TikTok has added e-commerce features with the goal of becoming a super app, allowing users to experience shopping combined with entertainment. TikTok also launched advertising formats to support businesses with different marketing goals. In particular, TikTok shopping ads were launched by TikTok as an optimal solution to promote users to visit the store and products more. This ad helps optimize product display, increase order conversion.

This type of ad has 3 forms with Video - Catalog - Live shopping ads, giving you a variety of choices. In this article, we will point out the benefits of using TikTok shopping ads, and related information so you can easily set up this ad. The end of the article is the successful examples of TikTok video shopping ads.

What are TikTok Shopping ads?

TikTok Shopping ads are a form of advertising on the TikTok platform that allow brands and businesses to sell products directly through the app. These ads combine the social, creative nature of TikTok videos with seamless e-commerce features, enabling users to discover, explore, and purchase products without leaving the app.

Here are some key features of TikTok Shopping ads:

1. Product Showcase: Brands can showcase their products in videos or live streams, and users can click on the products to view more details or make a purchase.

2. Shoppable Videos: Creators and brands can tag products within their video posts, making it easy for users to learn more and buy products directly through the app.

3. Live Shopping: This feature allows creators and brands to host live shopping events where viewers can purchase products in real-time as they watch the livestream.

4. In-Feed Shopping Ads: These are sponsored ads that appear in users’ For You feed, allowing them to swipe through and interact with the products being promoted, including making purchases.

5. Integration with E-commerce Platforms: TikTok Shopping integrates with platforms like Shopify, enabling easy setup for merchants to connect their product catalogs to TikTok and run shopping ads.

Benefits of using TikTok Shopping Ads

TikTok Shopping Ads provide businesses with a powerful tool to connect with their target audience and drive sales. Here are the key benefits:

Simplify the Shopping Experience

TikTok Shopping Ads streamline the purchasing process by integrating product discovery, interaction, and checkout seamlessly into the platform. This creates a smooth, enjoyable shopping journey for users, reducing barriers to purchase.

Maximize the Potential of Your Product Catalog

By leveraging formats like Catalog Listing Ads, TikTok Shopping Ads allow you to showcase your entire product range efficiently. This ensures greater visibility for your offerings, helping you reach more potential customers.

Engage Shoppers at Every Stage of the Buying Journey

TikTok Shopping Ads are designed to meet customers wherever they are in their purchasing process, whether they’re discovering a product for the first time or ready to make a purchase. This adaptability boosts engagement and drives conversions.

Boost Performance and Optimization Opportunities

TikTok Shopping Ads provide advanced tools and analytics to track ad performance in real time. These insights enable businesses to optimize campaigns for better results, improving ROI and scaling success.

By utilizing TikTok Shopping Ads, brands can tap into the platform’s highly engaged audience, delivering an interactive and effective shopping experience that drives sales and fosters customer loyalty.

3 types of TikTok Shopping Ads

TikTok shopping ads are divided into 3 types including video shopping ads, catalog shopping ads and live shopping ads. Each type will have different characteristics and ways of working, only when you understand them clearly can you apply them appropriately and effectively.

Video Shopping Ads

Video Shopping Ads integrate products directly into TikTok’s For You feed through dynamic, engaging videos. These ads automatically sync product information like names, prices, and images from your product catalog, making them highly efficient. With a “Shop Now” button, users can seamlessly navigate to product pages or checkout. This format is ideal for brands aiming to blend entertainment with shopping to boost product discovery and conversions rate.

Catalog Listing Ads

Catalog Listing Ads allow businesses to display their entire product catalog without the need for creating video content. TikTok uses data from your catalog to showcase products in shopping-related areas, such as the TikTok Shopping Tab. This type of ad is particularly suitable for e-commerce brands with extensive product ranges, offering a cost-effective and scalable way to reach potential customers.

Live Shopping Ads

Live Shopping Ads focus on promoting real-time shopping events. These ads support live broadcasts where products are featured directly on the screen, enabling users to explore details and make purchases instantly. With interactive features like real-time comments and reactions, this format fosters immediate engagement and encourages impulse buying. It’s an excellent choice for brands looking to create direct connections with their audience while driving immediate sales.

By leveraging these TikTok Shopping Ad formats, brands can effectively tap into TikTok’s interactive and fast-paced environment to reach their target audience and boost revenue.

Video shopping ads TikTok ad spec

For TikTok In-Feed Ads, the most common video ad format, the recommended aspect ratios are 9:16, 1:1, or 16:9, with minimum resolutions of 540x960px, 640x640px, or 960x540px. Videos can range from 5 to 60 seconds in length, but shorter durations of 9 to 15 seconds are advised for better engagement.

Accepted video file formats include .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, and .avi, with a recommended minimum bitrate of 516 kbps. The maximum file size is 500MB. Profile images linked to these ads should have a 1:1 aspect ratio and be in .jpg, .jpeg, or .png format, with a file size not exceeding 50KB.

Brand names should adhere to character limits: 2–20 Latin letters or 1–10 Asian characters, while app names can include 4–40 Latin letters or 2–20 Asian characters. Note that spaces, punctuation, and emojis count as characters. Descriptions can be between 1–100 Latin letters or 1–50 Asian characters, but special characters like "{ }" or "#" and emojis are not supported.

