If you’re trying to reach Gen Z and Millennials, Snapchat should be high on your advertising radar. With over 453 million daily active users, the platform has evolved from a messaging app into a powerful tool for brands to increase brand awareness, drive sales, and tap into one of the most engaged audiences online.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through:
- The different types of ads available on Snapchat
- How to navigate the Snapchat Ads Manager
- Tips for creating a successful ad campaign
- How to track performance with tools like Keitaro Tracker
Why Advertise on Snapchat?
Snapchat isn’t just for dog-face filters and disappearing selfies anymore. It’s where young consumers hang out—and shop. According to Snapchat’s own data:
- 75% of 13–34-year-olds in the U.S. use Snapchat
- Users open the app more than 30 times a day
- 60% of users are more likely to make impulse purchases on mobile
With that kind of engagement, brands have a golden opportunity to insert themselves into the daily scroll—and get results.
Types of Ads on Snapchat (With Examples)
Snapchat offers a rich set of ad formats that are mobile-first and attention-grabbing.
1. Single Image or Video Ads
These are full-screen ads that appear between stories or in the Discover section. They can be as short as 3 seconds or up to 3 minutes.
Example: A sneaker brand like Nike can run a quick 6-second ad showing their latest Air Max drop with a swipe-up link to buy.
2. Story Ads
Story Ads appear as branded tiles in the Discover feed. When tapped, users see a series of Snaps (up to 20) that tell a story.
Example: A travel agency might showcase a virtual tour of Bali, complete with highlights, deals, and testimonials, encouraging users to book a trip.
3. Collection Ads
Great for e-commerce, these feature a main video or image with tappable product tiles underneath.
Example: A cosmetics brand could show a makeup tutorial above with clickable product thumbnails below to drive purchases.
4. Commercials
These are six-second non-skippable video ads that appear in curated content. You can also run extended, skippable versions.
Example: A streaming platform might use this to promote an exclusive new series launch with high production value.
5. AR Lenses
This is where Snapchat shines. AR lenses allow users to interact with your brand in real-time using their camera.
Example: Taco Bell’s iconic Cinco de Mayo lens turned users’ heads into giant tacos and saw 224 million views in a single day.
6. Filters
Custom filters can be location- or event-specific, adding branded overlays to user-generated content.
Example: A local gym might create a branded filter for people to use post-workout, encouraging UGC and local awareness.
Using Snapchat Ads Manager
The Snapchat Ads Manager is your command center. It’s user-friendly and designed for all experience levels.
Step-by-Step Ad Setup:
- Choose Your Objective – From awareness to app installs, you pick what success looks like.
- Target Your Audience – Select based on demographics, interests, devices, or create custom audiences.
- Set Your Budget – Minimum spend starts at $5/day, perfect for small businesses and testing.
- Upload Your Creative – Use Snap Publisher if you need help creating vertical videos.
- Launch & Monitor – Go live and track everything in real-time.
Snapchat even offers Goal-Based Bidding, so you’re only charged when users take specific actions (like watching a video or swiping up).
Boosting Campaign Performance with Keitaro Tracker
Let’s be honest—Snapchat’s native analytics are solid, but for affiliate marketers, media buyers, and anyone serious about ROI, a dedicated tracking tool is essential.
Why Keitaro Tracker?
Keitaro is a powerful ad tracker that gives you control and visibility over your Snapchat and other traffic sources.
🔍 Key features include:
- Real-time data on your tracking URLs
- Flexible A/B testing to optimize creative and targeting
- Click and conversion tracking with custom tokens
- Deep segmentation by device, geo, browser, and more
- 1st-party tracking capabilities to retain accuracy post-cookie changes
Example: If you’re promoting an affiliate skincare offer through Collection Ads, Keitaro lets you track which products got the most clicks, what geos convert best, and whether Android users are outperforming iOS.
Pro Tips for Snapchat Success
✅ Keep It Short: Users scroll fast. Hook them in the first 2 seconds.
✅ Use Sound: 60% of Snaps are viewed with audio on—use music, voiceover, or sound effects.
✅ Experiment Often: Test ad types, calls to action, creative angles.
✅ Retarget with Pixel: Install Snap Pixel on your landing page and re-engage bouncers.
✅ Track It All: Use Keitaro to identify what works and ditch what doesn’t.
Final Thoughts
Ads on Snapchat can drive impressive results when you use the right formats, tools, and strategy. Whether you’re building brand awareness or running a laser-focused ad campaign, the platform offers something for everyone.
And if you want to take things to the next level—especially in affiliate marketing or performance-driven campaigns—pair Snapchat with Keitaro Tracker. You’ll gain the clarity and control to scale your campaigns with confidence.
Start your Snapchat ad journey today—and don’t forget to track your success with Keitaro.
