Advertise on TikTok: What Every Business Needs to Know

In 2025, TikTok is no longer merely the playful, trend-oriented app it once was in its beginning stages—it's one of the most influential business platforms in the world. As of over 1.7 billion active users per month globally, TikTok has made itself synonymous with the best 去 for entertainment, for learning, and most importantly, for commerce. Industries ranging from fashion and F&B to fintech and luxury retail are discovering that there is no option now for brands to look past TikTok should they wish to scale in an efficient manner.
The great thing? It's never been simpler for companies to advertise on TikTok. As a start-up or an international brand, TikTok's self-serve platform provides a simple and result-oriented means for you to reach your target demographic. With versatile budgets, sophisticated target tools, as well as video-centric advertising formats which promote high engagement, every company can now afford to advertise on TikTok.
But there is a distinction between only playing ads versus playing ads which actually generate real ROI. That is what makes it imperative for you to grasp TikTok ad formats, campaign creation, and what a TikTok agency does.
Here in this guidebook, we'll dissect everything every company should know in order to effectively advertise on TikTok. From formats in which you can advertise to cost compositions, performance-maximizing tips, and when not to advertise at all, this blog is here to guide you through TikTok with a level head and confidence.

Ad Types to Know

For advertising on TikTok, there are multiple formats available for brands. Here is where you need to know which one works for you in respect to budget, campaign aim, and user behavior.

Spark Ads

Spark Ads are a beloved format for TikTok. Unlike generic ads, Spark Ads allow brands to promote pre-existing organic content owned by creators or even their brand accounts. That makes such ads appear less intrusive since users treat them as native content rather than a conventional advertisement.

Benefits of Spark Ads:

• Higher engagement because they feel organic.
• Organic social proof in combination with author posts.
• Great for collaborations between brands and influencers.

In-Feed Video

These are promoted directly in a user's "For You" feed and are replicas of original TikTok content except for a notation that they are paid for. These in-feed advertisements contain clickable CTAs (Shop Now, Learn More, Download, etc.), making them ideal for direct conversions.

Why In-Feed Ads Work:

• Relevant placement within content flows.
• Skippable, which maintains a positive user experience.
• Strong showing for installs, sales campaigns, and traffic.

Top View & Buying Ads

Top View Ads are at the first position in TikTok's user feed when anyone opens up their app guaranteeing mass reach. These are costlier so there is no better campaign for large-scale product launches or brand awareness campaigns.

Shopping Ads are directly integrated into TikTok Shop so users can make purchases within the app. That is particularly efficient in e-commerce and retails businesses in the UAE where adoption of TikTok Shop is swiftly gaining momentum.

Step-by-Step: Getting Started

For businesses looking at advertising on TikTok, this is a simplified guide.

1. Business Account Setup

To advertise, you require a TikTok Business Account. It provides you with access to TikTok Ads Manager, in-depth analytics, and ad creatives.

2. Selecting the Proper Goal

TikTok Ads Manager allows campaign objectives such as:

• Awareness (reach, impressions)
• CPC consideration (app installs, video views, traffic)
• Conversions (sales, leads, sign)

Selecting a proper objective ensures your ads are aligned with your funnel objectives.

3. Preparing the Advertisement

After you decide on your objective, you shall make your advert for:

• Uploading video content.
• Composing a great caption.
• Include a CTA button.
• Setting up your target (place, interests, behavior).

Pro tip: Keep it real, concise, and innovative. TikTok users hate anything too "".

Why a TikTok Agency Can Matter

Whereas TikTok Ads Manager simplifies enabling businesses to start a campaign, delivering repeatable ROI is a different matter altogether. That's why collaborating with a TikTok agency is a competitive edge.

That's why:

• Saves the learning curve – Rather than spending months trying to guess what works, agencies already know how to execute TikTok campaigns that are successful.
• ROI-oriented performance – A TikTok agency tracks information at every step for you so you can spend your money in a performance-optimized way.
• Performance tuning – there is continuous A/B testing of creatives, refinements in targeting, and bid decisions for enterprise-class performance.

Working with an experienced partner like a TikTok agency means you’re not just running ads—you’re running ads strategically.

Cost vs. Results Analysis

Most companies think it is costly to advertise in TikTok, but TikTok is one of the cheapest paid media channels we have in 2025.

Minimum Budget Required

Most TikTok campaigns need a daily campaign spend of at least $50 but smaller businesses are still able to test at low spends with bid-optimized strategies.

Average Cost per Click or per View

• Cost per 1,000 impressions (CPM): $1–$3 (cheaper than Instagram).
• Cost per click (CPC): $0.20–$0.50.
• Cost per acquisition (CPA): differs per industry but is lower because TikTok's algorithm is effective.

The ROI Factor

Since TikTok is all about engagement-based algorithms, effective user-responsive ads can reach viral status and produce exponentially greater returns on static ad sites.

Platform-Specific Advertising Secrets

To succeed with TikTok ads, you should design keeping the app in mind. These are three golden rules:

Keep It Raw and Real

Corporate-sounding refined commercials won't do on TikTok. Produce videos rather that feel and look authentic. Use humor, viral audio tracks, or a story tell.

Follow Current Trends

Jumping on trending sounds, hashtags, or challenges can instantly boost your visibility. TikTok is a culture-first platform, and trend participation signals relevance.

Punchy and Concise CTA

Always make a strong call-to-action. Whether it's "Book Today," "Shop Now," or "Learn More," make sure the user is certain about what is next.

When You Should NOT Promote

All businesses need not leap headlong into TikTok advertising. Do not advertise if:

• You don't have a proper product/market fit – TikTok supercharges what is already a success, so mediocre propositions won't miraculously improve.
• You don't have a distinct funnel – Ads without a conversion plan are going to consume your budget.
• You're not up for creating continuous content – TikTok values active brands, so if you can't sustain a content pipeline, you might not make it.

Conclusion

TikTok solidified its position as 2025's premier influential advertising vehicle with unrivaled reach, reduced costs per ad, and greater engagement versus Instagram and Facebook. Any company today can advertise on TikTok—but success depends upon shrewd execution.

From choosing appropriate ad formats to spending appropriate budgets to collaborating with a TikTok agency, those brands which consider TikTok in a strategic manner shall continue leaving their competition behind when it comes to expansion.

Are you up for next-level advertising? Then it's high time you invest in TikTok. Do not merely advertise—you advertise with purpose, with a plan, with measurable ROI.

If you are serious about growing along with TikTok, it is about time you partner with experts who are more familiar with TikTok than anyone else. The Short Media is a leading TikTok agency which helps UAE- and globally based businesses reach exponential success with effective, ROI-focused TikTok advertising.

Make every ad count—partner with The Short Media today.