What are Tiktok Spark Ads and How to Create One?

In the face of marketing today, it’s important to consider that attention spans are fleeting, and creativity is super attractive. So, standing out from the crowd is both an art and a necessity for businesses like yours. 

This is where I would like to pitch in TikTok Spark Ads – the game-changers, keeping all of this in mind.

But what exactly are Spark Ads, and why should businesses be excited about them? This is what you are here for, so let’s set on a journey to find the spell behind Spark Ads on TikTok and explore how incorporating UGC within ads can take your marketing game up a notch.

So let’s explore the ins and outs of TikTok Spark Ads and discover how infusing them with authentic user-generated content can fuel your brand’s journey toward engagement, credibility, and success in the crazy world of social media advertising. Ready? 

What are Spark Ads on TikTok?

TikTok Spark Ads aren’t just your regular In-Feed Ads; they’re a whole new breed of tempting content designed to spark interest and ignite connections with your audience.

Spark Ads on TikTok represent a distinct advertising format designed to catch the eye and hold attention within the vibrant TikTok community. They’re a step beyond regular In-Feed Ads, offering a full-screen, immersive experience that blends seamlessly with the platform’s content.

These ads stand out by embracing TikTok’s creative essence. They’re all about engaging visuals, catchy soundtracks, and interactive elements that draw viewers into the narrative. Unlike traditional ads, Spark Ads aim to tell stories rather than just showcase products or services.

One key feature of Spark Ads is their interactivity. They often include elements that encourage users to participate, from interactive buttons to gamified experiences, making the ad-viewing journey more engaging and enjoyable.

What sets them apart is their ability to leverage TikTok’s algorithms, ensuring these ads reach the right audience and increasing their visibility and impact.

In essence, Spark Ads are TikTok’s way of letting brands tell engaging stories that captivate audiences, encourage interaction, and leave a lasting impression in the realm of digital advertising.

Differences Between Spark Ads and Regular In-Feed Ads

Let’s zoom in on these differences through a concise comparison.

While both Spark Ads and In-Feed Ads serve as advertising avenues on TikTok, their executions and impacts diverge significantly. The following breakdown sheds light on their distinct formats, engagement strategies, content styles, visual elements, primary goals, and seamless integration within TikTok’s ecosystem.

By dissecting these disparities, we uncover how Spark Ads and In-Feed Ads carve their paths in engaging TikTok’s audience, catering to varying brand objectives and user experiences. Let’s delve deeper into this comparison to grasp the unique traits and functions each ad format brings to the table.

Aspect	Spark Ads	In-Feed Ads
Format	Full-screen, immersive experience	Appears within the regular feed
Engagement	Emphasizes interactivity and participation	Typically passive viewing
Content Style	Story-driven, immersive narratives	Direct product or service showcase
Visual Elements	Rich visuals, engaging effects, soundtracks	Relies more on straightforward visuals
Goal	Captivating storytelling	Directly showcasing products/services
Integration	Blends seamlessly with native content	Appears as a standard post in the feed

How to Create Spark Ads on TikTok?

Creating Spark Ads on TikTok involves two distinct methods, each offering its unique approach to crafting engaging content.

Method 1: Prepare the Video and Turn it Into an Ad

• Prepare the Video: Craft a compelling video that aligns with your brand’s narrative, ensuring it’s visually appealing and resonates with your target audience.
• Turn it Into an Ad: Utilize TikTok’s advertising platform to convert your prepared video into a Spark Ad, leveraging the platform’s creative tools to enhance its impact.

Method 2: Collect UGC Videos and Run Authentic Video Ads Beyond TikTok

• Collect UGC Videos: Gather authentic UGC videos from different social media platforms including TikTok that showcase your product or service in an engaging light.
• Obtain UGC Rights: Get UGC rights from the content creators in three easy steps to use UGC in your ads.
• Run Video Ads Beyond TikTok: Extend the reach of your UGC-driven video ads beyond TikTok, leveraging other digital platforms to maximize exposure and engagement.

We have explored the options to run Tiktok spark ads but why should one go with the second method? Let’s understand:

Aspect	Method 1: Prepare the Video	Method 2: Collect UGC Videos
Content Creation	Brands create original content tailored for Spark Ads	Utilizes existing UGC from various sources
Branding Control	Complete control over the brand’s messaging and visuals	Relies on UGC, offering varied perspectives and styles
Time and Effort	Requires time and effort for crafting original content	Involves sourcing, selection, and rights acquisition for UGC
Audience Engagement	Brand-created content may need to work harder to engage audiences	UGC often resonates more authentically, potentially higher engagement
Scope Beyond TikTok	Primarily focused on TikTok’s platform for ad creation	Enables utilization of UGC across multiple platforms and channels

Benefits of UGC in Spark Ads

User-generated content (UGC) isn’t just content; it’s a catalyst for engagement and credibility within TikTok’s advertising sphere. Studies reveal that UGC-integrated campaigns witness a staggering 28% higher engagement rate compared to those lacking UGC. This powerful content formulates an authentic narrative, bolstering trust and credibility by showcasing real experiences and opinions. 

1. Authenticity and Credibility: 

UGC infuses authenticity into Spark Ads, showcasing real experiences and testimonials from users. This genuine content builds credibility, resonating more profoundly with audiences compared to polished, brand-created content.

2. User Involvement: 

By featuring content created by users, Spark Ads encourage participation and engagement. Users feel valued when their content is highlighted, fostering a sense of community and strengthening brand-user relationships.

