TikTok Spark Ads: What Are They, How To Create Them & Everything You Need To Know

If you’re curious about how your brand can leverage this powerful ad format for impressive paid media results, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started and make the most out of Spark Ads on TikTok.

Do TikTok Spark Ads Really Work?

Well, the success stories speak for themselves. Take the beauty brand, Isle of Paradise, for example. They achieved organic viral success on TikTok and decided to double down on the platform by implementing a paid campaign strategy using Spark Ads. By repurposing organic testimonials about their new product, Glow Drops, and working with TikTok influencers, Isle of Paradise saw astonishing results.

@theisleofparadise Introducing 2 Steps to Glow with @theinkeylist — get glowing, protected skin with a 25% savings! Available now at theisleofparadise.com #isleofparadise #skincare #theinkeylist #beautytok #facedrops #bronzingdrops ♬ Lovely Day Austin Millz Remix – Austin Millz

They experienced:

• 500% return on investment (ROI)

• Garnered 45 million video views

• Witnessed a 68% increase in revenue.

And all of this happened during their off-season. Isle of Paradise is not alone in their success with Spark Ads. Brands like James Allen, McDonald’s, and CheckIn have also achieved significant results using this ad format. It’s clear that Spark Ads can help your business grow and reach a diverse audience.

So, What Are Spark Ads?

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what TikTok Spark Ads actually are. Spark Ads is a native ad format that allows you to boost organic influencer posts as part of your ad campaigns. They are a hybrid of organic and paid advertising, also known as influencer whitelisting. Essentially, you can use a creator’s already published posts as ads with their authorization.

Here’s how it works: You start with a creator’s organic post that aligns with your brand. Then, you convert that post into a Spark Ad format. The ad is promoted through the creator’s page, labeled as “Sponsored,” and includes a built-in call-to-action (CTA) that can redirect users to a specific website.

The best part is that Spark Ads blend seamlessly with organic content on TikTok. Users can like, comment, share, co-create, and interact with your ad just like they would with any other organic post. This native feel gives your advertisements an authentic touch, providing viewers with a better overall experience. Rather than appearing salesy, Spark Ads become videos that users wouldn’t immediately scroll past.

How Are TikTok Spark Ads Different From Regular TikTok Ads?

1. Ad Creation Process: Spark Ads require the content to be posted organically by a creator or your brand on the platform before it can be converted into an ad. Regular TikTok Ads, on the other hand, allow you to upload ad creatives directly to the TikTok Ads Manager.
2. User Interaction: Spark Ads mimic regular TikTok videos in terms of interactivity. Users can click on the profile photo to visit the creator’s profile, tap on the music name to explore other videos with the same audio and utilize a CTA button or caption to be directed to the advertiser’s landing page. In contrast, regular TikTok ads lead users directly to the advertiser’s chosen landing page when they click on the profile picture, nickname, video caption, or CTA button.

@bitcoin_papi @Glossier ♬ original sound – bitcoin papi

1. Metrics: With Spark Ads, you have access to a range of metrics, including paid clicks, music clicks, likes, shares, followers, profile visits, comments, and click-through rates (CTR). Regular TikTok Ads have more limited metrics, allowing you to track paid clicks, likes, shares, and comments.
2. Creative Restrictions: Spark Ads offer more flexibility in terms of video resolutions, ad ratio, file size, and bitrate. They can support videos of any length. Regular TikTok Ads have stricter guidelines.

The best part of TikTok Spark Ads is that because content creators are so good at creating interesting TikTok material that your audience will enjoy, half of your work is already done.

Stay updated on all of the latest news by subscribing to the ITP Live newsletter below or by clicking the push notifications.