How to Make Better TikTok Ads: TikTok AI Script Generator

Want to improve and speed up your TikTok video ads production? Wondering how the TikTok AI script generator can help?

In this article, you'll learn how to use TikTok's AI script generator to quickly produce more effective short-form video ads.

Why TikTok's AI Script Tool Matters for Marketers

Whether you want to develop and test TikTok ads faster or ensure that creatives really resonate with your target audience, AI tools can help. Although platforms like Meta and Google have announced upcoming AI ad generation tools, TikTok is the first to roll them out to all advertisers.

Launched in June 2023, TikTok's AI Script Generator tool is available to all users with a business account. It's free to use and supports creating ads in English. Eligible users can access it from the TikTok Creative Center using a desktop browser. Note that this ai tool isn't available in the TikTok app or on a mobile device.

With the Script Generator, you can:

• Start a video ad with a hook that draws in prospects and keeps them watching.
• Create an ad body that communicates the unique positioning of your product.
• Write a compelling CTA that prompts your target audience to take the next step.

All you need to use the new AI ad Script Generator is your:

• Industry
• Product name
• Product description

You also have the option to include keywords that relate to your product or service but they aren't required. In addition, you can choose a video format and duration. If you don't select these elements manually, TikTok will choose them automatically.

Although this new ai script tool doesn't generate ad creatives, you can use other tools in the TikTok Creative Center to streamline the production process. Below, we'll walk through how to use these tools together to generate high-performing creatives more efficiently.

#1: How to Use the TikTok AI Script Generator to Produce Video Ads

Let's look at how the ai script tool works and how to prompt it to produce better results.

Select Your Industry

Go to the TikTok Creative Center and open the Creative Tools drop-down menu. Click to start using the AI Script Generator.

Next, expand the Industry drop-down menu and choose the option that most closely matches yours. As of June 2023, these options are somewhat limited. You can always choose General if the other industries aren't a great fit. For this example, we'll go with Food & Beverage.

Enter Your Product Name

Then enter the name of the product you plan to advertise. Note that you're limited to 50 characters so you'll need to keep it concise. Stick to the product name only here because you can describe it in the next field. For this example, we'll make an ad about donuts.

Describe Your Product

Next, provide some information about your product. This field allows up to 1,000 characters so you have plenty of space to add features, benefits, and offer details. For this example, we'll focus on how the offer works. 

Does it matter how much detail you add or how you order the information you provide? In my experience, the order doesn't matter but the number of details does. When I included fewer talking points, the autogenerated scripts were shorter with fewer scenes. So if you want to create a shorter ad, keeping the description concise can help.

Designate a Video Format

Although you don't have to select a video format, doing so can help TikTok structure your ad more effectively. When you expand the Video Format drop-down, you can pick from formats like product showcases, unboxing video content, and green screens.

I recommend testing both the automated video format and the manual selection options. That way, you'll get a couple of scripts that you can either choose between right away or test in a TikTok ad. In my tests, the automated format selection generated scripts that were closer to what I'd envisioned.

Provide Keywords

When you use the AI Script Generator to create an ad, you'll want to include key talking points in the product description field. But you also have the option to provide keywords that the ai tool will essentially use verbatim in the script.

If you have a specific tagline or unique selling proposition (USP), it's a good idea to add that here to ensure it doesn't get skipped. Note that you can add up to five 50-character entries in this field.

In my experiments, the AI Script Generator tool automatically added the copy from the keyword field into text overlays and CTAs. I'd recommend using this field for points you really want to emphasize such as pricing or an expiration date.

Select a Video Duration

By default, TikTok's AI Script Generator creates ads between 15 and 30 seconds long. Alternatively, you can opt to create a longer ad that's between 31 and 60 seconds long.

Typically, TikTok recommends shorter video content that runs for around 15 seconds, so in most cases, the default option will probably be best for your creatives. But if you have several products to feature or a longer list of talking points to cover, consider testing the longer script option.

Review the Scripts

When you're finished adding all of the required information and filling out any optional fields, click the Generate Script button. The tool automatically generates three options to choose from—each with a hook, scene, and CTA.

Each part has all of the production notes and cues you'll need to create the ad. You'll get recommendations for:

• Voiceover scripts for each scene
• Text overlays you can time to display during the scene
• On-screen visuals that you can create with photos or videos

If the scripts are close to what you need but not exactly right, you can click the Generate More button at the bottom of the screen to get a new set of ai script suggestions. I was able to generate more than a dozen from the same prompts, resulting in a range of super-short and slightly longer scripts.

If all of the autogenerated scripts seem off or don't sound at all like your business, the Generate More button probably isn't your best bet. Instead, try rewording the product description or adding more details that the AI Script Generator can work from.

Evaluate for Accuracy

At first glance, the scripts I generated look pretty good, minor grammatical errors aside. All three scripts include my example talking points and keywords, and they all express the example product and offer relatively accurately. But there are a few things you should look out for.

For example, the AI Script Generator doesn't have audience or tone of voice options. There's no built-in way to adjust these elements so all scripts from a single prompt are likely to have a similar tone.