3. Dynamic and Timely Content: 

UGC keeps Spark Ads dynamic and adaptable. It allows brands to tap into the ever-evolving landscape of trends, ensuring content remains fresh, relevant, and aligned with the current interests of the audience.

4. Community Building: 

Incorporating UGC fosters a sense of community around the brand. It encourages users to contribute their experiences, creating a vibrant community centered around shared interests and brand affinity.

5. Cost-Effectiveness: 

Leveraging UGC in Spark Ads can be cost-effective. It reduces the need for extensive content creation expenses, relying instead on user-generated material, which often requires minimal modification for effective use in ads.

6. Increased Engagement: 

Studies show that UGC significantly boosts engagement. According to research, campaigns incorporating UGC witness a 28% higher engagement rate than those without. Additionally, user-generated videos garner 10 times more views than brand-produced content.

Integrating UGC within Tikotk Spark Ads not only amplifies engagement and credibility but also creates a more inclusive and community-driven brand narrative, resonating deeply with audiences in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.

UGC Videos in TikTok Spark Ads Examples

Through compelling examples like Amicci’s strategic utilization of UGC, these instances illuminate the power of organic content in driving engagement and amplifying brand impact within the TikTok ecosystem.

Legend Lifestyle

This advertising campaign ran on TikTok from May 15, 2023, to January 8, 2024. Over this period, the ad was displayed multiple times, reaching an estimated unique audience size of 1,000 to 10,000 users specifically within Spain. 

The campaign’s primary target was a broad audience base within the country, encompassing an extensive potential reach of approximately 15.8 million to 19.3 million users across various age groups and both genders. 

Interestingly, the targeting parameters didn’t involve specific interests, video interactions, or creator interactions. Instead, the campaign aimed to engage users of diverse demographics without relying on additional targeting metrics.

Key Points:

• Unique Audience Reached: 1,000 to 10,000 users in Spain
• Target Audience Size: Estimated 15.8 million to 19.3 million users in Spain
• Gender Targeting: Both male and female audiences
• Age Targeting: Spanning from 13 years up to 55+
• Additional Parameters: No specific interests or interaction-based targeting utilized beyond Spain

The campaign sought to cast a wide net across TikTok users in Spain, focusing on general visibility and engagement without relying on niche interests or interaction-based preferences for its targeting strategies.

Amicci

This advertising campaign was active on TikTok from September 21, 2023, to January 9, 2024, with an extensive reach. The ad was displayed multiple times during this period, capturing the attention of an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 unique users across two key countries: the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Targeting Details:

• Target Audience Size: The campaign aimed to engage a potential audience of 4.7 million to 5.7 million users within the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
• Gender Targeting: The ad reached both male and female audiences, along with an unidentified gender group, within these two countries.
• Age Targeting: The campaign strategically targeted users across diverse age groups, from 13-year-olds to individuals aged 55 and above, within the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
• Additional Parameters: The campaign specifically targeted users interested in ‘Apparel and accessories, tailoring the ad to align with this particular interest. There were no additional audience or interaction-based parameters used for targeting.

Country-Specific Breakdown:

• Netherlands: The ad reached an estimated 102,000 unique users.
• United Kingdom: A larger audience, estimated at approximately 321,000 unique users, engaged with the ad in the United Kingdom.

The campaign aimed to engage users in these countries, leveraging the interest in ‘Apparel and accessories’ to capture the attention of a substantial audience across various age brackets and genders within the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Tike Jewels

During a single-day run on December 8, 2023, this advertising campaign targeted seven countries across Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. Despite a broad potential audience of 69.9 million to 85.4 million users within these countries, the ad reached a minimal audience of 0-1K unique users across this one day.

Targeting Details:

• Target Audience Size: The campaign’s potential reach spanned a significant user base across the selected European countries.
• Gender Targeting: The ad aimed to engage users of all genders, including male, female, and unidentified gender categories.
• Age Targeting: Targeting encompassed users from the age of 13 through to those aged 55+ in the seven European countries.
• Additional Parameters: No specific interests, video interactions, or creator interactions were utilized for this campaign.

Country-Specific Breakdown:

• Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden: The ad had minimal visibility, reaching an audience range of 0-1K users in each of these countries within the specified timeframe.
• The campaign’s single-day run aimed to engage a broad European audience across multiple countries, yet the ad’s visibility remained extremely limited, reaching only a small fraction of the potential user base across Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.

These instances showcase the dynamic potential of UGC within TikTok Spark Ads, exemplifying how organic connections and influencer partnerships can drive remarkable results in user acquisition and engagement. These success stories underscore the impact of UGC in fostering deeper connections and maximizing efficiency within Spark Ads on TikTok.

Conclusion

This guide introduces the magic behind Spark Ads, throwing light on their essence and showing the magic they bring to the business landscape.

By delving into the specifics of Spark Ads on TikTok and exploring the integration of User-Generated Content (UGC), it’s evident that these ads are more than just captivating visuals. They are more focused on storytelling, engagement, and building genuine connections with an audience that craves authenticity.

So, as businesses navigate the ever-evolving world of digital advertising, TikTok Spark Ads stand tall as the beacon of innovation, presenting an opportunity to create engaging narratives that resonate, captivate, and ultimately, thrive in the vibrant TikTok ecosystem. Ready to ignite your brand’s story? The world of TikTok Spark Ads eagerly awaits your unique narrative.