Who remembers when MySpace and Facebook were the only social media networks available?

Then YouTube was created and all our minds were blown.

We couldn’t believe how easy it was to connect with anyone around the world.

Nowadays, there are so many social media platforms that we can’t keep up. From Twitter to Instagram, and now Snapchat.

Even more, you can build up an entire business using these sites as tools!

That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? You, like many other publishers, want to extract from the goldmine that is Snapchat. Well, you’re in luck. We no longer need master’s degrees to earn our desired incomes. All we need is a strong internet connection and patience. Maybe some research will seal the deal. Then we can accomplish what seemed impossible a few decades ago.

More and more publishers are reaching that 100k-a-year mark. Some are even earning that much in a month. Why should you miss out on the fun? You can create an account to make money on Snapchat and, using the tips below, build up an income that will secure your future today!

How to Use Snapchat?

Before you dive into the best ways to make money on Snapchat, you need to understand how it works. Snapchat has the same functionality as other social media sites, but there’s a key difference.

Anything that a user posts on Snapchat will disappear after 24 hours. Many publishers might take issue with this, but it’s a good thing. This simple limitation creates exclusivity that drives sales through the roof!

While millions of people open Snapchat to check their “VIP content,” they stay for much more.

Snapchat first started as a messaging platform. Most people used it to communicate with friends and strangers from all around the world. Snapchat stands out from other messaging tools because it focuses on the visual.

This focus on the visual has greatly expanded in the last few years. The introduction of filters, lenses, and stories cemented Snapchat’s place in history. Even those who didn’t use the app wanted it for the Snapchat camera and filters.

Then Snapchat added stories, which made the experience even better. Not to mention the introduction of Snapchat Spotlight.

This allowed anyone to discover the best stories from the top Snapchat influencers.

Snapchat mostly consists of the younger generations. 48% of Snapchat users are between 15 and 25 years old, and 30% are 26 to 35 years old.

There aren’t many businesses in this audience. Which means the number of potential customers increases to over 300 million.

That also means there’s much less competition. But you better jump on the Snapchat train quickly before others overload it!

Benefits of Snapchat

When you’re trying to make money on Snapchat, there are many features that you can use to your advantage:

  • Filters, geo-filters, and lenses;
  • Bitmojis;
  • User-generated content;
  • Snapchat Spotlight.

 
A Snapchat filter is an image overlay that you can use when taking photos. The decorations are static, and each filter can have different color settings.

Geo-filters work in the same way, but they’re relative to locations and time frames. That is, if you are close to a specific restaurant or store, you will have access to a customized filter.

A Snapchat lens has a slight twist to it. Instead of being an overlay, it actually augments whatever the camera captures. This is done through 3D animation and superimposed images. Filters and lenses are great for personal photos that last a lifetime.

Snapchat’s Bitmojis are yet another fantastic innovation. These are customized emojis that actually look like the person who created them. This is a great way for users to express themselves.

Publishers also have the chance to pull on endless user-generated content. While professional advertising might get you far, relatable content will get you further.

More and more users are trusting the word of influencers over what businesses say. Particularly the Snapchat audience!

Snapchat Spotlight is a newer feature on the app. However, for publishers who want to make money, this is the most important aspect.

The Spotlight section works similarly to the Discovery section of Instagram. It allows you to spread your content to millions of users.

Making Money on Snapchat

Now that you’ve gotten the gist of how Snapchat works, we can start looking at ways to make money off of it. Snapchat doesn’t have built-in monetization, but the Spotlight feed does the network justice.

Any user can stand to win $250 out of a million dollars for each featured post in the Spotlight section. Though we’ll get into what you need to get this right.

Beyond the glory of the Spotlight, there are a few other ways you can easily make money with Snapchat. From selling products to affiliate marketing, you can even include a subscription fee or add a donation link.

When you’re making money on Snapchat, you need to use as many options as are available to you. One way might make you a decent income, but many revenue streams secure your entire future!

Monetizing Snapchat

The sad part about Snapchat is that there are no in-app monetization methods. Most social sites let you monetize your account when you reach a certain number of views or followers. Snapchat hasn’t quite figured out how useful this is yet. So instead, we must resort to other options.

The two easiest ways to monetize your Snapchat account include:

 
Let’s start with sponsorships when monetizing your Snapchat account. As a publisher, you can partner with other users, businesses, or even other publishers. This partnership can go one of two ways.

The first way is by being sponsored yourself. This means you’ll be paid for the advertisements you make for your partner. The logistics of the payment can be negotiated between the publisher and affiliate. Such as how much the publisher will receive per advertisement or user interaction.

The second way is to sponsor other users to spread your content. You might lose out on some cash initially, but the extra traffic will quickly make up for it!

Affiliate marketing is another route you could take. This is similar to sponsorships, except you’ll partner with an affiliate program. The affiliate network will provide unique referral links for you to advertise with.

There are two types of affiliate links that your affiliate program can provide:

  • Standard links;
  • Deeplinks.

 
Standard links take users straight to the affiliate website’s main page.

A deeplink takes a viewer to a specific product or content page. That’s why they don’t have to look for anything themselves!

Take care not to waste time looking for the right affiliate to advertise with. The Admitad Partner Network has got you covered. Through this handy tool, you’ll find an affiliate that you can actually trust.

In addition, Admitad monitors the interactions between publishers and affiliates. The Admitad Partner Network ensures a smooth process for both parties.

