[Brian Moore]

I got quite a few responses after my previous post looking for a TikTok Ads Manager, and now I'm trying to figure out how to choose the right person. Some people have experience with TikTok ads, while others are also offering to manage my TikTok account and post videos regularly.
Since I don't have much time to handle everything myself, having someone who can manage both ads and regular content would be ideal.

I'm getting different prices and approaches, so I'm not sure what I should focus on before making a final decision. I'm thinking about checking their previous work, results, communication, and maybe starting with a small campaign before committing long-term.

For those who have hired TikTok Ads Managers before, what did you look for when choosing someone, and were there any red flags you wish you'd noticed earlier? Would appreciate any advice before I decide.

 

[vlutz731]

I’d look more at previous results and communication than price. Someone who can explain what they did, why they did it, and what they learned from failed campaigns is usually a better sign than someone promising guaranteed results.

 

[Menuga Buchanan]

Ask them for real examples of campaigns they’ve managed. They don't necessarily need to show private client information, but they should be able to explain the campaign goal, budget range, strategy, testing process, and outcome.

 

[abaker649]

I’d definitely start with a small test campaign. You’ll learn a lot from how they communicate, report results, and handle changes before giving them full control of the account.

 

[Wandacervantes]

Since you also need someone to post content, I’d probably choose a person who understands both organic TikTok and paid ads. The two sides can work together, especially when you can identify which organic videos are getting attention and test similar concepts through ads.

 

[mbarnes893]

Don't automatically go with the cheapest offer. I made that mistake once with another advertising service and ended up spending more fixing the campaign afterward. Look for someone who can clearly explain their process rather than just saying, “I can get you sales.”

 

[JeffreyRodriguez4]

I would ask how they handle creative testing. TikTok is very creative-driven, so I’d want to know how often they test different hooks, videos, captions, and audiences. If their entire strategy is just setting up one campaign and letting it run, that would concern me.

 

[lvelazquez191]

Before hiring anyone, ask them what they would do during their first 7–14 days. Their answer should give you an idea of whether they actually have a process or are just trying to get your business.

 

[etrevino]

Personally, I’d rather pay a little more for someone who has relevant experience in my niche. Someone can be excellent at TikTok ads generally but still struggle if they don't understand your audience or type of product.

 

[PeggyGates]

One red flag for me would be someone promising a specific ROAS or guaranteed number of sales before even looking at the product, landing page, budget, and previous data. Nobody can realistically guarantee those results without understanding the whole situation.

 

[jvelasquez474]

If you're giving them access to the account, make sure you understand exactly what access they're requesting. I'd be careful about giving unnecessary permissions, especially at the beginning. Start with only what they actually need to perform the job.

 

[BrittanyHill]

I'd ask for references if possible. Even one or two previous clients who can confirm that the person was reliable and communicated well would tell me more than a fancy portfolio.

 

[eturner451]

I think communication is seriously underrated. You don't want someone who disappears for five days and then sends a report full of numbers you don't understand. You need someone who can tell you what happened, why it happened, and what they're changing next.

 

[jriley312]

Since you don't have time to post regularly, I'd make the content responsibilities very clear before hiring. Ask whether they are only scheduling videos or actually helping with content ideas, editing, captions, posting, and performance analysis.

 

[ajohnson295]

My approach would be simple: interview a few people, ask the same questions, check their previous work, and start with a manageable test. The right manager should make you feel confident and informed, not pressured into signing immediately.

 

[bmoore540]

I’d compare candidates based on experience + strategy + communication + price, in that order. Price matters, but it shouldn't be the first thing you look at when they're handling your advertising budget.

 

[Wandacervantes]

I'd avoid hiring based purely on screenshots. Screenshots can be useful, but they don't tell the whole story. Ask about the campaign objective, starting point, ad spend, testing period, and whether the results were sustainable.

 

[jchristian481]

I had a similar situation when I hired someone for ads. The person looked impressive during the sales conversation, but once they started working, communication became difficult. My advice is to pay attention to how they communicate before hiring, because that's usually a good preview of what comes later.

 

[tgarcia490]

I'd choose someone who asks you a lot of questions before giving you a proposal. If they don't ask about your product, audience, previous campaigns, budget, goals, and content, I'd wonder how they can create a proper strategy.

 

[etrevino]

If you already have videos that perform well organically, I'd mention that to the candidates. Someone experienced should be able to explain how they would use your existing content data to guide the paid strategy rather than starting completely blind.