Can You Run TikTok Ads on a Personal Account?

TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years, with 150 million Americans creating and sharing videos every day. As the platform has grown, so have its advertising capabilities, with businesses and brands utilizing TikTok ads to reach their target audience.

However, many individuals wonder if they can run TikTok ads on their personal accounts.

In this blog post, we'll explore whether TikTok ads are available for personal accounts, the differences between personal and business accounts, the types of ads available and the best practices for running effective ads.

TikTok Ads and Personal Accounts

Before we dive into whether TikTok ads can be run on personal accounts, let's first explore what personal TikTok accounts are and their features.

Explanation of Personal TikTok Accounts and Their Features

Personal TikTok accounts are accounts created by individuals, not businesses or brands. They allow users to create and share videos with their followers, follow other users, and engage with content through likes, comments, and shares.

Personal accounts have access to many of the same features as business accounts, such as filters, effects, and sound libraries. However, personal accounts do not have access to TikTok's analytics dashboard, and users cannot run ads on their personal accounts.

Can You Run TikTok Ads On a Personal Account?

Unfortunately, the answer is no; you cannot run TikTok ads on a personal account. TikTok only allows businesses and brands to run ads on their platform. If you want to advertise on TikTok, you'll need to create a business account.

TikTok Ads and Business Accounts

Now that we know that TikTok ads are only available on business accounts let's explore what business accounts are and their features.

Explanation of Business TikTok Accounts and Their Features

A business TikTok ads account is an account created by your business or brand. It allow businesses to create and share videos with their followers, follow other users, and engage with content through likes, comments, and shares.

Business accounts have access to additional features not available on personal accounts, such as TikTok's analytics dashboard and the ability to run ads.

Benefits of Running TikTok Ads on Business Accounts

Running a TikTok ad campaign on a business account offers several benefits, including:

Increased Visibility

TikTok ads can help increase brand visibility and reach a wider audience.

Targeted Advertising

TikTok allows businesses to target their ads to specific demographics, locations, interests, and behaviors, ensuring that their ads reach the right TikTok users.

Creative Freedom

TikTok ads allow businesses to be creative and showcase their brand personality through engaging videos.

Access to Analytics

Business accounts have access to TikTok's analytics dashboard, which provides insights into ad performance and audience demographics.

Differences Between Personal and Business Accounts

Now that we've explored personal and business accounts let's compare their features and benefits.

Comparison of Personal and Business TikTok Accounts

Personal and business TikTok accounts have some similarities, such as access to filters, effects, and sound libraries. However, there are several differences between personal and business accounts, including:

Advertising Capabilities

Business accounts can run ads, while personal accounts do not.

Analytics

Business accounts have access to TikTok's analytics dashboard, while personal accounts do not.

Verification

Business accounts can be verified, which helps build trust with their TikTok users.

Call-To-Action Buttons

Business accounts can add call-to-action buttons to their profile, such as "Shop Now" or "Learn More."

Benefits and Limitations of Each Account Type

Personal accounts offer individuals the opportunity to create and share videos with their followers, engage with other users, and build their personal brand.

However, personal accounts have some limitations when it comes to running ads.

Firstly, they do not offer the same level of analytics and targeting options as business accounts. Personal accounts also have a limit on the number of followers they can have, which means that the reach of the ads will be limited as well.

On the other hand, business accounts are designed to help companies promote their products and services on TikTok. They offer advanced features such as analytics, targeting, and the ability to run ads.

Running Spark Ads on Creator Profiles

Spark ads are a type of TikTok advertising that allows brands to use user-generated content in their ads. This can be an effective way to create authentic and engaging content that resonates with TikTok users. Here's what you need to know about running Spark Ads on TikTok:

What are Spark Ads TikTok?

Spark Ads are TikTok's user-generated content (UGC) ad format. Brands can use content created by users to promote their products or services. These ads are designed to be authentic and engaging, which can help brands build a stronger connection with their audience.

