To be honest, the first time I ran TikTok Ads instructions on running ads I "burned" money unfairly just because I was greedy for deep targeting. Don't go into that mistake! Real-life experience after decades in the profession at Pham Hai will help you set up an application campaign right from the beginning, and importantly, without wasting a single penny of your budget.
Before you throw your money out the window: Facts to know about TikTok ads
Để không mất tiền oan, bạn cần hiểu rõ luật chơi, chọn đúng loại tài khoản và xác định xem sản phẩm của mình có thực sự phù hợp với nền tảng này hay không.
Should you run TikTok ads? Who should and who shouldn't?
Có, đặc biệt nếu bạn bán sản phẩm tiêu dùng, thời trang, làm đẹp cho tệp 18-35 tuổi. Tuy nhiên, sản phẩm B2B giá trị cao hoặc ngách quá hẹp thì nên cân nhắc kỹ.
Many of you are often confused between platforms. If you are wondering Google Ads vs Facebook Ads which channel to choose, TikTok is a "new breeze" with much cheaper access costs in 2026. This platform is extremely booming for low- to mid-range products that are easy to close sales with emotions. Industries such as cosmetics, snacks, men's and women's fashion or technology accessories are "making waves" here.
However, if you sell heavy industrial machinery or high-end resort real estate, the answer to should you run TikTok ads is "wait". User behavior above is mainly entertainment and impulsive shopping. Don't try to force them to buy a product that requires months of hesitation through just a 15-second video.
TikTok advertising policy: "minefields" to avoid to avoid having your account unfairly locked
Bạn cần tuyệt đối tránh cam kết thái quá, hình ảnh hở hang, vi phạm bản quyền nhạc và sự không đồng nhất giữa video và Landing Page.
TikTok's game rules in 2026 are extremely strict. TikTok advertising policy prohibits exaggerated words and firm commitments such as "white skin after 7 days", "lose 10kg without dieting". This hype will get your video rejected immediately. Their AI browsing system currently scans the voice in the video, not just the text.
In addition, a classic mistake is that the video content sells t-shirts, but Landing Page leads to a page selling shoes. TikTok's AI carefully scans this uniformity to protect the user experience. Always follow advertising policies to keep your account alive. If you intentionally "circumvent the rules", your account may be permanently suspended.
Distinguishing between types of advertising accounts: Individual (Self-serve) and Agency, which type is optimal?
Tài khoản cá nhân dễ tạo, phù hợp người mới; tài khoản Agency được ưu tiên hỗ trợ, cắn tiền nhanh và ít bị khóa vặt.
When looking for how to create a TikTok ad account, you will be faced with two main options. Personal account (Self-serve) allows you to deposit money and run it yourself, very suitable for testing small budgets. But the disadvantage is that it is easy to be locked if you accidentally commit a minor violation and the waiting time for support is very long.
On the contrary, if you hire a reputable TikTok Agency, they will give you an Agency account. This type is more favored by TikTok, approves camps quickly, and earns money evenly. At Pham Hai, I often advise customers spending over 50 million/month to completely switch to using an Agency account.
| Criteria | Self-serve Account | Agency account |
|---|---|---|
| Initialization fee | Free of charge | Usually requires a service/top-up fee |
| Priority level | Low, easy to be mistakenly scanned by AI | High, has its own support team |
| Features | Basic, sometimes limited | Unlock full latest features |
Let's get started: A beginner's guide to running TikTok ads from A-Z
Đây là lộ trình từng bước để bạn thiết lập và khởi chạy chiến dịch đầu tiên một cách chuẩn xác nhất, từ khâu chuẩn bị đến khi bấm nút xuất bản.
Step 1: Prepare your "weapons" - Account, payment card, and most importantly, Pixel TikTok
Bạn cần chuẩn bị một tài khoản TikTok Business, thẻ Visa/Mastercard và cài đặt mã Pixel lên website để theo dõi hiệu quả.
First, you need to register for a TikTok Business account via email or business phone number. Then, add an international payment card (Visa/Mastercard) with available funds. Don't use virtual cards because it's easy for the system to mark you as spam and limit deposits.
