TikTok has exploded in popularity over the last few years, becoming one of the most used social media platforms globally. With over 1 billion monthly active users, it’s an extremely attractive platform for marketers looking to reach a young and engaged audience.
One of the most effective ways to leverage TikTok for marketing is by running TikTok ads. To do this, you need to link your TikTok account to Facebook Ads Manager, as Facebook’s advertising platform powers TikTok’s ads.
Linking the two accounts is a simple process that only takes a few minutes. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step how to connect your TikTok account to Facebook Ads Manager to start running TikTok ads.
Prerequisites to Link TikTok and Facebook Ads Manager
Before linking your TikTok account to Facebook Ads Manager, there are a couple of requirements you need to fulfill:
- You must have a TikTok for Business account. This is TikTok’s version of a business profile, designed specifically for brands and marketers. Converting to a business account is easy and free to do.
- Your TikTok account must be at least 30 days old. This is a policy requirement from TikTok. Accounts younger than 30 days cannot run ads.
- You need a Facebook Ads Manager account. This platform is use to manage ads across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and now TikTok. You can create one for free.
As long as you meet these prerequisites, you’re ready to link your accounts. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Create a Facebook Ad Account
The first step is to create a Facebook ad account in Ads Manager if you don’t have one already:
- Go to www.facebook.com/ads/manager and log in with your Facebook business credentials.
- Click on the arrow next to your name in the top right and select “Create Ad Account” from the dropdown menu.
- Choose the currency, time zone, and account name. Ensure the account status is set to “Active”.
- Click “Continue” and your new Facebook ad account will be created!
This ad account will be link to your TikTok account later on.
Step 2: Get Authorized on TikTok’s Ads Platform
Once you have a Facebook ad account, you need to get authorized on TikTok’s advertising platform to show you’re eligible to run ads:
- Go to ads.tiktok.com and click “Get Started”.
- Select your country, enter your email, name, and contact information.
- Choose your business account category and submit any required tax information.
- Wait 1-2 days for TikTok to review your application and authorize your account. You’ll receive an email once approved.
This authorization process ensures your business meets TikTok’s policies and requirements to advertise.
Step 3: Generate Your TikTok ADs API Key
To allow Facebook’s ad platform to manage your TikTok ads, you need to generate an Ads API key:
- In your TikTok Ads Manager account, click the user profile icon.
- Select “Settings” then navigate to “API Management”.
- Click “Generate New API Key”. Name it and set the permissions.
- Copy the long alpha-numeric API key that’s generated. You’ll need this in the next step when linking accounts.
This unique API key securely connects your TikTok account to external advertising platforms. Treat it like a password and keep it private.
Step 4: Link Your TikTok Account in Facebook Ads Manager
Now it’s time to connect your TikTok account to Facebook Ads Manager using the API key:
- In Facebook Ads Manager, click the down arrow next to “Accounts” in the left menu.
- Select “Add Account” then choose “TikTok Account”.
- Paste your TikTok Ads API key and click “Link Account”.
- Once linked, your TikTok business name will appear in the Accounts section in the left menu.
You can link multiple TikTok accounts to the same Facebook ad account this way. The setup is now complete!
Step 5: Create Your First TikTok Ad Campaign
With your accounts linked, you can now create and manage TikTok ad campaigns directly in Facebook Ads Manager:
- Click the “Create” button and select “Campaign” from the top menu.
- Choose your TikTok account and name the campaign.
- Select the campaign objective that matches your goals. Consider “Traffic” or “Conversions”.
- Set the campaign budget, schedule, and target audience parameters.
- Create awesome ads and tap into TikTok’s creative formats like TopView.
- Place your order and your TikTok ad campaign will start running!
Monitor the performance in Ads Manager and optimize the campaign to drive results over time.
Troubleshooting Common Linking Issues
In some cases, you may run into problems getting your TikTok account linked properly in Facebook Ads Manager. Here are some common issues and fixes:
Problem: Error validating API key
Solution: Double check the API key was copied correctly without any spaces. Generate a new key if needed.
Problem: Error creating campaigns
Solution: Ensure your TikTok account has been authorized for at least 24 hours before trying to create ads.
Problem: Unable to select TikTok account
Solution: Check that both accounts use the same business email address. Use the same email when setting up accounts.
Problem: Facebook account not authorized for TikTok ads
Solution: Log a support ticket through Facebook’s help page to get account authorization. Allow 1-2 days.
Why Run TikTok Ads Through Facebook Ads Manager
Linking your TikTok account to Facebook Ads Manager unlocks a host of benefits:
- Cross-channel reporting – Get a unified view of campaign analytics and attribution across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.
- Better optimization – Leverage Facebook’s AI optimization, testing capabilities, and learnings gained from millions of advertisers.
- Time savings – Manage all your social campaigns in one place vs. toggling between platforms.
- More payment options – Facebook supports more payment types like wire transfers.
- Stronger support – Get help from Facebook’s 24/7 chat, email, and phone support.
- Improved workflows – Build centralized workflows and leverage Meta’s business tools like Business Suite.
For a seamless ad management experience, Facebook’s Ads Manager is the best way to run and scale TikTok campaigns.
Maximizing Your Success With Linked TikTok Ads
Here are some top tips to drive great results from your TikTok ads managed through Facebook Ads Manager:
- Test both video ads and imaging ads to see what performs better. Iterate on the winning format.
- Leverage TikTok’s creative ad templates like TopView and Branded Hashtag Challenges that deliver immersive experiences.
- Analyze audience insights to identify who your ads are resonating with and double down on those high-converting demographics and interests.
- Use automatic bidding like Target Cost or Maximize Conversions to efficiently optimize spends.
- Set up detailed campaign structures with ad sets focused on different audiences, creatives, offers, etc.
- Develop multi-ad creative testing split campaigns to continuously improve performance.
- Retarget engaged users like video viewers or site visitors to increase conversions.
- Monitor campaign metrics daily and make adjustments to underperforming elements.
With the right strategy tailored to your business goals, TikTok ads offer an amazing opportunity to reach emerging audiences and drive tangible ROI.
Conclusion
Linking your TikTok and Facebook advertising accounts opens up new possibilities for marketers. You can now easily access TikTok’s 700+ million global user base through a unified and powerful ad platform.
The process involves just a few steps:
- Create a Facebook ad account
- Get your TikTok account authorized and set up for advertising
- Generate your TikTok Ads API key
- Connect your accounts in Facebook Ads Manager
- Build your first cross-channel ad campaign!
With your accounts linked, you can run seamless TikTok advertising and capitalize on impactful creative formats, wider payment options, robust optimization, and more.
Follow the steps outlined in this guide to get your accounts connected in no time. Then leverage the full power of TikTok ads managed through Facebook’s industry-leading advertising tools.