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Introduction
Douyin is no longer just a video platform—it’s an integrated marketing and commerce engine. For overseas brands looking to enter China, mastering Douyin ad campaign setup is essential to winning attention and conversions. This article outlines the proven steps to launching and optimizing video ads on Douyin with SaaS precision and local relevance.
1. Define Campaign Objectives and Target Audiences
1.1 Match Campaign Type to Business Goal
Whether your goal is brand awareness, lead generation, or direct conversion, Douyin’s ad platform allows you to choose the right format. TopView and Opening Ads are best for reach, while In-Feed and Live Commerce ads drive engagement and sales.
1.2 Segment by Persona and Behavior
Use Douyin’s targeting engine to segment users by interest clusters (beauty, fitness, tech), browsing habits, and device usage. SaaS tools can enrich this data with layered user profiling for more precise targeting.
2. Craft Mobile-First Video Content
2.1 Shoot for the Vertical Feed
Create 9:16 vertical videos optimized for Douyin’s mobile UI. Use subtitles, upbeat music, and clear product demonstrations in the first 3 seconds to prevent swipe-away behavior.
2.2 Adapt to Local Humor and Trends
Content that mirrors Douyin-native memes or challenge formats sees stronger performance. Tap into regional comedy styles, seasonal traditions, and trending hashtags to localize your brand voice.
3. Build a Multi-Touch Funnel Strategy
3.1 Drive Awareness First, Then Retarget
Begin with TopView or influencer-powered content to drive interest. Follow up with In-Feed Ads that offer vouchers, product demos, or user-generated content—creating a full-funnel journey.
3.2 Combine Paid with Organic Content
Your campaign shouldn’t exist in a vacuum. Simultaneously run organic posts, comments, and creator collabs to maximize exposure and blend into user feeds more naturally.
4. Use Automation and SaaS Platforms for Smart Execution
4.1 Automated Creative Rotation
Leverage SaaS ad platforms to test multiple creatives at once. Automatically rotate versions with different thumbnails, CTAs, and hooks to discover the highest performer.
4.2 Real-Time Budget Scaling
With SaaS dashboards integrated into Ocean Engine, brands can scale ad spend to top-performing videos in real time, based on CTR, view-through rates, and e-commerce conversions.
5. CASE STUDY: Nordic Babycare Brand Taps Douyin to Reach Young Parents
A Nordic babycare brand ran a 30-day Douyin campaign targeting millennial parents in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities. They started with soft-touch emotional storytelling via TopView, followed by retargeted In-Feed ads offering a free sample pack through a WeChat Mini Program. Campaign optimization was managed via a SaaS dashboard that tracked conversions by location and time of day. Results included a 3.9x ROAS and a 64% increase in new customer acquisition during the campaign window.
PLTFRM is an international brand consulting agency that works with companies such as Red, TikTok, Tmall, Baidu, and other well-known Chinese internet e-commerce platforms. We have been working with Chile Cherries for many years, reaching Chinese consumers in depth through different platforms and realizing that Chile Cherries’ exports in China account for 97% of the total exports in Asia. Contact us, and we will help you find the best China e-commerce platform for you. Search PLTFRM for a free consultation!
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