If you're running paid ads on TikTok and not using Spark Ads, you're missing out on engagement and money. Since launching globally in mid-2021, Spark Ads have become the go-to format for brands that want to amplify authentic content while preserving every like, comment, and share that comes with it.

The difference? Standard TikTok ads are created in Ads Manager and run dark (meaning they don't live on any profile). They start from zero engagement and disappear the moment your campaign ends. Spark Ads let you promote existing TikTok posts from your own account or a creator's account as advertisements. All the engagement flows directly to that post, building a lasting social asset that continues to benefit your brand long after the campaign wraps.

In this guide, we'll break down exactly what Spark Ads are, how they differ from regular TikTok ads, and how to set them up at scale (because manually juggling codes and campaign settings gets old fast). Whether you're testing TikTok for the first time or running hundreds of variations monthly with bulk ad operations tools, this is your roadmap to making Spark Ads work.

Spark Ads vs Regular TikTok Ads: What's the Difference?

Spark Ads aren't just another ad format. They fundamentally change how your advertising integrates with TikTok's native experience.

Understanding the Core Difference Between Ad Types

With a standard In-Feed ad, you create the creative in Ads Manager, upload it as a dark post (not visible on any TikTok profile), and run it to your target audience. Any likes, comments, or shares that ad receives are isolated to the campaign itself. Once you stop spending, that engagement vanishes. The creative doesn't exist as a public post anywhere.

Spark Ads flip this model. You take an existing TikTok post (either yours or a creator's, with permission) and boost it with paid media. The ad displays the original video, caption, music, profile name, and picture. From a viewer's perspective, it looks exactly like a regular TikTok, not a blatant advertisement.

They can like it, comment on it, share it, follow your account, or even Duet and Stitch with it, just like any other TikTok they encounter. Research from TikTok For Business shows Spark Ads drove a 134% higher video completion rate and 157% higher 6-second view-through rate compared to standard In-Feed Ads.

The Spark Ads advantage: If your campaign generates 100,000 views and 5,000 likes, those metrics stay on the original TikTok post forever. Even after the campaign ends. Your profile shows a massively popular video, and anyone who stumbles across it later sees that social proof. Standard ads can't do this.

How Social Proof Makes Spark Ads More Effective

The biggest tactical advantage of Spark Ads is retention of social proof. When users see high engagement numbers (thousands of likes, hundreds of comments), they perceive the content as validated by the crowd. That validation translates into trust, which translates into conversions.

According to industry research, all views, likes, comments, and shares generated by a Spark Ad campaign are added directly to the original post. This builds what TikTok calls a "powerful long-term social asset." Compare that to a regular ad, where engagement is tied exclusively to the campaign and disappears from public view once you stop spending.

If you're building a TikTok presence (not just driving one-time conversions), Spark Ads let you convert ad spend into lasting engagement on your profile. That's a multiplier effect standard ads can't match. For brands running high-volume creative testing, this social proof accumulation becomes a strategic asset.

What You Can't Edit in Spark Ads (Important Limitations)

Spark Ads do have one significant limitation: you can't edit the video, caption, or music once it's posted. The ad uses the TikTok post exactly as it appears on the account. If you need to test 50 variations of copy or try wildly different CTAs, regular ads give you more flexibility since you're creating fresh creatives in Ads Manager without posting them publicly.

But for most brands, this constraint is actually a feature. It forces you to create TikTok-native content first, which almost always performs better than something that looks like a traditional ad. The lock-in also prevents you from over-optimizing your way into robotic, inauthentic messaging.

You can still add a CTA button and destination URL when you set up the Spark Ad in Ads Manager.

The CTA appears at the bottom of the video just like it would in a standard ad, so you're not sacrificing any performance marketing functionality. You get the authenticity of an organic post with the targeting and conversion tracking of a paid ad.

Why Do Spark Ads Perform Better Than Regular TikTok Ads?

TikTok users scroll fast. They're trained to recognize ads and skip them instantly. Spark Ads bypass this resistance because they don't look like ads. They look like TikToks.

