TikTok Advertising 101: How to get started

TikTok has taken the social media world by storm since its inception in 2018. With a staggering three billion active monthly users, it has managed to achieve what only Facebook has achieved before – over 3 billion worldwide downloads as reported by Sensor Tower. 

This mobile app offers content creators an exceptional opportunity to showcase their talents and connect with a vast community. For brands, TikTok Ads Manager presents an avenue to tap into its global audience. To make the most of TikTok advertising, we’ve put together an exciting guide that covers everything you need to know – from identifying the right audience, and crafting ads that resonate, to tracking social media campaign performance. 

Benefits of TikTok Advertising 

TikTok is not just a fun app for dancing and lip-syncing – it’s also a goldmine for businesses looking to boost their revenue! With 24% of marketers already reaping the benefits of TikTok’s advertising prowess, the platform shows no signs of slowing down. 

In fact, the numbers speak for themselves – TikTok users spent a whopping $2.3 billion on the app in 2021, a 77% surge from 2020’s $1.3 billion. With its vast reach, TikTok is the perfect platform to showcase your brand to the right audience and make a splash in the market. 

So, if you’re looking to take your business to the next level, hop on the TikTok bandwagon and let your brand shine like never before! 

Types of TikTok Ads 

When it comes to advertising on TikTok, the possibilities are endless! With various ad types to choose from, you can select the one that best suits your business needs and target audience. Check out the different ad options available on the TikTok ads platform: 

• In-feed video ads: These ads appear among the user’s feed on the “For You” page, just like any other regular video. 
• Brand takeover ads: This ad type lets you make a grand entrance by taking over the user’s screen for a few seconds with your message.
• Spark ads: Launched in 2021, these ads let brands sponsor organic content that aligns with their products or services.
• Pangle ads: Pangle’s video platform has integrated with TikTok, offering video, native, and banner ads, but this feature is limited to certain countries. 
• TikTok Collection Ads: It’s a dynamic way to showcase your brand and products, allowing users to browse and make purchases seamlessly within the app.
• Branded AR content: Take your social media advertising game to the next level by creating branded stickers, lenses and other types of AR content that TikTok users can use in their videos. 
• Hashtag challenge ads: They encourage user participation by creating a fun and engaging challenge related to your brand. 
• Sponsored influencer content: This type of advertisement is perfect for those looking to reach a wider audience through influential TikTok users. Get your message across through sponsored content created by popular TikTok creators.

With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect ad type that resonates with your brand and captures your target audience’s attention.

How to set up TikTok Ads? 

 Are you ready to take your advertising game to the next level? Look no further than TikTok Ads! With over 1 billion active users, TikTok is a social media platform that you can’t afford to ignore. But how do you set up ads on TikTok, you may ask? It’s actually easier than you think!

Step 1: Create Your TikTok Ad Account 

First things first, create your TikTok ad account. This involves entering basic information like your email address and password, and agreeing to the terms and conditions. Once you’re approved, you can log in and finish setting up your account. 

Step 2: Create and Install TikTok Pixel 

Next up, you’ll need to install the TikTok Pixel on your website. This snippet of code will help gather important information about site events, such as where your visitors are located and what device they’re using. Don’t worry, setting up the Pixel is a breeze with TikTok’s easy-to-follow instructions. 

Step 3: Create a New Campaign 

Once your Pixel is up and running, it’s time to create your social media ad campaign. Choose your campaign objective based on what you want to achieve, such as driving traffic or app installs. Then give your campaign a catchy name and set a budget that works for you. 

Step 4: Create an Ad Group 

An ad group is where you define your target audience, campaign budgets, and placements for your ads. To create an effective ad group on TikTok, follow these steps: 

Choose your promotional type or goal 

• You can select either “App Install” or “Website” as your promotion type, depending on your TikTok advertising goals. 

Select your ad placement 

• The ad placement you choose will determine where your ads appear on TikTok and its partner platforms. 

• For beginners, the “Automatic placement” option is recommended to have TikTok place your ads for maximum reach and value.  

Choose your creative type 

• Turn on the “Automated Creative Optimization” feature to let TikTok create variations of your content and test its engagement. 

• You can turn off this feature at any time. 

Define your target audience 

• Select the location, gender, and age group of your audience. 
• Specify user languages, add users with specific interests.
• Use custom-built audiences to reach retargeted audiences to make your targeting more precise.

How to Set budget and schedule

The budget settings for advertising campaigns on various platforms, including Meta, typically involve determining the budget amount, selecting between daily or lifetime budget options, specifying the campaign duration, and choosing to run the campaign continuously or during specific time periods.

Set the correct bidding and optimization strategies

When it comes to optimizing your advertising campaign, you can choose a specific goal and decide between automated or manual bidding strategies, while also setting bid caps to ensure effective budget allocation.

Step 5: Create a new ad 

Upload your creative: Choose either a video or image file that meets the recommended ad specifications to ensure that your ad looks great on TikTok and its partner platforms. 

Preview and adjust your ad: After uploading your creative, preview your ad to see how it will appear to TikTok users. This will give you an opportunity to make any necessary adjustments before submitting your ad for review. 

Customize your ad: Name your ad to distinguish it from other ads in the same ad group. Then enter 12-100 characters of ad text to effectively communicate your message to your audience. 

Choose a call-to-action: Decide what you want your audience to do by selecting calls-to-action.

Submit your ad: Once you’ve customized your ad and chosen a call-to-action, click “Submit” to finish creating your ad. 

In addition to creating ads from scratch, you can also use TikTok Promote to boost your existing ads. Here are the steps to follow: 

Step 6: Analyze your ad performance  

Once your ad is live, it’s important to measure its success. TikTok offers built-in analytics that can provide insights into your ad’s performance, including impressions, clicks, conversions, and other important metrics. By testing and comparing different ad creatives and placements, you can optimize your ad to maximize its effectiveness. Use these analytics to gain valuable feedback and make data-driven decisions to improve your future ad campaigns. 

Final Words 

Unlock the potential of TikTok advertising and see your business skyrocket! While it may seem like uncharted territory, mastering TikTok’s ad platform can yield incredible results. Keep it simple and straightforward to connect with the app’s diverse and constantly moving audience. Get ready to make waves and stand out in the crowd with TikTok ads! If you think you can’t handle it on your own, we can help you with our top-notch TikTok ads services.