[kmaddox460]

I wouldn't expect the first campaign to be perfect. I'd be more interested in whether the person tests, learns, and improves. A good manager should be able to explain what didn't work and what they're going to change instead of blaming the platform every time.

 

[mbrown975]

Get everything in writing before starting. Make sure you both understand the management fee, ad budget, content responsibilities, reporting frequency, contract length, and cancellation terms. Most problems I've seen happen because both sides had different expectations.

 

[mbrown975]

Don't confuse ad spend with management fees. Make sure you know exactly how much goes to TikTok advertising and how much you're paying the manager. I've seen people get confused about this after starting campaigns.

 

[Terry Moore]

Since you need regular posting too, I would ask for a sample weekly content plan before hiring. It doesn't have to be a full strategy, but seeing how they think about content can help you separate someone experienced from someone simply trying to get the job.

 

[mmitchell959]

I'd probably interview the top two or three candidates instead of choosing from DMs immediately. Give each person the same basic information and ask what they would do. The differences in their answers can be surprisingly useful when deciding.

 

[CynthiaRussell78]

A lower-priced beginner isn't necessarily a bad choice if you're willing to start small. If they are honest about their experience, communicate well, and are willing to prove themselves with a small project, it could be worth testing. Just don't hand over a large budget immediately.

 

[AllisonGonzalez47]

Ask how they plan content. If their answer is basically “send me videos whenever you have them,” that doesn't really solve your problem. You need someone who can help keep the account active.

 

[VictorBonillaS]

I’d ask for a clear breakdown of what you are paying for. Management, editing, posting, strategy, reporting, and ad spend should all be clearly separated.

 

[DavidHall42]

Ask them how they test creatives. TikTok is heavily dependent on the actual video, so I’d want someone who understands hooks, retention, different angles, and testing rather than only audience targeting.

 

[SharonAcevedo]

I’d ask for previous work, but don't expect them to reveal confidential client information. They should still be able to explain their strategy and show some kind of evidence that they've managed campaigns successfully.

 

[cjohnson522]

Since you need help with posting too, make sure you define exactly what “account management” means. Some people mean scheduling your videos, while others mean creating content ideas, editing, captions, posting, and checking analytics.

 

[Brian Moore]

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.

Exactly! Experience and strategy should come before price when someone is managing your advertising budget.

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.

I agree! Communication during the hiring process often gives you a good idea of what working together will be like.

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.

Absolutely! A good manager should understand your business and goals before suggesting a strategy.

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.

That's a great suggestion! Existing organic video performance can provide useful clues about what might work in paid campaigns.