Snapchat has about 850 million monthly active users as of 2024, which keeps growing. With such a vast user base, one could only begin to wonder
“How to make money on Snapchat”
There are many ways to make money on Snapchat. Different people use different methods, and each way works well for them.
The table below shows the earning potential using Snapchat:
| Influencer | Notable Earnings | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cam Casey | Earned $3M+ fast on Spotlight. | Forbes |
| Sarati | Made $1M in 3 months on Spotlight. | Forbes |
| David Dobrik | Big Snapchat deal, earns monthly. | Reddit Discussion |
| Bryce Hall | Made ~$4M in a year from Snapchat. | Reddit Discussion |
| Katie Sigmond | Earns up to $350K per month. | Reddit Discussion |
| Julieanna Goddard (YesJulz) | Makes thousands posting 10-15 days/month. | Fast Company |
These people are very few, but you should first focus on learning the basics as a beginner. Once you understand them, you can slowly grow your followers on Snapchat and start making more money.
Top 10 Ways to Make Money on Snapchat
Snapchat offers several monetization programs where users can earn money. Here’s a brief list of the different ways to make money directly through Snapchat:
| Method | Quick Description | Potential Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Snapchat Spotlight | Submit viral videos to Spotlight for ad revenue. | Up to $20,000 per video |
| Influencer Marketing | Partner with brands to promote products. | $500 – $10,000 per post |
| Affiliate Marketing | Share affiliate links and earn commissions. | Around 30% per sale |
| Premium Content | Offer exclusive content for paying subscribers. | $25/month or $50 lifetime |
| Snapchat Takeovers | Manage brand accounts for promotions. | Varies by brand deal |
| Selling Filters & Lenses | Design and sell Snapchat filters for events. | Up to $7,200 per month |
| Public Stories & Ad Revenue | Earn from ads displayed in your Stories. | $10,000 – $15,000 per month |
| Selling Merchandise | Promote and sell your own products. | Earnings depend on sales volume |
| Event & Local Business Promotion | Advertise events or businesses for a fee. | $100 – $1,000 per feature |
Awesome! Here are some easy steps you can follow as a beginner to start making money on Snapchat.
1. Choose a Niche that’s Profitable
Before you start anything, you need to choose a niche. This will help you stand out, stay focused, and avoid distractions. If your main goal on Snapchat is to make money, I strongly recommend picking a profitable niche.
For example, a tech-related niche might make you more money than an entertainment niche.
Now that you understand why choosing a niche is important, the next step is to figure out which one suits you best.
Here’s a simple formula to help you decide:
Your Interest (30%) + Profit Potential (40%) + Affiliate Potential (30%) = Niche Score
You can adjust these percentages based on what matters most to you.
For example, if I have to evaluate myself before choosing a niche, I can run the following combination:
| Niche | Interest (30%) | Profit Potential (40%) | Affiliate Potential (30%) | Total Niche Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tech Reviews | 8.5 | 9.5 | 9 | 9 |
| Finance & Investing | 7.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 8.95 |
| Health & Fitness | 8.5 | 8.5 | 9 | 8.75 |
| Luxury & Lifestyle | 7 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Online Business | 8 | 9 | 8.5 | 8.55 |
| Gaming | 9 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.25 |
| Personal Development | 8 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.2 |
| Fashion & Beauty | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8 | 8 |
| Travel & Tourism | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.85 |
| Education & E-learning | 8.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7.75 |
Based on your understanding and plans, you can score them on a scale from 0-10 and then choose the one with the highest score.
2. Create a Public Profile
You should have a public account if you want to gain followers and make money from them.
A public profile helps you share who you are and what you like. It makes it easier for people to find and follow you. A good profile can bring new opportunities.
Steps to Make a Public Profile:
Go to Your Account Settings – Open the app or website where you want to create a public profile.
Find Privacy Settings – Look for the privacy or account settings section.
Switch to Public – Change your account from private to public. This allows anyone to see your posts and follow you.
Images ref: Business Insider
That’s it. You have created your public profile, and now everyone can engage with you.
3. Gather Topics (and a Content Plan)
Once you’ve picked your niche and made your profile public, it’s time to show your skills to your audience.