Differences Between Spark Ads and Regular In-Feed Ads

The main difference between Spark Ads and regular in-feed ads is that Spark Ads use user-generated content, while regular in-feed ads are created by brands. Spark Ads can be a more effective way to reach audiences as they are more authentic and engaging.

How To Create Spark Ads On TikTok?

To create a Spark Ad on TikTok, you'll need to follow these steps:

1. Choose the user-generated content you want to use in your ad.
2. Create your ad and add your branding elements.
3. Choose your target audience and set your ad budget.
4. Launch your ad and monitor its performance.

5 Benefits of Spark Ads

Here are some benefits of using Spark Ads on TikTok:

• Authenticity: Spark Ads are more authentic than regular in-feed ads as they use user-generated content.
• Engagement: In addition to authenticity, spark ads are more engaging, which can help brands build a stronger connection with their audience.
• Cost-effective: A huge plus is that spark ads can be more cost-effective than regular in-feed ads as they use existing content.
• Higher ROI: Spark ads can offer a higher ROI as they are more engaging and cost-effective.
• User-Generated Content: Spark ads can also help brands build a stronger community by featuring user-generated content.

TikTok Spark Ads Examples

Here are some examples of successful Spark Ads on TikTok:

Elf Cosmetics used user-generated content to promote its makeup products. The ad featured people using Elf Cosmetics products in their everyday lives. The ad was authentic and engaging, which helped to drive sales for the brand.

TikTok Ads Policies and Requirements

TikTok has specific policies and requirements that advertisers must follow to run ads on the platform. Here's what you need to know:

TikTok Ads Policies for Personal Accounts

Personal accounts can run ads on TikTok, but they must follow the same policies as business accounts. These policies include restrictions on adult content, hate speech, and misinformation. Advertisers must also comply with local laws and regulations.

TikTok Ads Policies for Business Accounts

Business accounts must also follow TikTok's advertising policies. These policies include requirements for ad creatives, targeting, and landing pages. Advertisers must also comply with local laws and regulations.

How To Create TikTok Ads

Once you have decided whether to run ads on a personal or business account and have reviewed the TikTok ad policies and requirements, you can start creating your TikTok ads. 

Steps for Creating TikTok Ads on Personal Accounts

1. Open the TikTok app and click the "+" button at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select "Create Video" and choose the video you want to promote.
3. Click on "Promote" and select your ad objective and target audience.
4. Set your budget and schedule for the ad.
5. Review and confirm the ad details.
6. Submit the ad for review by TikTok.

Steps for Creating TikTok Ads on Business Accounts

1. Create a TikTok Ads Manager account and link it to your business account.
2. Choose your ad objective and target audience.
3. Create your ad creative using the recommended ad formats.
4. Set your budget and schedule for the ad.
5. Review and confirm the ad details.
6. Submit the ad for review by TikTok.

Types of TikTok Ads

TikTok offers various types of ads to advertisers. Here is an overview of the different types of TikTok ads:

Overview of Different Types of TikTok Ads

• In-Feed Ads: These are ads that appear in the user's "For You" feed and can be up to 60 seconds long.
• Brand Takeovers: These are full-screen ads that appear when the user opens the app.
• TopView Ads: TopView Ads are similar to brand takeovers but are displayed as the first video in the user's "For You" feed.
• Hashtag Challenges: These ads encourage users to create and share content using a specific hashtag.
• Branded Effects: Branded effects are filters and lenses that advertisers can create and offer to users.

Which TikTok Ads are Available on Personal Accounts?

Personal accounts can run In-Feed Ads and Hashtag Challenges.

Which TikTok Ads are Available on Business Accounts?

Business accounts can run all types of TikTok ads.

TikTok Ads Best Practices

Here are some tips and strategies for running effective TikTok ads and avoiding any mistakes:

Tips and Strategies for Running Effective TikTok Ads

• Keep your ads short and engaging.
• Use a creative brief to ensure your ads achieve their objectives.
• Use trending sounds and hashtags to make your ads more relevant.
• Utilize user-generated content in your ads.
• Use eye-catching visuals to grab the user's attention.
• Target your ads to specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.

