# TikTok Video Ads: How to Make Ones That Work (2026) > TikTok ads that work look like TikToks, not commercials: vertical 9:16, sound on, a hook in the first second, a real-feeling person or a native format, and a new batch of creative every week or two. Canonical: https://use-addy.site/platforms/tiktok-ads ## What works - **Native beats polished.** Phone-filmed talking heads, reactions and car rants blend into the For You feed. Studio ads read as ads and get skipped. - **Sound is required.** TikTok rejects in-feed ads without audio. Plan the voiceover or music from the start, and still burn in captions. - **Volume of hooks.** TikTok burns through creative fast. Test several hooks on the same body, keep the winner, and make variations of it. - **Spark Ads for trust.** Boosting a real post, yours or a creator's, keeps its likes and comments, which works as social proof. ## Specs - [TikTok in-feed ads](https://use-addy.site/specs/tiktok-ads): TikTok in-feed video ads work best at 9:16 vertical (minimum 540x960, 1080x1920 is standard), as MP4 or MOV up to 500 MB, with sound, and ad text under 100 characters. ## Formats to start with - [UGC talking head](https://use-addy.site/formats/ugc-talking-head): A creator holds the phone and talks about your product like a friend would. - [Baby podcast](https://use-addy.site/formats/baby-podcast): Two AI babies on mics debating your product. Absurd, and it works. - [Competitor remix](https://use-addy.site/formats/competitor-remix): Take the structure of a competitor's winning ad and rebuild it for you. - [Car yapper](https://use-addy.site/formats/car-yapper): Rant-in-the-car format. Raw, high retention. - [Meme](https://use-addy.site/formats/meme): Trending meme template with your angle. Cheapest way to test a hook. ## Script templates - [POV](https://use-addy.site/templates/pov): Sound-off viewing and products with a clear 'moment of use'. - [Problem–solution](https://use-addy.site/templates/problem-solution): Products that fix an obvious, everyday annoyance. - [Unboxing](https://use-addy.site/templates/unboxing): Physical products with good packaging or a surprising first impression. - [FAQ answer](https://use-addy.site/templates/faq): Retargeting and products with a common objection: price, size, safety, how it works. ## Guides - [How to Make a TikTok Ad That Doesn't Look Like an Ad](https://use-addy.site/blog/how-to-make-a-tiktok-ad) - Learn how to make a TikTok ad that blends into feeds naturally. Discover frameworks, hooks, and AI tools to scale native short-form video ads. - [TikTok ads for beginners: your first campaign on $20 a day](https://use-addy.site/blog/tiktok-ads-for-beginners) - A beginner's guide to running TikTok ads in 2026: account setup, campaign settings, how many creatives to make, budget, and what to check after 7 days. - [How much do TikTok ads cost? Real budgets and production fees](https://use-addy.site/blog/tiktok-ads-cost) - Wondering how much do tiktok ads cost? Learn the real ad spend minimums, production fees, and ways to test videos without blowing your budget. - [Best TikTok Ad Hooks: 50 Openers Sorted by Goal](https://use-addy.site/blog/best-tiktok-ad-hooks) - Find the best TikTok ad hooks sorted by goal to stop the scroll. Browse 50 high-converting openers for your short-form video marketing campaigns. - [Best AI tools for TikTok ads in 2026 (by job, with prices)](https://use-addy.site/blog/best-ai-tools-for-tiktok-ads) - The best AI tools for TikTok ads in 2026, grouped by job: writing hooks, making the video, editing, slideshows and posting. Real prices, checked October 2026. - [How to Launch a Product on TikTok: A Practical Guide](https://use-addy.site/blog/how-to-launch-a-product-on-tiktok) - Learn how to launch a product on TikTok with a step-by-step framework covering short video ad formats, automated workflows, and performance tracking. - [A TikTok Shop Video Strategy for Small Sellers](https://use-addy.site/blog/tiktok-shop-video-strategy) - Learn a practical tiktok shop video strategy for small sellers. Scale organic reach and views using high-performing short portrait video ads. - [Best time to post on TikTok and why timing matters less](https://use-addy.site/blog/best-time-to-post-on-tiktok) - Looking for the best time to post on TikTok? Learn why timing matters less than your creative strategy, hook, and posting volume for organic growth. ## Questions ### How do I make a TikTok ad? Write a 15 to 30 second script with the hook in the first second, film or generate it in 9:16 with sound, add captions inside the safe zone, and upload it in TikTok Ads Manager as an in-feed ad. Start with several hooks so you can see which one holds attention. ### How long should a TikTok ad be? Keep it between 5 and 60 seconds to meet TikTok's ad policy. Most performance ads land between 9 and 34 seconds; 15 seconds is a common default for testing. ### Do TikTok ads need to look like UGC? Not strictly, but ads that look native to TikTok usually hold attention better than polished commercials. UGC-style, POV, reaction and meme formats are the usual starting points.