AdAce AdsTikTok video ad production checklist: format, sound, captions
You do not need a studio to run TikTok ads, but a video made for another place often looks wrong in the feed. A horizontal clip with a pasted logo and music that is too loud will underperform a plain phone video made natively. This checklist covers the production basics you can control before the first dollar is spent.
What it does
Shoot vertically in 9:16 and fill the whole frame. Keep faces and key text away from the edges and from the lower part of the screen, where the account name, caption and buttons can cover them. After uploading, preview the ad in Ads Manager to see how the interface sits on top of your picture.
Plan for sound-off and sound-on. Put the main message into on-screen text and captions so the video works silently, and use clear voice for those who listen. Use only music you have the right to use in ads; the commercial music options offered in TikTok's own tools exist for this reason.
Edit for pace: cut dead air, change the scene or angle every few seconds, and keep the offer clear. Real people and real places usually fit the platform better than polished stock footage. Keep the length as short as the message allows; one idea per video.
End with one action. Say what the viewer should do and make the button text agree: apply now, get the quote, call. Make sure the page or form that opens is quick on a phone and matches what the video promised.
Why it helps
- Native-looking video fits the feed and avoids the instant skip.
- Captions and clear voice make the message work with sound on or off.
- A single call to action reduces confusion and lifts completion of the intended step.
How to set it up
- Plan one idea and write the key sentence in the on-screen text.
- Shoot in 9:16 with good light and a steady phone, framing faces centrally.
- Record clean voice close to the microphone and add captions.
- Use licensed or commercially cleared music only, or none.
- Upload, preview in Ads Manager and move text out of any covered area.
- Check the landing page on a phone before launching the ad.
Good to know
- Technical limits for file size, length and resolution are set by TikTok and can change; check the upload screen.
- Using someone's music, face or brand without permission can lead to a rejection or a rights claim.
- AdAce Ads does not create or edit videos; it helps you read how the resulting ads perform.
Try it on your own accounts
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