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How to create Customer List Custom Audience

Learn how to create a Customer List Custom Audience in Ad Manager. Upload a CSV or use Smart Lists, and choose static or dynamic syncing for retargeting.

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  1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
  2. Where to find the option to create custom audiences
  3. During Campaign Creation
  4. From Ad Manager Settings
  5. What is a Customer List Custom Audience?
  6. Overview
  7. Key Offerings
  8. Benefits
  9. How to create a Customer List Custom Audience
  10. 1. CSV Upload
  11. 2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic)
  12. Static Audience
  13. Dynamic Audience
  14. Important Notes

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This article explains the steps to create a Customer List Custom Audience in Ad Manager and how to use it during campaign creation, including the option to make audiences static or dynamic when using Smart Lists.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Where to find the option to create custom audiences

Custom audiences can be created in two ways in Ad Manager:

  1. During Campaign Creation

    • At the ad set level > under Audience Controls, go to the Intended Audience section.

      Step 1 of 2: At the ad set level > under Audience Controls, go to the Intended… What this shows Step 1 of 2: At the ad set level > under Audience Controls, go to the Intended Audience section. What this shows Shows what this covers for step 1 of 2 in the "During Campaign Creation" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 2 in the "During Campaign Creation" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". At this point in the walkthrough you at the ad set level > under Audience Controls, go to the Intended Audience section. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to under the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience. Step 1 of 2Image 1 of 9 What this coversAt the ad set level > under Audience Controls, go to the Intended Audience section.
      Fields in this part of the guide During Campaign CreationFrom Ad Manager Settings
      Buttons and menus referenced Audience ControlsIntended AudienceDuring Campaign CreationRetargetingCreate a Custom AudienceFrom Ad Manager SettingsAd Manager Settings > Meta Audiences tab
      Next stepUnder the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience.
      All 2 steps in this procedure
      1. At the ad set level > under Audience Controls, go to the Intended Audience section. this image
      2. Under the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience.

    • Under the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience.

      Step 2 of 2: Under the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or… What this shows Step 2 of 2: Under the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience. What this shows Shows what to choose for step 2 of 2 in the "During Campaign Creation" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot accompanies step 2 of 2 in the "During Campaign Creation" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". At this point in the walkthrough you under the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. Step 2 of 2Image 2 of 9 What to chooseUnder the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience.
      Fields in this part of the guide During Campaign CreationFrom Ad Manager Settings
      Buttons and menus referenced RetargetingCreate a Custom AudienceDuring Campaign CreationAudience ControlsIntended AudienceFrom Ad Manager SettingsAd Manager Settings > Meta Audiences tab
      All 2 steps in this procedure
      1. At the ad set level > under Audience Controls, go to the Intended Audience section.
      2. Under the Retargeting tab, click the dropdown for “Create new or select retargeting audience” and choose Create a Custom Audience. this image

  2. From Ad Manager Settings

    • Navigate to Ad Manager Settings > Meta Audiences tab to create audiences in advance for future campaigns.

From Ad Manager Settings (image 3 of 9) What this shows During Campaign Creation From Ad Manager Settings What this shows Illustrates the "From Ad Manager Settings" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot appears in the "From Ad Manager Settings" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". The text alongside this image reads: During Campaign Creation From Ad Manager Settings. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. Immediately after, the guide continues: A Meta Customer List Custom Audience lets you use your own customer data (emails, phone numbers, etc.) in Ad Manager to reach specific individuals on Facebook and Instagram. The data is matched to user profiles so you can deliver targeted…. Image 3 of 9 What this coversDuring Campaign Creation From Ad Manager Settings
Fields in this part of the guide During Campaign CreationFrom Ad Manager Settings
Buttons and menus referenced During Campaign CreationAudience ControlsIntended AudienceRetargetingCreate a Custom AudienceFrom Ad Manager SettingsAd Manager Settings > Meta Audiences tab
Next stepA Meta Customer List Custom Audience lets you use your own customer data (emails, phone numbers, etc.) in Ad Manager to reach specific individuals on Facebook and Instagram. The data is matched to user profiles so you can deliver targeted ads.
All 2 steps in this procedure
  1. During Campaign Creation
  2. From Ad Manager Settings

What is a Customer List Custom Audience?

