How Much Does It Cost To Promote on TikTok?

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Nov 01, 2024

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TikTok’s massive popularity and large user base make it a great platform to promote your brand, product, or service. You must consider several factors when running this type of promotion. One important consideration is the cost. But how much does it cost to promote on TikTok?

There are several ways to run promotions on this social media platform. Besides using in-feed ads, you can use hashtag challenges or spark ads. Their costs vary depending on the duration and your target. 

Read on to determine how much these promotions cost!

A laptop displays the TikTok ads page on the TikTok website.

6 Different Methods of Promotion on TikTok

Several promotion formats allow people to advertise on TikTok in different ways. Each of these formats offers some degree of creative freedom. Hence, you must find one that suits your needs and your budget. Here are six types to consider.

1. TikTok In-Feed Ads

In-feed ads appear just like organic content. They are available to users as they scroll through their For You Page (FYP) or For You Feed. These ads are usually short and interesting and perform well in terms of engagement.

Users can actually engage with them by liking, commenting, and sharing, just like regular posts. You can create in-feed ads that are five to 60 seconds long. Yet, experts recommend you keep them within 20 to 35 seconds.

They are effective options because TikTok allows you to add a prompt that takes viewers to an external landing page. These ads should be your first choice if you want to boost your brand recognition. Consider combining them with user-generated content (UGC) for the best results.

2. TikTok Spark Ads

Spark ads are similar to in-feed ads. However, it involves brands turning organic videos from their accounts or other creators’ accounts into ads. Hence, these ads look like videos you’d normally see on your FYP.

Spark ads allow brands to reach their target audiences by riding on different creators’ existing audiences. Usually, brands work with influencers to reach a larger audience. The brands present these ads from the influencer’s account rather than their own.

At first glance, viewers may not realize that such posts are adverts. They are great for brands that prefer to combine their ads with organic videos effectively. Use these ads if you’re selling a physical product or just looking to boost your engagement.

3. TikTok Search Ads

Search ads are quite new to TikTok. Viewers see them when they run search queries. You can create these ads using your existing content and place them beside organic content in the search results.

The platform serves these ads across different positions in the search results like organic content. While they appear side-by-side with organic content, they have a visible Sponsored label. Yet, they appear based on search relevance, user intent, and user behavior. 

These ads are great if you’re focused on building awareness and boosting engagement for your brand. They are also useful for targeting viewers who have shown intent to purchase from your brand.

4. TikTok Shopping Ads

TikTok shopping ads are shoppable videos that viewers see as they browse their FYP and review search results. They can visit the shopping page by clicking the product link or product card in the bottom left corner of the screen.

You can also send potential shoppers to the TikTok shop, where they purchase the product using your call-to-action (CTA). TikTok lets you target specific demographics, interests, video interactions, and other behaviors when creating these ads.

Shoppers can purchase four to twenty items from a single promotion. Hence, brands can display multiple products and offers in a single video to reduce costs and boost results. Shopping ads are great for products that require video demonstration.

5. TikTok Carousel Ads

While you can also serve carousel ads in the feed, TikTok lets you add up to 35 product shots. This way, viewers can swipe to view them at their own pace. Yet, you can either create standard ads or video shopping ads when setting up a carousel.

Video shopping ads are your best bet if you’re trying to drive product sales. The standard option is ideal for boosting traffic and awareness. You can also add clickable links or a Swipe-left prompt that takes you to the landing page.

6. Branded Hashtag Challenges

Branded hashtag challenges are among TikTok’s ad options. Brands sponsor these challenges to create advertising campaigns that are visible to their target audiences.

When users click on branded hashtags, TikTok takes them to a landing page with the brand’s details. These include the logo, website link, description of the challenge, and videos that have used the hashtag.

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How Much Do TikTok Ads Cost?

TikTok ads campaigns cost a minimum of $500. Beyond this minimum budget, you can decide how much you spend on a campaign depending on your goals. Also, you can purchase different ad formats using the platform’s bidding system.

Overall, the cost of TikTok ads depends on your industry, goals, target audience, and bidding strategy. The app’s advertising model allows you to control your spending. Here are four bidding models for ads and their costs.

1. TikTok Ads Cost per Click (CPC)

A cost-per-click (CPC) bid is the amount you pay for each click. This counts each time someone clicks on the ad. This bidding method is great if you’re trying to increase conversions.

The minimum CPC on TikTok is $0.02, while the average is $1. However, the exact figure depends on the ad format, your competition, and the industry. Your target location and bidding strategy also determine the exact cost. 

2. TikTok Ads Cost per View (CPV)

The cost per view is the amount you bid to pay per video view on your promoted content. When a user watches your video for over six seconds or clicks, it counts as a view. If your goal is to boost video views, CPV bidding is preferable.

The minimum CPV for TikTok ads ranges is $0.01. The average falls between $0.10 to $0.30. This figure can vary based on the ad format, preferred location, and target audience. The ad quality also determines how much CPV will cost.

3. TikTok Cost per Thousand Impressions (CPM)

A CPM bid is your proposed cost for a thousand impressions on your TikTok ads. The app counts an impression when your ad appears on a user’s feed, regardless of whether they watch the video. This type of bidding is excellent for increasing brand awareness.

While the minimum CPM for TikTok ads is $0.50, the average is $10. However, this figure can go as high as $50, especially for large-scale brand campaigns and high-demand audience groups. The ad format, target audience, goals, and location determine the exact cost. 

4. TikTok Optimized Cost per Thousand Impressions (oCPM)

An oCPM is how much you bid for a thousand impressions while targeting the viewers with higher conversion potential. If you’re trying to expand your reach and boost conversions at the same time, this bidding strategy is effective. 

