TikTok, which was launched during the pandemic in 2011, has been one of the most popular social media apps.
TikTok offers a rich user base that spans a variety of content niches and ages. This makes it a great opportunity for marketers to capitalize on its growing popularity.
We recommend that strategies be backed up by data and well-defined success metrics as an AI-first digital agency in Phoenix. Like the other social networking platforms, TikTok’s success requires a flexible, clear strategy. It should address why you are using TikTok, what you want to get from it, and how you plan to reach your goals. We’ll show you how to make TikTok the best by creating a brilliant TikTok ads strategy.
What is TikTok?
In its most basic form, TikTok ads are a great way to help.
- Increase brand awareness
- Customers are welcome to give feedback
- Sell products and services
- Create targeted ads
TikTok Ads: Why should I use them?
Let’s face it, this is the most important reason why you are looking into it:
TikTok was downloaded more than 2.6 BILLION times worldwide.
Does that mean you have to spend all of your marketing budgets on creating and sharing TikTok ads? A good digital marketer will tell ya that just because you have an audience, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should spend all your marketing budget there.
There are many benefits to TikTok ads. The platform’s hyper-engaged audience is the most important draw. However, TikTok’s structure can be lifted almost immediately from Facebook Ads Manager. TikTok excels at increasing brand awareness. The only reason TikTok wouldn’t be recommended is if you are primarily focused on solving immediate, short-term problems like pest control or plumbing.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t organically use the app if you offer similar services. The app’s audience size guarantees that you’ll find your niche. It’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth your time to create quality video content. For the full pros and cons of advertising on TikTok, see our article ” Should your Business Advertise on TikTok?”
Get Started with Your TikTok Ads Strategy
TikTok users are passionate about trends. However, a lot of times trends feel random. Popular transitions, sounds, and dances seem to come out of nowhere. How can you create a strategy for an application where the algorithm decides what is popular? A comprehensive and flexible TikTok ads strategy is the key to creating a digital strategy that works within a larger digital strategy.
It’s not easy, but we know it’s possible. We’re here to help you by providing a guideline on how to create a strategy.
Step 1: Download Tiktok
It may seem obvious, but we don’t mean just download it. We mean to use it. Explore the app’s features and hashtags. Learn how TikTok users interact with the app and how the algorithm works. You will be able to run a successful Tiktok paid advertising campaign if you have a better understanding of the app’s organic aspects.
Step 2: Determine Who Your Audience is
Tiktok ads can still be ads. A good ad requires a defined audience. Before you start recording with your camera, you should ask yourself who you want to reach through the app. Once you have identified the audience you want to engage on TikTok you can begin researching what type of content they like. Do they participate in hashtag challenges or other activities? Is there a prolific content creator in your niche? Are they fond of certain sounds or filters?
You can gauge the likely content of their feeds and serve them a feed advertisement that feels right. This will build brand awareness and not interrupt their user experience.
Targeting the right audience can help you create an ad group on the advertising platform. However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to those who are most likely to engage with your content. TikTok has many users so it is important to test wider audiences. You might be surprised at the potential audience!
Step 3: Audit your competitor’s ads and organic presence
You should be aware of your competitors’ TikTok ads. You want to do a SWOT analysis of your competitors using the platform. This will allow you to “pick up any slack” left by your competitors.
It’s a great way of comparing your competitors and can give you a competitive edge. You can do this by looking at what they have done well (creative content, engaging content, popular hashtag challenge, cool effects) and what they don’t. You can use the best of your competitors’ content for your TikTok ads and fill in any gaps.
TikTok also has many content creators and influencers. Many of these people will likely work within your content niche so it’s worth including them in your SWOT analysis.
Step 4: Define your messaging
This section is often skipped by many guides, but it’s important to be conscious of what image you want to project in your advertising. The guide’s final section should not take too much time, as the messaging you choose will be directly aligned with your company’s mission and value proposition.
Your business should focus on luxury products that are ethically sourced if it is a success. This information should be communicated in your ads, your TikTok influencers, and your organic content. To attract your ideal TikTok user or potential customer, you must nail the messaging.
Step 5: Establish Measurable Goals
Without having measurable, actionable goals, there is no way to know if TikTok ads will work for your business. The ads manager at TikTok is highly sophisticated and can determine campaign success based on the goals set by your business. Understanding and setting up your campaign analytics is key to determining where your ad spending should go. If your top view ad doesn’t perform but your branded hashtag challenge is producing great results, then you will know where your budget should go.
While it seems obvious, goals can help you and your Tiki marketing team determine whether an advertising avenue is worthwhile. This can help you determine if an ad format works well, whether you should choose an in-feed or spark ad, and even which ad group is most beneficial to your business.
Step 6: Start Creating and Get Posting!
Once you have decided what you want and who you want it to be, you can start creating a TikTok Video. TikTok offers many great features, so get started experimenting with different kinds of videos.
You can learn about the different ad types to create targeted content for your ads. This is a basic overview of the various ad types that you can use with TikTok’s ads manager.
- Topview Ad: Topview advertisements are what users see when they open the platform.
- Brand Takeover Ad: Brand Takeover ads can be viewed when the user opens the app but without the CTA button or the option to like/comment.
- In-feed ads: Ads that appear in the feed look the most organic of all content. They are displayed as users swipe the app between other content.
- Challenge for Branded Hashtags: Allows users to take part in your campaign and create content about your niche.
- Branded effects: Any filters, stickers, or special effects created by a brand to enhance the platform.
Step 7: Measure Success
TikTok’s Ad Manager has built-in analytics that allows you to track the performance and effectiveness of your campaigns. We recommend that you use them. Analytics will let you know if your ads do what you want. We recommend that you check your analytics at least once per week to ensure that your ads are spending marketing budgets most efficiently.
Analytics can also provide you with test results – and data professionals cannot overstate the importance of checking your numbers, especially when you are testing a new format or style of ad.
Takeaway
TikTok is an excellent app that can help businesses succeed in a highly competitive market. However, it may not be possible to do so without having an agile advertising strategy. An agency like ours that has experience in developing platform-specific strategies can help to reduce stress and confusion around a new platform.
To learn more about TikTok and to find out if it is right for you, book a complimentary discovery session with our head of Miami digital marketing to see if TikTok could be the right app.