Many people start a new profile, but 90% of them give up. The main reason? They aren’t consistent.
But there’s a simple solution: plan your posts and stories in advance!
A monthly content plan works best. You can organize your content into these categories:
- Educational – Tips, tutorials, and how-to guides.
- Entertaining – Memes, relatable stories, and funny clips.
- Inspirational – Quotes, success stories, and behind-the-scenes moments.
- Promotional – If you’re selling something, showcase your products naturally.
Once you’ve sorted your content, add everything to your calendar and start posting regularly!
4. Use Hooks to Engage the Audience
Now that you’re promoting and sharing your content with your followers, it’s time to improve it based on how your audience reacts.
The internet is full of distractions, so you need to grab people’s attention quickly. How do you do that? Start with a strong hook and keep them engaged – that’s the key!
Here are some hooks that work well:
- “Let’s _ together”
- “POV: You’re a [sum up vlog]”
- “Keep me company while I…”
- “Spend the [describe day] with me”
- “Come do [activity] with me”
That’s how engagement works. Even in this blog, the first paragraph grabbed your attention by talking about earning potential. It made you want to keep reading.
Our goal was to keep you interested as you went further, which helped maintain engagement.
5. Go Where the Audience is
Take advantage of trending events – that’s what influencers and brands do. They make sure to stay visible by jumping on popular trends and topics.
For example, Nike sponsors major sports events to stay relevant in the athletic world. Influencers also talk about hot topics to keep themselves in the conversation and attract more attention.
There are two things you can do:
- Explore Spotlight section: Explore the Spotlight tab within the Snapchat app to view trending videos from users worldwide.
- Use Snapchat Trends Tools: These tools provides insights into popular topics and keywords based on public Stories and My Stories.
For a visual guide on using Snapchat Trends, you might find this video helpful:
6. Partner with Brands as You Grow
Once you have enough content to show brands and can expect a good partnership, it’s time to contact them.
For example, if you often post about technology and review mobile phones, you can reach out to Samsung’s marketing team for a collaboration.
Here’s a simple message you can send:
“Hi [Brand’s Name] Team,
I love sharing content about [your niche, e.g., tech reviews] and have built an engaged audience. I’d love to explore a partnership with [Brand Name] to showcase your products to my followers. Let’s discuss how we can work together!
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Best,
[Your Name]“
Note: Don’t expect everyone to respond to you. If you are reaching out to 100 people, you may only get responses from 1 or 2.
7. Create Products/Services to Sell
You’ve built a strong following, people engage with you, and they trust your opinions—amazing!
That’s the perfect setup. While promoting other brands, why not consider launching your product and selling it on social media?
For example, take a look at Kylie Jenner’s Instagram. She’s built an entire brand and uses her audience to grow it successfully. You can do the same!
While you earn from the other affiliate programs, this would mean an additional income to your bank account.
8. Still Struggling? Try Snapchat Ads
If you’re still struggling to reach the right audience, running ads can be a great option. Ads help put your content in front of the right people based on your target audience.
But remember, ads should be an ROI-positive activity.
For example, if you spend $100 on ads, your goal should be to make at least $500 in return. Since you’re just starting out, your main goal might be to reach more people and get engagement – and that’s totally fine!
Just make sure to track your results from an ROI (Return on Investment) perspective. Every dollar spent should have a purpose!
For reference, here’s an example of creators running ads on Snapchat for engagements:
9. Last – Consistency, Consistency, Consistency
You’re new in the market – maybe Snapchat’s algorithm isn’t in your favor, or maybe your audience just hasn’t found you yet.
That’s okay! Every creator who started on Snapchat faced the same challenges.
You need to find the right message, colors, filters, and audience. It takes time, so be patient as you grow. Even big creators had to make thousands of videos before reaching the right people.
Stay consistent and be ready to adapt to new changes. Keep going!
Conclusion
Being a Snapchat creator isn’t easy these days. With millions competing for attention and Snapchat’s ever-changing policies, your earnings can be unpredictable.
But the process remains the same: (a) optimize your profile → (b) grow your audience → (c) monetize.
While building your audience, it’s always smart to have a backup income source. One option is Passive App, which lets you earn effortlessly – just install it, keep it running, and make money without any extra work.
