How to Use Facebook Custom Audiences: A Step-by-Step Guide

With 2.82 billion daily active users, Facebook has a big and different viewers. Not everybody suits your buyer persona, and that’s why you want to use Facebook Custom Audiences.
As a result of it’s actually unhappy when a superb advert is considered by the improper viewers!
By no means once more. As an alternative, create laser-targeted ads to attain the Facebook customers who’re almost certainly to be all in favour of your online business. This permits you to decrease your advert spend and maximize ROI.
Preserve studying for a step-by-step information on how to discover the precise viewers on the lookout for your services or products.
Bonus: Download a free guide that teaches you how to turn Facebook traffic into sales in four simple steps using Hootsuite.
What is a Facebook Custom Audience?
Facebook Custom Audiences are highly defined groups of people who already have a relationship with your business. These groups likely include past customers and people who have visited your website or installed your app.
Even better, Customer Audiences can create lookalike audiences – new potential fans, followers, and customers who share key characteristics of your existing audience.
Basically, it offers some of the best ad targeting available.
But not everyone is a fan of data sharing. Some argue it’s an invasion of data privacy.
That’s why Apple changed its policy with the iOS 14.5 update to flip off the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) by default.
The IDFA tracked person conduct inside apps – making it simpler to create highly-targeted adverts.
With the brand new Apple replace, customers are prompted to opt-in or opt-out of knowledge sharing for every app they use.
To date solely 25% of users have opted in to knowledge sharing. With out the default IDFA setting, advertisers and app builders are drastically restricted in monitoring person exercise.
How does it have an effect on Facebook Custom Audiences?
Chances are you’ll discover outcomes lower, and you might have considered trying to take into account different methods if that’s the case for you.
Facebook recommends utilizing a broad audience or targeting expansion to meet your marketing campaign targets. You can even discover extra detailed steerage here.
Regardless, Facebook Custom Audiences can nonetheless show you how to attain your best clients, and there are many methods to join with them.
Forms of Custom Audiences
There are literally a number of methods to construct a Custom Viewers. Let’s evaluate the kinds and sources for making a Facebook Custom Viewers.
Custom Audiences from buyer lists
Buyer lists are an viewers who’ve already proven an curiosity in your online business or product. However the supply doesn’t come from Facebook engagement or Meta Pixel.
As an alternative, you inform Facebook “identifiers” you’ve collected out of your viewers. Examples embody the e-mail deal with of a publication subscriber or previous clients who’ve shared their telephone numbers with you.
These are individuals who have engaged with your online business ultimately, however Facebook has no method to determine them till you add a buyer listing.
Remember that there are plenty of knowledge privateness guidelines round buyer lists. Listed here are some facets to take into account:
- You may solely add knowledge from clients who’ve consented to their data getting used for advertising functions
- You may’t use a bought buyer listing or knowledge you’ve gathered from different web sites
- If somebody opts out of your e mail listing, you want to take away them out of your Custom Viewers too
- Verify Facebook’s Terms of Service to guarantee compliance
Custom Audiences out of your web site
As soon as you put in the Meta Pixel in your web site, it might probably match your web site guests to their Facebook profiles.
You should utilize this data to create Custom Audiences that focus on:
- All web site guests
- Individuals who have visited a particular product web page or product class.
- Latest web site guests by selecting a timeframe for the way far again you need to go
If you happen to haven’t put in the Meta Pixel but, you’re lacking out on this wealthy supply of knowledge. Try our full guide to using the Meta Pixel to get it arrange in your web site.
Custom Audiences out of your cellular app
Need to get to know the folks utilizing your app? There’s a Custom Viewers for that.
All you want to do is register your app and arrange the Meta SDK and log app occasions on the Meta for developers site.
(If that sounds too techy for you, discuss to your app developer to show you how to out with these preliminary steps.)
One of these Custom Viewers is usually a nice foundation for app engagement campaigns. Some targets embody:
- Individuals who have downloaded your app however might not be utilizing it but
- Individuals who have made in-app purchases
- Individuals who have achieved a sure degree in your sport
Engagement Custom Audiences
An Engagement Custom Viewers is made up of people that have interacted together with your content material throughout Meta applied sciences like Facebook or Instagram.
These folks have performed particular actions like:
- Considered a video
- Adopted a Facebook web page
- Clicked on an advert
- Responded to an occasion as “”
Whereas Facebook retains monitor of those actions, you may also create a setting to refresh the viewers, say, each 30 days.
This implies solely individuals who have engaged together with your content material prior to now 30 days might be a part of your Engagement Custom Viewers. It helps make sure you’re nonetheless related to the folks viewing your adverts.
