TikTok Spark Ads: how to boost an organic post with a spark code

What TikTok Spark Ads are

Spark Ads are a TikTok ad format that runs a post already published on a TikTok account, instead of a video uploaded only as an ad. TikTok's help center lists two sources: your own TikTok account’s posts, and organic posts made by other creators (with their authorization).

The ad shows the post's display name and caption, which cannot be edited during the ad creation process. TikTok says all views, comments, shares, likes, and follows gained while the post is promoted are credited to the organic post, so the likes and follows the ad earns stay on the account that posted it after the campaign ends.

You build Spark Ads in TikTok Ads Manager, the same tool used for other campaigns, so they use its objectives, budgets and reporting. A viewer who taps the profile photo or name on a Spark Ad goes to the video owner's profile, where they can follow the account.

What a spark code on TikTok is

A spark code, which TikTok's help center calls a video code or post code, is the permission a creator gives an advertiser to run one of their posts as an ad. Each code covers one post: the creator allows an advertiser to run ads for only a particular post belonging to them.

The creator chooses how long the code lasts: 7, 30, 60, or 365 days. TikTok lists this as a feature to Customize the duration of your authorization code to meet campaign needs and minimize costs, so the creator and the brand can match the period to the campaign they agreed.

Codes are needed when the post belongs to an account that is not linked to your ad account. Posts from your linked business accounts, or from TikTok accounts authorized through Business Center, can be pulled into Ads Manager directly. Once a TikTok account is linked, anyone with access to the TikTok account can use it for ad delivery from the linked ad accounts.

How a creator generates a spark code in the TikTok app

These steps follow TikTok's help article for Smart+ campaigns, which sets out the creator side. Menu names can differ slightly between app versions.

1. Open the post's Ad settings

   In the TikTok app, the creator opens the post, taps the three dots and taps Ad settings. The general route is tapping the three dots on the video, tapping on the Ad settings icon, and tapping Generate.

2. Accept the terms and turn on authorization

   In Ad settings, the creator accepts the terms (Agree to Advertising Content Terms), then follows the next instruction: Turn on the Ad authorization toggle for that post.

3. Pick the authorization period

   The creator selects how long the brand may use the post: 7, 30, 60, or 365 days. Agree the period with the brand before generating the code.

4. Copy and send the code

   The creator taps Copy Code and sends it to the advertiser. For a Duet or Stitch, the advertiser needs video authorization codes from both creators.

How to create Spark Ads in TikTok Ads Manager

These steps follow TikTok's guide for manual and search campaigns. Smart+ campaigns use a similar creative selection drawer.

1. Start a campaign

   In TikTok Ads Manager, open the Campaign tab, click Create and choose an objective. With Auction buying, Spark Ads support Reach, Traffic, Video Views, Community interaction, App promotion, Conversions, Lead generation, Sales. With Reach and Frequency buying, they support Reach, Traffic, Video Views.

2. Set the budget and ad group

   Complete the campaign and ad group settings, including the budget. The budget section below lists TikTok's minimums.

3. Add the post

   In the Ad creatives section, open the creative drawer and choose the TikTok posts tab. Click Add post to enter a creator's spark code. You can authorize up to 20 video codes at a time, and the authorization period shows beneath each post.

4. Finish the ad and publish

   Complete the ad details, destination and optional tracking, then click Publish all. Codes can also be added ahead of time under Tools, Creative library, Spark ads posts, Apply for Authorization.

What Spark Ads cost

You pay for Spark Ads through the budget you set when you create the campaign and ad group in Ads Manager, the same budget settings every campaign uses. Plan the authorization period with this in mind: TikTok lists code durations as a way to Customize the duration of your authorization code to meet campaign needs and minimize costs.

A daily budget is The average amount you're willing to spend on the campaign or ad group per day. A lifetime budget is the total for the whole run. When an ad group reaches its budget, ad delivery will pause automatically.

In TikTok's own worked example of this rule, a lifetime budget for an ad group that runs for a month needs at least $620. Example: a shop that wants to spark one creator video for a week on a daily budget should plan for the ad group minimum each day, and ask the creator for a code that lasts at least as long as the campaign.

Spark Ads rules and limits to know before you launch

Most of these come from the specifications and notes in TikTok's Spark Ads articles. They matter most when the post belongs to a creator, because neither side can change some things once the ad is live.

• Caption: You cannot edit a post's caption after it’s been authorized as an ad. Check the caption before the creator generates the code.
• Privacy: A private video will become public once it is used in a campaign, and its privacy setting cannot be changed during the promotion.
• Deleting the post: videos must be un-authorized as a Spark Ad before it can be deleted from the creator's account.
• Deleting a code: a video code can only be deleted when all the ads this video is used in are deleted in Ads Manager.
• Banned posts: organic posts that TikTok has banned are rejected in TikTok Ads Manager.
• Length: there is a 10 minute maximum on sparked videos.
• Volume: each Ads Manager account can hold up to 10,000 Spark Ads.
• Pushed posts: in Smart+ campaigns you can also push a new video from Ads Manager to your own linked account; it is published under your linked business account in private mode until you make it public.
• Mixing formats: in Smart+ campaigns you can combine Spark Ads and Non-Spark Ads within the same ad group.

How Spark Ads results are reported

Spark Ads reporting splits paid engagement from organic engagement. Paid likes, paid shares, paid follows and paid comments count actions within 1 day of a user seeing a paid ad. Spark Ads also report paid profile visits, music clicks and clicks on any anchor link in the video.

Because the likes and follows stay on the organic post, the post's public counts include the paid ones. Use the Ads Manager columns, not the view count in the app, to judge what the money bought.

Where Nation fits

Questions about TikTok Spark Ads