The Admitad Partner Network also makes creating affiliate links a breeze. Any standard link or deeplink can be generated manually, or created by the Admitad Affiliate bot.

Snapchat Spotlight

While Snapchat might lack in the monetization area, it makes up for it with its Spotlight section.

The Spotlight section is basically a way for publishers to win $250 per featured post. This works in a simple way. All you need to do is make a viral video. Easy, right? Well, kind of.

The catch is that you can’t get into the Spotlight section if you’re promoting or advertising something. It stinks, I know, but it’s worth it. If you can make a short video that, for some reason, everyone wants to watch – you’re golden. One girl even got famous for posting a video of her sister deep-frying a turkey.

Once your video has been selected for the Spotlight section, anyone can view it. On Snapchat, you need to be friends with or a follower of an account before you can view their stories. When your video is in the Spotlight, any stranger who comes along can access it!

Here are some popular, albeit random, trends that always grab the Internet’s attention:

  • Fail videos (people hurting themselves or messing something up);
  • Any pet or animal video;
  • Satisfying videos (symmetry, cleaning, removal of coverings);
  • Relationship and mental health advice;
  • How-to videos and tutorials.

 

Other Money-Making Methods

If sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and the Spotlight don’t cut it, there are other ways you can go about it. If you’re looking to make money on Snapchat in every way possible, try some of the following methods:

  • Sell personalized geo-filters and lenses;
  • Create ads for businesses and influencers;
  • Become an influencer;
  • Advertise skills and services.

 
As much as filters and lenses benefit Snapchat users, publishers can reap even more rewards. Filters and lenses are fun to use, but it’s cooler to make and sell them yourself. You can choose to sell the filter or lens all at once or charge a fee each time it is used.

While sponsorships are a great option, they’re not always easy to come by. Sometimes you have to go directly to the business and sell your services. Create personalized content and then market it to the brands themselves! Give them a reason to want you as a marketer.

Many publishers are also taking the route of influencing. This combines selling products, sponsorships, and creating unique content.

An influencer needs to have an uncanny ability to persuade customers to buy products. If you’re awkward in social situations, this could be a difficult method.

The last way is very common among publishers. Whatever skills or services you can offer, offer them to anyone who will listen. Whether it’s on Snapchat, Instagram
, or an old-school email list.

Do whatever you can to make people see your talent! If you don’t have any personal skills to draw on, it’s worth the investment.

Promoting Your Snapchat Account

While you might be able to make amazing content for your Snapchat account, you need users to see it. It’s difficult to make money off your content without Snapchat friends and followers!

There are a few simple tricks to generate as many Snapchat friends as you can:

  • Use your Snapcode;
  • Connect your address books;
  • Mailing lists;
  • Other social media networks.

 
You can easily find your Snapcode in your profile settings. Using your Snapcode makes life much easier for users trying to access your content. To attract the most users, make the process as simple as possible.

Connect to your address book to instantly increase your follower count. Though it obviously works better when you’re connected to a large number of people.

You can always use phone lists that are available for marketing purposes as a substitute.

While email marketing may seem outdated to many, it’s a sure-fire way to connect with customers on a deeper level.

Personalized email marketing shows users that you care about them. Adding their names to any email can quickly increase your traffic flow.

The last and most obvious option is social media marketing. You need to use any and every platform that you can get your hands on. While you’re busy marketing your account, you can make money off of your efforts.

ConvertSocial is a great tool to monetize any social media account you have. From messaging apps like WhatsApp to the more popular Facebook and Twitter.

ConvertSocial allows you to instantly monetize your content. You won’t have to worry about having a set number of views or subscribers before activating the feature!

The Risky Side of Snapchat

There might be a risk of predators, isolation, and phone addiction on Snapchat. But there are other, less-known cons to using the app.

Though many accounts do this, Snapchat does not approve of the following method.

There is a so-called “Snapchat Premium” that certain accounts offer.

This isn’t a built-in feature of Snapchat.

Rather, these accounts limit access to their content unless someone has paid a fee. The fee is usually paid through an external payment service.

Aside from that, Snapchat’s security is lacking. While Snapchat might show if a user takes a screenshot, there are no precautionary measures.

There are ways to prevent a phone from taking screenshots.

Anyone can make a copy of your photos and share them wherever they’d like. You can even get an app that downloads videos sent through Snapchat!

Snapchat’s reach is another thing that publishers should take into consideration. While Snapchat is well-known, it has a small percentage of users compared to other platforms. As well, the age range is limited to younger generations.

If your products are strictly for older audiences, you could struggle with Snapchat.

Though the risks and limits of Snapchat don’t compare to the benefits you could receive. Even if you’re unsure that Snapchat’s audience won’t like your content, try it anyway.

The potential traffic you could receive goes completely down the drain if you don’t give it a shot.

As long as you keep yourself safe, Snapchat can help you get closer to your desired income.

Conclusion

When publishers first read these types of articles, they have a specific question. Can you make money on Snapchat?

The real question should be: are you willing to put in the effort to make money on Snapchat? While it’s great to learn about different ways to make money, you need to have the skills to implement them. Without the right dedication, your efforts won’t go very far.

This isn’t limited to just Snapchat.

Wherever you are advertising or creating content, put in real effort. Take your customers into consideration. Listen to any feedback or complaints you receive. And most importantly, keep adjusting and changing.

Snapchat, like all other platforms, is based on trends. If your content doesn’t keep up, your revenue will start dropping. Though, even if you fall, keep going. There are always new ways to get something right. You can only get it right if you go at it from every angle!