Having a business Snapchat account can be a great way to reach new audiences and promote your brand on social media. While regular Snapchat accounts are for personal use, Snapchat’s business accounts allow for analytics, promotions, and easier management. Changing your existing Snapchat account to a business account is simple if you follow these steps.
Check Eligibility for a Snapchat Business Account
Before converting your account, make sure your business or brand meets Snapchat’s eligibility requirements for a business account:
- You must represent a real business, brand, or organization
- Accounts must be used for legitimate business purposes
- Accounts cannot represent individual people or influencers
Snapchat has rules against maintaining multiple accounts or impersonating other businesses. Your account may be deleted if found to violate any of Snapchat’s Terms of Service.
Have Your Business Verification Documents Ready
To prove you represent a real eligible business, Snapchat will ask for a business verification document during the account conversion process. Have one of the following ready to upload:
- Business Certificate of Incorporation
- Business License
- Tax Registration Document
- Government-Issued ID (if sole proprietorship)
The verification document must clearly show your business’s name, registration status, and the country it is registered in. Screenshots or documentation expired more than 30 days ago will not be accepted.
Tap the Profile Icon, Then “Settings”
Open the Snapchat app on your mobile device and log into the account you want to convert with your username and password. From your camera or chat screen:
- Tap the profile icon in the top left corner
- Tap the gear icon to open your Settings
Select “Switch to Business Account”
Scroll down on the Settings screen and select “Switch to Business Account.” Read the information about what switching to a business account entails.
On the “Switch to Business Account” page you can enter your business name, category, and website URL to change from a personal to business account.
Choose Your Business Category
Snapchat allows you to select one category that best describes your business from the following options:
- Art & Design
- Blogger / Influencer
- Business & Utility
- Entertainment
- Faith
- Fitness & Wellness
- Food & Drink
- Gaming
- Music
- News & Media
- Nonprofit & Causes
- Retail & Consumer Goods
- Sports
- Style & Fashion
- Travel
Choose the category that most closely matches what your brand or organization does. The category can help viewers discover your account.
Enter Your Business Name and Website
Type your business name into the “Business Name” field, exactly as it appears on your verification document. Add your website by typing it into the “Business Website” field.
This information helps confirm you represent a real business and makes your account seem more legitimate to users.
Upload Verification Document
Snapchat now requires you to upload a document to verify your business. Tap the “Verification Document” box. This will open up your camera roll or files app.
Select your Certificate of Incorporation, Business License, Tax ID, or other accepted verification document from your files. The image must be clear and legible. Upload the image to Snapchat.
Submit for Review
After filling out all the business account details and uploading a verification document, tap “Submit for Review.”
Snapchat will review your submission to confirm you meet the requirements for a business account. You may be asked to provide additional documents or information if needed.
Snapchat Reviews Account
The review process may take a few days. Snapchat will send you push notifications about your submission status.
If your account is approved, you will receive confirmation that your Snapchat account has been successfully converted to a business profile. If it is rejected, Snapchat will indicate what steps need to be taken to meet their business account criteria.
Set Up Your Business Profile
Once approved, you can access additional business profile features by tapping the gear icon again and selecting “Business Settings.” Options include:
- Story Posting: Post stories visible to all of your subscribers or only to certain followers.
- Ad Controls: Manage how your account appears in Snapchat’s paid advertising.
- Analytics: View impressions, story views, profile visits and other metrics.
- Promotions: Create discounts, coupons or special offers for your followers.
Take the time to set up your profile completely, add business information, link other social profiles, etc. The more complete your profile, the more professional your account will look.
Benefits of a Snapchat Business Account
Here are some of the key advantages of upgrading to a Snapchat business account for your brand:
- Ad Options: Run Snapchat video and display ads to targeted audiences worldwide.
- Analytics: Unlock insights into your followers and content performance to improve your strategy.
- Business Profile: Showcase your brand with business name, category, website link, story highlights, and more.
- Management Tools: Add managers to help maintain larger brand presences and followings.
- Promotions: Drive sales, website traffic, or engagement with discounts, codes, coupons, etc.
- Verification Badge: Get a verified account with blue checkmark to build legitimacy and trust.
With over 90 million daily active Snapchatters, the platform’s business accounts present a huge opportunity to connect with younger demographics. Take advantage by converting your profile today.
Best Practices for Business Snapchat
Here are some top tips for maximizing success with a Snapchat business account:
- Post Consistently: Build a loyal following by snapchatting daily content on a regular schedule.
- Engage With Followers: Reply to comments, answer questions, and post interactive polls and Emoji sliders.
- Offer Exclusives: Share special discounts, sales, giveaways, or content just for Snapchat followers.
- Use Creative Tools: Take advantage of lenses, Geofilters, Bitmoji, and other fun Snapchat features.
- Partner With Influencers: Team up with relevant accounts in sponsored content or takeovers.
- Analyze Performance: Use Snapchat’s metrics to find out what content resonates most with your audience.
The more you can provide value and exclusive access, the more reason users have to subscribe and engage with your business account. Monitor analytics regularly and continue evolving your content strategy over time.
Snapchat Business Account FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Snapchat’s business accounts:
Can you have 2 Snapchat accounts?
Snapchat does not allow users to have more than one account. However, you can convert your existing personal account into a business profile without losing your followers or username.
Does a business Snapchat need a lot of followers?
While more followers mean wider reach, you can still benefit from a business profile with a smaller audience. The tools like metrics, highlights, and promotions help engage your existing fans.
Can you tell if a Snapchat account is business or personal?
Business accounts have a vertical lines icon next to their username. They may also have account badges like Verified, Official Artist, and Official Story.
Can you switch back from business to personal Snapchat?
Unfortunately Snapchat does not allow reverting a business account back to a personal profile after conversion.
Do Snapchat business accounts cost money?
A Snapchat business profile is free to set up. However, they offer paid advertising options like Snapchat Ads and sponsorships.
Conclusion
Converting to a Snapchat business account unlocks powerful marketing, analytics, and promotion tools for brands. As long as your account meets Snapchat’s policies, the process is simple and enables your business to stand out and engage followers in a whole new way.
Focus on consistently posting high-quality, valuable content. Take advantage of exclusive business profile features that personal accounts lack. With some creativity and strategy, Snapchat can become an impactful channel in your social media marketing mix.