Spark Ads Engagement and Conversion Rates Compared to Standard Ads

The performance data is clear. Bridal jeweler James Allen ran Spark Ads alongside standard In-Feed ads and saw:

25% higher click-through rate

24% higher conversion rate

66% lower CPM

67% lower CPC

That's not a marginal improvement. That's a different cost structure entirely.

Part of this comes down to TikTok's algorithm. The platform rewards content that keeps people engaged (watch time, interactions). When your ad is literally a TikTok post that people want to engage with, the algorithm treats it more favorably than a clearly promotional piece of content. Understanding how ad algorithms reward engagement is crucial for optimizing campaign performance.

Can Spark Ads Help You Gain TikTok Followers?

Standard ads don't let viewers click through to your profile. They show a generic display name or "Sponsored" label with no link to your TikTok account. Spark Ads display the posting account's name and profile picture, both of which are clickable. Users can visit your profile or even follow you directly from the ad.

If your goal is to build a TikTok audience while driving conversions, Spark Ads solve both objectives simultaneously. Every dollar you spend amplifies your best content, grows your follower count, and accumulates engagement metrics that make your profile look more credible.

TikTok recommends using Spark Ads if you want to "build social presence fast on TikTok and grow your following" while running performance campaigns.

How to Use Spark Ads for Influencer Marketing at Scale

Spark Ads are the best way to run influencer partnerships on TikTok. Instead of asking a creator to post something organically and hoping it reaches enough people, you take their post and put ad budget behind it. The creator's authentic voice stays intact (the ad shows their profile name and style), but you control the targeting and spend.

This solves the core problem of influencer marketing: great content that doesn't reach scale. A creator might make a perfect product demo with 10,000 organic views. With Spark Ads, you can push that to 500,000 targeted views while preserving the creator's identity and the post's authenticity.

From an operational standpoint, this means you need a system for managing creator authorizations, codes, and campaign settings. AdManage handles this by letting you toggle into "Partnership/Spark Ads" mode and paste the authorization code provided by a creator. Instead of juggling dozens of codes and manual steps in TikTok's native interface, you manage everything in bulk. This is crucial for agencies or brands running large-scale influencer campaigns where consistency and speed matter.

How to Set Up Spark Ads from Your Own TikTok Posts

Setting up a Spark Ad from your own TikTok account is straightforward once you understand the workflow. You'll need a TikTok Business Account linked to your Ads Manager (or Business Center).

① Post the video on TikTok (if it's not already live)

Identify which TikTok video you want to promote. If it's something that's already performing well organically, you're ready to use it. If you're creating new content specifically for the campaign, publish it to your TikTok profile first.

You can set it to private initially if you don't want followers to see it yet, but it will become public once used as an ad. Alternatively, TikTok now lets you upload a video directly in Ads Manager during Spark Ad creation. This is useful if you want to create content specifically for ads without cluttering your public profile. For teams producing 150+ ads per day, having flexible posting options is essential.

② Link your TikTok account to Ads Manager

In TikTok Ads Manager, create a campaign and navigate to the Ad level settings. Toggle on "Use TikTok Account to deliver Spark Ads." If you haven't linked your TikTok account yet, Ads Manager will prompt you to connect it.

Choose the option for "Use account owned by you." This process is similar to managing Facebook Pages access for Meta campaigns.

③ Select the TikTok post to promote

Once your account is linked, click "TikTok Posts" or "+ TikTok Post" under the Creatives section. You'll see a list of your account's recent videos. Select the one you want to turn into an ad and confirm.

If you're uploading a new video directly in Ads Manager, you'll see an option to "Publish this video as organic" after adding it. If you toggle "Only show as ad" (sometimes labeled "Ads Only Mode"), the video will be posted to your profile in a hidden manner. It will be used for ads but won't appear on your public profile feed or in followers' feeds. This is useful for ad-specific content that you don't want to clutter your organic presence.

④ Complete the ad settings

Fill in the remaining ad details: your call-to-action button (e.g., "Learn More," "Shop Now"), and the landing page URL if you're driving to a website. The caption of the TikTok post becomes the ad text and cannot be changed, so make sure your caption is final before authorizing it.

If you need different copy, edit the TikTok post before setting up the ad (or delete and re-post with the desired caption). When managing multiple campaigns, consider using standardized naming conventions to keep your ad operations organized and trackable across platforms.