The secret weapon lies in Pixel TikTok. Just like you must have Conversion tracking Google Ads installed properly to measure on Google, Pixel is an indispensable "eye" for tracking every customer action. It helps you know exactly who added to the cart, who successfully purchased, thereby providing valuable data for AI to learn from.
Step 2: Set up a campaign in TikTok Ads Manager - Which goal should you choose to "apply"?
Hãy chọn mục tiêu "Lượt chuyển đổi" (Conversions) hoặc "Doanh số danh mục" nếu bạn muốn ra đơn trực tiếp thay vì chỉ tăng lượt xem.
Visit TikTok Ads Manager, you will see many options. So what is the goal of TikTok advertising to make an application? Never select "Video Views" or "Traffic" if you want to sell directly. Aim directly at the campaign goal which is "Web Conversions".
Setting up a properly targeted TikTok advertising campaign from the beginning will guide the AI correctly. The system will proactively look for people who have a habit of closing orders on TikTok, instead of people who just like to surf and flirt.
Step 3: Targeting "TikTok style" - Don't be too greedy, let TikTok's AI learn
Đừng target quá sâu như các nền tảng khác, hãy thả lỏng độ tuổi và sở thích để AI tự động tìm kiếm đối tượng mục tiêu phù hợp nhất.
This is the biggest mistake of the old guides to running TikTok ads for beginners. People often try to narrow down their target audience with dozens of interests. In TikTok, AI is extremely smart based on video swiping behavior. You just need to choose your gender, age and geographical location.
After having a quality customer file from Pixel, using Custom Audience Lookalike to create a customer file will help TikTok's AI automatically find people with similar shopping behavior. Broad targeting is the real deal this year, making CPM much cheaper.
Step 4: Create promotional video content - The first 3 seconds formula decides everything
Video phải giữ chân người xem trong 3 giây đầu bằng âm thanh trending hoặc một câu hook giật gân, kèm theo Call To Action rõ ràng ở cuối.
On TikTok, creative content is king. A bad advertising video will not make an application even if you put in a billion dong in budget. Let's start with a painful problem that customers are facing in the first 3 seconds. If they pass by in these 3 seconds, you will lose money in vain.
Don't forget to insert a strong Call To Action (CTA) at the end of the video, for example: "Click on the cart in the left corner to get your offer today". The clarity in the call is the most effective way to run TikTok ads that I have learned after hundreds of campaigns.
Optimize TikTok advertising costs: Even if you have little money, you can still smell the scent
Biết cách đọc chỉ số, phân bổ ngân sách hợp lý và tận dụng các định dạng quảng cáo giá rẻ sẽ giúp bạn tối đa hóa lợi nhuận.
How much does TikTok advertising cost? How to allocate budget by day and lifetime
Mức ngân sách tối thiểu hiện tại là 500.000 VNĐ/ngày cho cấp chiến dịch, bạn nên chia nhỏ ngân sách để test nhiều nhóm quảng cáo khác nhau.
A lot of people ask me how much TikTok advertising costs is reasonable. According to the latest update in 2026, the minimum budget for a campaign is 500,000 VND. To optimize your TikTok advertising budget, I recommend dividing it into 3-5 small ad groups.
Each group should test a different video or a different title. After 24 hours, any group that offers cheap orders will keep it, and any group that is expensive will boldly turn it off. This is the wisest way to manage your advertising budget so that your cash flow is not in short supply.
| Cost category | Estimated price (2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign budget | Minimum 500,000 VND/day | Required for personal accounts |
| Average CPM | ~250,000 VND / 1000 views | Depends on the level of competition |
| Average CPC | ~5,000 VND/click | Can be cheaper if the video goes viral |
Read and understand basic measurement metrics: CPM, CPC, CTR - Which metrics are really important?
Hãy tập trung vào CPA (Chi phí trên mỗi lượt hành động) và ROAS, trong khi CPM và CPC chỉ là các chỉ số phụ trợ để đánh giá độ hấp dẫn của video.
If you have ever read the article Facebook Ads instructions for running ads in 2026, you will see that the CPM and CPC indicators on TikTok also have the same operating principle. CPM (Cost per 1000 impressions) indicates how expensive the customer file is, while CTR (Click through rate) reflects the attractiveness of the video.
