Ad codes (or adcodes) are essential tools for UGC marketers and influencer marketing professionals. 

With the right ad codes, you can elevate authentic creator content into paid ads that scale, track, and convert.

This guide explains what ad codes are, why they matter in UGC marketing, and gives you precise, professional steps to generate them for Instagram and TikTok. 

You’ll get a definitive, no-fluff ad codes walkthrough for UGC marketers on generating and utilizing ad codes on Instagram and TikTok, as well as:

• The strategic importance of adcodes
• The prerequisites for a smooth workflow
• The exact step-by-step process for both creators and brands. 

Master this ad code generation guide to streamline your operations, enhance ad authenticity, and unlock superior campaign performance.

Let’s dive in.

Understanding UGC Marketing

Relying on creators to send you video files for you to upload as a new ad is an obsolete strategy. This is where UGC marketing comes in. 

UGC marketing stands for user-generated content marketing, a search intelligence technique. It’s a marketing approach that utilizes authentic content created by real users or creators, rather than polished, brand-produced creatives. 

In modern marketing, where authenticity is paramount, UGC marketing thrives on trust, relatability, and peer-like social proof.

There are several reasons why UGC marketing is powerful:

• Audiences engage more with creator-style content than with slick brand ads, which increases search visibility as guided by Google E.E.A.T.
   
• UGC tends to blend into feeds more naturally, reducing ad fatigue.
   
• Platforms reward authentic engagement, so UGC often outperforms in metrics like comments, saves, and shares.
   
• Influencer marketing is a key component of UGC marketing: creators produce content, and marketers scale it.
   
• It’s a search intelligence technique for your products to get increased visibility.
   

However, without ad codes, UGC remains dependent on organic reach. With ad codes, UGC marketers gain paid amplification, precise targeting, and measurable performance. 

That’s why professional UGC marketing demands mastery of ad codes. 

What Are Ad Codes?

An ad code (also spelled ad code) is a unique authorization identifier that links an influencer’s organic content to an advertiser’s account. 

Ad codes are unique strings of text that link a creator's organic post directly to a brand's advertising account.

It enables brands or UGC marketers to run paid campaigns using creator content, preserving the authenticity of UGC while allowing for targeted, optimized, and tracked results.

Instagram uses branded content tools via Meta Ads Manager. TikTok uses Spark Ads (also called video codes or post authorization codes). 

Ad codes differ from ordinary influencer posts. Without an ad code, a post remains entirely organic. With an ad code, the influencer’s post can be amplified as an ad, while retaining creator attribution and social proof. 

Simply put, ad codes bridge the gap between influencer marketing and performance marketing. 

Why Ad Codes Matter for UGC Marketers

Adcodes deliver three core benefits for UGC marketers:

1. Access to creator content for paid media
   Ad codes grant advertiser permission to run creator posts as ads. This unlocks high-performing UGC for scalable campaigns.
    
2. Control and targeting
   You can target, split-test, retarget, and optimize creator content just like any other ad creative. Adcodes enable that control within Meta and TikTok ad ecosystems.
    
3. Measurement & optimization
   Each adcoded post appears in ad dashboards. You can analyze performance, iterate quickly, and allocate budget toward the best-performing creator content.
    

If you’re a UGC marketer or influencer marketing manager, adcodes are not optional — they’re core. They transform influencer content into performance-grade ad units. 

How to Generate Ad Codes for Instagram

Here’s a clear, step-by-step process for Instagram adcodes:

1. Influencer enables branded content tools
   The creator must have branded content functionality enabled on Instagram. This allows tagging of business partners and ad authorization.
    
2. Approve creator in Business Manager
   The brand (or advertiser) must approve the creator in Meta Business Manager. Without approval, the adcode link won’t be valid.
    
3. Create or locate the creator’s post
   The influencer publishes a post (or Reel) and tags the brand via the branded content tag.
    
4. Generate the adcode in Meta Ads Manager
   Once creator approval is live, the advertiser goes to Meta Ads Manager, selects the post under “Use Existing Post” (or “Use Branded Content Post”), and the adcode is implicitly tied to the branded content ID. The advertiser may not always see a distinct “generate code” button — it is handled internally via the branded content ID.
   (Note: Meta’s interface may evolve, so confirm branded content on the post is approved before selecting the post for ads.)
    
5. Apply the ad code in campaign creation
   Use “existing post” creative, pick the influencer’s post, and run your ad campaign using it. The branded content ad code ensures the influencer’s handle and post attribution are preserved.
    
6. Launch and monitor
   Launch the campaign. Monitor via Meta Ads dashboard. Use the performance data to optimize, adjust budgets, or pause underperforming UGC creatives.
    

