TikTok ads are one of the best ways to drive business in Australia.
Still debating whether TikTok is “just for kids”? 9.7 million Australians are scrolling every month. Eighty-six percent are aged 18–34 — the demographic that actually buys things. TikTok’s revenue in Australia surged 80% last year to $679 million. Platforms don’t generate nearly $700 million by accident.
TikTok isn’t about dance trends anymore. It’s become Australia’s most effective channel for capturing attention, building culture, and converting buyers.
And the best part? Ad costs are still significantly lower than Facebook and Instagram — for now.
Here’s how to turn TikTok into your most profitable marketing channel in 2025.
At Bez Agency, we’ve already helped global brands like LEGO and McLaren cut through the noise with video-first creative. From strategy to execution, we know what it takes to turn attention into action.
What is TikTok advertising?
TikTok advertising is the use of paid ads on TikTok to promote products, services, or brands to the platform’s highly engaged audience.
Why TikTok is Australia’s fastest-growing ad platform
In 2020, only 1.2 million Australians used TikTok.
By 2024, that number hit 8.5 million, making it the third-largest social platform behind Facebook and Instagram.
But it’s not just about size — it’s about attention. Australians spend an average of 95 minutes a day on TikTok, nearly double Instagram’s 50 minutes. That’s time your brand could own.
- 67% of Aussie TikTok users discover new products on the app
- 43% make purchases influenced directly by TikTok content
- Compare that to Facebook’s 31% purchase influence and the difference is clear
TikTok’s algorithm is also different. Instead of just serving ads to pre-defined interests, TikTok surfaces content based on behaviour — completion rates, interactions, and engagement signals.
That means your ads can reach fresh audiences who’ve never even heard of your brand before but are primed to care.
How TikTok Ads work (and why they crush traditional social ads)
Forget everything you know about social advertising. TikTok doesn’t play by the same rules.
Traditional platforms wedge ads into feeds. TikTok blurs the line between ad and content — ads feel like TikToks. That’s why TikTok ads deliver:
- 34% higher brand recall than Facebook and Instagram
- 27% stronger purchase intent
- Full-screen, vertical, sound-on experiences that command focus
And because the algorithm optimises for engagement and completion, ads that resonate actually get boosted.
In other words: TikTok doesn’t just let you buy reach — it rewards good creativity by giving it more distribution.
But your first three seconds decide everything. Boring corporate intros die instantly. Entertaining, authentic, native content gets rewarded.
TikTok is a video-first platform. That’s why Bez has an in-house video production and photography team dedicated to scroll-stopping content. Whether it’s a branded shoot, UGC-style clips, or high-end creative, we produce assets that feel native and perform at scale.
Why Australian businesses need TikTok advertising
- Reach: 74% of Australians aged 18–34 are on TikTok — around 6.3 million daily users
- Engagement: TikTok’s average engagement rate is nearly 6%. Instagram sits at 1.2%. Facebook? Just 0.27%
- Purchase influence: 58% of Australian TikTok users say TikTok directly shapes what they buy
- Competition: Only 23% of Aussie businesses are advertising here right now
Less than a quarter of businesses are on TikTok. That means the brands moving early are locking down massive market share at ad prices 15–30% lower than Meta platforms.
But the window is closing. As more advertisers flood in, costs will rise and competition will intensify.
Which Australian businesses should advertise on TikTok?
B2C brands dominate TikTok for obvious reasons.
Australian furniture brand Eva increased their return on ad spend by 1,458% through strategic TikTok campaigns, achieving 10x ROAS on their conversion-focused ads.
Small businesses like Brooki’s Bakehouse built international followings through simple, authentic content showcasing their daily processes.
Local services are finding success too. Food businesses like Chebbo’s Burgers grew from food trucks to established brands through consistent TikTok presence.
Even publishers like Penguin Books Australia went viral by participating in trending dances, proving that authenticity trumps production value.
But here’s where it gets interesting—the platform works across industries. The key isn’t the business type—it’s understanding that TikTok rewards authentic storytelling over polished advertising.
TikTok ad formats: what works and why
TikTok gives brands multiple ad formats, from in-feed ads to branded hashtag challenges. Here’s the breakdown:
In-feed ads
The workhorse. These ads blend seamlessly into the For You Page, looking like any other TikTok.
- Specs: 9:16 vertical, 15–60s (best: under 30s)
- Best for: traffic, conversions, app downloads
Top view ads
Premium takeover. Your video appears the moment a user opens TikTok.
- Reach: up to 4.5 million Australians daily
- Pricing: starts around $65,000/day
- Use cases: major launches, national campaigns
Brand takeover
3–5 second full-screen impact when the app opens. Only one advertiser per category per day.
- Best for: flash sales, product drops
- Example: Shein’s takeovers regularly hit 4%+ CTR
Branded hashtag challenges
Encourages users to create content around your hashtag.
- Duration: 6-day homepage placement
- Investment: $150k–$300k
Branded effects
AR and filters that users play with and share.
- Investment: $80k–$200k depending on complexity
- Example: Nude by Nature’s virtual makeup filters drove 12.3M uses and a 156% sales lift
How to get started with TikTok advertising in Australia
Ready to stop missing out? Here’s how smart Australian businesses are getting started with TikTok ads.
Set up your TikTok business account
Skip the creator account—go straight to TikTok for Business. Creator accounts limit advertising options and make campaign management unnecessarily complicated.
