Throwing money at TikTok ads and hoping for sales? That is a losing game. If you are not following the latest trends, you leave money on the table.
In this article, we will share the must-follow TikTok ad trends shaping digital marketing in 2025. You will learn how to create content that cuts through the noise and engages the right audience.
By the end of your read, you will know exactly which trends to leverage for maximum impact so your ads do more than entertain; they sell.
7 TikTok Ad Trends That Make Your Brand Impossible To Ignore
Apply these TikTok advertising trends as you plan your next ad campaign. Try one, analyze the results, and adjust to keep your brand ahead of the competition.
1. “Reverse Psychology” Hook To Spark Curiosity
A study found that 40.8% of people felt uncomfortable with reverse psychology marketing messages, but they still showed interest. That is the power of curiosity.
Instead of telling audiences what to do, you and your marketers flip the script with your ad copy. Phrases like “Don’t buy this… unless you want results” challenge expectations to the point that your viewers cannot help but pay attention.
How can this improve your sales?
Reverse psychology makes potential customers feel like they are making a choice, not being sold to. This is especially useful if you are in a competitive niche where customers are bombarded with ads daily, like the tech industry.
Suppose you are selling these types of medical alert watches. You can use this as your ad copy:
This makes independent seniors and their families stop and think—challenging the belief that they do not need a medical alert watch while subtly reinforcing how it can detect falls, send emergency alerts, and provide 24/7 peace of mind.
Best Practices
Here are effective ways to do this ad type:
- Use contradictions like “Skip this if you hate making money.”
- Leverage scarcity with a phrase like “This deal is NOT for everyone” to create exclusivity.
- Use humor to playfully warn audiences against your product for an ironic effect.
- Fake a negative review like “I thought this product was a scam…” to pull viewers in.
- Withhold information like "You're not ready for this secret…” to make people want to learn more.
To help you ace this trend consistently, hire a copywriter. They can craft hooks that spark curiosity without sounding gimmicky to make your message feel natural and persuasive. Plus, they know how to strike the right balance between playful contradiction and clear product value, so your viewers engage without feeling manipulated.
2. Harness User-Generated Content (UGC) To Build Trust Faster
TikTok data shows that user-generated content is 22% more effective than branded videos when it comes to engagement and trust.
Why? Because people believe in their peers more than they believe in ads.
With this trend, you are encouraging users to create their own content to make the marketing feel more personal and relatable. This removes the skepticism that comes with traditional ads. When real customers showcase your product, it feels like a recommendation, not a sales pitch.
Plus, if your UGC campaigns are gaining traction, you create social proof that turns hesitation into action. This ad trend is especially powerful for emotionally sensitive businesses like CodaPet, which offers in-home pet euthanasia.
When pet owners see heartfelt UGC ads from others who faced the same difficult decision, it provides comfort, reassurance, and a sense of community, which makes the choice feel less isolating and more supported.
Best Practices
Feature real reactions. Ask your users to record their first-time experience to capture attention with authentic emotions.
Then, run your UGCs as Spark Ads. This makes your UGC campaigns more interactive by turning organic posts into engaging in-feed ads. With features like Duets, interactive buttons, and Stickers, they encourage users to participate to boost engagement while keeping the content authentic and community-driven.
Highlight different demographics using your product for fresh perspectives and to make your product more relatable to a wider audience. For example, if you are selling a fitness tracker, do not just feature young athletes, show:
- Office workers staying active
- Busy parents tracking their steps
- Seniors monitoring their heart rate
3. Collaborate With Influencers To Build Hype
56% of users trust TikTok creators' product recommendations more than ads. That means influencers are not just content creators; they are trusted voices within the TikTok community who can drive real action.
How do they drive sales?
Influencer marketing creates demand. When influencers showcase your product naturally, their audience sees it as something worth talking about, not just another ad. This builds hype and makes your product part of the conversation.
Best Practices
Choose the influencer type that suits your needs and resources. Remember, the bigger the following, the more expensive they are. As for engagement, nano and micro-influencers tend to have higher engagement despite their smaller following on TikTok.
Next, use platforms like Upfluence to find your ideal influencers. Simply use the search features and filters like number of followers and engagement rate. You can also use it to contact influencers and send them your offer.
Once you have your influencers, use Foreplay to collaborate on content ideas. You can build briefs and share them with your influencers to make sure you are all on the same page. Plus, you can browse hundreds of content ideas that you and your influencer can do.
