Learn About TikTok Ads and Common Scams

Are you interested in using TikTok for advertising?

You’re not alone. This app has grown quickly as a platform for influencers, businesses, and even governments. Sadly, it can also be an easy target for scammers looking to make a quick buck.

This blog post will discuss the appeal of TikTok to advertisers, both legitimate and malicious, and provide tips to avoid common scams on the platform.

Read on as we cover the following:

• What are TikTok Ads?
• Different Types of TikTok Advertising
• TikTok Ad specs
• How much do TikTok ads cost?
• Common TikTok Scams
• Final Thoughts on TikTok Ads and Common TikTok Scams
• Frequently Asked Questions on TikTok Ads and Common TikTok Scams

What are TikTok Ads?

TikTok ads refer to promotional content, generally, full-screen videos that a brand or creator pays to showcase to a targeted audience.

These ads on TikTok are a social media marketing method and are typically to raise awareness about a product or service or sell it to the target audience.

You can organize TikTok ads in 3 different ways, and these are the following:

• TikTok Ad: A single advertisement is a video that shows you how great a product or service is, or it can be like an offer on TikTok.
• TikTok Ad Group: A group of advertisements on TikTok.
• TikTok Campaign: A group of TikTok ad groups.

Different Types of TikTok Advertising

Do you want to know the various advertising options on TikTok? Check out the list below.

Note: Not all TikTok ads may be available in your country, so confirm their availability in your local area.

TikTok In-feed ads

Use the Ads Manager feature on TikTok to create In-feed ads. These are ads you can create on TikTok, and they are as follows:

Video Ads

One of TikTok’s most common forms of advertising is using TikTok Video Ads. Brands or creators create and post ads using a TikTok Ads Manager account.

TikTok Video Ads appear like regular TikTok videos, but any interaction with them will directly lead to either a landing page or an app installation page. Thus, they enable users to directly access posted TikTok ads.

Example: A video ad for a product. The product appears just like your average TikTok. But when you tap the account name (or the custom call to action button), you’re taken to a landing page for the product details.

The video ads will appear in a user’s feed if the advertiser has paid for them. These ads are not permanent posts and do not allow for duetting or stitching.

Spark Ads

Spark Ads differ from typical video ads as they boost organic content from any TikTok account.

They appear in your profile just like your other TikTok posts and persist even after you stop paying to advertise them.

You can duet or stitch spark ads, giving your audience more opportunities to engage with them, positively or negatively.

Spark ads can positively impact your brand’s overall metrics since they will not disappear once you stop paying for them.

You can use content from your business profile or other content creators’ profiles in Spark ads.

Image Ads

Image ads refer to static images featuring the name of a brand or app along with ad text.

You can access image ads via the Global App Bundle and Pangle Placements, which may not be accessible in all regions.

Playable Ads

Playable ads are like mini-games and are perfect for engaging TikTok users who enjoy playing games. However, this feature is only available in certain countries.

Shopping Ads

Starting in Spring 2023, TikTok will phase out “Dynamic Showcase Ads” and “Collection Ads.”

Instead, you can integrate the main function of these features into Video Shopping Ads, which are currently being tested and only accessible to chosen advertisers.

These are three types of advertisements for shopping:

• Video Shopping Ads: Videos that allow viewers to shop for products directly from the content. These videos target specific audiences and appear on their For You page.
• Catalog Listing Ads: Advertisements that promote collections of shippable products
• Live Shopping Ads: TikTok Live lets viewers know where to find a particular product while watching the live stream.

Carousel Ads

Carousel Ads are available only in the series of apps within TikTok’s news feed, BuzzVideo. Advertisers can post up to ten images, each with its caption, in a single ad.

Pangle ads

You can view Pangle ads from TikTok Audience Network.

TikTok ads formats available to managed brands

Brands that get together with a TikTok sales representative are managed brands. These brands can use different ad formats, which include:

TopView ads

When you open the TikTok app, video ads take up the whole screen for 5 to 60 seconds.

Branded hashtag challenge

The hashtag challenge page features user-generated content in a three- to six-day ad campaign format to promote engagement.

Branded Effects

Offer branded stickers, filters, and special effects to engage with your brand on TikTok.

TikTok Ad specs

Ensure your TikTok ad meets the correct size, shape, and format requirements to achieve social media success. These are the optimal specifications for a TikTok video ad:

• Aspect ratio: 1:1, 16:9, or 9:16.
• Minimum resolution: 540x960px, 640x640px, or 960x540px.
• Video file type: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, or .avi
• Video length: 5 to 60 seconds (TikTok recommends 9 to 15 seconds for best results)
• Video file size: 500MB maximum

How much do TikTok ads cost?

TikTok uses an auction and bidding model for ads, which means you decide how much to pay per video view, click, or impression.

