Marketing API

Lookalike Audiences

Target people most like your established customers. Lookalike audiences take several sets of people as "seeds" then Facebook builds an audience of similar people. You can use lookalikes for any business objective: Targeting people similar your customers for fan acquisition, site registration, off-Facebook purchases, coupon claims, or simply to drive awareness of a brand.

Seed audiences can be:

Facebook refreshes members in a lookalike every 3 days if the lookalike belongs to an adgroup.

Create

Lookalike audiences can take 1-6 hours to fully populate. While audiences populate, you can create and run ad sets targeting the audience. Once the audience is ready, Facebook delivers to people populated in the audience and ads delivery will catchup and work as normal. See Delivery Status. Create a new lookalike audience at: https://graph.facebook.com/{API_VERSION}/act_{AD_ACCOUNT_ID}/customaudiences.

Example creation call for lookalike from a custom audience:

use FacebookAds\Object\CustomAudience;
use FacebookAds\Object\Fields\CustomAudienceFields;
use FacebookAds\Object\Values\CustomAudienceSubtypes;

$lookalike = new CustomAudience(null, 'act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>');
$lookalike->setData(array(
  CustomAudienceFields::NAME => 'My lookalike audience',
  CustomAudienceFields::SUBTYPE => CustomAudienceSubtypes::LOOKALIKE,
  CustomAudienceFields::ORIGIN_AUDIENCE_ID => <SEED_AUDIENCE_ID>,
  CustomAudienceFields::LOOKALIKE_SPEC => array(
    'type' => 'similarity',
    'country' => 'US',
  ),
));
$lookalike->create();
from facebookads.adobjects.customaudience import CustomAudience

lookalike = CustomAudience(parent_id='act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>')
lookalike.update({
    CustomAudience.Field.name: 'My lookalike audience',
    CustomAudience.Field.subtype: CustomAudience.Subtype.lookalike,
    CustomAudience.Field.origin_audience_id: '<SEED_AUDIENCE_ID>',
    CustomAudience.Field.lookalike_spec: {
        'type': 'similarity',
        'country': 'US',
    },
})

lookalike.remote_create()
print(lookalike)
curl \
  -F 'name=My lookalike audience' \
  -F 'subtype=LOOKALIKE' \
  -F 'origin_audience_id=<SEED_AUDIENCE_ID>' \
  -F 'lookalike_spec={"type":"similarity","country":"US"}' \
  -F 'access_token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>' \
  https://graph.facebook.com/v2.11/act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>/customaudiences

To create lookalike audiences with PHP Ads SDK or Python Ads SDK, use CustomAudience.

The response contains:

Name Description

id

type: integer

ID of lookalike audience

Custom Audience Lookalike

If you have a Custom Audience with at least 100 people, you can build lookalike audiences based on it. This includes Custom Audiences for your Website and Custom Audiences for your Mobile App.

Name Description

name

type: string

Required.

Custom Audience name

origin_audience_id

type: long

Required.

ID of Custom Audience. Origin audiences must have at least 100 members.

lookalike_spec

type: array

Required.

See description below.

lookalike_spec.type

type: string

Required. Set either type or ratio.

similarity or reach

lookalike_spec.starting_ratio

type: float

Optional.

Start percentage for lookalike. For example, starting_ratio 0.01 and ratio 0.02 creates a lookalike from 1% to 2% of a lookalike segment. starting_ratio must be less than ratio

lookalike_spec.ratio

type: float

Required. Set either type or ratio.

0.01-0.20 incremented by 0.01. Top x% of original audience in a selected country

lookalike_spec.allow_international_seeds

type: boolean

Optional.

At least 100 seed audience members from a country. If not, allow_international_seeds set to true means Facebook finds this minimum number of audience members in another country. Default false.

lookalike_spec.country

type: string

Required. Set country or location_spec.

Find lookalike audience members in this country

lookalike_spec.location_spec

type: array

Required. Either country or location_spec.

Find audience members in these locations. List of countries or country groups such as Asia

lookalike_spec.location_spec.geo_locations

type: array

Required. At least one entry under countries or country_groups.

Include these locations

lookalike_spec.location_spec.geo_locations.countries

type: array of strings

Optional.

Target countries. Array of country codes, see Targeting Search API, Countries. Example: 'countries': ['US']

lookalike_spec.location_spec.geo_locations.country_groups

type: array of strings

Optional.

Target countries in global regions and free trade areas. Array of country group codes. For full options, see Targeting, Location, country_groups and Targeting Search, country_groups. Example: 'country_groups': ['asia','mercosur']

lookalike_spec.location_spec.excluded_geo_locations

type: array

Optional.

Locations to exclude

lookalike_spec.location_spec.excluded_geo_locations.countries

type: array of strings

Optional.