⑤ Launch and monitor

Submit your ad and campaign. Once approved, your Spark Ad goes live. It will show up in users' For You feeds with your account name. Any engagement it receives will attach to your TikTok video.

During the campaign, avoid deleting or significantly editing the original TikTok post, as this will disrupt the ad. For brands running multiple campaigns simultaneously, scheduling your ads strategically can help optimize budget allocation and audience reach across time zones.

How to Set Up Spark Ads Using Influencer or Creator Posts

Using content from another TikTok account (like an influencer who created a video about your product) requires an authorization code.

① Creator enables ad authorization

The TikTok user who owns the video needs to allow their content to be used in ads. In the TikTok app, they navigate to Creator Tools > Ad settings and turn on the global "Ad authorization" setting.

② Creator generates a video code

The creator taps the "..." menu on the specific TikTok video you want to promote, selects "Ad settings" for that video, and toggles on "Ad Authorization." They can also toggle "Only show in ads" if they don't want the video to appear on their own profile or feeds (meaning it will solely be used as an ad).

After enabling ad authorization, they tap "Generate Code." TikTok creates an alphanumeric string and prompts the creator to select an authorization duration (7 days, 30 days, 60 days, 365 days). Most influencer partnerships use 30 or 60 days to align with campaign bursts. The creator copies the code and sends it to you.

Important: The authorization code is time-limited. If it expires, your ad stops running. Coordinate with the creator to renew it if you plan to run longer than the initial period.

③ Add the video code in TikTok Ads Manager

In your TikTok Ads Manager, go to Assets > Creative > Spark Ads Posts. Click "Apply for Authorization," paste the video code, and search. TikTok will find the video and show it along with the creator's username. Confirm or authorize it, and it will be added to your list of available Spark Ads posts.

④ Set up your Spark Ad with the creator's post

Create a campaign or ad group as usual. At the Ad level, toggle "Use TikTok account to deliver Spark Ads." This time, select the option for "Use other authorized account or post." Choose the creator's video from the selection list, then fill out the rest of the ad details (CTA, URL, etc.).

The ad will display as coming from the creator's TikTok account (their profile name and picture). From the viewer's perspective, it looks like the creator is running an ad with your product. In reality, you're paying for it and targeting it, but it's delivered through the creator's identity.

⑤ Launch and coordinate

Once you launch, monitor performance and engagement. Comments will appear on the creator's original post, so work out with the creator if you (or they) will handle responding.

If the creator deletes the original video or revokes authorization while your campaign is live, your Spark Ad stops immediately. Have an agreement in place that they won't delete or edit the post during the run. Understanding partnership ad mechanics becomes crucial when scaling these collaborations across multiple creators.

How to Manage Multiple Creator Spark Ads Efficiently

If you're running Spark Ads with multiple influencers or managing large-scale creator partnerships, manually entering codes and settings for each campaign becomes a bottleneck.

Tools like AdManage simplify this by letting you batch-authorize codes and manage all campaign settings in one interface. You toggle into "Partnership/Spark Ads" mode, paste the codes, and handle targeting, budgets, and naming conventions in bulk. This is useful for agencies running dozens of Spark Ads simultaneously, where consistency and speed directly impact results.

Best Practices: How to Make Your Spark Ads Perform Better

Spark Ads won't rescue bad content. The format amplifies what's already working. Focus on these strategies to maximize performance.

How to Choose Which TikTok Posts to Boost with Spark Ads

Analyze your TikTok organic posts to find ones with high view counts, engagement rate, or shares. These are your prime candidates for boosting. If you don't have strong organic content yet, create new videos optimized for TikTok's style and test them organically before putting ad budget behind them.

Spark Ads work best when you're amplifying a proven winner.

TikTok's mantra is "Don't make ads, make TikToks." The more your ad feels like a TikTok (because it originally was one), the better it will perform.

This applies to creator content too. Choose creators whose style, tone, and audience align with your brand. Pick content that already hooks viewers within the first few seconds. You're not creating new creative here; you're scaling what works (a fundamental principle of high-volume creative testing).

Why Authentic TikTok Content Outperforms Polished Ads

TikTok users value authenticity, humor, and creativity over production quality. The best Spark Ads feel like genuine content from a friend or favorite creator, not a polished advertisement.

