TikTok Video Ad Specs & Placements Guide for 2023

After launching in 2016, TikTok has quickly become one of the most influential social media platforms in the world. But some marketing teams haven’t taken advantage of this opportunity yet. From TikTok video ad specs to creating TikToks at scale, we’ve got everything you need to know to start advertising on this hot video-first platform.

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Benefits of TikTok Video Marketing

As more people join the platform, the benefits of TikTok video marketing continue growing. Some key video marketing benefits include: 

• A wide audience. As the social platform’s audience grows more diverse by the day, TikTok is an attractive buy for advertisers targeting a wide array of demographics. While the average TikTok user ranges from 10 to 49, still 11% of the platform’s users are over 50. 
• Limited distractions. For the most part, TikTok videos and advertisements are full-screen, which means your content is the only thing users are looking at, making this engagement one of the few times people don’t have divided attention. 
• Creative freedom. TikTok’s video format allows users and advertisers alike to have more fun on the platform. If you’re looking for a place to test creative content, engaging hooks, and other unique video formats, TikTok is the place for you! 

While these are just a few examples of TikTok’s benefits, it’s easy to see how the platform can benefit your marketing efforts. With over 1 billion monthly active users (MAUs), there’s no denying TikTok’s power to reach audiences, which is perhaps the largest benefit of social media video marketing. Plus, with a stream of seemingly never-ending content, each user’s For You page encourages them to spend more time engaging with the platform.

TikTok Video Ad Specs & Placements

What are the specs for a TikTok video? How long should a TikTok video ad be? What is the best resolution for TikTok? This section will answer these questions about TikTok video ad specs — and more.

TikTok surged in popularity in 2020, dominating the cultural zeitgeist during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the same year,  the company unveiled TikTok for Business, which eased the barriers to entry for competitors of all sizes who want to get in on the TikTok game.

It’s a creativity-driven, video-only platform, making it an attractive buy for advertisers targeting younger demographics with unique TikTok video ideas. Let’s look at three popular ways to advertise, including TikTok ad specs and TikTok ad sizes: 

In-Feed Video Ads

While all TikTok ad specs are important, you’ll certainly want to familiarize yourself with In-Feed ads. These video ads appear in the For You feed, which is an algorithm-based feed that shows users videos targeted to their interests. If you’re familiar with ads on Instagram, you’ll have an idea of what an In-Feed Video ad will look like. 

Users can engage with and share the ads natively on the platform. This ad placement can be further supported through calls to action (CTAs), which help drive traffic to internal landing pages, your website, or an eComm store.

Video Ad Specs

• Aspect Ratio: 9:16
• Max File Size: 500 MB
• Video length: Can support 5 to 60-second videos. We recommend 9 to 15-second videos for optimal performance. 
• File types: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, or .avi
• Description: 1 to 100 characters are supported
• TikTok ads should be supported with sound and/or music as the app defaults to a sound-on experience.

In-Feed Video TikTok Ads: What to Keep in Mind

Since these in-feed ads are quick bursts of content, users can easily swipe them away, so make sure you grab users’ attention in the first few seconds. Out-of-the-box creative video campaign ideas, like animation production and stop-motion, can make a TikTok marketing video stand out. 

This ad for Self, created by QuickFrame, taps into the creative culture of TikTok while promoting Self’s app by framing the ad as a behind-the-scenes look at digital animation.

TopView Ads

TikTok TopView ads work similarly to Brand Takeovers, because they are one of the first ads a user will see when opening the app. According to TikTok, 71% of users agreed TopView ads grab their attention, so this is a great opportunity to get your brand in front of your target audience. 

This ad type allows users to like, comment, share, or follow your brand. If you want to raise brand awareness or drive immediate conversions (by featuring a promo, for example), TopView can be a powerful way to make a direct impact. 

Optimized for full screen, TopView ads can also run up to 60 seconds long, allowing more room for your creative to sparkle. You can further engage your target audience with CTAs to direct users to websites and eComm landing pages. 

Video Ad Specs

• Aspect Ratio: 9:16
• Max File Size: 500 MB
• Video Length: 5 to 60 seconds, though 15 seconds is optimal for TopView ads
• File Type: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, or .avi
• TikTok ads should be supported with sound and/or music as the app defaults to a sound-on experience.

TopView TikTok Ads: What to Keep in Mind

By getting views before users even begin to scroll through TikTok, you can have their undivided attention — even if it is only for a few seconds. Keep in mind: TopView ads are managed on TikTok through reserved media placements with specific location and budget requirements.

Spark Ads

This native ad format allows you to create ads from your own TikTok videos or videos from other creators (with their permission, of course). 

While Spark Ads initially seem similar to In-Feed Ads, there are some notable differences, including the metrics you can track. These additional metrics include music clicks, paid profile visits, anchor clicks, and more. 

This new feature allows you to elevate different types of videos — even UGC from your loyal fans! Whether you want to boost your video production, an unboxing of your products from a fan, or another video entirely, you can do it with Spark Ads! 

Video Ad Specs

• As long as it’s uploaded on TikTok as an organic video, you can use it as a Spark Ad. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on video ratio, video resolution, file type, video duration, bitrate, or file size. 
• Account tagging, emojis, and hashtags are allowed in Spark Ads’ captions. 

Spark TikTok Ads: What to Keep in Mind

Maybe one of the most popular features of Spark ads is all actions revolve around your (or another creator’s) organic post. According to TikTok, “Spark Ads use posts from real TikTok accounts, which ensures all views, comments, shares, likes, and follows gained from boosting the video during the promotion are attributed to your organic posts.”

Making TikTok Videos at Scale

Don’t be intimidated by TikTok video dimensions and ad specs! TikTok is an effective way to reach your target audience, but this strategy requires consistent creative made at scale for your business. For many teams, this is a barrier, but it doesn’t have to be. 

At QuickFrame by MNTN, we created an end-to-end agile video production platform that connects you with leading Creators and production teams around the globe. Plus, as one of TikTok’s first creative partners, we know how to create the video content you need to meet your goals and avoid ad fatigue — all done affordably and at scale. 

Contact us today to learn more about TikTok video production.

Related: How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work?

TikTok Ad Sizes: Final Thoughts

Video marketing will continue growing for the foreseeable future, and TikTok is no exception. As the platform evolves, creating native ads will become more important to video marketing strategies. 

By familiarizing yourself with the TikTok video ad specs and TikTok video ad sizes, you can use the platform to successfully connect with your audience. 

Need help with other networks? Check out our complete Social Media Video Ad Specs & Placements Guide