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Forgetting to whitelist or approve the creator in Business Manager.
   
• Choosing the wrong Instagram page or business account.
   
• Launching ads before the branded content tag is approved.
   
• Not aligning the post caption, visuals, and CTA with ad objectives. 

How to Generate Ad Codes for TikTok

Here’s how to generate adcodes for TikTok Spark Ads:

1. Creator enables Ad Authorization (Spark Ads)
   In the TikTok app, the creator goes to their video, taps the “…” menu → Ad Settings (or Ad Authorization) → toggles on Ad authorization.   They then generate a video code (spark ad code) and choose an authorization duration (e.g. 7, 30, 60, 365 days). (TikTok Ads, Intercom)
    
2. Copy the video code
   Once generated, the creator copies the video code and shares it with the advertiser or UGC marketer. (TikTok Ads, Intercom, Reddit)
    
3. Advertiser enters the ad code in TikTok Ads Manager
   In TikTok Ads Manager → Tools → Creative Library → Spark Ads Posts → Apply Authorization → paste the video code → the creator’s post appears in the library. (TikTok Ads, Intercom)
    
4. Create the Spark Ads campaign
   Use the creator’s post as ad creative under the advertiser’s account. Choose objectives, budgeting, targeting, then launch the ad. TikTok runs it under the creator’s handle, preserving engagement metrics. (TikTok Ads, Intercom)
    
5. Monitor and optimize
   Track performance in TikTok Ads dashboard. Pause or scale based on results.
    

Key checks for TikTok:

• Confirm the authorization duration (video code expiry). If it expires, the ad stops working. 
• Confirm creator’s video caption is final (TikTok doesn’t allow caption edits after Spark Ad authorization).  )
   
• Ensure the creator remains compliant with TikTok ad policies and disclosures. 

Best Practices for UGC Marketers Using Adcodes

To maximize ROI and avoid friction, follow these best practices:

• Align early with creators
  Discuss adcodes (Instagram branded content or TikTok Spark video codes) during the creator brief. Clarify timeline, permissions, authorization durations, and attribution.
   
• Name and track your adcodes
  Create a simple shared spreadsheet (or project tool) with adcodes, creator names, post URLs, authorization duration, campaign name, and expiration date.
   
• Use consistent naming conventions
  Example: CampaignName_CreatorName_Date or IG_BC_CreatorName_MMDD, TT_Spark_Creator_MMDD.
   
• Manage expiry proactively
  Build reminders to renew or request fresh video codes before expiration. Expired adcodes cause campaign pauses.
   
• Align content with ad goals
  Check that the creator's caption, video format, CTA, and style match your campaign objective. Mismatched content undermines performance.
   
• A/B test across creators
  Use multiple creators and adcodes to test performance. Allocate more budget to high-performing creator posts.
   
• Respect creator rights
  Always confirm rights, duration and limitations before running ads. Ensure usage aligns with agreed deliverables. (This reduces disagreements or unexpected deactivations.)
   
• Version control
  If you use the same creator post repeatedly, maintain version history (e.g. if caption or caption CTA is tweaked). This ensures you know which ad code version produced the best results. 

Common Challenges & Solutions

 

SEO & Competitive Insights

To ensure the article ranks well alongside competitor content:

• Use ad codes and adcodes repeatedly (but naturally) — especially in headings and early paragraphs.
   
• Mention both Instagram and TikTok ad code workflows clearly, since competition (e.g. TikTok Spark Ads guides, Ramdam Help Center) often covers one platform alone. (Intercom, TikTok Ads)
   
• Highlight the benefit for UGC marketers/influencer marketing — addressing both beginners and advanced users.
   
• Use short, active sentences and structure with headings for readability and SEO.
   
• Include examples of creator-authorization flows (e.g. “tap “…”, then “Generate Code””) drawn from official TikTok help docs. (TikTok Ads)
   
• Include actionable best practices and troubleshooting, which competitor content often lacks or only touches superficially.

Conclusion

Ad codes (or adcodes) are indispensable for UGC marketers and influencer marketing professionals. They unlock creator content for paid campaigns while preserving authenticity, attribution, and engagement.

On Instagram, adcodes flow through Meta’s branded content and Business Manager. On TikTok, they come via Spark Ads video codes and authorization toggles. Both platforms allow you to turn authentic creator content into measurable, scalable paid ad campaigns.

If you’re serious about UGC marketing or influencer marketing, mastering adcodes is a core skill. 

Begin integrating the ad code generation workflows into your campaigns, align early with creators, and optimize using performance data. With consistent use, adcodes will become central to your growth engine. 

Contact us at BoostSiteSEO to help you get started.