TikTok Ads: Harness TikTok Messaging Ads to Boost Sales

If you’re not on TikTok, you’re losing out on massive opportunities to increase your sales. Businesses stand to win big through TikTok Messaging Ads, connecting to prospects on a personal level. In this blog, we’ll talk about what TikTok Messaging Ads are, how they benefit businesses, how to create a TikTok Messaging Ad and best practices to start your campaign.

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What are TikTok Messaging Ads?

TikTok Messaging Ads allow businesses to connect with their audience through TikTok Direct Messages or redirect users to instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger. It is another channel to Capture customers using our Conversation-Led Growth™ framework.

<call-out> Remember! You need to create TikTok for Business and Advertiser accounts before you can start using TikTok Messaging Ads. <call-out>

This feature helps brands engage directly with potential customers, creating additional opportunities for higher conversion rates through personalized communication.

Benefits of Using TikTok Messaging Ads

Leveraging TikTok Messaging Ads offers several advantages for businesses looking to enhance their marketing efforts.

An image showing four icons illustrating the benefit of running a tiktok messaging ad campaign — The benefits of running a TikTok Messaging Ad campaign

These benefits make it an attractive option for businesses aiming to reach a larger audience, engage with younger demographics, and maximize their advertising budget.

TikTok Messaging Ad: Reach to a Large Global Audience

TikTok boasts 1.58 billion monthly active users worldwide, providing a vast audience for your messaging ads. This makes it a goldmine to generate views, leads, conversions and eventually sales.

TikTok Messaging Ad: Advertise at a Low Cost

TikTok’s ad platform offers competitive pricing, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes to reach a broad audience without breaking the bank. The average cost per click (CPC) and cost per thousand (CPM) on TikTok is $1.00 and $10.00 respectively. In fact, TikTok has a lower CPC and CPM compared to Meta.

The affordability of TikTok ads allows businesses to allocate their budget efficiently while still achieving substantial reach and engagement.

TikTok Messaging Ad: Target Young and Growing Audiences

Gen Z makes up almost half of TikTok users. With a significant portion of TikTok’s user base being Gen Z, businesses can effectively target a young and rapidly growing demographic. This demographic is known for its high engagement and willingness to interact with brands online.

TikTok Messaging Ad: Start Easy With Low-Effort Content

Unlike other platforms that may require highly polished content, TikTok is full of engaging, low-effort videos. If you are starting out on TikTok, or want to rapidly experiment, TikTok is the platform to be on. You can make content without needing to hire a video editor or agency, yet generate a good level of impact.

Now that you’re aware of the benefits of TikTok Messaging Ad, let’s look at how you can create this ad.

How to Create a TikTok Messaging Ad in 3 Easy Steps

Before setting up TikTok Messaging Ads, you’ll need to create a TikTok Ads Manager Account first. Next, you should be aware that there are two types of ads - TikTok Direct Messaging Ads and TikTok Instant Messaging Ads. This step-by-step guide applies to both type of ads.

Step 1: Create a Campaign

On your dashboard, click on Create Ad, select Lead Generation and name your campaign. Then click on Continue.

A screenshot showing the advertising objective needed to create a tiktok messaging ad — How to create TikTok ad: Select Lead generation as the advertising objective

Step 2: Set Up the Ad Group

Name the Ad group. Then define your target audience, set your budget and choose the placement for your ads.

A screenshot of how to create a tiktok ad with the optimization location and target audience — How to create TikTok ad: Choose the Optimization location and target audience

You can select TikTok Direct Messages or redirect users to messaging apps like WhatsApp or Messenger.

Step 3: Create the Ad

Design your ad creative, keeping in mind TikTok’s preference for authentic and engaging content. You can select either a video, or carousel images ad formats. Use videos or images that resonate with your target audience and include a clear call-to-action.

A screenshot of the tiktok platform to create a messaging ad — How to create TikTok ad: Add content that will get your customers to start messaging you

Review your ad settings and ensure that they are in compliance with TikTok’s policies. Once you’re done, you can submit your ad for review. Once approved, your ad will go live, and you can start engaging with your audience through direct messages.

Now that you know how to set up a TikTok Messaging Ad campaign, let’s take a look at how you can make the most of it.

TikTok Messaging Ads: Best Practices

Setting up TikTok Messaging Ads is just the first step. You also need to maximize the impact of your ads to increase sales through meaningful interactions. Here are 5 simple strategies to help you get the most out of your TikTok Messaging Ads.

Create Engaging Content

Creating content that captivates and engages your audience is key to the success of your TikTok Messaging Ads. You need to understand the types of content that resonate with TikTok users.

Authenticity is highly valued on this platform, so focus on creating videos that feel genuine and relatable. Short, impactful videos that capture attention within the first few seconds are particularly effective. Use catchy music, trending challenges, and creative effects to make your content stand out.

Collaborate With Influencers

Collaborating with influencers can significantly boost the reach and effectiveness of your TikTok Messaging Ads. Identify influencers whose audience aligns with your target demographic to ensure that your message reaches the right people.

An image of 4 icons showing the best practices of creating a tiktok messaging advertisement — Best practices to create a successful TikTok Messaging Ad campaign

These influencers can create content that feels genuine and relatable, increasing the likelihood of engagement from their followers. Authentic partnerships with influencers can enhance your brand’s credibility and visibility on the platform.

Perform A/B Testing and Monitor Ad Performance

By testing different variables such as ad formats, messages, and visuals, you can determine which combinations perform best with your audience. By monitoring the performance of each ad, you’ll gain insights into what resonates with your audience.

Remember to track key metrics such as engagement, click-through, and conversion rates. These insights help you understand how your ads are performing and identify areas for improvement. Setting performance benchmarks and making data-driven adjustments is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of your campaigns.

As a result, you’ll be able to optimize the most successful ad to increase its impact.

Follow TikTok’s Policies and Advertising Guidelines

Ensure your ads comply with TikTok’s policies and guidelines to avoid any disruptions. This understanding will help you create ads that align with TikTok’s standards, ensuring a smooth approval process and a seamless user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use TikTok Messaging Ads to direct customers to my personal WhatsApp or WhatsApp for Business?

No, you need to use a unique phone number for the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) that is not used in any other WhatsApp personal or business accounts.

What instant messaging channels supported on TikTok Messaging Ads?

WhatsApp Business Platform, Messenger, LINE and Zalo are the supported channels.

How can I track the performance of a TikTok Messaging Ad campaign?

You need to go to TikTok Ads Manager to view and track the performance of your ad campaigns.

TikTok Messaging Ads are just one avenue to Capture customers. There are other messaging ad channels offered by companies like Meta. Add more channels to increase the number of opportunities by connecting them to respond.io. Try respond.io for free to start your click to chat ad campaign journey.