How to Create a Spark Ad on TikTok

The best ads on TikTok don't feel like ads at all - they look and feel just like the native, chaotic, and creative content that makes the platform so addictive. Spark Ads are the key to unlocking this power for your brand by letting you boost existing organic posts, whether they're from your own account or a creator's. This guide will walk you through exactly what Spark Ads are, why they work so well, and the step-by-step process for launching your first one.

What Are TikTok Spark Ads, and Why Do They Matter?

In short, a Spark Ad is a native ad format that uses an existing, organic TikTok post as its creative. Instead of uploading a polished video that lives only in the Ads Manager and screams "I'm an advertisement," you're putting ad spend behind a real TikTok video from a real TikTok account.

When a user sees a Spark Ad, they can tap on the creator's username or swipe left to view their profile, just like any other organic post. They can also tap the music icon to see what sound was used and create their own video with it. All the likes, comments, shares, and follows generated by the ad campaign are directly attributed to the original organic post, adding long-term value and social proof.

The Magic of Spark Ads: Authenticity

Traditional "Non-Spark" or In-Feed ads on TikTok are still effective, but they stand apart from the user's organic "For You" Page experience. They show up with a generic display name from your brand and clicking them takes the user out of the app to your website. They're clearly a commercial break.

Spark Ads erase that line. They seamlessly blend into the feed, promoting content that's already resonating with users. This inherent authenticity leads to much higher engagement and better performance because users are more likely to trust and interact with something that feels like it belongs on the platform.

Key Benefits at a Glance

• Leverage Proven Content: You don't have to guess what creative will perform well. You can find a video that's already getting organic traction and pour gasoline on the fire.
• Boost Organic & Paid in Unison: All the paid engagement (views, likes, comments) sticks to the original video permanently, increasing its social proof and boosting its organic performance long after the ad budget runs out.
• Amplify User-Generated & Creator Content: You can work with influencers and boost their brilliant user-generated content (UGC) directly. This taps into their credibility and provides powerful, third-party validation for your product.
• Experience Higher Engagement, Lower Costs: Because they feel native, Spark Ads often see higher completion rates and click-through rates, leading to a better return on your ad spend compared to traditional ad formats.

How to Create a Spark Ad: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process for setting up a Spark Ad involves two primary phases: generating an authorization code from the TikTok mobile app for a specific video, and then using that code within the TikTok Ads Manager to set up your campaign. We'll break down the two main scenarios you'll encounter.

Scenario 1: Using Your Brand’s Own Organic Posts

This is the most common and straightforward way to get started. You've posted a video on your brand's TikTok account that's performing well, and you want to give it a paid boost to reach a wider audience.

Step 1: Choose Your Winning Video

Before you do anything else, pick the right video to promote. Scroll through your brand’s TikTok feed and look for posts with strong performance signals:

• Strong early engagement (high likes, comments, and shares within the first few hours).
• A high comment-to-like ratio, which indicates the content is genuinely sparking conversation.
• A good "hook" in the first 1-3 seconds that stops people from scrolling.
• Content that clearly aligns with your campaign goal (e.g., a product demonstration for a conversion campaign or a funny trend for a brand awareness campaign).

Step 2: Generate the Ad Code in the TikTok App

This step creates a unique "permission slip" that allows the TikTok Ads Manager to access and use your organic post as an ad creative.

1. Open the TikTok app and navigate to the video you want to promote on your profile.
2. Tap the three dots (...) on the right side of the screen.
3. Look for and tap on "Ad settings." (It usually has a flame icon).
4. Toggle on the "Ad authorization" option.
5. You'll be asked to select an authorization period for the ad code: 7, 30, 60, or 365 days. Choose how long you want the code to be valid. You can always generate a new one.
6. Tap "Authorize," then tap "Generate." A unique code will be created.
7. Tap "Copy Code" to save it to your clipboard. Keep this handy for the next steps.

(Don't worry, this step costs nothing and doesn't run an ad just yet. It only makes the video available for your ad account to use.)

Step 3: Set Up Your Campaign in TikTok Ads Manager

Now, head over to your computer and log into the TikTok Ads Manager.