The setup process takes 15 minutes: verify your Australian business details, connect your payment method (major credit cards and PayPal accepted), and link your TikTok business account to TikTok Ads Manager.
TikTok typically approves applications within 24-48 hours, faster than Facebook’s often week-long review process.
Define your TikTok advertising strategy
Start with audience research, not creative brainstorming.
Australian TikTok users behave differently than global audiences—they engage more with local content, prefer authentic over polished, and respond to Australian cultural references and slang.
Know that TikTok’s minimum spend requirements are $50 daily at campaign level, $20 daily at ad group level. Start with $100-200 daily budgets to gather sufficient performance data for optimisation.
Target Australian audiences on TikTok
Demographic targeting covers standard options like age (minimum 18 for advertising), gender, location down to suburb level, and language preferences.
Meanwhile, interest targeting includes 20+ categories from beauty and fashion to sports and technology. Unlike Facebook’s interest targeting based on page likes and website visits, TikTok uses video completion rates and engagement patterns to determine user interests.
Custom audiences work similarly to other platforms—upload customer lists, retarget website visitors via TikTok pixel, or create audiences based on app activity. Lookalike audiences help scale successful campaigns by finding users similar to your best customers.
Creating TikTok-Native ad content
The difference between ads that work and ads that waste money comes down to one thing: does your content feel native to TikTok or like a traditional advertisement?
Content that converts follows TikTok’s entertainment-first philosophy. Start with hooks that grab attention immediately, use trending sounds and music, and structure videos around storytelling rather than product features.
Video production doesn’t require Hollywood budgets, but it demands understanding TikTok aesthetics. Vertical format, mobile-optimized text, quick cuts, and authentic presentation outperform highly polished content that feels disconnected from platform culture.
Finally, A/B testing is crucial for optimization. Test different hooks, calls-to-action, video lengths, and trending elements to identify what resonates with your specific audience. TikTok’s algorithm rewards engaging content with lower costs and broader reach.
Creative is only one part of the equation. Bez also offers full-service social media management — planning, posting, and community building. We don’t just create campaigns; we craft conversations that command attention and drive lasting engagement.
TikTok advertising costs in Australia
TikTok operates on auction-based pricing similar to Facebook ads and Google. You set maximum bids, and the platform charges based on competition, ad quality, and audience demand.
Bidding strategies include cost per click (CPC), cost per thousand impressions (CPM), and cost per acquisition (CPA). Most Australian businesses start with automatic bidding to establish baseline performance before switching to manual bidding for greater control.
On average, TikTok ad costs in Australia are:
- CPM ranges from $8-18
- CPC from $0.50-2.50, depending on audience targeting and competition levels.
These costs are generally 15-30% lower than Facebook advertising, reflecting TikTok’s growing but not yet saturated advertising market.
TikTok vs. other social media advertising platforms
TikTok vs. Facebook/Instagram ads in Australia
Strengths
- TikTok works best for brand awareness and engagement, especially with younger audiences.
- Facebook and Instagram are stronger for driving conversions and reaching older demographics.
Audience overlap
- 78% of TikTok users also use Instagram.
- 65% also use Facebook.
- But user behaviour differs:
- TikTok = entertainment
- Instagram = lifestyle browsing
- Facebook = connecting with friends and family
- TikTok = entertainment
Ad costs and tracking
- TikTok CPM: $12
- Instagram CPM: $18
- Facebook CPM: $15
- TikTok ads are cheaper, but its conversion tracking is less advanced compared to Facebook’s strong attribution tools.
Why partner with a TikTok advertising agency?
Partnering with a TikTok advertising agency helps you get better results faster. Agencies understand TikTok’s unique algorithm, trends, and audience, handle all the technical setup, and optimise campaigns daily — so you can focus on growing your brand while experts manage performance.
Partner with Bez Agency to win big on TikTok
TikTok advertising in Australia isn’t the future — it’s now. The brands that move early will lock in audiences, learnings, and market share while competitors keep hesitating.
At Bez, we’ve helped brands generate millions in revenue through TikTok ads that look and feel native but deliver measurable ROI.
What we do best:
- Strategy-first: campaigns aligned with your business goals, not vanity metrics
- Creative engine: in-house team producing scroll-stopping, trend-led video at speed
- Performance focus: clean account structures, smart optimisation, relentless iteration
We don’t just run ads. We build systems that turn TikTok into a revenue channel.
Book your TikTok strategy consult with Bez today. because every day you wait is another day your competitors steal your customers.
FAQ Section
How much do TikTok ads cost in Australia?
TikTok advertising in Australia typically costs $10-50 per CPM, with minimum daily budgets of $50 per ad group. Most Australian businesses see effective results starting with $500-1000 monthly budgets.
Do TikTok ads work for Australian businesses?
Yes, TikTok ads are highly effective for Australian businesses, especially those targeting audiences under 45. With over 8.5 million Australian users and high engagement rates, TikTok offers significant ROI potential.
What types of businesses should advertise on TikTok?
E-commerce, fashion, beauty, food, fitness, and local service businesses see the best results. However, B2B companies are increasingly finding success with educational and behind-the-scenes content.
How long does it take to see results from TikTok ads?
TikTok ads can generate traffic immediately, but optimisation typically takes 7-14 days. Most businesses see meaningful results within their first month of consistent advertising.
Can I run TikTok ads myself or do I need an agency?
While self-management is possible, TikTok’s unique creative requirements and fast-changing trends make agency partnership valuable for consistent results and creative excellence.