To keep the branding consistent, make sure you supply them with high-quality visual assets like digital brochures. You can fill it with branded images, GIFs, or short clips to help the influencers promote your products.
But make sure you still let the influencers own the message. Give them creative freedom to promote your product in their authentic style so it feels more sincere for viewers.
Another best practice is to give your influencers access to new products before anyone else to drive anticipation. Then, encourage them to give real-time reactions. Natural, unscripted product demos feel more genuine and relatable.
4. Drop Hidden Easter Eggs To Create A TikTok-Worthy Mystery
There is no specific stat on hidden Easter eggs in marketing, but one thing is clear—it is on the rise. More brands are sneaking in subtle, unexpected details in their TikTok ads—inside jokes, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it visuals, or coded messages.
How can this improve your sales?
When users notice Easter eggs, they re-watch, comment, and share, which can create organic buzz. More engagement means better TikTok algorithm ranking, making your ad reach more people without extra spend.
Best Practices
Here are different ways to add easter eggs to your TikTok video ads:
- Embed promo codes in your ad to boost conversions and replays.
- Use frame-by-frame details. To do this, add a tiny, fast-flashing image or text that rewards viewers who pause.
- Encourage comment-driven discovery. Let your users find the Easter egg and tag others to spread the mystery.
- Use inside jokes for your audience. Reference niche memes or trends your followers will love.
- Make sure Easter eggs add to your brand story, not just random elements. So, if you have a coffee brand, hide a secret recipe in your ads to reward sharp-eyed viewers with an exclusive brew they can try at home.
- Make your product placement subtle. For example, let viewers “discover” your product in the background for organic curiosity.
- Launch a hashtag challenge with a secret reward. Hide a promo code, product detail, or hidden message in your ad and challenge users to find it. To enter, they should use your branded hashtag and reveal what they discovered.
5. Film How-To & Tutorial Videos To Teach Without Feeling Like A Lecture
85% of people are more likely to buy a product after watching an explainer video.
But we are talking about ads here, and no one wants to sit through a lecture-like video. They want quick, engaging content that feels natural and useful. So your how-to ads need to be fast, fun, and straight to the point.
Why is this useful for your sales?
People do not buy products; they buy solutions. When you show, not tell, your audience understands the value instantly. The easier you make learning, the faster they take action. Well-executed tutorial ads create high engagement while subtly leading viewers to purchase.
Suppose you are in the health niche selling these Antarctic-sourced krill oil supplements or something similar. Here are how-to or tutorial ad ideas specific to such industry:
Best Practices
Open with a relatable issue your product solves. Going back to our example about krill oil supplements, here’s a copy you can use for your ad video.
- Ever feel like your joints are aging faster than you? You wake up stiff, your knees ache after a short walk, and no amount of stretching helps. Here’s why your body might be craving omega-3s—and how krill oil can help.
But make sure you hook your viewers 3 seconds into the video. Use a strong opening statement, text overlays, or a surprising visual.
Then, demonstrate features or product highlights rather than just listing them in text. To nail that 30-second ad sweet spot, use quick cuts and zoom-ins to keep the energy high and every second engaging.
Then, end with a soft CTA. Instead of “Buy now,” use “Try it today and see the difference.” Lastly, make sure that when they click the ad, it takes users to your full tutorial on your TikTok page. This keeps them engaged with more content and increases the chances of a conversion.
6. Deliver Comedy Skits To Make Your Brand Instantly Memorable
90% of consumers say they remember funny ads more than any other type. That is because humor sticks—when people laugh, they engage and share.
But more than making people laugh, they turn organic engagement into brand recall. A funny ad also lowers sales resistance because it makes your brand relatable and likable. If your viewers associate your product with humor, they are more likely to remember it when they are ready to purchase.
Best Practices
Use relatable situations. To do this, exaggerate everyday struggles that your product solves to make people laugh and connect. Also, make your product part of the joke so it feels natural.
For example, imagine you are selling a fitness app. Now the issue is that most adults don't prioritize staying active and only 23.1% actually meet federal physical activity guidelines. While this seems like a roadblock, you can capitalize on this and use humor to tap into this reality.