How to set up TikTok Shopping Ads

Setting up TikTok Shopping Ads is a straightforward process that allows you to showcase your products and drive sales effectively. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to TikTok Ads Manager: Start by accessing your TikTok Ads Manager account.

2. Create a New Ad Campaign: Click on the “Create Ad” button to begin.

3. Choose Product Sales as Your Objective: Set "Product Sales" as your campaign objective to align with your e-commerce goals.

4. Select TikTok Shop as the Product Source: Link your TikTok Shop to use it as the source of products for your ads.

5. Configure Campaign Settings: Adjust campaign parameters such as budget, schedule, and targeting preferences. Click Continue to proceed.

6. Name Your Ad Group: Enter an identifiable name for your ad group.

7. Select Shop Ads Type: Choose Video Shopping Ads as your preferred ad format.

8. Complete Ad Group Settings: Set targeting details, placements, and bidding strategy for the ad group. Click Continue to proceed.

Add Products and Videos

9. Add Products: In the Product section, click +Add Product to select up to 20 active products for your ad.

10. Add Videos: In the Video section, you can add up to 50 videos per ad group. For larger campaigns, create multiple ad groups to use additional videos.
    
    

    • Choose existing posts from your TikTok account or upload new videos.

    • If a TikTok account is missing, go to your Business Center, add the account with video and publishing permissions, and assign permissions to relevant members.

11. Finalize and Submit: Once all settings are complete, review your ad and click Submit to launch it.

By following these steps, you can efficiently create TikTok Shopping Ads to reach your target audience and drive sales through engaging, interactive content.

TikTok Video Shopping Ads Examples

Some successful cases of implementing TikTok video shopping ads may inspire you in your future promotional strategies. These brands have been very flexible in combining shopping ads on TikTok to achieve the highest efficiency.

1. Influencer or Creator Partnerships

• Example: A popular beauty influencer creates a tutorial video showcasing a new makeup product. While demonstrating how to use it, they tag the product in the video. Viewers can click on the product tags to purchase the item directly.

• Key Features:

  • Product tags in the video that allow viewers to click and shop.

  • Direct link to the product page for an easy purchase process.

2. Fashion Try-Ons

• Example: A clothing brand collaborates with a fashion creator who posts a video showing off different outfits. As they model each item, the clothes are tagged with product details (e.g., size, color, and price).

• Key Features:

  • Viewers can tap on the video to see specific product information and buy the items shown.

  • Style inspiration combined with direct shopping access.

3. Home Goods or Decor Demos

• Example: A home decor brand creates a video showing how their products (e.g., furniture or accessories) can enhance a living space. The video could include a before-and-after shot of a room transformation, with products tagged.

• Key Features:

  • Demonstrating real-life use of products within the content.

  • Direct links to buy items featured in the video.

4. Food and Beverage Promotions

• Example: A food brand posts a video showcasing a recipe using their product. The product is tagged in the video, and viewers can tap the tag to buy the product or find out more.

• Key Features:

  • Interactive product tags in the video.

  • Clear call-to-action to buy the product used in the recipe.

5. Tech Product Unboxings

• Example: A tech company posts a video of an influencer unboxing and reviewing a new gadget. As the creator highlights features of the product, it’s tagged with a direct link to purchase.

• Key Features:

  • In-depth product review within a popular format (unboxing or review).

  • Direct shopping feature tied to the unboxing experience.

6. Fitness Equipment Demonstrations

• Example: A fitness brand posts a workout video featuring their new home gym equipment, showing how to use it effectively. The equipment featured is tagged with links to purchase.

• Key Features:

  • Demonstrating product use in real-time.

  • Engaging, action-oriented content that drives interest in the product.

How TikTok Video Shopping Ads Work:

1. Product Tags: Creators and brands can tag products directly within the video. These tags link to the product page on the brand's website or a supported e-commerce platform (e.g., Shopify).

2. Seamless Integration: The tags don’t disrupt the viewing experience—they blend with the content and encourage users to explore and purchase the product.

3. Call to Action: Many TikTok Shopping ads include a clear CTA such as “Shop Now” or “Learn More” that guides users to purchase the featured products.

These examples highlight how TikTok Video Shopping Ads are designed to be interactive, entertaining, and easy for users to shop from, all while keeping the content organic and aligned with the TikTok experience.

Conclusion

Shopping ads TikTok offers the perfect solution for businesses that want to optimize product display and increase order conversion. This ad format gives users a seamless shopping experience right on the TikTok platform without being interrupted by redirecting to the TikTok shop.

There are 3 types of TikTok shopping ads including video shopping ads, catalog shopping ads and live shopping ads. Depending on the characteristics of your business, you can choose 1 of these 3 types or try combining TikTok shopping ads into a plan.

Don't forget to refer to the examples of successful shopping ads that we provide. These are successful cases that can inspire you.

If you have difficulty optimizing TikTok advertising campaigns, don't hesitate to contact us. We have more than 8 years of experience in the advertising field and can support you with TikTok ads.