Snapchat vs. TikTok Ads

Snapchat Ads vs. TikTok Ads – Which Drove Better Results?
By Siraj Dawar, Digital Marketing Manager

Client Overview

Industry: Fashion & Accessories (Streetwear Brand)
 Location: US
 Goal: Increase brand awareness and drive online sales among Gen Z and Millennials.

Challenges Faced

🔹 The client had a strong social media presence but struggled with paid ad performance.
 🔹 They had never used Snapchat Ads or TikTok Ads, despite having a young target audience.
 🔹 Previous Meta and Google Ads brought in expensive conversions and lower engagement.
 🔹 Needed a strategy to boost brand virality and lower customer acquisition costs.

Strategic Approach

Snapchat Ads – High-Intent Engagement & AR Try-Ons

Objective:

Utilize Snapchat’s Augmented Reality (AR) and Story Ads to create an interactive shopping experience.

 Snapchat AR Lens Ads:

Created an AR filter where users could “try on” sunglasses virtually.


  Snap Story Ads:

Placed full-screen, visually striking ads between organic stories.


  Collection Ads:

Allowed users to browse multiple products within Snapchat itself.


  Audience Targeting:

Focused on 18-30-year-old fashion enthusiasts in UAE.

Results:

  Swipe-Up Rate: 4.9% (higher than the platform average of 3%)
  CPC: 30% lower than Meta Ads
  ROAS: 2.8X (for every $1 spent, $2.80 was earned)
  AR Lens Engagement: Over 15,000 interactions within the first week!

 

Why It Worked:
Snapchat users love interactive experiences, and the AR try-on feature led to a higher purchase intent.

TikTok Ads – Viral Brand Awareness & Cost-Effective Conversions

Objective:

Leverage TikTok’s high engagement rate and influencer-driven culture to generate sales.

 TikTok Spark Ads:

Used existing influencer videos as paid ads for a more organic feel.
  Hook-Based Creative Strategy: Videos started with bold hooks like “This is why everyone is wearing THIS hoodie!”

  Hashtag Challenge:

Launched #StreetwearChallenge, encouraging users to showcase their outfits.


  Trend-Based Ads: Leveraged popular fashion transition trends and TikTok music.

Results:
  Engagement Rate: 8.2% (well above industry average of 4.5%)
  CPC: 40% lower than Snapchat Ads
  ROAS: 3.6X (highest among all platforms)
  Organic Boost: Over 250,000 views from paid + organic reach combined!

Why It Worked:
TikTok thrives on community-driven trends. The challenge + influencer marketing led to massive brand exposure at a low ad cost.

Final Performance Breakdown

Key Takeaways

Snapchat Ads are powerful for interactive shopping experiences. The AR lens increased purchase intent, but costs were slightly higher.
  TikTok Ads delivered the highest ROAS due to viral trends and influencer content.
  Combining both platforms created a full-funnel strategy, leading to a 72% increase in total online sales!

Final Verdict:

  • Use Snapchat Ads if you want high engagement & interactive shopping features (AR, filters, etc.).
  • Use TikTok Ads if you want low-cost, viral reach, and influencer-driven conversions.