Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. With over 293 million daily active users, Snapchat offers a fun and engaging way for people to communicate through disappearing photos, videos, and messages. As Snapchat continues to grow, many users wonder if they can monetize their accounts and earn money on the platform. There are several ways to make money on Snapchat, from creating sponsored content to selling products or services. In this article, we’ll explore the various money-making opportunities available on Snapchat and how to maximize your earning potential.
Sponsored Lenses and Geofilters
One of the best ways to earn money on Snapchat is through sponsored lenses and geofilters. Snapchat allows businesses and brands to create sponsored lenses and geofilters that users can access. Popular brands like Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Starbucks have all created sponsored lenses that went viral. The more users engage with your sponsored lens, the more you earn. Geofilters also provide targeted advertising opportunities around specific locations. If a business wants to reach Snapchatters in a certain city or at an event, they can pay Snapchat to show their custom geofilter to users in that area. Influential Snapchat creators can earn significant amounts by having brands sponsor their lenses or geofilters.
How much money can you make?
According to Snapchat, sponsored lenses can cost advertisers $450,000-$700,000 per day. The exact amount you earn will depend on your audience size and engagement. Sponsored geofilters start at $5 for 20,000 views. Snapchat takes a cut of the revenue, but overall it offers a lucrative way for Snapchat creators to monetize their account and content.
Influencer Marketing and Sponsored Content
Influencer marketing has become a major digital marketing trend, and many brands are leveraging influencers on Snapchat. As a Snapchat influencer, you can collaborate with brands to create sponsored content and ads promoting products or services. The key is having a large and engaged Snapchat following in your niche. Types of sponsored content can include:
- Sponsored lenses, filters, and geofilters
- Sponsored Snapchat stories promoting a brand’s product/service
- Takeovers of a brand’s Snapchat account for a day
- Sponsored posts and videos
- Paid product reviews and unboxings
Brands will negotiate influencer deals based on your audience size and niche. Typical payouts for sponsored social media content are $10-$20 per 1,000 followers. With strategic partnerships, Snapchat influencers can easily monetize their account through branded content and sponsorships.
Snapchat Ad Revenue Sharing
Snapchat also offers some monetization features directly through the app. With Snapchat Ad Revenue Sharing, you can apply to share the revenue from 6-second unskippable video ads that play between your content. To qualify for ad revenue sharing, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 10,000 total Snapchat views in the last month. The earning potential scales based on your viewership. Top Snapchat creators can earn hundreds of thousands per month through Snapchat’s ad revenue sharing program.
Promoting Products or Services
Snapchat lends itself well to selling products or services directly through your account. The options include:
- Linking to an online shop within your Snapchat profile
- Working with brands as an affiliate to promote discount codes and track sales
- Offering Snapchat-exclusive deals and flash sales
- Promoting your own physical or digital products through Snapchat stories and links
Plenty of businesses and entrepreneurs are already driving sales through Snapchat. You can promote any products relevant to your audience – clothing, apps, ebooks, online courses, accessories, and more. An effective call-to-action within your Snaps can lead users to shop and complete purchases. Just make sure to follow FTC guidelines when promoting products or services.
Leverage Your Niche
Making money on Snapchat works best when you target a specific niche and market products or services that are highly relevant to your followers. As an example, a Snapchat influencer focused on fashion can easily promote online clothing shops, accessories, and sponsored content from fashion and beauty brands. Consider what your niche is passionate about buying and tap into that demand through Snapchat.
Grow Your Snapchat Following
For any money-making strategy on Snapchat, a larger following means more earning potential. Here are some proven tips to grow your Snapchat audience:
- Leverage other social platforms like Instagram and TikTok to promote your Snapchat account
- Run Snapchat contests and giveaways to gain new followers
- Engage with your audience by replying to Snaps and questions
- Post content daily and utilize relevant Snapchat features like lenses
- Use popular Snapchat hashtags related to your niche to stand out
- Collaborate with other Snapchat influencers in your niche
- Advertise your Snapchat QR code online and offline
Gaining Snapchat followers takes time and consistency. But the more fans you attract, the greater your potential to monetize your account through sponsorships, branded content, and promoted products.
Snapchat Money-Making Method | Revenue Potential | Effort Required |
---|---|---|
Sponsored Lenses and Geofilters | High | Medium-High |
Influencer Marketing | Medium-High | Medium |
Ad Revenue Sharing | Medium-High | Low |
Selling Products/Services | Medium | High |
Limitations of Earning on Snapchat
While there are money-making opportunities on Snapchat, the platform does have some limitations compared to other social media:
- No direct ad serving platform for businesses like Facebook or Instagram
- Monetization relies heavily on influencer sponsorships
- Snapchat’s terms restrict some monetization techniques like affiliate links
- Smaller reach and user base than Facebook or YouTube
- No Shopify-like integrated shopping platform for selling products
Snapchat is more limited for passive income opportunities compared to mature platforms like YouTube or Instagram. But active influencers can earn substantial revenue through strategic brand partnerships and leveraging Snapchat’s unique features.
Snapchat Alternatives for Making Money
Other social platforms offer more monetization options if you’re focused solely on earning. Popular money-making platforms include:
- YouTube – ad revenue sharing on videos
- Instagram – affiliate links and shoppable posts
- TikTok – live gifting and creator funds
- Twitch – subscriptions, cheers, ad revenue
- Facebook – advertising, fan subscriptions, live video
However, Snapchat still presents unique money-making opportunities for creatives who leverage the platform’s fun, visual communication style.
Is Snapchat Worth It for Making Money?
Here are some key benefits and drawbacks of trying to monetize your Snapchat account:
Pros:
- Huge potential reach of 293+ million daily users
- Opportunities for high-paying branded influencer content
- Ad revenue sharing for top creators
- Monetization options tailored to Snapchat’s unique features
Cons:
- Smaller reach than leading platforms like Instagram or TikTok
- Restrictions on affiliate links and passive income techniques
- Relies heavily on sponsorships and influencer marketing
- No built-in shop or ad service for businesses
Ultimately, Snapchat is best leveraged as part of a broader social media monetization strategy. The potential to earn money on Snapchat exists, but you’ll see the most success by diversifying across multiple platforms.
Conclusion
With over 293 million daily active users, Snapchat presents real opportunities to earn money through sponsored content, ad revenue sharing, selling products, and leveraging branded geofilters. While Snapchat has some limitations compared to other platforms, influencers can monetize their account through strategic brand partnerships tailored to Snapchat’s unique style.
The key is growing your Snapchat following in a specific niche, then collaborating with relevant brands or promoting products your audience will love. Although passive income options are limited, Snapchat’s popularity – especially among younger users – makes it a platform worth including in any social media money-making strategy.
At the end of the day, turning Snapchat into a steady income stream requires consistency, creativity, and understanding your target audience. But for savvy influencers who leverage Snapchat’s interactive communication tools, the potential monetary rewards are definitely attainable.