Industry analysis of top-performing Spark Ads found that almost all had a lighthearted, positive tone and emotionally appealing storytelling. Aim for uplifting, fun, or relatable content. Avoid overly scripted messaging or traditional "ad speak."

Feature real people if you can (creators, customers, employees), speaking directly to the camera or sharing real experiences. Many successful Spark Ads "break the fourth wall" by having the person in the video talk to the audience as if FaceTiming a friend. This format creates a personal connection that drives trust and engagement.

How to Use Trending Sounds and Effects in Your Spark Ads

TikTok moves fast. Trends, sounds, and challenges dominate the platform. Tap into trending songs, challenges, or effects in your Spark Ad content. If there's a viral meme or sound that aligns with your brand or message, use it to ride the wave of popularity.

TikTok recommends using popular sounds and music to boost watch time. They even offer a Commercial Music Library for business accounts. A catchy or currently popular soundtrack can dramatically improve completion rates.

Similarly, incorporate TikTok effects or editing styles that are trending (transitions, text overlays, jump cuts) to make the ad feel current. Timeliness beats perfection on TikTok. If there's a trend relevant to your audience, adapt it quickly into a Spark Ad while people are still interested.

What's the Best Video Length for Spark Ads on TikTok?

Ad performance typically drops if you don't hook viewers in the first 2-3 seconds. Choose (or edit) Spark Ad videos to have an immediate hook: a bold statement, a visually interesting scene, movement in the first second, or text on screen that teases something intriguing.

Many effective TikTok ads are 15-30 seconds long. If using an existing post, consider whether the intro is snappy enough. If not, that might not be the best post to boost.

Ensure your video is vertical 9:16 format (or at least 1:1 or 16:9 for other placements). All Spark Ads should be mobile-friendly full-screen videos with high resolution (720p or above). For teams producing large volumes, having a streamlined video review workflow ensures quality at scale.

How to Optimize Spark Ads with Text Overlays and Interactive Elements

Enhance content with text overlays or captions to reinforce your message, since many users watch with sound off. TikTok's style encourages on-screen text to emphasize points or add humor. Keep it concise and easy to read (ideally fewer than 5 words on screen at once) and sync it with the visuals.

You can also use interactive features in your Spark Ads content. Research shows Spark Ads support things like polls, quizzes, or AR effects that viewers can play with. For example, include a quick poll sticker in the video ("Which outfit is better? A or B"). Users might engage with it, which boosts the video in the algorithm.

What Call-to-Action Works Best for Spark Ads?

While the content should feel organic, you do have the ability to add a CTA button. Use it wisely. Ensure the CTA text matches your goal (e.g., "Download Now" for an app, "Shop Now" for product purchase) and that the landing page is mobile-optimized and relevant to the ad.

In the Spark ad's caption or in the video itself, you can also verbally or textually prompt the action (e.g., a creator saying "Check out the link for a discount!" or a text overlay like "👉 Tap 'Learn More' to get 50% off"). This can improve your click-through rate.

TikTok users won't be surprised by a CTA in an ad, as long as the content was enjoyable. But they do need a nudge on why they should click it. Combine social proof with a value-focused CTA to drive conversions.

Should You Test Regular TikTok Ads Before Running Spark Ads?

The most sophisticated TikTok marketers use a hybrid strategy. They don't rely exclusively on Spark Ads or regular ads. They use each format's strengths.

For example, you might run regular (dark) ads initially to test a variety of creatives or messages quickly, since you can iterate without posting on your profile. Once you identify a top performer (the concept or style that gets the best conversion rate), turn that into an organic TikTok post on your profile and boost it as a Spark Ad to scale up with social proof.

This way you aren't spending big dollars until you know what works. And when you do spend big, you're also building your TikTok presence. Use TikTok's analytics and A/B testing tools to gauge performance. Over time, you'll identify patterns (certain types of content consistently work better as Spark Ads) and focus your efforts there.

For teams running hundreds of ad variations, this test-and-scale methodology becomes the foundation of sustainable performance growth.

