How To Create Facebook Lookalike Audiences

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating Facebook Lookalike Audiences, a powerful tool for targeting new customers who resemble your existing ones. Given the changes implemented by the iOS 14 update, many advertisers have found it challenging to achieve positive results with these audiences. However, with the right approach, you can effectively leverage Lookalike Audiences for your Facebook ads.

Step 1: Understanding Facebook Lookalike Audiences

• Facebook Lookalike Audiences allow you to target new users who are similar to your existing customers.
• They are powerful because they help you reach potential customers who share characteristics with those already engaged with your business, increasing the likelihood of conversions.

Step 2: Creating a Source Audience

• A source audience is the basis for your Lookalike Audience and can be made up of:
  • Customer lists
  • Email lists
  • Website visitors
  • Engagement from video views or lead forms
• To create a source audience:
  1. Go to the Audiences section in Facebook Ads Manager.
  2. Click on "Create Audience" and select "Custom Audience."
  3. Choose the appropriate source type (e.g., customer list, website traffic).

Step 3: Creating a Customer List Lookalike Audience

• If you have a list of customers, follow these steps:
  1. Format your customer list in a CSV or TXT file.
  2. Upload the file to Facebook Ads Manager as a Custom Audience.
  3. Once the audience is created, select it and click "Create Lookalike Audience."
  4. Choose the location and audience size (1% to 10% of the target population).

Step 4: Creating an Email List Lookalike Audience

• Similar to the customer list, you can use your email subscribers:
  1. Prepare your email list in a CSV format.
  2. Upload it as a Custom Audience.
  3. Create a Lookalike Audience from this list by following the same steps as above.

Step 5: Creating a Website Visitor Lookalike Audience

• To target users who visited your website:
  1. Set up the Facebook Pixel on your website to track visitors.
  2. Go to Audiences in Ads Manager and create a Custom Audience based on website traffic.
  3. Generate a Lookalike Audience from this visitor data.

Step 6: Creating a Video Viewer Lookalike Audience

• Target users who engaged with your videos:
  1. Select "Engagement" as your source audience type.
  2. Choose video views as the engagement criteria.
  3. Create a Lookalike Audience from those who watched your videos.

Step 7: Creating a Lead Form Lookalike Audience

• Use leads generated from forms:
  1. Create a Custom Audience from your lead form submissions.
  2. Generate a Lookalike Audience based on this audience.

Step 8: Creating an Instagram Account Lookalike Audience

• Target users similar to your Instagram followers:
  1. Choose "Engagement" and select your Instagram account as the source.
  2. Create a Lookalike Audience from this engagement data.

Step 9: Creating a Facebook Page Lookalike Audience

• Utilize your Facebook page followers:
  1. Select your Facebook page as the source audience.
  2. Create a Lookalike Audience based on user engagement with your page.

Step 10: Configuring Lookalike Audience Settings

• When creating your Lookalike Audience, consider:
  • Audience size: Smaller percentages (1%) target users more closely matching your source audience.
  • Location: Ensure you target the correct geographical area for your business.

Step 11: Implementing Lookalike Audiences in Ad Sets

• To use your Lookalike Audience in an ad campaign:
  1. Go to Ads Manager and create a new ad set.
  2. Under the audience section, select your Lookalike Audience.
  3. Adjust other targeting options as needed.

Step 12: Using Lookalike Audiences for Local Businesses

• Local businesses can effectively use Lookalike Audiences by:
  • Targeting users within a specific radius of their location.
  • Creating Lookalike Audiences based on local customer data to attract similar users.

Conclusion

Creating and utilizing Facebook Lookalike Audiences can significantly enhance your advertising strategy. By understanding different audience types and effectively configuring their settings, you can reach new customers who are likely to convert. Start by identifying your source audiences, then follow the steps outlined to create targeted Lookalike Audiences that align with your business goals. Consider testing different audience variations to find the most effective combinations for your campaigns.