sensitive discounts. You can promote a special offer to your audience and include a swipe-up link that takes users directly to your main online store.
If you’re willing to pay for it, you can create exclusive branded Lenses or Filters that users can apply to their Snaps, generating viral exposure for your brand while also offering an entertaining interactive experience to your audience.
And if you want to sell digital products, Snapchat is also an excellent platform for selling products like courses, ebooks, or downloadable templates. Many content creators who sell online courses like to create short, humorous videos—something that resonates with the audience on Snapchat.
3. Leverage Snapchat Spotlight for Viral Exposure
With Snapchat’s Spotlight feature, you can create a piece of content that can be picked up by Snapchat’s algorithm and pushed to millions of users through Spotlight.
Even better, Snapchat rewards top content creators with monthly prizes if their content performs well. These prizes can be exchanged for money and the winners are decided based on views and engagement of their content. However, there are certain requirements to participate, such as having at least 1,000 followers.
As well as this, entrepreneurs can use Spotlight to show products in action. For example, if you sell clothes you can create a quick fashion transformation video, or you can show samples of your digital products. These videos should be short, captivating, and attention grabbing.
This feature has an amazing reach and is a cost-free way to get visibility for your brand. Consistent participation in trends and challenges can help increase exposure, build an organic following and you can even make money from the monthly rewards.
4. Use Influencer Marketing or Brand Deals
Snapchat is a thriving place for influencers who know how to use it. It may not be the favorite among the biggest names on the internet compared to other social media, but it’s certainly a platform that can offer good results in broader niches when it comes to influencer marketing.
If you’re an individual creator, you can partner with brands to do flat-fee deals in which you promote their products. Or if you’re a brand, you can collaborate with creators who have established audiences that align with your product or service. These influencers can create content featuring your product which they share with their audience.
For a more performance-based approach, consider affiliate partnerships with influencers. You can offer them a commission for each sale generated through their unique links, which incentivizes them to promote your product actively.
5. Consider Affiliate Marketing to Diversify Revenue Streams
Affiliate marketing allows you to promote products through unique referral links. For instance, a beauty influencer might promote a skincare product and encourage followers to swipe up to purchase it using their unique affiliate link.
Find affiliate programs in your niche that provide commission for every sale made through your unique referral links. You can provide these products via your Snaps, Stories, or directly through one-on-one conversations with followers.
Entrepreneurs should focus on creative ways to promote affiliate products, such as creating tutorials, reviews, or "best-of" lists related to the product. Swipe-up links in Snaps make it easy for users to directly purchase products you recommend.
Selling a diverse range of affiliate products can complement your primary business. For example, if you sell travel products, you can promote eco-friendly products as an affiliate to generate additional income on Snapchat.
Maximizing Your Snapchat Earnings
In addition to knowing all the platform's functions and appropriate strategies, to make money on Snapchat you need to be aware of certain daily practices to ensure that your profile has maximum engagement and traffic.
Make sure that you are following these steps to make the most of Snapchat.
Engage with Your Audience Consistently
Consistency is key when building a presence on Snapchat. Frequent posting keeps your brand top of mind for followers and helps build a loyal customer base. Use Stories to update your audience about your business, promotions, or new products, and engage with them through Q&A sessions, polls, or direct messaging to create a personal connection.
Pro Tip: Post daily content that shows your brand’s personality. Sharing milestones (like product launches) can help establish a stronger relationship with your followers.
Leverage User-Generated Content
User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool for brands. Encourage your customers to share photos or videos of themselves using your product and repost it to your own account. This builds social proof and can lead to increased sales as potential customers trust recommendations from real users.
Pro Tip: Offer incentives like discounts or giveaways to encourage participation. Create a hashtag or run a contest where users submit their Snaps of your product in action.
Utilize Snapchat Ads for Targeted Campaigns
Spend money to make money. If you have a company, paid advertisement is an efficient way to reach a larger audience. Snap Ads and Story Ads let you precisely target specific demographics based on age, location, and interests, making it easier to connect with potential buyers.
Pro Tip: For best results, test different ad creatives to see what resonates with your audience. Ensure your ads include a strong call-to-action (CTA), such as "Swipe up to shop" or "Claim your discount now."
Tap Into Trending Topics and Challenges
Participating in viral trends can help your content reach a broader audience and attract more customers, so try to stay current by incorporating popular trends, challenges, or Snapchat-specific features like Spotlight.
Pro Tip: Create content that aligns with trending challenges but showcases your product in a subtle way.
Use Analytics to Refine Your Strategy
Snapchat’s built-in analytics tools provide valuable insights into how your content is performing, allowing you to review metrics such as views, engagement, and conversion rates to identify what’s working and where you can improve.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to the swipe-up rate in your Snaps and Stories to measure how often users are engaging with your call-to-action links. Based on this, optimize your content by adjusting creative elements that generate higher engagement.
Should You Use Snapchat for Your Ecommerce Business?
Snapchat offers many advantages for businesses that dive into the platform, but it also has some disadvantages that need to be taken into account. Here are the pros and cons of selling with Snapchat.
Pros of Snapchat for Ecommerce
Highly Engaged Audience
Businesses have access to a large, responsive audience thanks to Snapchat’s active user base that engages frequently with content.
Creative Advertising Options
Features like Snap Ads, Story Ads, and AR Lenses allow for interactive, visually appealing campaigns that can increase engagement and brand visibility.
Organic Reach
Snapchat Spotlight provides a chance for any content to go viral organically. Also, direct messaging with Snaps and chats allows personalized customer interactions.
Cons of Snapchat for Ecommerce
Limited Demographics
Snapchat’s core audience is predominantly younger, making it harder for businesses to reach as many people as they could in other platforms like Instagram or Facebook. And the audience that is active probably doesn’t have as much discretionary income as older demographics do.
“Ephemeral” Content
Most of Snapchat’s content disappears after 24 hours, meaning your posts have a limited lifespan unless actively saved or promoted.
Learning Curve for Ads
While Snapchat itself is a user-friendly platform, Snapchat Ads, while effective, can be complex for new users unfamiliar with social media advertising, requiring some time to master.
Whop Can Show How to Make Money Anywhere on the Internet
There you have it - our complete guide to making money with Snapchat. When it comes to learning how to make money online, whether with Snapchat or any other platform, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s where joining online communities or enrolling in courses becomes incredibly helpful. It doesn't matter if you’re an experienced content creator or just starting out in ecommerce, Whop can offer everything you need to help you succeed.
Whop has an online marketplace where thousands of experts share their experience and advice on everything from sports betting, to real estate, to ecommerce and social media. You can join communities where industry experts exchange valuable insights, enroll in courses that teach everything you need to know about ecommerce, or even sign up for personalized coaching for a more hands-on learning experience. No matter your skill level, on our marketplace, you’ll find something to help you grow.
Explore the Whop marketplace and find a community or course (or both!) that suits you and your goals. There are hundreds of social media resources to help you develop and grow your online brand.
Snapchat Monetization FAQ
The most frequently asked questions about how to make money on Snapchat.
How Does Snapchat Work, and How Can I Use It for My Business?
Snapchat is a social media platform where users share photos and videos called Snaps that disappear after 24 hours. For entrepreneurs, it’s a powerful tool for building brand awareness and engaging directly with potential customers. You can post Snaps or Stories to showcase products, run Snap Ads to target specific audiences, and engage followers.
Why You Should Trust Us
Joe Niehaus brings years of experience as a content writer and ecommerce specialist at Whop. With a strong background in managing affiliate programs for various ecommerce companies, Joe’s knowledge has been shared with top publications, including GQ, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider.
