TikTok Ads

TikTok Ads through Stormy let you amplify creator content and run paid campaigns on TikTok without switching to TikTok Ads Manager. This is particularly useful for Spark Ads, where you boost a creator's organic post as a paid ad -- keeping their authentic voice while reaching a much larger audience.

Connecting your TikTok Ads account

Before you can create campaigns, connect your TikTok Ads account:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations > TikTok Ads
2. Click Connect Account
3. You will be redirected to TikTok to authorize Stormy
4. Select the ad account you want to manage (if you have multiple)
5. Complete the authorization and return to Stormy

Campaign types

Spark Ads

Spark Ads let you boost a creator's existing organic TikTok post as a paid advertisement. The ad appears in users' feeds under the creator's handle, preserving authenticity while adding targeting and budget behind it.

To create a Spark Ad:

1. Navigate to Ads > New Campaign > TikTok
2. Select Spark Ads as the campaign type
3. Enter the creator's video authorization code (the creator generates this in their TikTok app)
4. Configure targeting, budget, and schedule
5. Submit for review

In-feed video ads

Standard in-feed ads appear in users' For You feeds and look like native TikTok content. You supply the video creative (typically repurposed UGC from your creator campaigns).

1. Navigate to Ads > New Campaign > TikTok
2. Select In-feed Video as the campaign type
3. Upload your video creative (9:16 ratio, 5-60 seconds recommended)
4. Add your ad copy and call-to-action button
5. Configure targeting and budget
6. Submit for review

TopView ads

TopView ads appear as the first thing users see when they open TikTok. These are premium placements with high visibility but higher minimum spend.

Targeting options

Stormy exposes the full range of TikTok targeting options:

Targeting type	Options
Demographics	Age, gender, location, language
Interests	TikTok's interest categories (beauty, fitness, gaming, etc.)
Behaviors	Video interaction patterns, creator follow behavior, hashtag engagement
Custom audiences	Upload customer lists, website pixel audiences, app activity audiences
Lookalike audiences	Find users similar to your custom audiences

Audience recommendations

When you create a campaign linked to a creator from your list, Stormy can suggest targeting parameters based on the creator's audience demographics. This saves time and helps you reach users similar to the creator's existing followers.

Budget and bidding

Budget types

• Daily budget -- maximum spend per day. Minimum is $20/day for standard campaigns.
• Lifetime budget -- total spend for the campaign duration. TikTok distributes the budget across the scheduled days.

Bidding strategies

• Lowest cost -- TikTok optimizes to get you the most results for your budget. Best for getting started.
• Cost cap -- you set a target CPA and TikTok tries to stay at or below it. Better for campaigns with specific ROI targets.
• Bid cap -- you set a maximum bid per result. Most control, but may limit delivery if set too low.

Monitoring performance

Once a campaign is running, track performance from the Ads dashboard. Key TikTok-specific metrics include:

• Video views -- total number of times your video was played
• Average watch time -- how long users watched before scrolling
• Profile visits -- users who visited the creator's or your brand's TikTok profile
• Shares -- how many times users shared the ad
• CTR -- click-through rate to your landing page or app store

Creative best practices

TikTok ads that perform well tend to share these characteristics:

• Native feel -- avoid overproduced content. UGC from your creators often outperforms polished brand ads.
• Hook in the first second -- users scroll fast. Your opening frame needs to stop the thumb.
• Vertical format -- always 9:16. Horizontal video wastes screen space and performs poorly.
• Sound on -- unlike other platforms, most TikTok users watch with sound. Use music and voiceover.
• Under 30 seconds -- shorter videos tend to have higher completion rates.

What to read next

• Ads Management overview -- managing campaigns across all platforms
• Google Ads -- expanding to search and display campaigns
• Post Tracking -- monitor organic creator content alongside paid campaigns