TikTok is a social media platform that’s super popular, with over a billion people using it around the world.
It’s also a powerful advertising platform, offering a variety of Ads types and ad formats to help businesses reach their target audiences.
Many businesses are using TikTok ads to grow their businesses and many businesses are just starting to experiment with ads.
However, it can be difficult to choose the right TikTok ad format or type of TikTok Ads according to the business situation.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all of the different types of TikTok Ads and TikTok ad formats available, and discuss how to choose the right one for your business goals.
List of all Types of TikTok Ads, Ad formats and Specs
In-Feed Auction Ads
In-Feed auction Ads are the most common type of TikTok ad.
They appear in users’ For You feed, right alongside organic TikTok videos.
In-Feed Ads can be up to 60 seconds long, but TikTok recommends keeping them between 5 and 16 seconds for optimal performance.
Pros:
- The most common and affordable type of TikTok ad
- Can be shown to specific groups of people based on their age, gender, location, interests, and other factors.
- It can be used to drive traffic to your website or app, or to generate leads and sales
Cons:
- Can be easy for users to scroll past
- More likely to be skipped by users who are not interested in your product or service
TopView Ads
TopView Ads are full-screen video ads that play when users open the TikTok app.
They are the most expensive type of TikTok ad, but they are also the most attention-grabbing.
TopView Ads can be up to 60 seconds long, but TikTok recommends keeping them between 5 and 15 seconds for optimal performance.
Pros:
- Most attention-grabbing type of TikTok ad
- Reaches users as soon as they open the app
- Can be used to launch new products or campaigns, or to generate excitement around an upcoming event
Cons:
- Most expensive type of TikTok ad
- Can be disruptive to users’ experience
Brand Takeover Ads
Brand Takeover Ads are similar to TopView Ads, but they also include a three-second image ad that appears before the video ad.
Brand Takeover Ads are also the most expensive type of TikTok ad, but they are very effective for reaching a large audience quickly.
Pros:
- Combines the benefits of TopView Ads and In-Feed Ads
- Reaches users as soon as they open the app, and then stays visible in their For You feed for up to 24 hours
- Can be used to create a truly immersive and memorable brand experience
Cons:
- High priced type of TikTok ad format
- Can be disruptive to users’ experience
source: blog.milkvideo.com/how-to-use-tiktok-advertising-for-your-business
Branded Effects
Branded Effects are a popular and effective TikTok ad format that allows businesses to create interactive filters and effects for users to add to their videos.
This can be a great way to promote your brand and products in a fun and engaging way, as users are more likely to watch and interact with videos that feature interactive elements.
Branded Effects can be created using TikTok’s own Effect House platform, or by working with a third-party developer.
Once created, Branded Effects can be submitted to TikTok for approval. Once approved, they will be available to users in the TikTok Effects Library.
Pros:
- Fun and engaging way to promote your brand
- Can be used to encourage users to create content about your brand
- Can help people to become more familiar with your brand
Cons:
- Can be difficult to control the messaging and creativity of user-generated content
- May not be as effective for driving traffic to your website or app
Branded effect trigger bank:
This is a collection of branded effects that are triggered by specific words, phrases, or actions.
Branded effect trigger banks are a great way to get users interacting with your brand in a fun and engaging way.
Pros:
- Increased engagement: Branded effect trigger banks encourage users to interact with your brand in a fun and engaging way.
- Increased brand awareness: Branded effect trigger banks can help you increase brand awareness and reach a new audience.
- Variety of effects: TikTok offers a variety of branded effect trigger banks, so you can choose the ones that are most relevant to your brand and target audience.
Cons:
- Can be complex to create: Creating branded effect trigger banks can be complex, especially if you are not familiar with video editing software.
- Can be overpriced: Creating branded effect trigger banks can be expensive, especially if you want to create high-quality effects.
Branded mission trigger:
This is a trigger that can be used to launch a branded mission at a specific time or date.
Branded mission triggers are a good option for businesses that want to launch a coordinated marketing campaign across multiple channels.
Pros:
- Increased engagement: Branded mission triggers encourage users to interact with your brand in a creative and meaningful way.
- Increased brand awareness: Branded mission triggers can help you increase brand awareness and reach a new audience.
- Coordinated marketing campaigns: Branded mission triggers can be used to launch coordinated marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
Cons:
- Can be complex to set up
- Can be high-priced
Spark Ads
Spark Ads are a type of TikTok ad that allows businesses to promote their existing organic TikTok posts to a wider audience.
This can be a great way to reach new people and amplify your existing content.
Spark Ads are native ads, which means that they look and feel like organic TikTok posts.
This makes them less disruptive to the user experience and more likely to be seen and engaged with.
To create a Spark Ad, simply select an organic TikTok post from your brand account and set your target audience and budget.
TikTok will then deliver your ad to users who are most likely to be interested in your content.
Pros:
- Affordable and effective way to amplify your existing TikTok content
- Can reach a new audience and drive traffic to your TikTok account
- Can help to generate leads and sales
Cons:
- May not be as effective for promoting new or unfamiliar brands
source: ads.tiktok.com/help/article/spark-ads
Collection Ads
Collection Ads are a new type of TikTok ad that allows you to showcase multiple products from your catalog in a single ad. This is a great way to drive sales and increase brand awareness.
