How to Target the US with a New Snapchat Account

Why Target US Audiences on Snapchat?

The US Snapchat market offers:

$ Spotlight payments - Snapchat pays creators directly for viral Spotlight videos, with US content getting priority
$ Higher ad revenue share - US ad rates on Snap Star program are significantly higher
$ Brand partnership opportunities - US brands actively seek Snapchat creators for campaigns
$ Young, engaged audience - 100M+ US daily active users, mostly Gen Z with high engagement

What You'll Need

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Dedicated Phone

A smartphone dedicated to this Snapchat account. Snapchat is mobile-only.

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US VPN

YourVPN with a clean US IP address that Snapchat trusts.

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Fresh Email

New email not linked to other Snapchat accounts.

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30 Minutes

Time for initial setup and account configuration.

Step-by-Step Setup

1

Prepare Your Phone

Before anything else, configure your device:

• Factory reset (optional but recommended for used phones)
• Set region to United States in device settings
• Set timezone to US (EST, CST, PST, etc.)
• Set language to English (US)
• Disable location services temporarily

2

Connect to YourVPN

Get your US IP address working:

• Open YourVPN and connect to US server
• Wait for "Connected" status
• Verify your IP at whatismyipaddress.com
• Confirm it shows a US location

Important: Snapchat is very location-aware. YourVPN's residential IPs look like real US home internet, which is essential for geo-targeting success.

3

Download Snapchat

Get the app while connected to VPN:

• Open App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android)
• Search for "Snapchat"
• Download and install
• Do NOT open the app yet

4

Create Your Account

Now open Snapchat and sign up:

• Open Snapchat for the first time
• Tap "Sign Up"
• Enter your name
• Set your birthday (must be 18+ for monetization)
• Create a username
• Enter your email address
• Create a password
• Skip phone number if possible

Important: If Snapchat requires phone verification, the country code reveals your location. Try skipping it, or use a US virtual number if required.

5

Deny Location Access

Critical step for geo-targeting:

• When Snapchat asks for location, tap "Don't Allow"
• If you already allowed it, go to phone Settings → Snapchat → Location → Never
• This prevents Snapchat from detecting your real GPS location
• Your location will be based on IP address (your VPN)

Why this matters: Snapchat uses GPS as the primary location signal. Denying GPS access forces it to use your IP address, which is your US VPN.

6

Warm Up Your Account

Before posting, act like a normal US user for 2-3 days:

• Browse Spotlight for 15-20 minutes daily
• Watch US-trending content completely
• Subscribe to 5-10 popular US Snapchat creators
• Check out Discover content from US publishers
• Add a Bitmoji and customize your profile
• Don't post to Spotlight yet

7

Apply for Snapchat Creator Features

Unlock monetization and analytics:

• Go to Profile → Settings → Spotlight & Snap Map
• Enable "Spotlight" posting
• Later, apply for Snap Star program (requires follower milestones)
• Check Creator Dashboard for analytics once eligible

8

Post Your First Spotlight

Now you're ready to create:

• Create vertical video content (9:16 ratio)
• Keep videos 10-60 seconds for best performance
• Use trending sounds and topics from US Spotlight
• Post during US peak hours (3-6 PM EST, 8-11 PM EST)
• Add relevant hashtags in English
• Submit to Spotlight (not just Story)

9

Verify US Distribution

After posting a few Spotlights, check your reach:

• Check your Spotlight video views
• Once you hit Snap Star, check Creator Dashboard for demographics
• Look at comments - are they from US users?
• Check if your content appears in US trending

Success indicator: If your Spotlights are getting significant views and engagement primarily from English-speaking users during US hours, you're reaching the right audience!

Golden Rules for US Snapchat Success

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Always use VPN

Keep YourVPN connected every time you open Snapchat

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Keep location off

Never enable GPS/location access for Snapchat - let it use your VPN IP

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Post during US hours

Best times: 3-6 PM EST, 8-11 PM EST (when US teens are most active)

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Use US trending sounds

Check what's trending in US Spotlight and use similar audio

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Don't enable Snap Map location

Snap Map uses GPS and will expose your real location to the algorithm

Spotlight Success Tips

Hook in First 1-2 Seconds

Snapchat users swipe fast. Your opening needs to grab attention instantly or they're gone.

Optimize for Sound-On

Unlike some platforms, Snapchat users often have sound on. Use trending audio and voiceovers.

Post Consistently

1-3 Spotlights per day is ideal. The algorithm rewards consistent creators.

Engage with Trends

Jump on US trending topics quickly. Snapchat's audience loves timely, relevant content.

Troubleshooting

Spotlight shows content from my real country

Check if location access is enabled - disable it immediately. Clear Snapchat cache, log out, reconnect to VPN, and log back in. Spend time watching US content to retrain recommendations.

My Spotlights get very few views

Spotlight has massive competition. Focus on hook quality, trending sounds, and posting consistency. It often takes 20-30 posts before one breaks out. Keep location access disabled.

Account got locked or flagged

This can happen with flagged VPN IPs. YourVPN's residential IPs have lower flag rates than consumer VPNs. If locked, verify your account and avoid any suspicious behavior.

Can't access Spotlight payments

Spotlight payments require meeting eligibility requirements and may require identity verification. Build your account legitimately, focus on views and engagement first, then apply for monetization once you meet the thresholds.

More Snapchat Resources

Everything you need to grow on Snapchat and reach US audiences.

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Ready to Go Viral on US Snapchat?

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