How to Share Ad Code on TikTok

Sharing an ad code on TikTok is one of the most effective ways for creators and brands to collaborate on high-performing, authentic ads. This feature, officially called Spark Ads, lets brands boost your organic videos, putting their ad budget behind your content. This guide will walk you through exactly how to generate and share your ad code, what brands do with it, and best practices to manage your partnerships like a pro.

What Exactly is a TikTok Ad Code?

Think of a TikTok ad code as a special key you give to a brand. This key unlocks a specific video on your profile, giving the brand permission to promote it as an advertisement through their own TikTok Ads Manager. Instead of creating a new ad from scratch that looks like corporate content, they can use your genuine, native video that already feels right at home on the For You Page.

This process is the backbone of what TikTok calls Spark Ads. Unlike traditional "dark post" ads that run silently from a brand's account, Spark Ads are published directly from your creator account. All the views, comments, shares, and likes from the paid campaign are added directly to your original organic video, boosting its social proof and often giving it a second wave of viral potential.

Why it’s a Win-Win for Creators and Brands

This isn't just a technical feature, it’s a strategic advantage for both sides of a brand partnership.

• For Creators: You get incredible exposure. A brand's advertising budget can push your video to hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of users who don't follow you yet. This can lead to a surge in followers, increased authority in your niche, and a stronger relationship with the brand for future collaborations. Plus, all campaign engagement accrues on your original post.
• For Brands: Authenticity is everything. Ads that look like real, organic TikToks perform significantly better. By using a creator's content, brands tap into their genuine voice and built-in audience trust, leading to higher engagement rates and a much better return on their ad spend compared to traditional, polished ads.

How to Generate a TikTok Ad Code: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creators

Ready to give a brand the green light? The process is surprisingly simple and only takes a few taps. Before you start, make sure your TikTok account is set to a Business or Creator Account. This feature isn't available for standard Personal accounts.

Here’s exactly how to find and share your ad code:

1. Open TikTok and Find Your Video: Navigate to your profile and select the video you've agreed to let a brand promote. This should be a video you’ve already published to your feed.
2. Access the Video Settings: Tap the three dots (...) on the right side of the screen to open up the options menu.
3. Find "Ad settings": In the bottom row of icons, scroll to the right until you find the "Ad settings" option (it often has a flame or rocket icon). Tap on it.
4. Enable Ad Authorization: You'll see a toggle for "Ad authorization." Make sure this is switched on (it will turn green). By turning this on, you agree to TikTok's Advertising Terms of Service for this specific post.
5. Generate Your Code: Now, tap the "Generate Code" button. TikTok will ask you to set an authorization period. This is the length of time you’re giving the brand permission to run ads with your video. Your options are:
   • 7 days
   • 30 days
   • 60 days
   • 365 days
   Choose the duration you've agreed upon with the brand, then tap "Authorize."
6. Copy and Share the Code: Success! The app will generate a unique code for your video. Tap the "Manage" button, then "Copy Code." This is the code you need to send to your brand partner. They will plug this into their TikTok Ads Manager to access your video.

That's it! Your part is done. The brand now has everything they need to start running the Spark Ad campaign.

What Does the Brand Do With Your Ad Code?

It's helpful to understand the other side of the process. Once you send over the ad code, the brand's marketing team or agency doesn't gain access to your account. They can't see your DMs, change your password, or post new videos. The code is exclusively for one thing: pulling that specific authorized video into their ad campaign system.

Here is their workflow in a nutshell:

1. They log in to their TikTok Ads Manager account.
2. When creating a new ad, they choose the 'Spark Ad' format.
3. They enter your TikTok handle and select the option to use an "authorized post."
4. A box will appear prompting them to "Search for TikTok posts." They will paste the unique ad code you provided into this search bar.
5. Your video will pop up, ready to be selected. Once they choose it, they can add their own call-to-action button (like "Shop Now" or "Learn More") and define their target audience, budget, and campaign schedule.

After they launch the campaign, the ad will appear in the For You Page for users in their target audience, displaying directly from your account, with your username and caption.

Best Practices for a Smooth and Successful Collaboration

Generating a code is easy, but managing the relationship requires strategy. Adhering to some best practices will protect you as a creator and foster stronger, more professional partnerships with brands.

1. Discuss Everything Before You Generate the Code

An ad code should be the final step after all the details are ironed out. Never send one over until you have a clear agreement, preferably in writing (even an email chain counts). Discuss these points:

• Usage & Duration: How long will they run the ad? Settle on 7, 30, 60, or 365 days. Don't leave it open-ended.
• Compensation: Are you being paid a flat fee for the ad authorization? A fee plus commission? A gifted exchange? Know your value and lock in the terms.
• The "Why": Understand the brand's goal. Are they driving traffic to a product page? Promoting app installs? This context helps you understand what success looks like for them.

2. Choose Ad-Friendly Content

Not every viral video makes a good ad. A video might get millions of views for being controversial or using a niche trending sound, but that doesn't mean it will effectively sell a product. The best videos for Spark Ads are typically:

• High-Quality: Good lighting, clear audio, and crisp visuals.
• Authentic Storytelling: A video showing how you naturally integrate the product into your life is far more powerful than a formal, scripted review.
• Brand-Safe: Avoid content with profanity, controversial topics, or copyrighted music that hasn't been cleared for commercial use. TikTok's commercial music library is your friend here.

3. Understand Authorization Periods

The authorization period you select is a binding window of time. If you authorize a video for 60 days, the brand can run ads with it at any point during that two-month period. Once that period expires, the code becomes invalid, and any active ads using it will stop running. Brands will need a new code from you to continue.

It’s wise to start with shorter durations like 30 or 60 days for new partnerships. It gives both you and the brand a chance to see how the collaboration performs before committing to a longer-term agreement.

4. How to Manage or Revoke Access

You remain in control. What if you decide you no longer want a brand to use your video as an ad? You can revoke their permission at any time.

Just go back to the video, tap the three dots (...), enter "Ad settings," and tap "Manage." You will see a list of the codes you've generated for that post. From there, you can tap "Delete" to deactivate the code. This will immediately stop anyone from using it and stop any active ad campaigns tied to it.

This is a major step and should ideally be done after communicating with the brand partner, as it could disrupt a live advertising campaign they’ve already paid for, potentially damaging your relationship.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the TikTok ad code process opens up a powerful new avenue for monetization and audience growth. It’s a simple, secure feature that enables true collaboration, transforming your authentic organic content into high-performance advertising that benefits you and your brand partners. By following these steps and best practices, you can confidently navigate your partnerships and build lasting success on the platform.

As you manage more brand collaborations and authorized posts, keeping your content schedule organized becomes essential. At Postbase, we built our visual calendar to give creators like you a clear, bird's-eye view of your entire content strategy. When you can see your organic content scheduled alongside sponsored posts, you can easily spot gaps, prevent crossover, and plan your TikTok feed weeks or months in advance, all from one place.