ads-tiktok

name	ads-tiktok
description	TikTok Ads deep analysis: creative-first strategy, safe zone compliance, tracking, bidding, campaign structure, TikTok Shop, Smart+ campaigns, creative diversity for retrieval. Use when user says TikTok Ads, TikTok marketing, TikTok Shop, Spark Ads, Smart+, or USDS.
user-invokable	false
tested_date	"2026-05-17T00:00:00.000Z"
tested_with	claude-code v2.x

TikTok Ads Deep Analysis

Process

1. Collect TikTok Ads data (Ads Manager export, Pixel/Events API status)
2. Read ads/references/tiktok-audit.md for full 28-check audit
3. Read ads/references/benchmarks.md for TikTok-specific benchmarks
4. Read ads/references/platform-specs.md for creative specifications
5. Read ads/references/scoring-system.md for weighted scoring algorithm
6. Evaluate all applicable checks as PASS, WARNING, or FAIL
7. Calculate TikTok Ads Health Score (0-100)
8. Generate findings report with action plan

What to Analyze

Creative Quality (30% weight)

• ≥6 creatives per ad group (T05) [Critical]
• All video 9:16 vertical 1080x1920 (T06) [Critical]
• Native-looking content, not corporate/polished (T07)
• Hook in first 1-2 seconds (T08)
• No creative active >7 days with declining CTR (T09)
• Spark Ads tested: ~3% CTR vs ~2% standard (T10)
• TikTok Shop integration for e-commerce (T20)
• Video Shopping Ads tested (T21)
• Caption SEO with high-intent keywords (T22)
• Trending audio used (sound-on platform) (T23)
• Custom CTA button, not default (T24)
• Safe zone compliance: X:40-940, Y:150-1470 (T25)

Technical Setup (25% weight)

• TikTok Pixel installed and firing on all pages (T01)
• Events API + ttclid passback active (T02)
• Events API Gateway evaluated for server-side integration
• Standard events configured (ViewContent, AddToCart, Purchase, CompleteRegistration)
• Advanced matching parameters configured

Bidding & Budget (20% weight)

• Bid strategy matches goal: Lowest Cost for volume, Cost Cap for efficiency (T11)
• Daily budget ≥50x target CPA per ad group (T12)
• Learning phase: ≥50 conversions per 7 days per ad group (T13)
• No edits during learning phase (resets learning)

Structure & Settings (15% weight)

• Separate campaigns for prospecting vs retargeting (T03)
• Smart+ campaigns tested: 42% adoption, 1.41-1.67 ROAS (T04)
• Search Ads Toggle enabled (20% conversion uplift combined with In-Feed; 57% of users use search) (T14)
• Placement selection reviewed: TikTok, Pangle, etc. (T15)
• Dayparting aligned with audience activity (T16)

Performance (10% weight)

• CTR ≥1.0% for in-feed ads (T17)
• CPA within target, 3x Kill Rule applies (T18)
• Average video watch time ≥6 seconds (T19)

Creative-First Strategy

TikTok is a creative-first platform. Unlike Google/Meta where targeting and bidding drive most performance, TikTok success depends primarily on creative quality.

What Makes a TikTok Ad Work

• Native feel: looks like organic content, not a polished ad
• Sound-on: 93% of TikTok is consumed with sound (never run silent)
• Fast hooks: capture attention in 1-2 seconds or lose the viewer
• Trend alignment: use trending sounds, formats, and editing styles
• UGC style: user-generated content outperforms studio content
• Vertical only: 9:16 is non-negotiable (no letterboxed horizontal)

Creative Testing Framework

1. Test 3-5 hooks per winning concept
2. Rotate creatives every 5-7 days (fatigue sets in fast)
3. Kill underperformers after 3 days if CTR <0.5%
4. Scale winners by duplicating (not increasing budget on same ad)
5. Repurpose winning concepts, not assets (fresh footage, same angle)

Safe Zone

All critical text, logos, and CTAs must be within the safe zone:

┌──────────────────────┐
│   UNSAFE (status)    │  Y: 0-150px
├──────────────────────┤
│                 │UNSA│
│                 │FE  │
│   SAFE ZONE     │icon│  X: 40-940px
│   900×1320px    │    │  Y: 150-1470px
│                 │    │
│                 │    │  Right 140px: like/comment/share
├──────────────────────┤
│   UNSAFE (caption)   │  Y: 1470-1920px
└──────────────────────┘

TikTok Shop Assessment

If e-commerce, evaluate TikTok Shop setup:

• Product catalog connected and synced
• Product detail pages complete (images, descriptions, reviews)
• Video Shopping Ads linking to in-app checkout
• Shop tab on TikTok profile configured
• Affiliate program active (if applicable)
• Shop CVR benchmark: >10% (significantly higher than standard landing page)

Smart+ Campaigns

• 42% of advertisers have adopted Smart+ (TikTok's automated campaign type)
• Average ROAS: 1.41-1.67
• Modular control (2025): Lock targeting, creative, budget, or placement independently
• Best for: e-commerce with product feed, app installs
• Evaluate: is the advertiser testing Smart+ alongside manual campaigns?
• Compare Smart+ performance vs manual for same objectives
• Check which modules are locked vs automated

GMV Max (Shop Ads)

Mandatory for all Shop Ads since July 2025. Evaluate:

• GMV Max campaign active for all TikTok Shop products
• Product feed quality and completeness
• Shop Ads performance vs standard in-feed campaigns

Symphony Automation

AI-powered creative variations generated from product URLs.

• Evaluate whether account uses Symphony-generated vs original creatives
• Assess impact on creative refresh cadence (Symphony can accelerate testing)
• Monitor quality of AI-generated variations vs manual creatives

TikTok Context

Setting	Value
CPM	40-60% cheaper than Meta
Spark Ads CTR	~3% (vs ~2% standard)
Smart+ adoption	42% of advertisers
Smart+ ROAS	1.41-1.67
Shop CVR	>10%
Available markets	11 countries (US, UK, ID, MY, PH, SG, TH, VN, JP, KR, BR)

Key Thresholds

Metric	Pass	Warning	Fail
CTR (in-feed)	≥1.0%	0.5-1.0%	<0.5%
Creatives per ad group	≥6	3-5	<3
Video watch time	≥6s	3-6s	<3s
Learning conversions	≥50/week	30-50/week	<30/week
Daily budget	≥50x CPA	20-49x CPA	<20x CPA
Creative age (declining)	<7 days	7-14 days	>14 days

Output

TikTok Ads Health Score

TikTok Ads Health Score: XX/100 (Grade: X)

Creative Quality:  XX/100  ████████░░  (30%)
Technical Setup:   XX/100  ██████████  (25%)
Bidding & Budget:  XX/100  ███████░░░  (20%)
Structure:         XX/100  █████░░░░░  (15%)
Performance:       XX/100  ████████░░  (10%)

Deliverables

• TIKTOK-ADS-REPORT.md: Full 28-check findings with pass/warning/fail
• Creative scorecard per ad (hook quality, safe zone, native feel)
• Smart+ vs manual performance comparison
• TikTok Shop readiness assessment (if e-commerce)
• Quick Wins sorted by impact