With 2.6 billion downloads and 1.1 billion active users, the question shouldn't be who is on Tiktok, but rather, who is not on Tiktok, and that had better not be you.
Tikok became one of the most effective forms of entertainment only recently. The platform was originally made to help people make short videos, but its visibility sky-rocketed during the lockdown of 2020.
Even at that time, the platform positioned itself as a haven for youths, teenagers, and adults. Soon enough, Tiktok became the app the typical user opens up to eight times a day, spending about 45 minutes daily on the app. Needless to say, companies started looking to improve their turnovers and take advantage of the platform to increase their sales. Need help with that? We at UAWC would be happy to help: https://uawc.agency/tik-tok-ads/
Which Brands Should Use Tiktok Advertising
Tiktok provides a wide range of options for various brands to advertise their products. It also has a wide reach, especially among the younger generation. On this base level, Tiktok ads can come in handy to every brand that seeks to penetrate a market for younger people. Beyond this age category, Tiktok has also proven to be a good space for products that relate to pets, children, beauty, arts, culture, entertainment and many others that appeal to emotions. On the other hand, brands that deal with more serious themes can run more fun-inclined campaigns on Tiktok.
Types of Tiktok Ads
Tiktok ads come in various formats. Below is the list of choices you can pick from.
In-feed Ads: In-feed ads are displayed among the native news feed on Tiktok. They appear as suggestions and are tagged "For you."
Brand Takeover: This ad spreads throughout the screen, displaying the message of your advertisement. After a few seconds, it converts to an in-feed video ad.
Spark Ads: These give you the opportunity to organically draw attention to your products by sponsoring organic content that relates to them. This ad was launched in 2021, giving brands the opportunity to advertise indirectly.
Image Ads: This format is a form of image that is laid over videos that pop up on apps from Tiktok's news feed. This includes babe, buzz video, and top buzz.
Video Ads: Video ads are full videos that run between 15 and 60 seconds. They appear in the " for you" feed for users.
Pandle ads: Pandle has partnered with Tiktok to integrate ads into Tiktok videos. This could be native ads, banner ads, or video ads.
Carousel ads: A carousel ad is a multiple version of an image ad. Carousel ads can display up to ten images in the news feed apps.
Branded AR Content: This is perhaps the most innovative way to advertise on Tiktok. Your ad is made into stickers, lenses, or other augmented reality content that tiktokers can attach to their videos while creating them.
Hashtag Challenge: This is another inclusive form of advertising on Tiktok. You create a hashtag which appears in the discovery feed. The more users participate using the hashtag, the more viral the message spreads.
Sponsored Influencer content: This form of an advertisement on Tiktok allows you to reach the audience of a popular Tiktoker. The Tiktoker gets to create content and concepts to advertise your brand. In exchange, you pay for the services and influence of the Tiktoker. Tiktok influencing has proven to be one of the most effective forms of advertising. It is, however, important to pick the influencers that can reach your target audience and create the kind of content they connect to. For a wider reach, you may choose to engage several influencers per campaign.
How to set up ads on Tiktok
Many businesses fancy the idea of advertising online but do not know how to advertise on Tiktok. Below is a step-by-step guide to advertising on Tiktok.
Alternatively, you could simply employ the services of a TikTok Ads agency.
Step 1: Create a Tiktok Ad Account
- To create a Tiktok ad account, go to the Tiktok Ads manager and click create an account. You will be required to fill in your billing region or country. You will also be required to indicate if you are using the account as an individual or as a business.
- When you click next, proceed to add your email/phone number and password. Fill in the verification code sent to your mail/phone. Read the terms and conditions, accept them, and then click sign up.
The account logs you into the Tiktok dashboard, where you fill in all other details. Tiktok automatically suggests the next step till you complete the process.
Step 2: Create and Install the Tiktok Pixel
Tiktok Pixel allows you to track conversions on all your Tiktok ads through your website.
- To create, go to your Tiktok add manager, click on Assets and then Events.
- Choose an option to track either web events or app events. Click Create Pixel.
- On the next page, name your Pixel and click "next"
- Under the connection method, select TikTok Pixel, then click next.
- Under "Set up web events with TikTok pixel," select to either install manually or automatically.
- When you click manually and click next, copy the JavaScript code from the pixel and paste it into the header of your website. To do this, look for a code that starts with <head> and ends with<head/>. The code should be placed right after the <head>
- It is important to paste your code only once, so you don't end up preventing conversion tracking.
- If you choose to install your Pixel automatically, click "Automatically set up web events via partner platforms," and then click next.
- Pick a third-party account to connect your third-party account, and then click next.
Step 3: Create a new Tiktok Campaign
A Tiktok Campaign runs like an umbrella group for TikTok ads. While people tend to use them interchangeably, Tiktok campaigns and Tiktok ads refer to different parts of an advertisement on Tiktok.
- On your Tiktok ads manager, locate the "Campaigns" tab. Click on it and then click create.
- On the next page, pick an objective for your campaign and click next.
- Name your campaign and set a budget. TikTok allows you to either set a budget per day or a total budget for the entire campaign. You also get to pick either Standard, which spreads the frequency of display evenly through the period you choose, or accelerated, which shows your ad as many times as possible until your budget is exhausted.
Step 4: Create a new Ad Group
Your ad group refers to the target audience for the ad. TikTok's ad groups are categorized based on the goal you seek to achieve for your ads. In this segment, you get to pick the platforms where your ads will be displayed. You can either go for an automated placement, where Tiktok gets to determine how your ad is spread across its platforms, or a manual placement, where you choose what platforms you prefer.
You can also switch on the automated creative type. This allows Tiktok to automatically create different versions of your ad based on the content provided. It then tests the engagement of each impression to determine which one works best for your advertisement goals.
While you pick your ad group, you will also indicate the gender and age group of your target audience.
- For conversations or CPCs, your ad will be shown to people who have the tendency to take action based on the ad. Conversions are good for events like filling out a form, signing a petition or installing an app. This kind of ad group charges for every click that a viewer makes.
- The click model also positions your page to receive as many clicks as possible. However, it may not be as thorough as the first option. For this option, merely clicking on the link and going back from the landing page is enough to count as a click.
- When charged for impressions, you are only charged for every thousand impressions the ad gets. This will be an effective option if you're trying to draw public attention to a concert or make an announcement.
Step 5: Create a new Ad
Tiktok allows you to upload either videos or images to create your ad. Tiktok provides specifications for your ads, and it's important to follow them to ensure you get the best out of each ad.
When you are done with the creative, you can preview the ad and make necessary adjustments as you deem fit. You can also name the ad so you can easily differentiate it from other creatives within that ad group. Proceed to add a message to the creative and pick on one of the calls to action provided. Click submit to finish creating your ad.
Step 6: Measure Your Ad Performance
You might be tempted to abandon your ad after creating it. But it is important to check how each ad has performed since its launching. Tiktok provides various tools to help you analyze each ad accurately. Ultimately, analytics are a good form of feedback that lets you know the strategies to put on hold, intensify, or improve. In the long run, the quality of your prolonged TikTok ads management decides more than the initial creativity you invest in your ads.
Ultimately, many successful ads have proven that Tiktok can be a space for any and everyone if a brand is willing to learn how to advertise on Tiktok, put in the work, and leverage the strategies for winning. With your ads on Tiktok, you can expect your results to be as dynamic as TikTok’s content itself.