TLDR 👩‍🏫
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Be honest: can you tell the difference between a Spark Ad and a non-Spark Ad?
Chances are you’re seeing more UGC ads on your TikTok feed than ever before.
That’s because TikTok Spark Ads provide massive upside to brands and creators. Brands get to piggyback on creators' high engagement and those creators get paid.
It’s a win-win!
Still, it’s not always easy to distinguish between the types of creator-based ads across TikTok.
While they might look similar at a glance, the setup process and potential performance of TikTok creator ads are night and day. That’s why brands need to make the distinction.
This post digs into the differences and benefits of Spark Ads vs. non-Spark ads in plain English!
Skip to Section 👇5 Key Differences Between TikTok Spark Ads and Non-Spark Ads Are TikTok Spark Ads More Effective Than Non-Spark Ads? |
Given the ever-changing types of TikTok ads, there’s a lot we could talk about. But let’s keep it simple!
Below is a basic breakdown of how Spark Ads are different from non-Spark creator ads.
Note: By “creator ads,” we mean sponsored videos that feature actual people promoting products.
Compare this to brand-generated ad creatives, dark posts or content from UGC creators which must be uploaded by brands themselves. These posts are “creator ads” and technically look the part but you’ll often notice a big difference in the performance of a true Spark Ad.
Sparked videos resemble organic TikTok UGC except for a “Sponsored” or"Paid Partnership" label. This is the easiest way to tell the difference between Spark Ads and non-Spark ads.
This includes creative details like captions, descriptions or video length. That said, brands can promote the same video multiple times. Granted you have the appropriate content usage rights.
This is another big distinction. Spark Ad video codes are creators’ way to permit brands to run their content as ads. Brands must obtain a unique authorization code for every video they promote.
Most non-Spark ads give brands free reign over campaign duration. In most cases, how long you run your TikTok ads is tied to your goals and budget.
However, Spark Ads are different because your campaign duration is tied to your authorization code. Creators can set their ad authorization from anywhere from 7 days to 365 days. TikTok defaults this duration to 30 days.
The short answer? In most cases, yes!
Spark Ads are synonymous with “creator ads” but there are also examples of brands running ads from their @handles using dark posts or user-generated content that look like Spark Ads.
And hey, that’s totally fine! We're all for more creators in ads no matter how they get there.
But the high performance of legit Spark Ads illustrates how the format outshines other UGC ads.
Because while brands can present their ads as actual UGC, consumers can tell the difference.
Shoppers want to see products in the hands of real people. Since Spark Ads are tied to actual TikTok accounts and authentic creators, shoppers feel more confident in making purchases.
Peek the comments section of any given Spark Ad and chances are you’ll see enthusiastic shoppers who genuinely want to learn more. Done right, sponsored content can earn high engagement rates.
For reference, check out the Spark Ad example below which earned hundreds of thousands of likes.
The numbers don’t lie, either. Beyond what we’ve seen firsthand, TikTok has consistently been hyping up the high performance of Spark Ads vs. non-Spark ads.
Spark Ads might seem like a cheat code for better ad performance on TikTok.
The reality, though? The benefits of Spark Ads and why they work so well are pretty straightforward:
Brands aren’t the only ones that benefit from the Spark Ads. A few notable wins for running Spark Ads on the creator side:
Here’s a quick video explaining how Spark Ads work for creators (and how Statusphere can help creators get more collabs, too):
Again, a key difference between Spark Ads and non-Spark ads is the expectation to compensate creators for providing access to their content.
For example, brands that run Spark Ads with Statusphere’s platform can purchase instant TikTok authorization codes with rates set by creators. This eliminates back-and-forth negotiations while empowering brands to run ads ASAP and keeps creators happy.
There’s a reason why more and more brands are rushing to run Spark Ads.
Spoilers: they work! Like, really well.
One of the biggest benefits of Spark Ads vs. non-Spark ads is the speedy setup process. Given that ads are based on actual videos, brands save countless hours typically spent editing ad creatives.
That said, getting Spark Ad codes from more than a handful of creators at a time can be a time-sink if you’re trying to manage the process manually.
And that’s why we built instant Spark Ad codes into our software.
With Statusphere’s micro-influencer platform, brands can turn their top influencer content into Spark Ads in just two clicks. You can purchase ad codes directly from creators based on their personal rates.
This hands-off process likewise makes it easier to scale TikTok ads by saving brands time bouncing between platforms. With all of your content and ads in one place, you have a constant pulse on the performance of your influencer marketing strategy.
Want to learn more about how our software works? Get in touch with our team of experts to see how we can scale your influencer campaigns and Spark Ads in a fraction of the time.