How to Launch Spark Ads at Scale Using AdManage

If you're running dozens or hundreds of TikTok ad variations, manually setting up each Spark Ad in TikTok's native interface becomes a time sink. This is where bulk-launch tools like AdManage make a difference.

AdManage was built specifically for performance marketers who need to launch and test high volumes of ad variations without spending hours on repetitive configuration. For Spark Ads, this means you can:

AdManage Features That Make Spark Ads Easier to Manage

→ Bulk-launch with Spark codes: Instead of entering each creator's authorization code individually, AdManage lets you toggle into "Partnership/Spark Ads" mode and paste codes in bulk. You can batch-authorize up to 20 codes at once (TikTok's limit), then manage all campaign settings (naming conventions, UTMs, targeting, budgets) from one interface.

→ Preserve social proof when scaling winners: AdManage supports launching ads with existing Post IDs or Spark codes to keep engagement counts when scaling winners. When a Spark Ad performs well and you want to expand targeting or increase budget, AdManage ensures you're using the same post identity. No manual errors, no lost engagement.

→ Standardize workflows across platforms: If you're also running whitelisted ads on Meta (Facebook/Instagram using Post IDs), AdManage handles both platforms in the same bulk-launch workflow. You can manage TikTok Spark Ads and Facebook whitelisted ads side-by-side, applying consistent naming, UTM rules, and creative grouping across both. Learn more about using Google Sheets to manage Meta Ads for streamlined cross-platform operations.

→ Reduce launch time per variant: AdManage's homepage shows that launching 1,000 ads manually takes approximately 166.7 hours. With bulk templates and automation, that time compresses dramatically. For teams running creative testing at scale, this means you can launch hundreds of Spark Ad variations (testing different targeting, budgets, or creator content) in the time it would take to manually set up a few dozen. Calculate your potential time savings with their creative calculator tool.

→ Dashboard visibility and reporting: After launch, AdManage provides dashboards for creative performance and auditing. You can quickly identify which Spark Ads are driving the best results (CTR, CPA, engagement) and scale those while pausing underperformers. The reporting also shows time saved and ad-ops efficiency metrics, so you can quantify the impact of automation.

For agencies managing multiple clients or brands running influencer partnerships at scale, tools like AdManage turn Spark Ads from a manual headache into a repeatable, efficient process. You focus on strategy and creative selection. The platform handles the repetitive execution.

If you're launching fewer than a few dozen Spark Ads per month, TikTok's native Ads Manager might be sufficient. But if your strategy involves high-volume creative testing, multi-creator campaigns, or cross-platform management, AdManage eliminates the bottlenecks that slow down scale.

Why AdManage Works So Well for TikTok Spark Ads and Creator Partnerships

Most ad-ops tools either focus on optimization algorithms (trying to outsmart the platform's algorithm) or bundle everything into expensive enterprise suites. AdManage takes a different approach: it accelerates the execution layer. It's built for performance marketers who understand that success on TikTok comes from creative volume, rapid testing, and preserving what works.

AdManage integrates directly with Spark Ads workflows in several key ways:

Post ID and Spark Code Preservation: When you find a winning creative (whether it's a TikTok Spark Ad or a Facebook whitelisted post), AdManage lets you scale it while preserving the original post identity. This means all the likes, comments, and shares continue to accumulate on the same post, maximizing social proof. The platform has support for using Post IDs and Creative IDs for existing ads, which aligns perfectly with the Spark Ads model.

Partnership/Spark Ads Mode: AdManage's documentation shows a toggle specifically for Partnership/Spark Ads mode. You paste the authorization code provided by a creator, and AdManage handles the rest. For agencies running 10+ creator partnerships simultaneously, this eliminates the manual copy-paste errors and configuration drift that plague native Ads Manager workflows.

Template-Based Bulk Launching: AdManage uses reusable ad-copy templates, which means you can create a Spark Ad template (caption structure, CTA, targeting rules) and apply it across dozens of creator posts. This ensures consistency while still allowing customization per creator or audience segment. Explore ChatGPT-powered ad templates to accelerate your copywriting process.

