TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 2 billion downloads and 100 million monthly active users in the U.S. alone¹. TikTok is not only a place for entertainment, but also a powerful marketing tool for businesses of all sizes and niches. In this blog, we will show you how to use TikTok Ads to reach your target audience, increase brand awareness, and drive sales.

What are TikTok Ads?

TikTok Ads are paid promotions that appear on the app, either in the user’s feed, on the explore page, or as branded effects and stickers. TikTok Ads can link to a landing page, an app store, or a hashtag challenge, depending on the advertiser’s goal. TikTok Ads are a great way to showcase your brand’s personality, creativity, and value proposition to a large and engaged audience.

Types of TikTok Ads

There are several types of TikTok Ads that you can choose from, depending on your budget, objective, and creative strategy. Here are some of the most common ones:

• In-feed ads: These are video ads that appear in the user’s “For You” page, the main feed of the app. They look like regular TikToks, but have a “Sponsored” label and a call-to-action button. In-feed ads can be up to 60 seconds long, and can be skipped by the user.
• TopView ads: These are video ads that appear when the user opens the app, taking over the entire screen for up to 60 seconds. They have a high impact and reach, as they are the first thing the user sees on the app.
• Brand takeover ads: These are video or image ads that appear when the user opens the app, taking over the entire screen for up to 5 seconds. They have a high impact and reach, as they are the first thing the user sees on the app. They are exclusive to one category per day, meaning only one advertiser can use this format per day.
• Branded hashtag challenge ads: These are ads that invite the user to participate in a hashtag challenge, a viral trend where users create and share content around a specific theme or topic. They appear on the explore page, where the user can see the challenge details, the sponsored banner, and the user-generated content. Branded hashtag challenge ads can increase user engagement, brand awareness, and user-generated content.
• Branded effects ads: These are ads that allow the user to use custom filters, stickers, and effects that are related to the advertiser’s brand or product. They appear in the user’s camera, where they can create and share content using the branded effects. Branded effects ads can increase user engagement, brand awareness, and user-generated content.

How to create a TikTok Ad campaign

To create a TikTok Ad campaign, you need to follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a TikTok Ads account at TikTok for Business.
2. Create a campaign by choosing your objective, budget, and schedule.
3. Create an ad group by choosing your placement, targeting, bidding, and optimization options.
4. Create an ad by choosing your format, uploading your creative, and adding your text and call-to-action.
5. Review and launch your campaign.

Tips for making great TikTok Ads

To make your TikTok Ads stand out and perform well, here are some tips to follow:

• Stay on brand: TikTok users respect authenticity, so make sure your ad content is true to your company’s values and conforms with your branding³.
• Be direct: TikTok users have a short attention span, so make sure your ad delivers your message and value proposition clearly and quickly³.
• Keep it vertical: TikTok is a mobile-first platform, so make sure your ad is optimized for the vertical screen and uses the full screen space³.
• Use sound and text: TikTok is a sound-on platform, so make sure your ad has catchy music, voice-over, or sound effects that match your visual content. Also, use text overlays or captions to reinforce your message and call-to-action³.
• Incorporate hashtags: TikTok is a hashtag-driven platform, so make sure your ad includes relevant and trending hashtags that relate to your brand, product, or challenge³.
• Incorporate interactive add-ons: TikTok is an interactive platform, so make sure your ad includes features that encourage user participation, such as polls, quizzes, countdowns, or QR codes⁶.
• Partner with influencers: TikTok is an influencer-driven platform, so make sure your ad leverages the power and credibility of influencers who have a large and loyal following in your niche³.

Conclusion

TikTok Ads are a great way to grow your business on the popular short-video platform. By following the steps and tips in this blog, you can create effective and engaging TikTok Ads that reach your target audience, increase brand awareness, and drive sales. Ready to get started? Sign up for a TikTok Ads account today and unleash your creativity!.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/22/2023
(1) How to Make Great TikTok Ads: The Complete 2024 Guide – Hootsuite. https://blog.hootsuite.com/tiktok-advertising/.
(2) Get Your Brand Started on TikTok | TikTok for Business. https://www.tiktok.com/business/en-US/getstarted.
(3) TikTok ads 101: How to get started with TikTok advertising. https://sproutsocial.com/insights/tiktok-ads/.
(4) Creative Best Practices for TikTok Ads | TikTok For Business Blog. https://www.tiktok.com/business/en-US/blog/creative-best-practices-top-performing-ads.
(5) The Rise Of Short-Form Video: TikTok Is Changing The Game – Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/08/27/the-rise-of-short-form-video-tiktok-is-changing-the-game/.
(6) TikTok Ads For Beginners In 2022 – LYFE Marketing. https://www.lyfemarketing.com/blog/tiktok-ads-for-beginners/.
(7) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok.