Should Hong Kong Advertisers Consider TikTok Advertising?

05/12/2025 Katrina Leung Optimize your media budgets

Even if it's banned locally? Yes—if you're thinking global.

Let’s clear the air first: TikTok is restricted in Hong Kong for users with local SIM cards. So no, your average HK-based customer probably isn’t scrolling TikTok on their lunch break.

But TikTok advertising is still a huge opportunity for Hong Kong-based brands. Why? Because the rest of Asia is on TikTok. So if you’re selling beyond HK—say, to Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia, or even the U.S.—you’re missing out if you’re not showing up on this platform.

Let’s dig into why TikTok might still be your next best advertising move.

Who Should Be Using TikTok Ads?

If you’re a Hong Kong-based business that wants to:

Sell to APAC markets (SEA, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, etc.)
Build visibility in international e-commerce
Promote products in lifestyle, fashion, skincare, tech, or food
Test fast, creative campaigns without blowing your whole budget...

Then TikTok advertising is 100% worth exploring.

Even if you can't target local users, you can still run campaigns abroad through TikTok Ads Manager and TikTok for Business. You set the region. You control the audience. No need to be based in the market you're advertising to.

Is TikTok Advertising Effective?

TikTok isn’t just about viral dances anymore—it’s about discovery. People go there to find cool products, new brands, and fresh ideas. In fact:

The average user spends 90+ minutes a day on TikTok
The algorithm makes even small brands go viral
70% of users say they’ve discovered a new product on TikTok
The hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt has tens of billions of views

So yeah, people are not just watching...they’re buying!

What is FOOH？

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Best TikTok Ad Formats for Hong Kong Exporters

Here’s a cheat sheet of ad formats that work especially well for export-focused brands:

Ad Format	What It Does	When To Use It
In-Feed Ads	Native video ads that blend into the feed	Product pushes, promos, limited offers
TopView Ads	Full-screen video when app opens	Big announcements, launches, wow factor
Branded Hashtag Challenges	Campaigns that invite user content	Viral campaigns, giveaways, trends
Spark Ads	Boosts existing content or influencer posts	Best for repurposing good organic content
Branded Effects	Custom filters/stickers users can play with	For playful, youth-driven campaigns

With HK$80–150/day, you can start running TikTok ads and test waters in a new market.

Real Example: CASETiFY

CASETiFY started in Hong Kong making custom phone cases—and now it’s one of the most recognizable tech accessory brands worldwide. Part of that growth? TikTok advertising.

Instead of sticking to polished ad campaigns, CASETiFY leaned into TikTok’s native style:

Real creators unboxing their cases
Drop tests from absurd heights
Satisfying “snap” sounds when the phone clicks in
Bold aesthetics and limited-edition collabs (hello, BTS and One Piece)

CASETiFY amplified this content using Spark Ads, pushing organic videos from creators across target markets like the US, Singapore, and Australia. The result?

Massive engagement (millions of views)
TikTok searches like “casetify drop test” and “casetify case unboxing” skyrocketed
A brand that feels as viral as the platform itself

So, Should You Do TikTok Advertising?

If you're a local Hong Kong brand selling to other regions, the answer is yes.

TikTok is a playground where small brands can look big—and where a single creative video can outperform months of traditional advertising. It’s not about going viral. It’s about showing up where your future customers already are.