Snapchat’s Spotlight is a platform feature that allows users to create and share short, entertaining videos in an Instagram Reels or TikTok-like format. It’s designed to help creators gain visibility and for brands to reach new audiences through viral content. Spotlight has a unique monetization model where creators can earn money based on the performance of their videos, incentivizing high-quality, engaging content.

If you want to create viral content on Spotlight and gain traction with a wide audience, here are some tips and best practices to follow:

1. Understand the Spotlight Audience

The audience on Spotlight is highly diverse and is used to content that is fast-paced, visually appealing, and often humorous. Content that works well on this platform tends to be:

• Entertaining and light-hearted: Fun, relatable, or comedic content that resonates with Snapchat’s younger user base, primarily Gen Z and Millennials.
• Quick and punchy: Spotlight videos are short (up to 60 seconds), so the content must grab attention within the first few seconds.
• Trendy: Videos that align with current trends, memes, and popular music tracks are more likely to go viral.

Tip: Keep your content fun, visually stimulating, and trendy to appeal to Snapchat’s younger, trend-focused audience.

2. Leverage Trending Audio and Music

Much like TikTok, Spotlight thrives on trends, and one of the most powerful ways to make your content stand out is by using popular audio clips or music. Snapchat features a wide variety of songs and sound clips that you can add to your video, and using trending tracks can help your content get discovered.

• Stay Updated: Regularly check what audio clips are trending on Spotlight. You can explore the music library within Snapchat to find what’s hot at the moment.
• Tie in the Audio with Your Brand: If you’re a brand, use audio or music that fits the tone of your content or aligns with your target audience’s preferences.

Tip: Using popular or viral audio is a great way to increase discoverability and improve the chances of your video getting featured in Spotlight.

3. Create Relatable, Shareable Content

The key to going viral on any social platform is to create content that people want to share with their friends. This typically means:

• Relatable Humor: Content that people can relate to on an emotional or humorous level is more likely to be shared. Think about inside jokes, trending memes, or scenarios that your audience finds funny or relevant.
• Challenges and Trends: Participate in viral challenges or create your own that can engage your audience to interact with your brand or product. These trends often spread quickly and organically across the platform.
• Engagement Hooks: Ask viewers to share their thoughts, create a response, or tag a friend, making it easier for your video to be shared and go viral.

Tip: Focus on content that is easily shareable, funny, and speaks directly to your target audience’s experiences or interests.

4. Focus on High-Quality, Visually Compelling Content

On Spotlight, your video must stand out immediately. Since the format is short, your content should be visually captivating from the very first frame to ensure that users continue watching.

• Strong Visual Appeal: Use bright colors, interesting compositions, and attention-grabbing visuals.
• Good Lighting: Make sure your videos are well-lit and clear. Poor lighting or blurry footage can turn off viewers quickly.
• Clear Message: Even though the video is short, the message should be obvious and engaging from the beginning. If it’s too complicated or slow to unfold, viewers will swipe away.

Tip: Invest time in editing and enhancing the visual quality of your content to make it pop in Spotlight’s feed.

5. Tell a Story in 60 Seconds or Less

Even though Spotlight videos are short (up to 60 seconds), storytelling is still a key component of viral content. Whether it’s a quick joke, a before-and-after transformation, or a funny skit, storytelling helps keep the audience engaged from start to finish.

• Grab Attention Quickly: The first few seconds should quickly establish what the video is about and why it’s worth watching.
• Create a Clear Beginning, Middle, and End: Even for short videos, a concise story structure will make the content more engaging and enjoyable to watch.

Tip: Focus on creating bite-sized narratives that are easy to understand and consume in one go.

6. Encourage User Interaction

Encouraging users to interact with your content is one way to increase its viral potential. Snapchat’s Spotlight is designed to reward content that receives high engagement, so including elements that encourage viewers to interact with your video is important.

• Call to Action (CTA): Prompt viewers to take specific actions such as swiping up to learn more, commenting their thoughts, or even sharing the video with friends.
• Polls and Questions: Add interactive elements like polls or questions within your video to boost engagement and conversation.

Tip: Use CTAs effectively to guide your audience toward sharing, commenting, or taking action on your video.

7. Utilize Snapchat’s Editing Tools and Effects

Snapchat offers a range of editing tools and visual effects that can make your videos more dynamic and fun.

• Filters and Lenses: Use Snapchat’s wide variety of AR filters and lenses to make your content visually exciting or add a fun twist to your videos.
• Text and Graphics: Adding text overlays, captions, or emojis can make the video feel more dynamic and engaging, especially for users who watch without sound.

Tip: Be creative with the platform’s native tools to give your video an added layer of entertainment value.

8. Post Consistently

Going viral once is great, but maintaining consistent visibility on Spotlight requires you to post frequently and consistently.

• Experiment with Different Content Types: Try a mix of content styles, such as humorous videos, informative snippets, tutorials, or viral challenges. This can help you discover what resonates best with your audience.
• Regular Posting: Aim to post regularly and keep experimenting with new ideas. The more you post, the more opportunities you have for your content to be discovered and potentially go viral.

Tip: Set up a consistent content calendar to ensure you’re regularly posting fresh and engaging material to Spotlight.

9. Monitor Analytics and Adjust Your Strategy

Once you start posting on Spotlight, it’s important to monitor the performance metrics of your videos to see what’s working and what isn’t.

• Engagement Metrics: Keep an eye on views, shares, and reactions. If certain content types or styles are getting more traction, try to replicate that success with new videos.
• Adjust Based on Feedback: If your videos aren’t performing as expected, adjust your approach—whether that’s changing the visuals, using different music, or experimenting with different storytelling formats.

Tip: Use Snapchat’s analytics tools to track your content’s performance and refine your content strategy over time.

10. Collaborate with Influencers and Creators

If you have a brand or are looking to boost your reach, collaborating with Snapchat influencers or creators can help your content reach a wider audience. Influencers already have built-in audiences who trust their recommendations, which can drive more engagement on your videos.

• Brand Ambassador Campaigns: Partner with influencers to create branded content for Spotlight, where they can feature your products or services in a fun and engaging way.
• Cross-Promotion: Work with influencers to cross-promote each other’s content, which can help both parties gain exposure.

Tip: Choose influencers whose audience aligns with your brand values to make the collaboration more authentic and effective.

---

Conclusion

To create viral content on Snapchat’s Spotlight, focus on authentic, engaging videos that are fast-paced, fun, and easily shareable. Use trending audio, creative visual effects, and interactive elements to grab attention and boost engagement. Consistency is key, so experiment with different types of content and monitor your performance to refine your strategy. Whether you’re an individual creator or a brand, Snapchat Spotlight offers a great opportunity to reach a wide audience—if you can capture their attention in 60 seconds or less.