How can you work around this limitation? The TikTok AI Script Generator isn't designed to accept nuanced prompts with voice notes or other commands. But if you add more descriptive product and offer information, you can get the tool to reflect your business more accurately.

For example, I added a few use cases to the product description field to get the AI Script Generator to appeal more to the target audience I had in mind. While it did adjust accordingly, it included all of my example use cases in the script, leading to a longer and more detailed ad. If you want to keep yours concise, add one use case at a time.

It's also important to evaluate the end result closely and confirm that the script is accurate. In another test, I prompted the tool to create a script for a plant shop. Each autogenerated script referenced a different business model (i.e., mail order vs. brick and mortar), which meant some were irrelevant.

Try adding more detail than you think you need at first, and then cut unnecessary information to improve the results. For example, I added a brief description of the store's location and found that the tool generated a much more relevant script.

Use the Best Scripts in Ads

To turn the script into an ad, click the Copy button below the winning result. Then paste it into a separate document and add it to your team's ad creation workflow. Before using the voiceovers or adding the text overlays to an ad, I'd recommend spot-checking them and making minor adjustments to fit your brand voice.

Note that the tool doesn't save the scripts you've generated. Make sure to copy and save anything you want to use, as you won't be able to access your scripts again if you click away or close the Creative Center.

How to Use the Script Generator With Other TikTok Creative Center Tools

Although TikTok's AI Script Generator tool doesn't directly integrate with other Creative Center tools, you can still use them as part of a multi-step workflow. Start by generating the video ad script, and then use the tools below.

#2: Choose From the TikTok Video Template Library

Looking for an easy way to bring your script to life? TikTok's template library has dozens of options with premade animations, text overlays, and cuts. All you have to do is supply the copy and the images or text.

Select a Template

To find more relevant templates, select your region and industry from the drop-down menu. Then choose a timeframe, keeping the length of your script in mind. You can also filter by the number of videos or photos. Use the number of scenes in your script as a guide. Use the color palette filters to focus on templates that fit your brand's aesthetic.

As you sort through the options, pay attention to the number of text overlays and visual assets the template requires. Although you can always make small adjustments during the editing process, you'll have an easier time using the template if you choose one that closely aligns with the script you plan to use.

Add Visual Assets

Once you've selected a template, add your own photos or videos from your existing TikTok advertising assets or your device. You can save time by clicking Replace in Bulk and dragging and dropping the creatives into the correct order.

Replace Text Overlays

Next, replace the boilerplate text overlays with the suggestions from the script. Note that each text area on the template has its own predefined character limit. You may need to edit the script slightly or break up text overlays to make them work with the template.

Although TikTok templates have preset fonts and color palettes, you can adjust them to fit better with your brand. To keep the design consistent, make sure to change each overlay.

Adjust the Audio

TikTok templates include royalty-free audio optimized for the content and pacing of the ad. To replace the default track, scroll down and click the Select Music button. Then choose another track from the TikTok music library. You can browse popular audio by selecting Tracks With Highest Spend.

Alternatively, you can click Upload to add your own audio or royalty-free music. If you've prerecorded a voiceover using the AI-generated script, you can upload that here as well. Click Confirm to save the video content to your ad account library.

#3: Create With the TikTok Video Editor

If you want more creative control over your video ad, the TikTok video editor is a better option. This tool doesn't provide templates but it does allow you to upload creative assets, place text overlays, mix audio, and add effects and stickers.

Upload Video Clips

While most TikTok templates are optimized for photo animations, the editor is ideal for video assets. Shoot videos outside of the editor, and then upload them to the dashboard. Drag and drop to place them in order on the timeline. From the timeline, you can also trim clips as necessary.

If your clips include dialog or background audio, you can adjust the volume for each clip. For more control, select a clip and click Split Audio Track to separate the video content from the audio. Then you can edit the two components individually.

Layer Audio

To add commercial music, click the audio button and browse the library. You can also upload your own music or voiceovers. Drag and drop audio tracks to adjust when they stop and start, and raise or lower the volume as necessary. You can also change how the tracks fade in or out to create a better sound experience.

Choose Effects and Transitions

To add effects, choose from the library and then drag and drop onto a clip. Note that effects apply to the entire clip.

Use the same workflow for transitions. Select from the list of options, and drag and drop to place the transition between clips.

Add Text Overlays

Then add text overlays using the AI script to guide you. Choose from TikTok's preset combinations of colors and fonts, and enter the copy for each overlay. From the timeline, use the sliders to adjust when each overlay displays on the ad.

Publish as an Ad

Click Confirm to save the video ad in your draft folder, and once it's approved, publish it to your TikTok ad account. In Ads Manager, click to browse your video library at the ad level. Then choose the video content you generated and publish the campaign.

Conclusion

TikTok's new AI Script Generator is a powerful tool for ad creation, especially when paired with the platform's template library and video editor. With this new AI-powered tool, advertisers can improve hooks and CTAs, get ideas for promoting new offers, and streamline the entire video ad production process.

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