By now, we know that the key to TikTok content is authenticity and relatability. People want to see content that feels real and genuine, filmed on an iPhone by everyday people living their everyday lives. You can imagine how creating a commercialized and highly produced ad for this platform wouldn’t resonate well with the audience. This is why TikTok launched Spark Ads in July of 2021.

What are TikTok Spark Ads?

TikTok Spark Ads allow users to promote organic content previously posted on their account or another creator’s account. It still lives as an organic post on the TikTok account, while also being shown as an ad to wider audiences. Spark Ads allows brands and creators to boost their content to promote growth, sales, and traffic while still maintaining the authentic and relatable aspect that is so important on TikTok. For example, we created this TikTok video for MANN™ Fresh Vegetables and later boosted it as a Spark Ad to help drive traffic and raise brand awareness.

Promoting Organic Influencer Content

As mentioned earlier, brands can also turn content from an influencer or creator into a Spark Ad. In those instances, the ad is promoted through the creator’s page, labeled ‘Sponsored,’ and there’s an option to add a CTA that redirects to a brand’s website link.

To do this, the creator can give an authorization code to the brand, which gives them access to run the creator’s video as a Spark Ad. The creator can choose how long the brand has access to run the video as a Spark Ad. For example, suppose a creator makes an organic video talking positively about a product. In that case, the brand can request to run their video as a Spark Ad and benefit by leveraging the authenticity of the video.

According to TikTok for Business:

84% of people have been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a branded video.
67% want a variety of different storytelling approaches from brands.
52% of internet users want brands to be authentic.

Spark Ads vs. Non-Spark Ads

TikTok has other ad options aside from Spark Ads. However, we highly recommend them for brands that have TikTok accounts (and really, all brands should have one). A Spark Ad allows native brands on TikTok to include a linked CTA to a product or website link, while also driving traffic directly to your TikTok account. This can help you gain followers and engagement on your TikTok account, and direct traffic to your website at the same time. Other kinds of ads (aka in-feed ads) will only lead to a linked landing page, not the brand’s TikTok account. Brands without their own TikTok accounts can still run in-feed ads on the app, but they won’t be as impactful as a Spark Ad.

At Foodie Tribe, we help brands create authentic content on TikTok to reach their goals of raising brand awareness, driving traffic, and more. Through creativity, authenticity, and Spark Ads, we’re able to build a strong social media presence for brands on TikTok. Visit foodietribe.com to connect with us and learn more!

Social Media 101: TikTok Spark Ads Explained