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Platform Playbook
Snapchat
The ephemeral platform where AR, Stories, and full-screen vertical ads reach Gen Z at massive scale.
What you will learn
Exact image specs for every placement
Best ad formats for this platform
Audience profile and user behaviour
Data-backed actionable tips
What to avoid on this platform
Safe zones and technical limits
1Overview
Snapchat is a camera-first platform with 800M+ monthly active users, heavily skewing Gen Z and young Millennials. Its ad formats are built around full-screen vertical experiences: Snap Ads, Story Ads, Collection Ads, Lenses (AR), and Filters. Snapchat excels at AR try-on experiences and ephemeral urgency-driven campaigns.
2Image Specifications
Image specs by placement
| Placement | Dimensions | Max Size | Safe Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snap Ad | 1080 × 1920 px (9:16) | 5 MB (image) | Top 150 px and bottom 350 px clear |
| Story Ad | 1080 × 1920 px (9:16) | 5 MB | Top 150 px and bottom 350 px clear |
| Collection Ad | 1080 × 1920 px hero + 160 × 160 px tiles | 5 MB | Bottom 400 px reserved for product tiles |
| Filter / Lens | 1080 × 2340 px | Varies by asset type | Face/body tracking zones |
3Best Formats
Best ad formats for Snapchat
Stories & ReelsAR / Try-OnCollectionSingle ImageLead GenerationInteractive / Poll
4Audience Profile
Who uses this platform?
Ages 13–34, 75% Gen Z, camera-first behaviour, high engagement with AR and ephemeral content. Strong in GCC and MENA markets.
5Pro Tips
Tips for success on Snapchat
1Design for vertical only — 9:16 is mandatory, no landscape fallback
2Use Snapchat Lens Studio for AR try-on — highest engagement format on the platform
3Keep ads under 6 seconds of attention span — front-load the message
4Collection Ads with swipe-up convert well for e-commerce
5Snapchat audience skews younger than any other platform — adjust tone accordingly
6Use geo-filters for local campaigns — high shareability in GCC markets
6Avoid
What to avoid on Snapchat
Horizontal or square creative (will not render correctly)
Ignoring Snapchat-specific safe zones (larger than Meta)
Using the same creative as Instagram Stories without adapting
Next Step
Start advertising on Snapchat
Follow a hands-on tutorial to create your first image ad on this platform using ZorgSocial.