New advertising formats on TikTok: advantages and disadvantages

Hello, community! TikTok is actively developing. And we are not talking about the app itself. First of all, the platform has achieved the most progress in advertising. New ad formats are appearing, and this is exactly what we will talk about today. 

Before we begin, let us remind you that we have already covered what a shadow ban on TikTok is and how to get out of it. We recommend checking it out! 

What Will TikTok Surprise Us with in 2026? 

Since March of this year, the platform has started introducing new ad formats. They differ from one another and can be useful in different situations. However, almost every new ad type definitely deserves attention, even if you do not work with the platform. Who knows, maybe these formats will be the thing that brings you into TikTok? 

Let’s start with Logo Takeover. Essentially, it allows you to create the impression that your brand is acting as a full-fledged partner of TikTok itself. But it is important to understand that this is not really a format for affiliates. For the most part, it suits large brands announcing a major product. 

Another format, called Prime Time, is more universal. The idea is to reach the user as effectively as possible by showing them ads over a fifteen-minute period. During this session, the user will see up to three ads. So you get the maximum chance to catch a lead. 

The next ad type is TopReach. It combines two formats that existed before: 

1. TopView — the first ad a user sees after launching the app. 
2. TopFeed — the first ad shown to the user in the recommendation feed. 

The goal of this type of advertising is to achieve maximum reach.  

And finally, two more small ad formats: 

1. Pulse Mentions — ads placed next to videos where certain brands or products are being discussed. The ad is integrated into the conversation, which makes it look native and appropriate. 
2. Pulse Tastemakers — ads placed next to content from authoritative influencers, allowing the brand to be associated with them. 

The formats are quite interesting. These are not just ad videos randomly shown at a certain time. However, these tools should be used very carefully. Such advertising will not always be appropriate. But it definitely deserves special attention.  

The Specifics of the New Ad Formats 

First of all, all these tools are designed for maximum reach. Moreover, the ads will also look appropriate. This also makes it possible to get higher-quality traffic. 

But! The formats have one significant drawback: cost. In fact, many already claim that all of this is designed for big brands. And this statement is relevant for many reasons. 

Of course, ad cost is one of the key triggers for every affiliate. But here, the purpose of the format is no less important. In this regard, most of them are more focused on shaping a brand image, building relationships with consumers through quality content from top creators, and so on. 

However, it cannot be said that affiliates will not be able to use the new formats. Especially when it comes to large teams. For a hypothetical E-commerce project, this is a very strong option. But for many others, it makes almost no sense to spend such budgets on promotion. 

So everything comes down to the chosen funnel, offer, and budget. And overall, you can wait a little until top affiliates start experimenting and sharing their own cases. Then you can build your own profit strategies based on them.  

Disadvantages of the New Formats 

Let’s talk about the disadvantages. Some of them are quite significant. 

First of all, this concerns the link to GEO. Importantly, in some countries, the new formats still do not work. But as practice shows, this is temporary. Over time, the tools will reach all GEOs. 

Some formats will not be available through Ads Manager at all. To start using them, you need to work directly with TikTok’s sales department. This option is available to very few affiliates — almost none. 

The room for experimentation is quite limited. A/B testing will bring almost no result here. And running it will require huge costs. So you need to make sure in advance that the ad will work. Accordingly, you need to test this either through separate projects or through other ad networks with similar formats. 

And considering that the formats are more suitable for brand building, measuring ROI will be quite difficult. In fact, you will have to work almost blindly. And with a limited budget, this is simply unacceptable. 

Conclusion 

TikTok continues to surprise in 2026, but the new formats are a “major league” game. They deliver massive reach and native placement, but their price bites hard and they require direct contact with the platform. 

For big brands and powerful E-commerce teams, these are must-have tools that can help build image and awareness. Regular affiliates should keep their finger on the pulse for now, avoid burning budgets blindly, and wait for the first cases from experienced colleagues. 

What do you think about the update? Share your thoughts in our Telegram community, where we always discuss fresh ways to generate traffic! 

Sincerely, Your Geek! 

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