Multi-Platform, Multi-Format Support: AdManage pushes the same asset set to Meta and TikTok, auto-groups creatives by aspect ratio, and launches as paused for review. If you're running Spark Ads on TikTok and whitelisted ads on Facebook, you manage both from one interface. This cross-platform capability matters because most performance marketers aren't optimizing TikTok in isolation. They're running integrated campaigns across channels, and AdManage treats that as the default workflow.

Naming, UTM, and Defaults Enforcement: Spark Ads still need proper tracking (UTMs, campaign naming conventions). AdManage enforces account-level UTM rules and dynamic naming conventions, so every Spark Ad you launch follows your schema. This prevents the tracking mess that happens when you're manually creating hundreds of ads and inevitably make typos or skip parameters.

Time Saved at Scale: AdManage's status page shows approximately 494,000 ads launched and 71,950 batches in the last 30 days, with 37,087 hours marked as time saved. That scale matters if you're running Spark Ads aggressively. The difference between launching 10 Spark Ads per week manually and launching 100 per week with automation is the difference between slow iteration and true creative testing velocity. Check the leaderboard to see how top users are using the platform.

Pricing Aligned with Volume: AdManage's pricing is fixed-fee (£499 per month for in-house, £999 for agencies, enterprise on request). There's no ad-spend tax. If you're spending

50,000 per month on TikTok Spark Ads, you pay the same as someone spending

5,000. This aligns incentives correctly: AdManage benefits when you launch more ads and test more creatives, not when you increase spend on the same creatives. Use their Facebook ad cost calculator to model your potential ROI.

Integration with Existing Workflows: AdManage integrates with Google Sheets (via Add-on), Google Drive, Zapier, and Make.com. If your creative approval process involves spreadsheets or your asset management lives in Drive, AdManage connects directly. For Spark Ads specifically, this means you can maintain a spreadsheet of creator codes, authorization dates, and campaign details, then launch directly from Sheets without jumping between tools. The platform also integrates with Frame.io for seamless creative workflow management.

The Complete AdManage Workflow for Scaling Spark Ads

If you're serious about scaling Spark Ads (or TikTok advertising in general), the workflow looks like this:

① Create or source high-quality TikTok content (organic posts, creator partnerships).

② Test it organically to identify winners (or use data from previous campaigns).

③ Authorize the best posts as Spark Ads (generate codes for creator content).

④ Use AdManage to bulk-launch Spark Ads with proper naming, UTMs, and targeting.

⑤ Monitor performance via AdManage's dashboards and TikTok's native analytics.

⑥ Scale winners by increasing budget or expanding targeting while preserving the original post ID.

⑦ Iterate quickly by launching new Spark Ads as new content proves itself.

This cycle is what separates brands that occasionally run a successful TikTok campaign from brands that consistently generate ROI from the platform. The limiting factor is usually execution speed, not creative ideas. AdManage removes that bottleneck.

Common Questions About TikTok Spark Ads (FAQ)

Do I need a TikTok Business Account to run Spark Ads?

Yes, you'll need a TikTok Business (or Creator) Account linked to your TikTok Ads Manager. If you're using your own posts, linking the account is how Ads Manager pulls in your TikToks. If you're only using creators' posts, you still need an Ads Manager account to run the ads, but the creators themselves just need to enable ad authorization in their app.

Will people know it's an ad?

Spark Ads carry the "Sponsored" label like any ad on TikTok, so users will know it's promoted. But because it's coming from a real TikTok account (not a generic advertiser name), it's generally less conspicuous. Many viewers might see it as just another TikTok video, especially if it's from an account they recognize or follow.

Always follow TikTok's guidelines for sponsored content disclosure. If a creator's post is used as an ad, it should be marked as branded content. The native format makes Spark Ads feel more organic and less intrusive than typical ads.

What happens if the original post owner edits or deletes the TikTok?

The Spark Ad is directly linked to the original TikTok. If that video is deleted, made private, or if the creator revokes the ad authorization, your Spark Ad stops running immediately. You'll get an error in Ads Manager and the ad won't deliver.

Minor edits (like changing a caption or cover) aren't possible once authorized, so those won't happen. The risk is mainly deletion or the code expiring. Coordinate with whoever controls the TikTok post to keep it live for the duration of your campaign.

Can I run Spark Ads if I don't have any TikTok posts of my own yet?

