Both seasoned and budding creators can leverage the platform's newest features, transforming it into a substantial income source.
Snap Inc. has introduced a suite of new programmes and features to support creators in building sustainable businesses and enhancing audience engagement on Snapchat, as the MENA region’s creator economy continues to expand.
As publishers and established content creators in MENA continue to thrive on Snapchat, the platform has witnessed a significant surge in total time spent on Spotlight, its user-generated content platform, growing over 200% YoY, with Spotlight reaching an average of more than 350m monthly active users on average in Q1 2023.
Commenting on the development, Julie Bogaert, Head of EMEA Talent Partnerships at Snap Inc., said: “Snapchat offers creators at all stages of their career, aspiring and established, a variety of programmes, opportunities and tools to help them grow their audiences and build sustainable businesses across Stories, Spotlight, and Discover, making content creation a full-time career. We continue to notice that creators value Snapchat because it provides unique reach, relevance, and revenue and we are excited to continue supporting creators every step of the way and empowering them with the tools they need to unleash their creativity and succeed in leaving a lasting impact on our platform.”
Creators with at least 50,000 followers, 25m monthly Snap views, and who post at least 10 Stories per month are now eligible for the Stories revenue share programme. This initiative ensures a consistent revenue source, allowing creators to reinvest in producing high-quality content.
Snapchat’s Spotlight reward programme continues to champion aspiring creators, offering increased rewards for top-performing Spotlight Snaps. This incentivizes creativity and empowers creators to turn their passion into a lucrative career.
Lifestyle Snap Star, Aliona Shcherba @aliona.ess., added: “Snapchat is a key aspect in our business and brand because it directly connects the creator to their audience. The Snapchat story ads programme is a big motivator for creators to keep using the app and constantly thinking outside the box to create more engaging stories, polls, and Q&As. The revenue stream coming from it is very rewarding and truly has become a main source of income for many creators.”
Lifestyle Snap Star, Yazan Abweny @abo.zayan, stated: “Snapchat maintains a creator’s classy and reputable image, and at the same time is considered a good investment in a creator’s content because it brings a great source of income. It motivates one to build stories from morning until the night with enjoyment, and allows the creator to be their true self without editing and be appreciated from the app for it.”
To further expand creators’ reach, Snapchatters aged 18 or older can now post their own Public Story, seamlessly switching between sharing content with friends and adding it to their Public Story. This new feature allows creators to engage more effectively with their audience, gain content performance insights, and connect authentically.
Snapchat is also introducing new surfaces for creator content, such as Snap Map, making it easier to discover creators across Stories and Spotlight. Creators can tag locations in their Spotlight Snaps, enhancing exposure and appearing on place profiles on the Snap Map.
Additionally, creators can now save their favourite Stories to their profile, showcasing the platform’s commitment to providing a space for genuine connections and authentic content.
Snap Inc. continues to roll out new tools, including Spotlight Replies for enhanced control over video replies, Remix for reacting to and re-sharing Spotlight Snaps, and the ability to add a Linktree to Public Profiles. Creators can also incorporate sounds into Lenses, providing more avenues for expression.
The new initiatives come at a time when Snapchat’s monthly addressable reach in the MENA region is on the rise, coupled with a 12% YoY increase in global daily active users.
Snapchat remains committed to supporting creators every step of the way, fostering creativity, and leaving a lasting impact on the platform.
