Process Flow
Animated overview of the full workflow
TL;DR
Go to ads.tiktok.com and click "Create an Ad." Sign up with your email or existing TikTok account, enter your business details (country, industry, business name, phone number), agree to the terms, and submit. TikTok will review your account — approval usually takes under 24 hours. Once approved, add your billing information, install the TikTok Pixel, and you are ready to create campaigns.
Why Advertise on TikTok?
TikTok has over 1.5 billion monthly active users globally, with strong engagement among users aged 18-34. TikTok ads blend into the native content experience — the best-performing ads look like organic TikTok content, not traditional advertisements. Performance marketers benefit from lower CPMs compared to Meta in many markets, strong video engagement, powerful targeting, a creator marketplace for authentic content, and growing e-commerce capabilities.
Common Issues
Account under review too long: Contact TikTok support if review exceeds 48 hours. Account suspended: Usually a policy violation — check email for details and submit appeal. Billing issues: Ensure your card allows international transactions.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these 7 steps to complete this guide
- 1
Create Your Account
Go to ads.tiktok.com. Click "Create an Ad." Choose your sign-up method: email, phone number, or existing TikTok account. Enter verification code.
- 2
Enter Business Information
Select your country/region (determines billing currency, cannot be changed later), industry, business name, phone number, and website URL. Agree to advertising terms and click Register.
- 3
Account Review
TikTok reviews all new accounts, typically within 24 hours. They verify your business information, website compliance, and industry eligibility. If rejected, you will receive a reason and can correct and resubmit.
- 4
Set Up Billing
Go to Account Settings > Payment. Choose automatic payment (recommended, charges accumulate then bill) or manual payment/prepay (available in some regions). Enter card details and billing address.
- 5
Navigate TikTok Ads Manager
Key sections: **Dashboard** for performance overview, **Campaign** for creating and managing ads (Campaign > Ad Group > Ad structure), **Assets** for pixels, audiences, creatives, and catalogues, **Reporting** for custom reports, **Tools** for creative tools and audience insights.
- 6
Install the TikTok Pixel
Go to Assets > Events > Web Events. Click Create Pixel. Choose manual implementation, partner integration (Shopify, WordPress, GTM), or Events API for server-side tracking. Name your pixel and select events to track.
- 7
Account Structure Best Practices
TikTok's algorithm performs better with broader targeting and more data per ad group. Official recommendation: 2-5 ad groups per campaign, 3-5 ads per ad group, budget enabling at least 50 conversions per ad group per week.
Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Minimum spend requirement?
USD 20/day minimum at both campaign and ad group level.
Can I run ads without a TikTok profile?
Yes, using just your business name and logo. But having an organic presence improves credibility and enables Spark Ads.
Difference between Ads Manager and Business Center?
Ads Manager is for campaign management. Business Center is the umbrella management platform for multiple accounts and team members (similar to Meta Business Suite).
What video formats work?
Vertical video (9:16) at 1080×1920. Videos should be 15-60 seconds, with attention captured in the first 1-2 seconds.
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