There is no set limit on how much you can spend, but keep in mind that there is a minimum spend for campaigns and ad groups.

Your campaign must have a daily budget of at least $50, which means that you will be spending a minimum of $50 each day your campaign is active.

Every day your ad group is active, you must spend at least $20 as the minimum budget at the ad group level.

According to TikTok, the amount you bid is one factor that determines how competitive you will be in the auction to achieve your desired results.

Common TikTok Scams

TikTok has over a billion users, which can be a great place to promote your business, but also dangerous. Be careful when using TikTok, and watch out for people trying to scam you.

Many people have shared stories of being scammed on social media platforms because of TikTok.

Our guide can assist you in recognizing and avoiding common scams found on TikTok. These scams include:

Credit repair scams

Like most scams, this one operates by making false promises. The scammer will claim to be able to eliminate valid negative information from your credit report, but this is impossible.

Unfortunately, many people fall for this and pay the scammer to try to raise their credit score. However, they lose their money with no change in their credit score.

It’s important to remember that fixing damaged credit is a process that takes time. Be cautious of anyone who promises fast results, as they may be scamming you.

Instead, concentrate on practical and legal methods to improve your credit score.

Easy money guarantee scams

As the name implies, the easy money scam uses money as bait to trap its victims.

Scammers can deceive you in several ways, such as implementing pyramid schemes, offering fast cash opportunities, or promoting fake apps that require payment.

Falling for their tactics can be easy if you’re not cautious.

Watch out for these signs that you may be dealing with an easy money scam:

Clickbait headlines: Be careful of headlines that promise to help you earn a lot of money by working part-time from home or making a certain amount per hour in a short amount of time. These could be online scams that offer high profits for minimal work.

Requires payment or investment upfront: Don’t be fooled by TikTok scammers who ask you to pay for job applications. Legitimate job offers never require upfront payment, even if they claim it’s for training or certification. Remember, you shouldn’t be paying the employer; the employer should pay you for working.

A sense of urgency to hire: The scammer may pressure you to apply quickly by claiming that the job or offer won’t be available for long to create a sense of urgency. Be cautious since quick decisions can be risky. Stay alert, and avoid falling prey to their tactics. Usually, genuine opportunities don’t come with a sense of urgency or desperation.

TikTok online shopping scams

Scam artists on TikTok are advertising fake products in large numbers. Some scam artists pretend to be legitimate brands and trick users with tempting offers.

We advise you to:

• Always inspect the URL of retailer websites.
• Use the Citizens Advice scam checking tool.
• Watch out for the contact information.
• Only pay for products using a secure payment service.

• Look for spelling and grammar errors on the ad or retailer landing page.
• Research the retailer.

Free “offers” with a price tag

Scammers may trick you into sharing your credit card details by offering “free goods,” but TikTok scammers will charge you. Still, they won’t tell you recurring subscription fees and additional unauthorized costs.

It’s a very cunning scheme.

You don’t have to give your card information if something is free. Keep your card details safe and only share them with people you trust.

Phishing

Be careful if someone sends you website links or tells you to buy a product.

Some people try to trick you into giving them money or personal information. Only trust people who ask for that kind of thing online.

Be careful when someone is trying to get your information on TikTok, email, or any other platform. Look at the URLs and names of the people you are talking to.

If something looks wrong, like a misspelling, it might be from a scammer.

Donation scams

People who want donations will ask for them directly or through a website. They will also use TikTok Live to get money from people in real-time.

After the earthquake in Syria, some scammers tried to trick people. They shared a video on TikTok and asked for money, which was a fake cause and not real help for the people in Syria.

Final Thoughts on TikTok Ads and Common TikTok Scams

In conclusion, TikTok is becoming increasingly popular for both entertainment and advertising. Awareness of possible scams can help you remain safe while maximizing TikTok’s potential for business promotion.

Partner with our top-notch TikTok advertising agency to achieve your company goals and elevate your brand to the next level!

Is your company seeking to enhance its marketing strategies? AdvertiseMint, the premier social advertising agency, can assist you.

Check out AdvertiseMint’s user-friendly guides and examples and the related articles section of this blog post.

Frequently Asked Questions on TikTok Ads and Common TikTok Scams

Are TikTok-sponsored ads safe?

TikTok has implemented strict guidelines and regulations for sponsored content to ensure that all ads meet the platform’s user safety and privacy standards.

Is it safe to buy from ads on TikTok?

It’s important to do your research before making any purchases. Look for reviews and background checks on the company before entering personal or financial information.

Do ads do well on TikTok?

Research shows that TikTok advertisements receive higher engagement rates than other social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. Because TikTok has a high level of activity and engagement from TikTok users who spend hours scrolling through their feeds.

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