The Ultimate Guide to TikTok Specs in 2023: TikTok Ad Specs, Video Requirements, and more!

Learn about advertising on TikTok: specs for in-feed ads, ad formats, and how to leverage this platform to showcase your business in our guide.

Marissa Noble Hemingway
Marissa Noble Hemingway
sr social media manager
May 1, 2023
-
1
min
The Ultimate Guide to TikTok Specs in 2023: TikTok Ad Specs, Video Requirements, and more!

Introduction to TikTok

In recent years, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. Dances, DIY projects, next-generation technology, you name it. According to a Google Executive, Gen Z uses TikTok as a search engine, and nearly 40% of the demographic prefers searching on TikTok and Instagram versus Google. Millennials and Gen Z have swarmed to the platform, so much so that ⅓ of the US population now has a TikTok account. 

Through short-form video, content creators use the platform to shout about anything from their newest product line, to a day in their life. If you’re looking to sell your products online, TikTok offers a massive audience, just waiting to discover the next best thing.

Though, with such a huge following, advertising on TikTok can be incredibly competitive. Your videos need to be engaging, creative, and unique – the perfect storm for captivating your audience from the offset, and keep them from scrolling on. But don’t worry, TikTok is all about growth! It’s the perfect market for smaller brands to break through and get their voice heard.

The question now isn’t really if you should be advertising on TikTok, but how you can leverage this platform to showcase your business. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make your products truly shine. So, let’s jump into it!

What are the Specs for TikTok In-feed Ads?

The most common type of TikTok ad is the in-feed ad. These appear on the for you page, or feed, of your audience. You can even include a CTA (call to action) button, for users to click on and navigate to your website.

In-feed ads come in different shapes and sizes, but for video and image ads, you’ll need to follow the TikTok specs as below.

At a Glance: TikTok Ad Specs

Aspect Ratio: 9:16, 1:1, or 16:9.

Video Resolution: 540x960px, 640x640px, or 960x540px.

Image Resolution: 720*1280.

Video File Type: .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp, or .avi

Image File Type: .png, .jpeg, and .jpg

Video size: Your TikTok video size should be less than 500MB.

 

There are 4 Parts of the In-feed Ad:

1. Video/Image

To hit the sweet spot for your TikTok video ad, make sure that you’re keeping the video length between 5 seconds and 60 seconds – though the best performing videos are around 9 seconds to 15 seconds.

Remember, there is a high volume of content on TikTok that you want to prioritize as quickly as possible to catch your audience’s attention. We recommend showcasing your product as much as possible, and highlighting its best features all in one go. Think of it like a modern-day elevator pitch. Make sure that your TikTok video size is less than 500MB.

2. Display Image

Display images act as a thumbnail for your video or image ads. Keep in mind that the display image must be less than 50kb, with aspect ratio of 1:1. 

TikTok also accepts multiple file types. You can upload your image as a .png, .jpeg, and .jpg. Also make sure that you’re keeping the file size within 100MB.

3. Brand Name

Social media is a powerful awareness tool. It puts hundreds of thousands of users at the fingertips of new businesses. TikTok is the best place to grow your business and start building that awareness for your brand.

All that said, you want to make sure that your brand or app name is appropriately displayed on your ad! You’ll have 2-20 characters to use. Please note again that emojis are not supported.

4. Ad Description

While the visual part of the ad might be the most important, you also need to take care when creating your ad description. Keep your ad description within 100 characters. And while they can be fun to use, it’s important to note that TikTok does not support emojis in their ad descriptions.

 Pro-tip: Don’t get caught up in the spec guidelines. You also need to make sure that your ad description matches the tone and messaging of your brand! 

 What is the TikTok Format?

While in-feed ads are the simplest way to advertise on TikTok, you can advertise your business in many different formats! To get started with advertising on TikTok, you need to begin by signing up for a TikTok Ads Manager account. Here you can access your account dashboard, create campaigns that fit each creative ad format, and be able to target specific audiences. Let’s dive into the different types of ad formats and where they would appear. 

In-Feed Ads

  • You can create video or image ads, which show up on your audience’s homepage. We’ve run through this in detail, above.
  • Spark Ads
    • If you’re looking for a little boost, but don’t have new assets to promote, Spark ads are the best way to go! They are a quick and easy way to re-promote previous content. Please note that all the engagement metrics transfer to the original post.
  • Top-View Ads
    • These auto-play at the top of the user’s feed, and include similar features to other in-feed ads. It is worth noting, however, that this can be disruptive to the organic experience and feel of your audience

Other Ads

  • Pangle Ads
    • You can toggle this option to be “on,” if you want your ads to be displayed to TikTok’s network of advertising partners.
  • Carousel Ads
    • These ads are supported only on the News Feed app, BuzzVideo.
    • You can use up to 10 images per ad to promote your business and share your product.
    • All images will need to be .png, or .jpg, and have an aspect ratio of 1:1.
  • Branded Ads
    • You can even launch branded TikTok ad campaigns that raise awareness of your business through the use of hashtags and special filters. All video clips used here would need to be in 9:16 format.

What Text can you use in Tiktok Ad Specs?

Be sure to limit the text on your ads to 12-100 English characters, Remember – the success of the platform is largely due to its focus on video, and engagement through media!

What Video Format is Best for TikTok?

Before you even film your content, it’s important to check what video format will work best. While TikTok takes many forms of media, the best video format for TikTok is either .mp4 or .mov 

TikTok Video Ad Specs

  • TikTok’s maximum file upload size is 1080p. 
  • If you try to upload a 4k file, it will automatically be converted to 1080p. 

As a best practice, be sure to upload files in the recommended sizes, to avoid any distortion or blurry visuals. Avoid TikTok editing the quality of your videos to fit their specs, and be pre-emptive when creating content, to ensure that your media fits their guidelines beforehand.

Go Viral with the Power of soona

Incorporating TikTok into your ecommerce marketing strategy can help grow your business. Not only can you showcase your products in a fun and engaging way, but you can also build brand loyalty with a new generation of consumers and tiktok users.

To make your products stand out from the crowd, create high-quality video content with soona’s TikTok deluxe video pack or the TikTok unboxing video pack

Ready to elevate your brand on TikTok? Book your virtual shoot with soona today, and start creating content that gets noticed.

Make your Images Pixel Perfect

We know specs can be difficult to master with so many platforms, marketplaces, and sites to sell. That’s why we created our image resizer! Whether you’re posting to promote your products on social media channels or looking for optimized images for Amazon, the image resizer is the best tool to help you get the image sizes you need for wherever you sell.

Simply upload a file. Select your platform. Choose which sizes you need. Adjust your photo and crop. Done! Your files are ready for download.

Get started with soona’s image resizer today!

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