Same as countries under geo_locations

lookalike_spec.location_spec.excluded_geo_locations.country_groups

type: array of strings

Optional.

Same as country_groups under geo_locations

Types

Optimize your audience for "Similarity" or "Greater reach".

  • Similarity - Audience includes the top 1% of people in a selected country who are most similar to the seed Custom Audience. The new audience's reach is smaller, matching is more precise.
  • Greater Reach - Audience includes the top 5% of people in the selected country that are similar to the seed Custom Audience, but with a less precise match.

Instead of using types you can manually set ratio to represent the top x% of the audience in the selected country. ratio should be from 1%-20% and in intervals of 1%.

Campaign or Ad Set Conversion Lookalikes

Facebook has campaign and ad set conversion lookalikes to target people similar to those converting from previous or current campaigns or ad sets; for example, campaigns or ads that are optimizing for conversions. We measure conversions based on a campaign or ad set type in Conversion Specs. For example, target people that took action on your website or installed your app within 28 days of clicking your ad.

use FacebookAds\Object\CustomAudience;
use FacebookAds\Object\Fields\CustomAudienceFields;
use FacebookAds\Object\Values\CustomAudienceSubtypes;

$lookalike = new CustomAudience(null, 'act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>');
$lookalike->setData(array(
  CustomAudienceFields::SUBTYPE => CustomAudienceSubtypes::LOOKALIKE,
  CustomAudienceFields::LOOKALIKE_SPEC => array(
    'origin_ids' => <CAMPAIGN_ID>,
    'starting_ratio' => 0.03,
    'ratio' => 0.05,
    'conversion_type' => 'campaign_conversions',
    'country' => 'US',
  ),
));
$lookalike->create();
from facebookads.adobjects.customaudience import CustomAudience

lookalike = CustomAudience(parent_id='act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>')
lookalike.update({
    CustomAudience.Field.subtype: CustomAudience.Subtype.lookalike,
    CustomAudience.Field.lookalike_spec: {
        'origin_ids': '<CAMPAIGN_ID>',
        'starting_ratio': 0.03,
        'ratio': 0.05,
        'conversion_type': 'campaign_conversions',
        'country': 'US',
    },
})

lookalike.remote_create()
print(lookalike)
curl \
  -F 'subtype=LOOKALIKE' \
  -F 'lookalike_spec={ 
    "origin_ids": "<CAMPAIGN_ID>", 
    "starting_ratio": 0.03, 
    "ratio": 0.05, 
    "conversion_type": "campaign_conversions", 
    "country": "US" 
  }' \
  -F 'access_token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>' \
  https://graph.facebook.com/v2.11/act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>/customaudiences

You need at least 100 unique conversions from your campaigns or ad sets. More converters result in a better predictive model and we suggest 200 or more members who converted. You should also select campaigns or ad sets with similar objectives.

To create this lookalike, specify one or more of your campaigns or ad sets. For example, specify one campaign and two ad sets of another campaign.

Facebook uses up to 180 days of past conversion data and identifies people converting on your campaigns and ad sets as examples. We train prediction model then create a lookalike audience. Facebook constantly updates the underlying prediction model as campaigns or ad sets get new conversions.

Name Description

lookalike_spec

type: array

Required.

See description below.

lookalike_spec.origin_ids

type: array of integers

Required.

Array of ad object ids. People who convert on these ads are used to model a lookalike. One or more campaign IDs or ad set IDs, or a mix of them.

lookalike_spec.conversion_type

type: string

Required.

campaign_conversions. Indicates audience is a campaign conversion lookalike

lookalike_spec.country

type: string

Required.

Country to find lookalike members.

lookalike_spec.allow_international_seeds

type: boolean

Optional.

At least 100 seed audience members from a country. If not, allow_international_seeds set to true means Facebook finds this minimum number of members in another country. Defaults to false.

lookalike_spec.starting_ratio

type: float

Optional.

Start percentage for lookalike. For example, starting_ratio 0.01 and ratio 0.02 creates a lookalike from 1% to 2% of a lookalike segment. starting_ratio must be less than ratio

lookalike_spec.ratio

type: float

Required.

Range of 0.01-0.20. Top x% of original audience in the selected country.