1. Click the "Campaign" button and then click "Create."
2. Choose your Advertising Objective. This tells TikTok what you want to achieve. Common choices include Reach, Traffic, Video Views, or Conversions.
3. Give your campaign a name and set your budget (optional at this stage). Click "Continue."
4. Next, you'll set up your ad group. This is where you define your target audience, placements (usually just leave this as TikTok), budget, and schedule. Configure these settings to match your goals.

Step 4: Use Your Video Code as the Ad Creative

This is where you connect your organic post to the campaign.

1. At the Ad level, look for the section titled "Identity." Make sure the box labeled "Use TikTok account to deliver Spark Ads" is checked.
2. Next, you will see a text box titled "TikTok posts".
3. Click "+ Authorize TikTok Post."
4. Paste the video code you generated in Step 2 into the search box and click "Search."
5. Your video should appear. Select it and click "Confirm."
6. Finally, add your call-to-action button (e.g., "Shop Now," "Learn More") and the destination URL for your landing page.
7. Once you're happy with all the settings, click "Submit" to launch your Spark Ad!

Scenario 2: Using a Creator’s Authorized Post (UGC & Influencer Marketing)

What if you want to amplify a fantastic video an influencer made about your product? Spark Ads are the perfect tool for this, but the workflow is slightly different because you need their permission and authorization.

Step 1: Partner With a Creator & Request the Ad Code

First and foremost, you need a partnership agreement in place with the creator. This should clearly state that you intend to use their content for paid advertising purposes. Once you have an agreement, you'll ask them to generate an ad code for their video.

The process is exactly the same for them as it was for you in Scenario 1, Step 2.

The creator needs to:

1. Go to their video.
2. Tap the three dots (...), then "Ad settings."
3. Toggle on "Ad authorization," select a duration, and click "Generate."

Once they've done this, they will have a unique code. They must then send this code to you.

Step 2: Use the Creator’s Code in Ads Manager

The rest of the setup is identical to what we covered above. Once you have the code from the creator, head back to your Ads Manager.

1. Create your Campaign and Ad Group just as before, setting your objective, targeting, and budget.
2. At the Ad creative level, make sure "Use TikTok account to deliver Spark Ads" is toggled on.
3. This is the key part: for "Identity," select the option that says "Use another authorized account or post."
4. You'll paste the creator's code into the Authorization box to link their post as your creative.
5. Configure your CTA and URL, and then submit the ad for review. Now, your ad will run using the creator's video, delivered straight from their account, blending native credibility with your paid reach. A true win-win.

Best Practices for Successful Spark Ads

Creating the ad is just the beginning. To make your campaign truly effective, keep these tips in mind.

• Select High-Intent Content: For conversion campaigns, prioritize videos that clearly display your product in action or solve a specific problem. UGC that shows genuine excitement or tutorials that highlight unique features tend to work best.
• Trust the Organic Signals: The "For You" Page algorithm is powerful. If a video is already a proven performer organically, don’t overthink it. It clearly has the ingredients to resonate with a wider audience when you put budget behind it. Let the data guide your creative selection.
• Match the CTA to the Content: Your call-to-action button should match the video’s message. A video showing an easy recipe? The "Learn More" or "Sign Up" CTA might lead to a recipe blog. A direct product demo? "Shop Now" is the obvious choice.
• Test, Test, Test: Don't just run one Spark Ad and call it a day. Authorize several of your top-performing organic videos and run them in the same ad group to see which one delivers the best Cost Per Action (CPA). Something that was a smash hit organically might not perform as well as a more straightforward video in an ad context. Let the performance data decide.
• Stay Engaged with the Comments: Since it's a real, living post, people will be commenting during your campaign. Make sure you or your community manager are actively replying to questions and comments. This engagement builds trust and can directly influence conversions.

Final Thoughts

Spark Ads beautifully merge the power of authentic, native TikTok content with the scale and precision of paid advertising. By using videos that already resonate with audiences and honoring the platform's creative spirit, you can run campaigns that build brand love and drive real business results. The process is simple: authorize a post in the app, and then use that code in the Ads Manager to go live.

Running a successful Spark Ad campaign begins with having a solid foundation of engaging organic content to choose from in the first place. For years, we struggled to consistently plan and post the kind of short-form video that works best for Spark Ads, which is exactly why we built Postbase. Our visual calendar lets us map out our entire video content strategy across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts at a single glance, ensuring we always have a pipeline of proven creative ready for paid promotion when we need it most.