How to Create Ads on Snapchat: A Step-by-Step Guide for High-Converting Campaigns

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

If you’re not running ads on Snapchat in 2026, you’re leaving serious money on the table.

Snapchat isn’t just for Gen Z selfies and dog-face filters anymore — it’s become a high-impact marketing channel for brands aiming to drive real engagement, especially with younger audiences. As a top-tier Snapchat marketing agency, we’ve helped brands like Udjat Agency crack the code and create Snapchat campaigns that generate clicks, leads, and conversions at scale.

Want in? Good. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create ads on Snapchat, build your first campaign, and optimize it for performance like the pros do.

Let’s dive in.

Why Snapchat Advertising Still Works in 2026

Many brands overlook Snapchat, thinking it’s outdated or too niche. But here’s the truth:

• Over 750 million monthly active users
• Snapchat reaches 75% of millennials and Gen Z
• Average user spends 30+ minutes daily on the app
• Ads have high completion rates compared to other platforms

Snapchat offers an underpriced ad environment with room to stand out. Unlike the overcrowded spaces of Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat still rewards creativity and clever targeting.

Step 1: Create a Snapchat Business Account

To run ads on Snapchat, you need a Snapchat Business account. It’s fast and free.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Snapchat Business Manager
2. Click “Create an Account”
3. Fill out your business name, email, and country
4. Verify via email and log in

Once inside, you’ll get access to:

• Ad Manager
• Audience Insights
• Creative Tools
• Pixel Integration

Step 2: Understand the Snapchat Ad Formats

Snapchat isn’t one-size-fits-all. It offers several ad formats, and picking the right one is key to success.

Here are your options:

• Single Image or Video Ads
  Your standard fullscreen ad between stories or in the Discover section.
• Collection Ads
  Showcase multiple products in a grid under your video. Great for eCommerce.
• Story Ads
  A branded tile on Discover that opens into a series of 3–20 snaps.
• Lenses (AR Experiences)
  Interactive filters users can play with. Great for brand engagement.
• Filters
  Branded overlays users can apply to their own Snaps.
• Commercials
  Non-skippable 6-second video ads shown within curated content.

Pro tip: For performance-based campaigns, start with Single Image or Video Ads, and A/B test from there.

Step 3: Install the Snapchat Pixel

Before spending a single dollar, set up the Snap Pixel.

Why? Because it allows you to:

• Track conversions
• Create retargeting audiences
• Optimize for purchases, signups, etc.

How to install the Snap Pixel:

1. Go to Events Manager inside Ads Manager
2. Click “New Event Source” → “Web”
3. Create Pixel
4. Add it to your website manually or via integrations (Shopify, Google Tag Manager, etc.)

Now you can track everything from ad clicks to checkouts.

Step 4: Build a Targeted Snapchat Audience

This is where most advertisers go wrong — bad targeting = wasted ad spend.

Snapchat gives you smart tools to define your ideal user:

• Demographics: age, gender, location, language
• Interests: from fashion to tech to pets
• Devices: iOS/Android, phone model, carrier
• Custom Audiences: email lists, website visitors, app users
• Lookalikes: find users who behave like your existing customers

Udjat Agency often creates stacked audiences combining behavior, lookalikes, and geo-targeting for higher intent.

Step 5: Create a High-Converting Snapchat Ad

This is where the magic happens. Your ad needs to stop the scroll and drive immediate action.

Follow these tips:

• Hook early: First 2 seconds should deliver the punch.
• Vertical video only: Use 1080×1920 ratio.
• Keep it short: 6-15 seconds works best.
• Use captions: Many users watch without sound.
• Have one CTA: “Swipe Up,” “Shop Now,” “Learn More.”

Here’s a proven formula:

Problem → Quick Visual → Product as Hero → Call-To-Action

Use Snapchat’s built-in Creative Library or third-party tools like Canva and InVideo to build polished, scroll-stopping content.

Step 6: Launch Your Campaign in Snapchat Ads Manager

Now it’s go time.

1. Log in to Ads Manager
2. Click “Create Ads”
3. Choose “Instant Create” for beginners or “Advanced Create” for full control
4. Select your objective (Website visits, App installs, Conversions, etc.)
5. Upload your ad creative
6. Set your daily budget, schedule, and bid strategy
7. Review and launch

We suggest starting with $20–$50/day for 3–5 days to gather initial data.

Step 7: Track and Optimize Your Snapchat Ad Performance

Once your ad is live, watch the numbers closely.

Key metrics to monitor:

• Swipe-Up Rate (like CTR)
• Cost Per Swipe-Up
• Conversion Rate
• Pixel Fires (purchases, signups)
• Time Watched / Completion Rate

Snapchat Ads Manager gives you a clean dashboard to analyze your campaign’s performance. Use this to:

• Pause underperforming ads
• Boost winners
• Test new creatives weekly

Snapchat is not “set it and forget it.” You need to iterate.

Step 8: Retarget With Precision

Once traffic rolls in, retargeting becomes your secret weapon.

Use Snapchat Custom Audiences to:

• Retarget cart abandoners
• Upsell previous buyers
• Cross-sell product categories
• Nurture top-of-funnel visitors

Set up dynamic ads that automatically populate with products viewed by users — perfect for eCommerce brands.

• Food Fashion Store
• Pixel Perfect
• Strategic Partnership Between Udjat Agency and Pharos University’s Faculty of Media In 2024
• Why Choose Udjat as Your Marketing Agency?
• Creative Online Ads

Final Thoughts: Snapchat Ads Deliver When Done Right

Creating ads on Snapchat isn’t hard — but doing it well takes strategy, testing, and persistence.

At our Snapchat marketing agency, we’ve used this exact framework to scale campaigns from $50/day to $5,000/day profitably. And agencies like Udjat Agency have proven just how far Snapchat can go when executed with precision.

If you’re serious about building a viral, ROI-driven presence on Snapchat, now’s the time to take action.