Currently, the following campaign conversion types are eligible for Lookalike Audiences:

  • Link clicks
  • Offer ads
  • Page likes
  • Canvas App installs
  • Event responses
  • Post engagement
  • Website conversions
  • Mobile app installs
  • Mobile app engagement
  • Video views
  • Local awareness

Page Fan Lookalikes

Create a lookalike audience based on people who like your Page:

use FacebookAds\Object\CustomAudience;
use FacebookAds\Object\Fields\CustomAudienceFields;
use FacebookAds\Object\Values\CustomAudienceSubtypes;

$lookalike = new CustomAudience(null, 'act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>');
$lookalike->setData(array(
  CustomAudienceFields::SUBTYPE => CustomAudienceSubtypes::LOOKALIKE,
  CustomAudienceFields::LOOKALIKE_SPEC => array(
    'ratio' => 0.01,
    'country' => 'US',
    'page_id' => <PAGE_ID>,
    'conversion_type' => 'page_like',
  ),
));
$lookalike->create();
from facebookads.adobjects.customaudience import CustomAudience

lookalike = CustomAudience(parent_id='act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>')
lookalike.update({
    CustomAudience.Field.name: 'My lookalike audience',
    CustomAudience.Field.subtype: CustomAudience.Subtype.lookalike,
    CustomAudience.Field.lookalike_spec: {
        'ratio': 0.01,
        'country': 'US',
        'page_id': '<PAGE_ID>',
        'conversion_type': 'page_like',
    },
})

lookalike.remote_create()
print(lookalike)
curl \
  -F 'subtype=LOOKALIKE' \
  -F 'lookalike_spec={ 
    "ratio": 0.01, 
    "country": "US", 
    "page_id": "<PAGE_ID>", 
    "conversion_type": "page_like" 
  }' \
  -F 'access_token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>' \
  https://graph.facebook.com/v2.11/act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>/customaudiences
Name Description

lookalike_spec

type: array

Required.

See description below.

lookalike_spec.page_id

type: int

Required.

Facebook ID of the page whose fans will be used for the lookalike

lookalike_spec.conversion_type

type: string

Required.

page_like - Indicates that this is a page fan lookalike

lookalike_spec.country

type: string

Required.

The country to find the lookalike people. The default is 'US'

lookalike_spec.allow_international_seeds

type: boolean

Optional.

You need at least 100 seed audience members from a country. If this minimum is not satisfied, allow_international_seeds set to true means Facebook finds this minimum number of seed audience members in another country. Defaults to false.

lookalike_spec.starting_ratio

type: float

Optional.

Starting percentage of the lookalike. For example, a starting_ratio of 0.01 and a ratio of 0.02 would create a lookalike from the 1% to 2% lookalike segment. The value of starting_ratio should always be less than that of ratio

lookalike_spec.ratio

type: float

Required.

Range 0.01-0.20. How much of the country the lookalike should target.

Targeting

Targeting lookalikes is the same as targeting Custom Audiences. See Custom Audiences, Targeting. This also applies for exclusion targeting and conjunctive AND targeting. To target when you create an ad:

use FacebookAds\Object\AdSet;
use FacebookAds\Object\Fields\AdSetFields;
use FacebookAds\Object\Values\AdSetBillingEventValues;
use FacebookAds\Object\Values\AdSetOptimizationGoalValues;
use FacebookAds\Object\Fields\TargetingFields;
use FacebookAds\Object\Targeting;

$adset = new AdSet(null, 'act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>');
$adset->setData(array(
  AdSetFields::NAME => 'My AdSet',
  AdSetFields::OPTIMIZATION_GOAL => AdSetOptimizationGoalValues::REACH,
  AdSetFields::BILLING_EVENT => AdSetBillingEventValues::IMPRESSIONS,
  AdSetFields::BID_AMOUNT => 2,
  AdSetFields::DAILY_BUDGET => 1000,
  AdSetFields::CAMPAIGN_ID => <CAMPAIGN_ID>,
  AdSetFields::TARGETING => (new Targeting())->setData(array(
    TargetingFields::GEO_LOCATIONS => array(
      'countries' => array('US'),
    ),
    TargetingFields::CUSTOM_AUDIENCES => array(
      array(
        'id' => <LOOKALIKE_AUDIENCE_ID>,
      ),
    ),
  )),
));

$adset->create(array(
  AdSet::STATUS_PARAM_NAME => AdSet::STATUS_ACTIVE,
));
from facebookads.adobjects.adset import AdSet

adset = AdSet(parent_id='act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>')
adset.update({
    AdSet.Field.name: 'My Adset',
    AdSet.Field.daily_budget: 10000,
    AdSet.Field.campaign_id: '<CAMPAIGN_ID>',
    AdSet.Field.optimization_goal: AdSet.OptimizationGoal.link_clicks,
    AdSet.Field.billing_event: AdSet.BillingEvent.link_clicks,
    AdSet.Field.bid_amount: 150,
    AdSet.Field.daily_budget: 2000,
    AdSet.Field.targeting: {
        'geo_locations': {
            'countries': ['US'],
        },
        'custom_audiences': [
            {
                'id': <LOOKALIKE_AUDIENCE_ID>,
            },
        ],
    },
})