The minimum oCPM is $4, while the average is $8. Since this strategy focuses on delivering ads to viewers more likely to take action, it is usually more expensive. However, it creates better and more precise results.

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What Is a Good CPM for TikTok Ads?

A good CPM for TikTok ads typically ranges between $10 to $20. While the best figure varies based on your goals, other factors also determine the kind of results you get. For instance, you may require a different CPM for different ad formats and target audiences. 

If you’re targeting greater brand awareness and reach, a CPM within this range is ideal. However, this figure can be higher for ad formats like branded hashtag challenges, as it sometimes exceeds $50.

What another person considers a good CPM may not be ideal for you. If your campaign targets better conversion, consider the optimized version. While it may cost more, your return on ad spend may also be better comparatively. 

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How Much Does It Cost To Promote on TikTok With Branded Hashtag Challenges?

On average, branded hashtag challenges cost $150,000 to $200,000 for a six-day promotion. This fee covers promotion across various app placements. Again, these challenges cost more because they effectively engage users and encourage participation. 

While running branded hashtag challenges, adding in-feed ads can help enhance your results. However, challenges create brand awareness, prompting user-generated content. But the overall results depend on how you run the TikTok ad campaign.

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Does TikTok Promote Work?

Yes, TikTok Promote works if you use it correctly. You can use the tool for the best results by clearly spelling out your goals and tactics. But whether it works for you depends on your target. 

Here are five benefits you can get from promoting your brand, product, or service on the app:

  1. Get more views on your content: While you can get more TikTok views using organic strategies, it doesn’t always work. In some cases, paying to promote yourself works better for you. 
  2. Benefit from organic content: Setting up a TikTok ad campaign from scratch can be tricky. Fortunately, the app’s Promote feature allows you to turn organic videos into ads with a few clicks.
  3. Get audience insights: TikTok promotion can help you learn about your audience. By obtaining information about your posts’ performances, you can tailor your ads and content to suit your viewers better. 
  4. Get more comprehensive features: TikTok Promote offers several extra features for brand owners. For instance, you can boost your brand’s content from other creators to increase views. You can also purchase a guaranteed number of views. 
  5. Cost benefits: TikTok promotion allows you to spend a minimum of $3 daily. Hence, promoting your content is affordable since you pay small sums for great results.

A person writes "Rules" on a transparent surface.

TikTok Promotion Rules

There are several requirements and restrictions around promoting content on TikTok. Since this feature makes your videos available to more users, the app outlines precautions and standards. Here are the rules you must adhere to:

  • You must be 18 years or older to run promotions on TikTok.
  • You must comply with TikTok’s terms of service, community guidelines, and advertising policies.
  • You can only promote public videos.
  • Only promote videos with original sounds or sounds available for commercial purposes. For instance, you can use sounds from the TikTok music library
  • Government, political parties, and politicians’ accounts cannot use the TikTok promotion feature.
  • TikTok does not permit the promotion of political, tobacco, and nicotine content. 

To continue promoting your content or brand on TikTok, you must follow these rules. These rules ensure that promoted content is appropriate and meets legal standards. 

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How To Minimize the Cost of TikTok Ads

Advertising on TikTok offers a high level of flexibility regarding your budget and strategies. For this reason, you can minimize advertising costs while maintaining a good ROAS in several ways. Here are three methods of optimizing your campaign.

1. Analyze Your Campaign’s Performance

Trial and error can help you discover what works best for you. In this case, determine your most efficient promotion method by testing several versions of the same ad. From there, invest the rest of your budget into the best-performing method. 

However, measuring your campaign’s performance should be a continuous activity. Ultimately, stick to the style and promotion technique that best fits your target audience. Use your performance information from the TikTok ads manager.

2. Use TikTok’s Optimized Bidding Strategies

TikTok has two different bidding strategies when it comes to advertising. These are the Cost Cap and Maximum Delivery strategies. The first helps advertisers enjoy conversions without paying attention to the budget. 

On the other hand, the Maximum Delivery option offers a spend-based approach that maximizes your budget. This option works better for you if you have a specific spending threshold. 

3. Create UGC-Style Ads

While ads appear on the FYP like regular content, users can quickly differentiate between them. If you’re looking for good results with minimal spending, the secret is making your ads appear as organic as possible. 

Overly scripted videos stand out, causing viewers to skip them immediately. Preferably, create ads that appear like user-generated content. Consider using an amateur style and avoid refining your content too much. 

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Grow Your TikTok Profile With High Social

Promotions are effective for reaching more people and boosting sales on TikTok. However, you must not break the bank to get good results on the social media platform. Organic growth is typically preferable since it helps build a loyal community.

But growing your brand this way can be challenging, especially if you’re starting. That is why High Social, our TikTok growth agency, helps users attract real, organic followers. We can assist you in building a strong follower community using AI-targeted growth. 

We target your preferred followers based on location, age, and gender. You won’t need to worry about how much does it cost to promote on TikTok. 

Sign up and start your TikTok growth now!

FAQ

After covering the cost of TikTok promotions, let’s answer some commonly asked questions!

Do you pay to promote on TikTok?

You can pay to promote your brand, product, services, or content on TikTok. The platform offers several paid promotion options, including in-feed ads, branded hashtag challenges, and shopping ads. How much you pay varies based on your goals, target audience, and ad formats.

Can you promote your TikTok for free?

You can promote your TikTok account for free by using organic growth strategies. These include posting high-quality content, engaging with other users, joining trending challenges, and using trending hashtags. 

Also, collaborate with other creators and promote your profile on other platforms. 

Is TikTok promotion worth it?

TikTok promotion is worth it if you’ve done your due diligence before starting a campaign. Since the platform allows you to reach larger audiences, you can get significant returns on your investment.

TikTok Tips