Strategy secrets: Using TikTok ad library to create successful ads

Need inspiration for your TikTok ads? Want to know what others in the industry are doing? We have the answer for you and it’s called the TikTok ad library.

This directory (which everyone can view) allows you to scope out the competition, see which ads are performing well, and ultimately improve your TikTok advertising strategy.

Knowing the key tips and tricks for using this tool is essential so you can create successful ads on this platform. If you want to find out why the TikTok ad library should be a key component of your paid social strategy, get reading!

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What is the TikTok ad library and how does it work?

TikTok ad library is a collection of all ads that have been posted on TikTok. This tool can be used by both users and advertisers to learn and take inspiration from other ads. If you know what is working for others, you can make it work for you too.

To start, head to the library, where you can filter for a particular ad type. For example, if you want ads that fit a specific ad format or include types of keywords (or if you have a brand in mind, you can find ads just posted by them).

Once you are happy with your filters (these can always be changed as you go), just click ‘search’ and the specific ads you wanted will appear in front of you.

  • Top tip: If no ads appear when you click search, this might be because no ads fit within the criteria you have set. There are a few other reasons this could be the case but it isn’t a reason to panic. Alter your filters and search again! There is no limit so have a go and see what happens.

You can further tailor the results by using the drop-down on the right.  For example, you can view the most popular videos first

If you want to learn more about a specific ad, you can watch the ad as well as find information on the ad’s target audience, location (and much more!)

You might now be thinking ‘But how does this help me create successful ads for my business?’

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Three ways to use TikTok ad library to your advantage

1 Take inspiration for new ideas

Who does it best? Look at the top performers and take notes. If it works for them, it might just work for you too.

Who does it worst? (in your opinion!) As you explore, make sure you also identify ads that don’t work so well. This will help you not make the same content mistakes as other brands who aren’t as fortunate.

Who can you get inspiration from? It might be useful to have a list of competitors you want to search for. You can then compare your ads to theirs. On the other hand, if you want to find competitors, you can filter for keywords and see who is making ads similar to yours. You can also see what trending sounds and relevant hashtags competitors are using and get some new ideas from them.

2 Source out potential prospects

Which Influencer suits your business? Influencer marketing is popular among businesses nowadays (94% of marketers consider influencer marketing as an effective practice), as the power influencers can have on their audience is remarkable. You can look for similar businesses and see what influencers they have partnered with. This can give you an idea of who to reach out to.

Which business could be a future partner? If you search for keywords, you will find many similar businesses and you can further filter the top-performing ads. This gives you a good idea of which businesses complement yours, as well as who you should partner with, given their success on the app.

Which business could be a future client? As mentioned above, you can look through the lowest-performing ads and identify which clients might need some extra help. If you are an agency that offers TikTok ad support, this is a great opportunity to identify businesses that might be open to working with your agency.

3 Keep up to date on what the industry is doing (ask these three questions)

How should your ad be performing? TikTok ad library provides data on each ad. You can compare your performance stats to others in the industry and see how well you are doing. Industry benchmarks are a great way to set goals and track success; the TikTok ad library is a great help with that.

How quickly are trends changing? Timing is everything when it comes to creating content for a specific trend. If you are too late to jump on a trend and another trend is already more popular, you have a small chance of having that ad being successful. You can use the TikTok ad library to stay up to date with the latest trends.

How are other businesses targeting? TikTok ad library provides some (not all) information on the targeting strategy used for ads. This can be useful as you can take some of these ideas when trying to reach new audiences.

Ready to create next-level TikTok ads?

Now you know how to leverage the TikTok ad library and utilise all the information to create the most successful ads for your business, there is no time to waste. If you want help with your TikTok ads, our paid social team are experts.

Get in touch and start your journey to social media success today!

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