adset.remote_create(params={
    'status': AdSet.Status.paused,
})
AdSet adSet = new AdAccount(act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>, context).createAdSet()
  .setName("My AdSet")
  .setOptimizationGoal(AdSet.EnumOptimizationGoal.VALUE_REACH)
  .setBillingEvent(AdSet.EnumBillingEvent.VALUE_IMPRESSIONS)
  .setBidAmount(2L)
  .setDailyBudget(1000L)
  .setCampaignId(<CAMPAIGN_ID>)
  .setTargeting(
    new Targeting()
      .setFieldCustomAudiences(Arrays.asList(
        new IDName()
          .setFieldId(<LOOKALIKE_AUDIENCE_ID>)
      ))
      .setFieldGeoLocations(
        new TargetingGeoLocation()
          .setFieldCountries(Arrays.asList("US"))
      )
  )
  .setStatus(AdSet.EnumStatus.VALUE_ACTIVE)
  .execute();
String ad_set_id = adSet.getId();
curl \
  -F 'name=My AdSet' \
  -F 'optimization_goal=REACH' \
  -F 'billing_event=IMPRESSIONS' \
  -F 'bid_amount=2' \
  -F 'daily_budget=1000' \
  -F 'campaign_id=<CAMPAIGN_ID>' \
  -F 'targeting={ 
    "custom_audiences": [{"id":"<LOOKALIKE_AUDIENCE_ID>"}], 
    "geo_locations": {"countries":["US"]} 
  }' \
  -F 'status=ACTIVE' \
  -F 'access_token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>' \
  https://graph.facebook.com/v2.11/act_<AD_ACCOUNT_ID>/adsets

More examples at Targeting Specs.

Managing Audiences

Get details on custom audiences used to create lookalikes as well as lookalikes. We return the same fields as Custom Audiences. Below is a sample response for a Custom Audience used to create lookalikes. lookalike_audience_ids specifies which lookalike audiences were generated from this audience.

 {
  "id": "6006164557194",
  "account_id": 12345,
  "approximate_count": 816400,
  "lookalike_audience_ids": [
    6006183285954,
    6006183285955
  ],
  "name": "Boys Apparel",
  "parent_audience_id": 0,
  "parent_category": "Custom",
  "status": "ready",
  "subtype": "CUSTOM",
  "type": 4,
  "type_name": "Advertiser Generated",
  "time_updated": 1362439491
},

Lookalike audiences contain a subtype of 2. We also return lookalike_spec, an array in this format:

Name Description

type

type: string

similarity, reach or custom_ratio - Always returned

starting_ratio

type: float

Returned if starting_ratio specified

ratio

type: float

Multiple of 0.01. Returned if type is custom_ratio

country

type: string

Country code

origin

type: array

See description below.

origin.deleted

type: boolean

true, Returned when the origin deleted

origin.id

type: int

Origin ID

origin.name

type: string

Origin name

origin.type

type: string

custom_audience or page

target_countries

type: array of strings

All countries used to create audience

Another audience below where subtype is LOOKALIKE:

{
 "id": "6006183285954",
 "account_id": 12345,
 "approximate_count": 1782100,
 "name": "Boys Apparel_lookalike_US_Similarity",
 "origin_audience_id": 6006567610735,
 "parent_audience_id": 0,
 "parent_category": "Custom",
 "status": "ready",
 "subtype": "LOOKALIKE",
 "type": 4,
 "type_name": "Advertiser Generated",
 "time_updated": 1362506552
},

Delivery Status

After you create a lookalike audience we return a Custom Audience ID. It can take about one hour to fully populate an audience. You can get the status at: /{lookalike_audience_ID}?fields=delivery_status. This returns a JSON response with delivery_status or code 200 if an audience populates:

"delivery_status": {
  "code": 200, 
  "description": "This audience is ready for use."
},

For testing, you should check the status of the list with Ads Manager.

To delete a lookalike audience, you do the same as you do for Custom Audiences.

Inactive Audiences

A Lookalike audience is considered inactive when it has not been used in active ads for 90 days. Inactive lookalike audiences have different approximate_count, operation_status, and delivery_estimate.

FieldChanges for Inactive Lookalikes

approximate_count

You are not able to retrieve a size. A call for this field returns -1 for inactive lookalikes.

operation_status

A call for this field returns code 450, and the following description: This lookalike audience is inactive. It can be used in ads but will not have an estimate till the campaign is published.

delivery_estimate

You are not able to retrieve a delivery estimate. A call for this field returns -1 for inactive lookalikes. This field is available under Ad Account and Ad Set nodes. Both exhibit the same behavior for inactive lookalikes.

You can still start a campaign using an inactive lookalike audience. The reach estimate information is available after your new ad gets published.

Best Practices

  • Seed Custom Audience - Make it as large as possible so we have enough data to find similar people.
  • Combine Lookalikes - With other Facebook's targeting for additional demographics or interests.
  • If your seed audience has attributes such as gender or geography, the lookalikes generate may not adhere to those attributes.