How to create customized audiences in Facebook
For all Custom Viewers sorts, you’ll begin by opening your Facebook audiences web page in Advertisements Supervisor and clicking “Create a Custom Viewers”.
(If you happen to’ve created an advert earlier than, you’ll see a dropdown menu as a substitute of a button.)
From right here, the method relies on what sort of Custom Viewers you need to create.
How to create a Facebook customized viewers from a buyer listing
1. Put together a buyer listing prematurely.
You present Facebook the data in your clients, so that you’ll want to create a CSV or TXT file of “identifiers” (equivalent to an e mail deal with) to assist it match your data to Facebook profiles.
Fortunately, Facebook has a information on how to format your customer list to get the very best matches.
2. Select a Custom Viewers Supply.
You’ll be introduced with quite a lot of choices on the place the supply of your data comes from.
Choose “Buyer listing” and transfer on to the subsequent step.
3. Import buyer listing.
If you happen to ready a CSV or TXT file, then you may add it right here.
You’ll additionally identify your Custom Viewers at this level. If you happen to’re utilizing MailChimp, you’ve gotten the choice to import it immediately from there.
4. Assessment your buyer listing.
Facebook will let if there are any errors in your listing. This provides you a second probability to guarantee your listing is appropriately mapped.
When you’ve reviewed your listing, you may faucet “Add & Create”.
Facebook will let when your Custom Viewers is prepared to use for advert campaigns or to create lookalike audiences.
How to create a Facebook customized viewers from web site guests
1. Set up Meta Pixel or guarantee it’s energetic.
Your web site guests can solely flip right into a Custom Viewers if Meta Pixel is put in in your web site.
If you happen to need assistance, take a look at our guide on using Meta Pixel on your website.
2. Select a Custom Viewers Supply.
You’ll be introduced with quite a lot of choices on the place the supply of your data comes from.
Choose “Web site” and transfer on to the subsequent step.
3. Set guidelines.
That is the enjoyable half. You’ll select the supply, occasions, retention interval, and inclusive/unique guidelines.
Among the guidelines you may create or choose embody:
- Goal all web site guests
- Goal individuals who visited particular pages or web sites
- Goal guests primarily based on time spent in your web site
- Timeframe of how lengthy folks will keep within the customized viewers after their final web site go to
- Embody a distinct set of tourists
- Exclude a particular set of tourists
4. Identify and describe the Custom Viewers.
To make it simpler to monitor all the Custom Audiences you’re making, give clear names to each.
You may write a fast description for additional clarification if wanted.
5. Choose “Create viewers”.
Ta-Da! Facebook will put together your Custom Viewers primarily based in your web site visitors and designated guidelines.
How to create a cellular app Custom Viewers
1. Register your app and arrange the SDK.
Earlier than you start, you want to set the stage. You’ll want to follow these steps to register your app with Facebook.
After which you may set up the SDK to monitor “App occasions” or particular actions your customers take in your cellular app. Chances are you’ll want a developer’s assist for this step.
2. Select a Custom Viewers Supply.
You’ll be introduced with quite a lot of choices on the place the supply of your data comes from.
Choose “App exercise” and transfer on to the subsequent step.
3. Choose App from the Supply dropdown.
4. Choose app occasions for Custom Viewers.
From the dropdown menu, select which actions or “app occasions” will qualify somebody for this Custom Viewers.
Some examples embody:
- Opened your app
- Achieved a degree
- Added their cost data
- Made an in-app buy
You can even select to embody or exclude folks primarily based on their app occasions.
5. Refine particular particulars.
You may get hyper-specific on this step. For instance, perhaps you don’t need to goal everybody who made an in-app buy.
You may want to deal with individuals who spent a certain quantity. You may arrange these guidelines right here.
6. Identify and describe the Custom Viewers.
To make it simpler to monitor all the Custom Audiences you’re making, give clear names to each.
You may write a fast description for additional clarification if wanted.
7. Choose “Create viewers”.
You’re completed! Facebook will do the remainder of the work to create your Custom Viewers primarily based in your specs.
It could take up to an hour to accumulate all previous customers who meet your standards.
How to create an engagement Custom Viewers
1. Select a Custom Viewers Supply.
You’ll be introduced with quite a lot of choices from Meta Sources.
For this instance, we’re deciding on “Facebook Web page”. Decide what Meta Supply you might be utilizing and transfer on to the subsequent step.
2. Set guidelines.
Relying in your Meta Supply, you’ll select occasions, outline retention intervals, and create inclusion/exclusion guidelines.
For a Facebook web page, you may select occasions like:
- Liking or following your web page
- Participating together with your web page
- Viewing your web page
- Commenting or liking an advert
- Clicking a call-to-action button on an advert
- Sending a message to your web page
- Saving a submit
Additionally, you will choose how lengthy folks will keep on this Custom Viewers after triggering the occasion, and you’ll determine if any folks ought to be included or excluded from this Custom Viewers.