Pros:
- Great way to showcase multiple products from your catalog in a single ad
- Easy for users to browse and purchase products without having to leave the TikTok app
- Can help to increase sales and brand awareness
Cons:
- May not be as effective for brands that sell a large number of products, as it can be difficult to showcase all of your products in a single ad
source: megadigital.ai/en/blog/tiktok-collection-ads
Dynamic Showcase Ads:
Dynamic Showcase Ads (DSAs) on TikTok are a type of ad that allows you to automatically showcase the products or services that are most relevant to each individual user.
DSAs use a variety of factors, such as the user’s past browsing behavior, interests, and demographics, to determine which products or services to show them.
To create a DSA campaign, you need to upload a product catalog to TikTok Ads Manager.
Your product catalog should include information about each product, such as its name, price, description, and image.
Once you have uploaded your product catalog, TikTok will automatically generate DSAs for you.
Pros:
- Highly personalized
- Automated
- Scalable
Cons:
- Less control over the creative of DSAs
TikTok Lead Generation Ads
TikTok Lead Generation Ads are a type of ad that helps businesses collect contact information from TikTok users.
LGAs are a great way to generate new leads, grow your email list, and stay in touch with potential customers.
To create an LGA, you will need to create a form in TikTok Ads Manager.
Your form can ask for basic information, like name, email address, and phone number, or you can ask more specific questions, like job title or industry.
Once you’ve created your form, you’ll need to choose who you want to see your LGA.
You can target users based on their interests, demographics, and behaviors.
When a user sees your LGA, they can tap it to open the form.
If they submit the form, their contact information will be sent to you and you can add them to your lead nurturing process.
Pros:
- LGAs have higher conversion rates than other types of TikTok ads.
- Users are more likely to trust and engage with LGAs because they are native to the platform.
- LGAs are easy to create and manage in TikTok Ads Manager.
- You can target your LGAs to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors.
Cons:
- LGAs can be more expensive than other types of TikTok ads or tiktok ad formats.
- Once you collect leads from LGAs, you need to nurture them with relevant content and offers.
Shopping Ads
Shopping Ads are a type of TikTok ad that allows you to sell products directly from your TikTok account.
This is a great way to make it easy for users to buy your products without having to leave the TikTok app.
Pros:
- Easiest way to sell products directly from your TikTok account
- Users can purchase products without having to leave the TikTok app
- Can help to increase sales and brand awareness
Cons:
- May not be available to all brands or products
- You may need to pay more for lead generation ads than other types of TikTok ads.
source: digitalinformationworld.com/2022/08/tiktok-introduces-new-shopping-ads-as.html
Interactive Add-ons
Interactive Add-ons are a variety of features that you can add to your TikTok ads to make them more engaging and interactive.
These features include things like Super Like, Gesture, Gift Code Sticker, Countdown Sticker, Voting Sticker, and Download Card.
Pros:
- Can be used to make your TikTok ads more engaging and interactive
- Can help to increase engagement and conversion rates
Cons:
- May not be available for all types of TikTok ads
- Can be more difficult to create and manage than traditional TikTok ads
source: tiktok.com/business/en-US/blog/interactive-addons-entertain-engage
TikTok branded effect – additional function specs:
These are additional features that can be added to branded effects, such as custom tracking and analytics.
TikTok branded effect – additional function specs are a good option for businesses that want to track the performance of their branded effects and get insights into how users are interacting with them.
Pros:
- Track performance: TikTok branded effect – additional function specs allow you to track the performance of your branded effects and get insights into how users are interacting with them.
- Optimize campaigns: The insights you gain from tracking your branded effects can help you optimize your campaigns and get better results.
Cons:
- Can be unaffordable: TikTok branded effect – additional function specs can be expensive, especially if you want to create high-quality effects.
Branded effect – asset and commercial benefits specs:
These are additional assets and benefits that can be added to branded effects, such as exclusive content and discounts.
TikTok branded effect – asset and commercial benefits specs are a good option for businesses that want to create branded effects that are more engaging and rewarding for users.
FAQs on Types of TikTok Ads, TikTok Ad Formats and specs
Which TikTok ads types are most effective?
The most effective TikTok ad types will vary depending on your business goals and target audience.
However, some of the most popular and effective TikTok ad types include:
- In-feed ads: Full-screen video ads in users’ feeds.
- Branded effects: Interactive filters and stickers.
- Hashtag challenges: User-generated content around a unique hashtag.
- Branded missions: Challenges with rewards for completion.
What is the difference between TikTok promote and TikTok ads?
TikTok promote is a simplified way to promote your existing TikTok videos as ads.
To promote a video, simply click the “Promote” button on the video and select your target audience and budget.
TikTok ads, on the other hand, give you more control over your ad campaigns.
With TikTok ads, you can create custom ad groups and campaigns, target your audience with more precision, and track your results in more detail.
What is the strategy of TikTok ads?
The best TikTok ad strategy will vary depending on your business goals and target audience. However, some general tips include:
- Create high-quality video ads: Your video ads should be engaging, informative, and relevant to your target audience.
- Target your audience carefully: TikTok offers a variety of targeting options, so you can make sure your ads are seen by the people who are most likely to be interested in what you have to offer.
- Set a budget and track your results: It’s important to set a budget for your TikTok ad campaigns and track your results so you can see what’s working and what’s not.
More about TikTok marketing:
How to Duplicate TikTok Ads and Campaigns?
How to Get 1k Followers on TikTok in 5 Minutes?