Overview

A Meta Customer List Custom Audience lets you use your own customer data (emails, phone numbers, etc.) in Ad Manager to reach specific individuals on Facebook and Instagram. The data is matched to user profiles so you can deliver targeted ads.

Key Offerings

  • Audience Creation: Build a list from your own customer data sources such as website sign-ups, CRM records, or purchase history.

  • Data Matching: Meta matches your data with its user profiles.

  • Ad Targeting: Deliver highly relevant ads to matched customers.

  • Privacy & Compliance: Fully compliant with privacy regulations like GDPR.

  • Audience Segmentation: Target groups like recent buyers or high-value customers.

  • Lookalike Audiences: Reach new people similar to your existing customers.

  • Customer List Format: Requires CSV format with valid identifiers.

Benefits

  • Precisely target existing customers.

  • Improve ad relevance and campaign performance.

  • Re-engage past customers and encourage repeat business.

How to create a Customer List Custom Audience

Creating a Customer List Custom Audience is a two-step process:

  1. Click Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the Audiences tab).

    Step 1 of 2: Click Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the… What this shows Step 1 of 2: Click Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the Audiences tab). What this shows Shows what to click for step 1 of 2 in the "How to create a Customer List Custom Audience" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 2 in the "How to create a Customer List Custom Audience" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". At this point in the walkthrough you click Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the Audiences tab). The next step is to select Customer List as the source and proceed. Step 1 of 2Image 4 of 9 What to clickClick Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the Audiences tab).
    Buttons and menus referenced Create a Custom AudienceCustomer List
    Next stepSelect Customer List as the source and proceed.
    All 2 steps in this procedure
    1. Click Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the Audiences tab). this image
    2. Select Customer List as the source and proceed.

  2. Select Customer List as the source and proceed.

    Step 2 of 2: Select Customer List as the source and proceed What this shows Step 2 of 2: Select Customer List as the source and proceed. What this shows Shows what to choose for step 2 of 2 in the "How to create a Customer List Custom Audience" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot accompanies step 2 of 2 in the "How to create a Customer List Custom Audience" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". At this point in the walkthrough you select Customer List as the source and proceed. Step 2 of 2Image 5 of 9 What to chooseSelect Customer List as the source and proceed.
    Buttons and menus referenced Customer ListCreate a Custom Audience
    All 2 steps in this procedure
    1. Click Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the Audiences tab).
    2. Select Customer List as the source and proceed. this image
    Step 2 of 2: Select Customer List as the source and proceed What this shows Step 2 of 2: Select Customer List as the source and proceed. What this shows Shows what to choose for step 2 of 2 in the "How to create a Customer List Custom Audience" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot accompanies step 2 of 2 in the "How to create a Customer List Custom Audience" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". At this point in the walkthrough you select Customer List as the source and proceed. Step 2 of 2Image 6 of 9 What to chooseSelect Customer List as the source and proceed.
    Buttons and menus referenced Customer ListCreate a Custom Audience
    All 2 steps in this procedure
    1. Click Create a Custom Audience (in the campaign flow or from the Audiences tab).
    2. Select Customer List as the source and proceed. this image

You have two methods to add customers to the audience:

1. CSV Upload

2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic)

When creating a Customer List Custom Audience from Smart Lists, you can choose whether the audience should remain fixed at creation time (static) or update automatically when the Smart List changes (dynamic).