Targeting Best Practices for Personal and Business Accounts

For personal accounts, you should target users using hashtags and keywords that are relevant to your posts.

For business accounts, use the TikTok Ads Manager to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors.

TikTok Ads Cost

TikTok Ads costs vary based on the type of ad and targeting options. 

Overview of TikTok Ads Cost and Pricing Models

TikTok Ads offers a variety of pricing models including cost-per-click (CPC), cost-per-impression (CPM), and cost-per-action (CPA).

Comparison of Cost for Personal and Business Accounts

Personal accounts may have lower costs as they are limited to In-Feed Ads and Hashtag Challenges. Business accounts have access to all types of ads and may have higher costs depending on the targeting options.

Measuring TikTok Ads Performance

Measuring the performance of your TikTok ads is crucial to optimize your ad campaigns and achieve your goals.

How to Measure the Performance of TikTok Ads

TikTok Ads Manager provides various metrics to measure the performance of your TikTok ads. Some of the key metrics to consider include:

• Impressions: The number of times your ad was displayed to users.
• Clicks: The number of times users clicked on your ad.
• CTR (Click-Through Rate): The percentage of users who clicked on your ad after seeing it.
• Engagement: The number of likes, comments, shares, and follows your ad received.
• Conversions: The number of users who completed a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form, after clicking on your ad.

To measure the success of your TikTok ads, you should set clear goals and track your progress towards those goals using these metrics. You can use this data to optimize your ad campaigns and improve your return on investment (ROI).

It's important to note that measuring the performance of TikTok ads on personal accounts may be more challenging, as these accounts do not have access to TikTok Ads Manager. However, you can still track metrics such as engagement and follower growth to gauge the impact of your ads on your brand.

TikTok Ads Case Studies

To get a better understanding of how TikTok ads can benefit your business, let's take a look at some success stories from brands that have run TikTok ads:

Success Stories of Brands That Ran TikTok Ads on Business Accounts

1. Fenty Beauty

Fenty Beauty, a cosmetics brand owned by Rihanna, ran a TikTok ad campaign to promote their new product line. They used a hashtag challenge to encourage users to create their own makeup looks using Fenty Beauty products. The campaign generated over 6.5 billion views and helped the brand reach a younger audience.

2. Gymshark

Gymshark, a fitness apparel brand, used TikTok ads to promote their Black Friday sale. They created a series of short, catchy ads showcasing their products and offering special discounts. The campaign generated over 19 million views and helped increase the brand's sales during the holiday season.

TikTok Ads Alternatives

While TikTok ads can be a great way to reach a large audience, there are also other advertising options available on the platform:

Alternative Advertising Options on TikTok

1. Influencer Marketing

Partnering with popular TikTok influencers can be a great way to promote your brand and reach a targeted audience. Influencers can create sponsored content, participate in challenges, or simply endorse your products in their videos. The biggest problem you will find with influencer marketing is accurately tracking influencer performance.

2. Organic Content

Organic content is a great way to build brand awareness and grow your following on TikTok. You can create short, entertaining videos related to your brand or industry and post them on the platform.

Final Thoughts

Overall, running TikTok ads on personal accounts is not currently possible. However, business accounts offer several benefits, such as advanced targeting options, access to analytics, and the ability to run different types of ads. Additionally, businesses can establish themselves as credible entities on TikTok and attract potential customers by creating engaging and authentic content.

On the other hand, personal accounts offer individuals the chance to showcase their personality and creativity, build a following, and potentially attract brand deals or sponsorship opportunities.

Ultimately, the right account type for you depends on your goals and objectives. If you're a business looking to advertise on TikTok, a business account is an obvious choice.

However, if you're an individual looking to build your brand, a personal account is the way to go. Regardless of which account type you choose, it's important to adhere to TikTok's advertising policies and best practices to ensure the success of your TikTok ad campaigns.

‍