However, among measurement indicators, CPA (Cost Per Action - Cost per order) is the final boss. No matter how cheap CPC (cost per click) is, if you don't get orders, it's a waste. Look directly at the price of an order and the profit margin (ROAS) to evaluate the campaign.
The secret to optimizing advertising when there are no orders or flops
Nếu quảng cáo bị flop, hãy thay đổi ngay video sáng tạo (creative) mới thay vì cố gắng tăng ngân sách hay chỉnh sửa target.
Many people complain about whether running TikTok ads will fail. Yes! When a video flops, the way to optimize TikTok advertising is not to raise money. The algorithm judged the video to be unattractive to users. Trying to eat sticky rice will only cost you more.
Sometimes, multi-channel integration is the best solution. You can refer to Google Ads for instructions on running ads from scratch to pursue customers who have watched TikTok videos but are not in a hurry to buy. Remake a new video, change the trending music, change the camera angle to optimize conversion.
What is Spark Ads? "Lifesaver" for hot existing videos
Spark Ads là định dạng cho phép bạn dùng chính video organic trên kênh để chạy quảng cáo, giúp giữ lại toàn bộ lượt tim và bình luận.
Among popular TikTok advertising types such as In-Feed Ads, Brand Takeover Ads, TopView Ads, Branded Effects or Hashtag Challenge, Spark Ads is the true love for small sellers.
It allows you to take a video that is naturally trending on your channel to inject money into. According to the latest 2026 figures, this format reduces CPMs by 4% and increases conversion rates by 43%. Every interaction (heart, share, comment) is added to the original video, creating great reputation for the brand.
Frequently asked questions from newbies
Giải đáp những thắc mắc phổ biến nhất giúp bạn tự tin hơn khi bước chân vào thị trường quảng cáo TikTok đầy tiềm năng.
Can I run TikTok ads on my phone? Should we?
Bạn có thể chạy trực tiếp trên ứng dụng điện thoại bằng tính năng "Quảng bá", nhưng để tối ưu sâu và ra đơn rẻ, bắt buộc phải dùng máy tính.
The run TikTok ads on your phone feature (Promote Button) is very convenient, it only takes a few taps to complete. However, it is only suitable for increasing followers, plowing views for fun or building a personal brand in the early stages.
If you're looking for how to run TikTok ads at the most optimal cost, turn on your laptop. The desktop interface provides full measurement tools, allowing you to set up Pixels and targets in depth.
How to run TikTok Shop ads for personal accounts effectively?
Hãy liên kết tài khoản TikTok Shop với TikTok Ads Manager và sử dụng định dạng Video Shopping Ads để kéo traffic trực tiếp vào giỏ hàng.
In 2026, the trend of running personal TikTok Shop ads is booming. You no longer need to spend money building a website or sending customers to external platforms, avoiding losing customers midway.
By simply linking your TikTok Shop store to your advertising account, you can run GMV Max or Video Shopping Ads campaigns. Customers watch the video, click on the cart and pay right in the app with subsidized vouchers from the floor.
When should you look for professional TikTok agencies?
Khi bạn chi tiêu ngân sách lớn (trên 100 triệu/tháng) hoặc liên tục bị khóa tài khoản mà không rõ lý do, hãy thuê Agency để được cấp tài khoản whitelist.
If you only run a few hundred thousand a day, studying and running on your own is best to master the core. But when a business needs to scale up to a large scale, self-management will be very risky and time-consuming.
Agencies have a support team directly from TikTok headquarters. They will help you handle account appeals within 24 hours, and assist in creating standard content, something that personal accounts are almost unable to do.
Every TikTok Ads advertising campaign starts with understanding customers. Running ads is not difficult, what is difficult is creative thinking and daring to experiment. Don't just focus on the technical steps, remember that content is king. Just boldly test, measure and optimize, you will find your own winning formula. At Pham Hai, I always believe that perseverance will bring campaigns with explosive orders.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment below, I will answer them all!
Lưu ý: Thông tin trong bài viết này chỉ mang tính chất tham khảo. Để có lời khuyên tốt nhất, vui lòng liên hệ trực tiếp với chúng tôi để được tư vấn cụ thể dựa trên nhu cầu thực tế của bạn.