2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic) (image 7 of 9) What this shows When creating a Customer List Custom Audience from Smart Lists, you can choose whether the audience should remain fixed at creation time… What this shows Illustrates the "2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic)" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot appears in the "2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic)" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". The text alongside this image reads: When creating a Customer List Custom Audience from Smart Lists, you can choose whether the audience should remain fixed at creation time (static) or update automatically when the Smart List changes (dynamic). Immediately after, the guide continues: Includes only the contacts present in the selected Smart List(s) at the time of audience creation. Does not update if contacts are added or removed later. Ideal for controlled targeting or scenarios where you need a fixed audience. Image 7 of 9 What to chooseWhen creating a Customer List Custom Audience from Smart Lists, you can choose whether the audience should remain fixed at creation time (static) or update automatically when the Smart List changes (dynamic).
Buttons and menus referenced staticdynamic
Next stepIncludes only the contacts present in the selected Smart List(s) at the time of audience creation. Does not update if contacts are added or removed later. Ideal for controlled targeting or scenarios where you need a fixed audience.
2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic) (image 8 of 9) What this shows When creating a Customer List Custom Audience from Smart Lists, you can choose whether the audience should remain fixed at creation time… What this shows Illustrates the "2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic)" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot appears in the "2. Use Smart Lists (Static vs Dynamic)" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". The text alongside this image reads: When creating a Customer List Custom Audience from Smart Lists, you can choose whether the audience should remain fixed at creation time (static) or update automatically when the Smart List changes (dynamic). Immediately after, the guide continues: Includes only the contacts present in the selected Smart List(s) at the time of audience creation. Does not update if contacts are added or removed later. Ideal for controlled targeting or scenarios where you need a fixed audience. Image 8 of 9 What to chooseWhen creating a Customer List Custom Audience from Smart Lists, you can choose whether the audience should remain fixed at creation time (static) or update automatically when the Smart List changes (dynamic).
Buttons and menus referenced staticdynamic
Next stepIncludes only the contacts present in the selected Smart List(s) at the time of audience creation. Does not update if contacts are added or removed later. Ideal for controlled targeting or scenarios where you need a fixed audience.

Static Audience

  • Includes only the contacts present in the selected Smart List(s) at the time of audience creation.

  • Does not update if contacts are added or removed later.

  • Ideal for controlled targeting or scenarios where you need a fixed audience.

Dynamic Audience

  • Automatically reflects changes to the Smart List(s).

  • New contacts added to the Smart List are included, and removed contacts are excluded.

  • Ideal for keeping audiences continuously up to date.

Steps:

  1. Select Use Smart List.

  2. Choose one or more Smart Lists from the dropdown (only pre-created lists from the Contacts section are available).

  3. In Advanced Conditions, choose:

    • No, only include the contacts currently on the Smart List (Static)

    • Yes, include the dynamic updates (Dynamic)

  4. Review the total contacts count.

  5. Add an audience name and optional description.

  6. Click Create Audience, the summary will display whether the audience is static or dynamic.

Important Notes

  • Minimum audience size requirements apply for campaign use.

  • For CSV uploads, incorrect formatting will cause an upload error.

    Step 2 of 5: For CSV uploads, incorrect formatting will cause an upload error What this shows Step 2 of 5: For CSV uploads, incorrect formatting will cause an upload error. What this shows Shows what this covers for step 2 of 5 in the "Important Notes" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". This screenshot accompanies step 2 of 5 in the "Important Notes" section of "How to create Customer List Custom Audience". At this point in the walkthrough you for CSV uploads, incorrect formatting will cause an upload error. The next step is to for Smart List audiences, the static/dynamic choice determines how the audience behaves after creation. Step 2 of 5Image 9 of 9 What this coversFor CSV uploads, incorrect formatting will cause an upload error.
    Buttons and menus referenced Retargeting AudienceAudiences
    Next stepFor Smart List audiences, the static/dynamic choice determines how the audience behaves after creation.
    All 5 steps in this procedure
    1. Minimum audience size requirements apply for campaign use.
    2. For CSV uploads, incorrect formatting will cause an upload error. this image
    3. For Smart List audiences, the static/dynamic choice determines how the audience behaves after creation.
    4. Before creating an audience, you must accept Meta’s Customer List Custom Audience Terms of Service.
    5. Once created and ready, the audience appears in the Retargeting Audience dropdown and in the Audiences tab.

  • For Smart List audiences, the static/dynamic choice determines how the audience behaves after creation.

  • Before creating an audience, you must accept Meta’s Customer List Custom Audience Terms of Service.

  • Once created and ready, the audience appears in the Retargeting Audience dropdown and in the Audiences tab.

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