Video-sharing platform TikTok announced on Thursday that, as part of its expansion strategy in Pakistan, it had launched a “new self-serve advertising solution” to empower small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) to grow their brand.

According to a statement from TikTok, the move aims to “give local entrepreneurs, homegrown brands and growing businesses simple, flexible and cost-effective tools to connect with the platform’s highly engaged community.”

TikTok For Business Ads Manager is a self-service advertising platform which gives SMBs the tools to tap into the creativity of the TikTok community, reach new audiences, and optimise their marketing campaigns with an easy-to-use platform.

“This launch builds on TikTok’s ongoing commitment to empowering local entrepreneurs through initiatives such as the #GrowWithTikTok Masterclass, which has already equipped Pakistani SMBs with practical training, creative tools, and best practices to grow their presence on the platform,” the statement said.

It also shared that a recent global study found 73 per cent of TikTok users said they found new products that they had never considered before through ads on TikTok, and 78pc said they had found new brands they hadn’t heard of before.

“With TikTok’s self-service Ads Manager, businesses of all sizes can now create campaigns, manage budgets and optimise performance through an easy-to-use interface, with no specialist experience required.”

It further said, “As more Pakistani consumers use TikTok to discover products, reviews and trends, these new tools give SMBs a powerful way to join the conversation and expand their visibility even beyond the country. “

Baris Aldanmaz, TikTok’s head of global business solutions for Turkiye, Central and Southern Asia, hailed Pakistan’s small businesses as “some of the most creative in the region.

“TikTok is proud to support their growth,” he said.

“On TikTok, brands can create meaningful content that sparks conversation and connects with communities. With TikTok for Business Ads Manager, it’s now easier than ever for SMBs to reach new audiences, tell their stories and grow, whether they’re a neighbourhood store, a fashion label, or an online start-up,” he added.

TikTok further highlighted its product’s rousing features, from powerful creative tools to a performance targeting mechanism.

The company said that its creative tools were designed to “enable every marketer to embrace the creativity and authenticity of the TikTok community.”

“Everyone has the opportunity to tell their story, and TikTok’s creative tools help brands represent the most authentic version of their brand,” said the social media platform.

TikTok Ads Manager was designed to be set up for every level of expertise, rapidly.

“Flexible budgets allow businesses to adjust their spending at any time.”

Its performance targeting mechanism is capable to increase the visibility of brands.

“Intelligent targeting enables businesses to get discovered by new engaged audiences.”

The company said that “more and more brands are realising TikTok’s unique ability to reach and engage with a broader audience, and today’s launch of new advertising solutions for SMBs makes it seamless, easy, and efficient for all brands to now meaningfully connect with the TikTok community.”