Show someone gearing up for a workout but getting sidetracked at every step, tying their shoes takes forever, stretching turns into a nap, and choosing a playlist becomes a full-blown DJ session. Then, introduce the app as the thing that finally gets them moving.
Keep it short and punchy. TikTok humor thrives on quick delivery, so trim the fluff and get to the punchline fast. Use trending sounds, formats, or meme templates too.
Additionally, go for physical comedy or reactions if necessary. Over-the-top facial expressions and gestures amplify engagement.
Finally, instead of hard-selling, use humor: “Start now or keep calling your grocery run ‘leg day’.”
7. Turn Simplicity Into A Sales-Driving Strategy
64% of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand that delivers a simple experience. Consumers do not want cluttered messaging or overwhelming visuals; they want clear, easy-to-digest content that captures attention instantly.
Here’s an example from eBay’s TikTok ad:
eBay used a trending song, no on-screen text, and a short caption while showcasing products in a fast-paced, influencer-style unboxing of products found on their site.
But simplicity is not just about doing less, it is about making your message so clear that it sticks. TikTok users scroll fast, and if your ad feels too complicated, they will swipe away before you even make your point.
How does this help your sales improve?
A simple, focused ad removes friction between interest and action. The easier it is to understand your product, the faster viewers engage, trust, and buy. Interactive ads with clean visuals and direct messaging do not just get views, they also drive conversions.
Best Practices
Follow these action points to keep your ads simple yet still effective:
- Display short, easy-to-read captions to reinforce key points.
- Make the experience seamless with soft cuts instead of flashy effects.
- Stick to one core message so you do not cram too much information into one ad.
- Let the product shine by showing it in action without distractions or over-explaining.
- Use silence or subtle sounds because sometimes, a quiet, focused ad stands out more than loud, fast-paced content.
3 TikTok Ad Mistakes (And How To Fix Them)
Jumping on the latest TikTok advertising trends will not work if these mistakes are holding your ads back. Here’s how to fix them fast.
A. Using Clickbait That Does Not Deliver
If your TikTok ad promises something exciting but fails to deliver, you will:
Here’s how to avoid using clickbait:
- Get to the point fast. Do not make users wait too long for the payoff.
- Use real testimonials. Social proof builds credibility and keeps users watching.
- Match your hook to your content. If your ad says, “You won’t believe this trick,” make sure it delivers something genuinely surprising and useful.
- Set clear expectations. Let viewers know what they will learn or gain within the first few seconds.
B. Forgetting To Optimize For Silent Viewing
Your ad has to work with or without sound because many TikTok users scroll with their sound off. So, if your message is unclear visually, you risk losing potential customers before they know what you are selling.
Here’s how to optimize your ad for silent viewing:
- Use bold, easy-to-read fonts because tiny text can get ignored.
- Let actions tell the story. Use facial expressions, gestures, and visual cues.
- Use on-screen text and highlight key points so viewers understand your message instantly.
- Make the first 3 seconds visually clear, and make sure your product or message is obvious from the start.
- Test your ad on mute before posting. Play it without sound and see if the message still makes sense.
C. Relying Too Much On Hard Selling
Unlike other platforms, TikTok users are not really there to shop; they are using the app to be entertained. If your ad pushes too hard, it breaks the natural flow of content, which makes your brand feel disconnected from the platform’s culture.
Here’s how to avoid hard selling:
- Incorporate UGC. Let your real customers authentically showcase your product.
- Talk to your audience like a friend recommending something cool rather than a salesperson making a pitch.
- Use humor and relatable scenarios because entertaining ads feel less like ads and more like shareable content.
- Create a “POV” Video. Show your product in a first-person scenario to make viewers feel like they are experiencing it themselves.
- Turn features into benefits. Instead of listing specs, show how your product makes life easier.
- Lean into micro-stories. Instead of saying “Buy this,” show a 10-second relatable story where your product naturally fits in.
Conclusion
Assess your current TikTok ad strategy: are your ads engaging enough, or are viewers scrolling past? To answer such questions, gather your team and decide which TikTok ad trends fit your brand’s needs right now.
Do not try to implement everything at once; prioritize based on your biggest gaps so you do not waste your ad budget. Pick one trend, test it, and refine it as you go.
To stay organized and spark fresh ideas for your ads, use Foreplay. With multiple features, you can make sure your TikTok ads perform well. Start your free trial now and start increasing your engagement and conversions.
Founder of Novum™