Absolutely. You can partner with a creator and use their content, effectively running Spark Ads even if your brand's TikTok profile is new or empty. Many brands that aren't active on TikTok use influencer posts as Spark Ads to test the platform.

Alternatively, you could post a few videos on a new account (even unlisted via Ads Only mode) and use those. Not having any profile presence means you might miss out on the follower growth benefit of Spark Ads. It's usually a good idea to have at least a basic profile set up, because some users will click through out of curiosity when they see your ad.

Are Spark Ads available for all campaign objectives?

Spark Ads are primarily used in In-Feed video placements (the standard ads that appear in the For You feed). They support most objectives like Reach, Traffic, Conversions, App Installs, etc., just as normal video ads do.

You cannot use Spark format for things like Branded Hashtag Challenges or other specialized TikTok campaign types. Spark Ads are mainly for feed video ads. They can be used in TikTok's Smart Performance campaigns and even some newer formats like Video Shopping Ads (with TikTok Shop). But as a rule of thumb, if you're creating a video ad on TikTok, you likely have the option to make it a Spark Ad.

Do Spark Ads work with third-party tools and TikTok Marketing Partners?

Yes. If you use third-party tools or official TikTok Marketing Partners (like social ad management platforms), they usually support Spark Ads. The workflow might even be easier. For example, AdManage allows you to input the Spark code and manage everything in one interface.

TikTok's Ads API supports Spark Ads creation, meaning programmatic or bulk tools can use it. Always follow the tool's documentation for the exact steps, as it may simplify some of the manual work.

Should I use Spark Ads for every TikTok campaign?

Not necessarily. Use them when it aligns with your goals. Spark Ads are ideal for brand-oriented campaigns, content amplification, and influencer collaborations where authenticity and engagement are top priorities.

If you have a very specific promotion or A/B test where you need dozens of ad creatives that you don't actually want on your profile (e.g., testing 50 variations of copy or different product shots), regular ads might suit that experiment better.

Many advertisers use a hybrid approach: Spark Ads for the big push with the best creative, and regular ads for pre-testing and highly controlled campaigns. Evaluate on a campaign-by-campaign basis. TikTok's algorithm and users tend to favor Spark Ads' style, so where feasible, it's often worth incorporating them.

Ready to Scale Your Spark Ads?

Spark Ads have fundamentally changed how brands approach TikTok advertising. By amplifying real TikTok posts instead of creating obvious ads, you tap into the platform's cultural dynamics while building lasting social proof. The format works because it respects how TikTok users actually engage with content.

If you're running Spark Ads manually right now, you know the workflow can get tedious fast. Juggling creator codes, authorization timelines, campaign settings, and tracking conventions across dozens of ads is error-prone and slow. That's exactly why AdManage exists.

AdManage was built for performance marketers who need to launch and test high volumes of TikTok ads (including Spark Ads) without spending hours on repetitive configuration. You get bulk-launch capabilities, Post ID preservation, partnership/Spark mode for creator content, and cross-platform support for TikTok and Meta. Fixed-fee pricing (£499 in-house, £999 agency) means you're not penalized for scaling your ad spend.

Whether you're managing influencer partnerships at scale, testing hundreds of creative variations, or just trying to preserve social proof when you boost winning content, AdManage handles the execution layer so you can focus on strategy.

Start your 30-day risk-free trial with AdManage and see how much time (and budget) you can save by automating your Spark Ads workflow. Or book a demo to see the platform in action with your specific use case. If you're serious about TikTok performance marketing, the execution bottleneck is costing you more than you realize.

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Cedric Yarish

🚀 Co-Founder @ AdManage.ai | Helping the world’s best marketers launch Meta ads 10x faster I’m Cedric Yarish, a performance marketer turned founder. At AdManage.ai, we’re building the fastest way to launch, test, and scale ads on Meta. In the last month alone, our platform helped clients launch over 250,000 ads—at scale, with precision, and without the usual bottlenecks. With 9+ years of experience and over $10M in optimized ad spend, I’ve helped brands like Photoroom, Nextdoor, Salesforce, and Google scale through creative testing and automation. Now, I’m focused on product-led growth—combining engineering and strategy to grow admanage.ai

What Are Spark Ads on TikTok and How Do They Work?