TikTok Search Ads Now Local

Background: TikTok is a social media platform used by local businesses to reach their target audience. Many coffee shops, hair salons, pet groomers, and fitness studios use TikTok to promote their services and products. With over a billion active users, TikTok provides a vast potential customer base for local businesses.

What changed: TikTok has announced that its search ads now reach local intent queries, such as 'coffee shop near me' or 'hair salon nearby'. This update allows businesses to target customers who are actively searching for services in their area. The change is expected to improve the effectiveness of local businesses' ad spend on the platform.

Why it matters: This update directly affects a local business's ad spend, reach, and bookings. By targeting customers with local intent queries, businesses can increase their visibility and attract more customers. This can lead to increased revenue and a higher return on investment for their ad spend.

Niche breakdown: A coffee shop can now target customers searching for 'coffee near me' and offer them a discount or promotion to visit their shop. A hair salon can target customers searching for 'hair salon nearby' and offer them a booking or appointment. A pet groomer can target customers searching for 'pet grooming near me' and offer them a special deal on their services. A fitness studio can target customers searching for 'gyms near me' and offer them a free trial or membership.

What to do: To take advantage of this update, local businesses should review their TikTok ad settings and enable location-based targeting. They should also update their ad content to include location-specific keywords and calls-to-action. This week, businesses should test their new ad settings and monitor their ad performance to ensure they are reaching their target audience effectively.