3. Identify and describe the Custom Viewers.
To make it simpler to monitor all the Custom Audiences you’re making, give clear names to each.
As earlier than, write a fast description for additional clarification if wanted.
4. Choose “Create viewers”.
When you’re prepared, Facebook will create your Custom Viewers primarily based in your specs. Then you should use it in your subsequent advert marketing campaign.
How to use your Facebook Custom Audiences
There’s plenty of technical element in constructing the correct advert marketing campaign. However you additionally want to assume strategically about how to use Facebook Custom Audiences to maximize your advert spend.
Listed here are some concepts:
Retargeting campaigns
Retargeting is an efficient method to remind previous guests about companies they’re all in favour of and encourage them to take motion like making a purchase order.
McBride Sisters Assortment, a Black-owned wine firm, used retargeting to rekindle consideration from lapsed clients.
The purchasers had been pulled from the corporate’s buyer relationship administration (CRM) database after which had been delivered dynamic adverts on its wine assortment.
The general marketing campaign noticed a 58% lift in purchases.
Interact repeat clients
Current clients already know and belief your model – so advertising to them can produce a lot greater conversion charges than attempting to attain individuals who haven’t purchased from you earlier than.
Turning informal clients into repeat clients is an economical method to develop your gross sales.
Clinique US used Custom Audiences to present its dynamic adverts to individuals who had beforehand engaged with the sweetness model.
The corporate additionally selected to create a lookalike viewers that shared traits with previous product purchasers and repeat clients.
The general advert marketing campaign noticed a 5.2 point lift in action intent with mixed people- and product-focused adverts.
Improve app engagement
If you happen to’re operating an advert to improve app engagement, there’s no level in displaying the advert to individuals who have but to obtain your app.
With a Custom Viewers of people that have already got your app downloaded, you may goal your advert successfully, serving to you to get the utmost affect in your funds.
Develop your Facebook following
Model consciousness builds the inspiration of your advertising funnel. Creating focused adverts is a vital facet of creating folks conscious and all in favour of your product or enterprise.
Use a Facebook advert with a Custom Viewers primarily based on web site guests or a buyer listing to promote your Facebook Web page to this extremely focused group.
Simply ensure that to exclude individuals who have already appreciated your Web page, so that you don’t pay to attain present Facebook followers.
Use lookalike audiences
Custom Audiences are used to make lookalike audiences – a bunch of people that share related traits to your Custom Viewers.
In principle, a lookalike viewers is extra seemingly to have an interest within the services and products you provide in contrast to a broad viewers.
Liquid I.V., an electrolyte drink combine, used Custom Audiences for individuals who had bought prior to now, added an merchandise to their purchasing cart, or engaged on social media.
Liquid I.V. additionally took its buyer listing to create lookalike audiences primarily based on traits shared with on-line product purchasers.
The general advert marketing campaign led to a 19 point lift in ad recall.
How to develop your Custom Viewers
There’s worth in increasing your Custom Audiences since they put your advert in entrance of extra focused potential followers, followers, and clients.
Listed here are some methods to broaden your listing.
Use Facebook Advert sorts successfully
To develop your Custom Viewers, you want folks to have interaction together with your adverts, social media profiles, or web site.
When it comes to Facebook ads, you must guarantee you’ve gotten a Custom Viewers ready to monitor the individuals who have interaction together with your adverts.
This automates the method of guaranteeing no potential follower goes unnoticed, and you’ll create retargeting adverts for them.
One other method to develop your Custom Viewers is to deal with the Consciousness goal. This helps you attain a bigger variety of folks inside your goal group.
Take a look at and tweak your adverts for max conversion
Typically you want to experiment together with your adverts to discover what resonates with folks probably the most. The simpler your advert, the extra rapidly you’ll construct your Custom Viewers.
We’ve bought an entire weblog submit on how to test and refine your social media ads, however listed below are some key components to check:
- Headline
- Advert textual content
- Hyperlink preview textual content
- Name to motion
- Picture or video
- Advert format
Use Facebook Viewers Insights
Analytics are nice and all, however you want actionable insights into your viewers. Facebook Audience Insights can offer you invaluable details about the demographics of your Custom Audiences. You may take these insights and use them to goal new audiences. Ideally, the brand new viewers will have interaction together with your adverts or content material after which develop into a part of your Engagement Custom Viewers.
Want some further Facebook advert inspiration? We bought you. Listed here are 22 Facebook ad examples to get your artistic juices flowing.
Handle your Facebook presence alongside your different social media channels utilizing Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you may schedule posts, share video, have interaction your viewers, and measure the affect of your efforts. Attempt it free right now.