Want more people to see your Snapchat content? A public profile is the way to go. It lets anyone on Snapchat find you, view your stories, and follow you without being your friend first.
In this guide, I will show you exactly how to make a public profile on Snapchat. I will cover who can do it, how to set it up, and how to make the most of it once it is live.
What Is a Public Profile on Snapchat?
A public profile is different from your regular Snapchat profile. Your regular profile is private. Only your friends can see your stories and snap you. But a public profile is open to everyone.
With a public profile, you get a special page that anyone can visit. It shows your display name, Bitmoji, bio, and public stories. People can subscribe to your public profile without adding you as a friend. Think of it like having a mini fan page right inside Snapchat.
Public profiles were first available only to celebrities, brands, and creators with big followings. But now Snapchat has opened it up to regular users too. As long as you meet a few basic requirements, you can create one.
Who Can Make a Public Profile on Snapchat?
Before you try to set one up, make sure you meet the requirements. Snapchat has a few rules about who can create a public profile.
You need to be at least 18 years old. Snapchat does not allow minors to have public profiles. If your account says you are under 18, the option will not show up for you.
You need to have at least one friend on Snapchat. This is a pretty easy requirement. If you use Snapchat at all, you probably have at least one friend added.
You need to follow Snapchat's community guidelines. If your account has been flagged or restricted for violating Snapchat's rules, you might not be able to create a public profile.
Your account needs to be in good standing. This means no recent bans, warnings, or policy violations.
If you meet all of these requirements, you are ready to set up your public profile.
How to Make a Public Profile on Snapchat (Step-by-Step)
Here is the full walkthrough for setting up your public profile. It takes just a few minutes.
Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner. This brings you to your profile page.
Now look for the option that says "Create Public Profile" or "My Public Profile." On some versions of the app, you might need to scroll down a bit to find it.
Tap on it. Snapchat will show you some information about what a public profile is and what it includes. Read through it and tap "Continue" or "Create."
Snapchat will now set up your public profile. It will use your current display name and Bitmoji. You can edit these later.
Once created, you will see a new section on your profile page for your public profile. You can tap on it to view and edit it anytime.
And that is it. Your public profile is now live. Anyone on Snapchat can find you and subscribe.
How to Customize Your Public Profile
Now that you have a public profile, let me show you how to make it look good. A well-done public profile gets more subscribers.
To edit your public profile, go to your profile page and tap on your public profile. Then tap the "Edit" button or the pencil icon.
You can change your display name. Pick something that is easy to remember and describes what your content is about. If you are a food blogger, maybe include something about food. If you are a photographer, mention photography.
Add a bio. Your bio is a short description that tells people who you are and what kind of content you share. Keep it simple and to the point. You have limited space, so make every word count.
Choose a good profile photo. Your Bitmoji is the default, but you can also use a real photo. A clear, friendly face photo works well if you are building a personal brand.
You can also feature your best lenses. If you have created Snapchat lenses, they can show up on your public profile. This is a cool way to show off your creativity.
How to Share Public Stories on Snapchat
One of the best things about a public profile is the ability to share public stories. These are stories that anyone can see, not just your friends.
To post a public story, create a snap like you normally would. Before posting, look for the "My Story" options. You should see an option for "My Public Story" or "Spotlight." Select the public option.
Your story will now be visible to anyone who visits your public profile. It might also show up in Snapchat's Discover section, which can get you a lot of views.
Public stories stay up for 24 hours, just like regular stories. After that, they disappear unless you save them to your memories.
You can also save certain snaps to your public profile as permanent content. This is called "Saved Stories." These do not disappear after 24 hours and stay on your profile for as long as you want them there.
Tips for Growing Your Public Profile
Having a public profile is great, but you need to put in some effort to grow it. Here are some tips that work.
Post consistently. The more you post, the more likely people are to find and follow you. Try to post at least one public story every day.
Make quality content. Blurry snaps and boring stories will not get you subscribers. Take time to make your snaps interesting, funny, or helpful. Use good lighting and clear audio.
Use Spotlight. Snapchat Spotlight is like Snapchat's version of TikTok. It shows short videos to millions of users. Posting to Spotlight can help your public profile get discovered by a much larger audience.
Promote your Snapchat on other platforms. If you have followers on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter, let them know about your Snapchat public profile. Cross promotion is one of the fastest ways to grow.
Engage with your audience. When people subscribe to your public profile and send you messages, reply to them. Building a relationship with your audience keeps them coming back.
Use trending lenses and sounds. Snapchat often promotes content that uses popular lenses and sounds. Jump on trends to increase your visibility.
For more detailed growth strategies, check out Otto's guide to social media marketing. They have some really useful tips for building an audience across all platforms.
How to See Who Subscribed to Your Public Profile
Once your public profile is up and running, you might want to know who is following you. Here is how to check.
Go to your profile and tap on your public profile. You should see a subscriber count. This tells you how many people are following your public profile.
However, Snapchat does not show you a list of individual subscribers. You can see the total number, but not their names. This is different from your friends list, where you can see everyone individually.
You can see analytics though. Snapchat provides insights about your public profile, including story views, subscriber growth, and engagement. This data helps you understand what content your audience likes.
Can You Turn Off Your Public Profile?
Yes. If you decide you no longer want a public profile, you can delete it. Here is how.
Go to your profile page. Tap on your public profile. Look for the settings or three-dot menu. Tap "Delete Public Profile" or "Remove."
Snapchat will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, your public profile will be removed. Your regular private profile will still work normally.
Keep in mind that deleting your public profile also removes your subscribers. If you create a new public profile later, you will start from zero.
Public Profile vs. Snapchat Plus
Some people confuse public profiles with Snapchat Plus. They are two different things.
A public profile is free. Anyone who meets the requirements can create one. It lets people subscribe to your content without being your friend.
Snapchat Plus is a paid subscription that gives you extra features like custom icons, story rewatch indicators, and priority support. It does not include a public profile by default. You can have Snapchat Plus without a public profile and vice versa.
However, having both can be useful. Snapchat Plus gives you extra tools to understand your audience, which can help you grow your public profile.
FAQ
How many friends do you need to make a public profile on Snapchat?
You need at least one friend on Snapchat to create a public profile. This is a very easy requirement to meet.
Can you make a public profile on Snapchat if you are under 18?
No. Snapchat requires you to be at least 18 years old to create a public profile. If your account shows you are under 18, the option will not be available.
Do people have to add you as a friend to see your public profile?
No. That is the whole point of a public profile. Anyone on Snapchat can find your public profile and view your public stories without adding you as a friend. They just subscribe instead.
Can you have both a private and public profile on Snapchat?
Yes. Your public profile is separate from your regular private profile. Your friends still see your private stories and snaps. Your public profile is an additional page that anyone can access.
Start Building Your Public Profile Today
Now you know how to make a public profile on Snapchat. It is free, it takes just a few minutes, and it opens up your content to a much bigger audience.
Whether you want to grow a personal brand, share your creativity, or just let more people enjoy your snaps, a public profile is a solid first step. Set it up, customize it, and start sharing content today.
For more tips on growing your presence on social media, visit Otto's blog for fresh guides and strategies.
