Skip to main content

Ad Partnerships

Run ads that appear as if posted by a creator, featuring their profile and identity with your brand attribution.

Overview​

User Story: "I want to run an ad that looks like it was posted by the creator. It will appear in the feed as 'Creator Name' sponsored by 'Brand Name'."

Ad Partnerships enable a paid-first workflow where you create ads that feature a creator's profile as the primary sender. Unlike Brand Partnerships, the content is created by you (the advertiser), but it carries the creator's identity and credibility.

Common Use Cases​

Celebrity Endorsements​

Feature approved celebrity profiles in brand campaigns where the celebrity's identity drives trust and engagement.

Influencer Takeovers​

Run campaigns where ads appear to come from the influencer's account, creating an authentic "takeover" experience.

Create content with clear creator attribution for transparent sponsored messaging that complies with disclosure requirements.

Key Differences from Brand Partnerships​

AspectBrand PartnershipAd Partnership
Content SourceCreator's organic postsYour own creative assets
Permission LevelBRAND_LEVELAD_LEVEL
Creator ActionMust post and tagOnly initial approval needed
Ad Display"Paid Partnership with [Brand]""[Creator]" sponsored by "[Brand]"
Primary ControlCreator originates contentBrand controls all creative

Before following this guide, you must establish an AD_LEVEL partnership with creators. See Partnership Setup for the complete invitation and approval process.

Workflow Summary​

Key Details​

Permission & Content​

AspectDetails
Permission RequiredAd Partner (AD_LEVEL) — higher than Brand Partner
Campaign TypeManual Build only (not available in Instant Create)
Content SourceYour own creative assets
Primary ProfileCreator's avatar and name appear in ad header
Sponsor Attribution"Sponsored by [Your Brand Name]"
Creator ActionOne-time approval; no ongoing posting required

Comparison: Primary Profile Options​

The key difference in Ad Partnerships is who appears as the sender:

Profile SettingAd Header ShowsSponsor Line ShowsUse Case
Creator (Primary)Creator's avatar & name"Sponsored by [Brand]"Creator endorsement feel
Brand (Primary)Brand's avatar & name"Featuring [Creator]"Brand campaign with creator talent

Implementation Tracks​

This guide provides two tracks for creating Ad Partnership campaigns:

  • Marketing UI — Manual setup via Snapchat Ads Manager (no code required)
  • Developer API — Programmatic workflow for automated campaign creation

Switch between tracks using the tabs below to see your preferred approach.

Setup via Ads Manager​

This workflow guides you through creating Ad Partnership campaigns manually using Snapchat Ads Manager.

Complete Partnership Setup — You must have an active AD_LEVEL partnership before proceeding

Step 1: Create a Campaign​

Ad Partnerships require Manual Build campaigns in Ads Manager.

  1. Log in to Snapchat Ads Manager

  2. Navigate to Campaigns → Create Campaign

  3. Choose your campaign objective (e.g., Awareness & Engagement, Website Conversions, App Installs) Create new ad

  4. On the campaign build type selection screen, choose Manual Build in order to select your own assets and public profile.

Manual build

Ad Partnerships are not supported in Instant Create or Automatic campaigns. You must select Manual Build to access Partnership Ad features.

  1. Configure your campaign settings (name, budget, dates)
  2. Click Continue to Ad Sets

Step 2: Configure Ad Set​

Set up targeting, placement, and budget for your ad set:

  1. Name your ad set (e.g., "Creator Partnership - January")
  2. Set your Start Date and End Date
  3. Configure Audience Targeting (demographics, interests, locations)
  4. Set your Budget (daily or lifetime)
  5. Choose Placements (Snapchat, Audience Network, etc.)
  6. Click Continue to Ads

Under placement, you can run creator ads within Stories, Spotlight, or as Sponsored Snaps, with the option to bid exclusively on Sponsored Snaps by selecting only "Chat Feed."

ad placement settings

  1. Configure the audience

    To target creator's audience follow the Audience Targeting guide.

    audience targeting
  2. Select Ad Format

Step 3: Upload Creative and Enable Partnership​

This is where you configure the Ad Partnership and swap the primary profile to the creator.

3.1 Upload Media​

  1. In the Ad Creatives section, click Set Up Media
  2. Choose to upload:
    • Brand Asset: Upload your own image or video
    • Creator Asset: Use media shared by the creator (if available)
  3. Upload your creative file

upload-media

3.2 Enable Partnership Ad​

  1. Scroll to the Public Profile section in the creative setup
  2. Toggle "Partnership Ad" to ON
  3. A creator selector will appear

public-profile-enabled

3.3 Select the Creator​

  1. Click the Select Creator dropdown
  2. Choose the creator you granted "Ad Partner" permission to
  3. The creator's profile information will populate

3.4 Swap Primary Profile​

This is the critical step that makes the ad appear to come from the creator.

  1. Look for the "Swap Primary" button or toggle near the profile selector
  2. Click "Swap Primary" to switch the primary profile from your brand to the creator
  3. Confirm the swap

swap-to-brand

Before Swap:

  • Ad Header: Brand Test
  • Sponsor Line: "promo 123"

After Swap:

  • Ad Header: Shusha Li
  • Sponsor Line: "promo 123 @Brand Test"

swap-to-profile

Step 4: Complete Ad Setup​

  1. Add your Headline (e.g., "Check this out!")
  2. Select a Call-to-Action button (e.g., "Shop Now", "Learn More", "Install Now")
  3. Add an Attachment (website URL, app install link, etc.)
  4. Review the Ad Preview to confirm the creator's profile appears as the primary sender
  5. Click Publish

Always check the ad preview to ensure the creator's avatar and name appear in the header with your brand shown as "Sponsored by [Brand]".

Step 5: Monitor and Manage​

Once your ad is live:

  1. Check Review Status: Ads go through Snapchat's review process (typically 1-2 hours)
  2. Monitor Performance: Track impressions, swipe-ups, and conversions in the Ads Manager dashboard
  3. Watch Expiration Dates: Ad Partner permissions expire based on the duration you set. You'll need to re-invite creators when permissions expire.

If the Ad Partner permission expires while your ad is running, the ad may pause or be rejected. Plan to renew partnerships before expiration.

Next Steps​

Was this page helpful?
Yes
No