Meta, the biggest SoMe, says "A Lookalike Audience is a way your ads can reach new people who are likely to be interested in your business because they share similar characteristics to your existing customers."
Mr. Zuckerberg is for sure onto something here! 👀 But how does it work?
A Lookalike Audience uses an existing Custom Audience that you select for its source audience. This means that you can use several types of sources, including the customer lists you can export from Activity Stream!
Now that you know the idea behind it, the first step is finding the source audience. Here are a few audience examples you can find in Activity Stream:
Now that you know the idea behind it, the first step is finding the source audience. Here are a few audience examples you can find in Activity Stream:
- Customers who Bought Tickets for Similar Event(s)/Production(s)
1. Go to the Event Page of the Event/Production Page of the Event/Production which is similar to the one you are currently promoting.
2. If you wish, you can narrow down the audience further with Customer Tags, such as "Very Loyal Customer".
3. Export the Facebook or Google Ads CSV.
Or (if multiple events)
1. Go to the Segment Builder.
2. Select Customers who have valid tickets to specific event(s).
Or (if multiple events)
1. Go to the Segment Builder.
2. Select Customers who have valid tickets to specific event(s).
3. Search for all the Events you wish to create a lookalike segment from. Try to keep it as relevant as possible, to ensure your segment is very clear. Select them. Click on Next when you're done selecting.
4. Narrow down your segment by Customer Tags and/or Location. Make sure you are creating a lookalike audience that is in the area near where your event will happen. Click on Next when you're done filtering.
5. Export the Facebook or Google Ads CSV.
NOTE: Make sure this audience is in the same location as the one you want to create a lookalike audience for.
NOTE: Make sure this audience is in the same location as the one you want to create a lookalike audience for.
- Customers who Bought Tickets for the Event/Production you are Currently Promoting
1. Go to the Event Page of the event you're currently promoting
2. If you wish, you can narrow down the audience further with Customer Tags, such as "Very Loyal Customer".
3. Export the Facebook or Google Ads CSV.
NOTE: As you are exporting a CSV file for a lookalike campaign, this means that you will be targeting similar customers to those you have exported, so you will not be targeting the people who have already purchased tickets for your event.
2. If you wish, you can narrow down the audience further with Customer Tags, such as "Very Loyal Customer".
3. Export the Facebook or Google Ads CSV.
NOTE: As you are exporting a CSV file for a lookalike campaign, this means that you will be targeting similar customers to those you have exported, so you will not be targeting the people who have already purchased tickets for your event.
- Customers who Bought Tickets for the Same Event Category/Type
1. Go to Customer Overview, and set the
Date Picker on the top right Visualisation Menu for the period you wish to create a lookalike audience for.
2. Then, on the dashboard, filter down by Event Category or Event Type.
3. Filter down by the location in which the event you're promoting will be, using the Heat Map or other location focused elements. This is important if you manage multiple venues on your platform, to ensure you're capturing an audience who is likely to attend an event in the location being currently promoted.
4. If you wish, you can narrow down the audience further with Customer Tags, such as "Very Loyal Customer".
5. Export the Facebook or Google Ads CSV.

2. Then, on the dashboard, filter down by Event Category or Event Type.
3. Filter down by the location in which the event you're promoting will be, using the Heat Map or other location focused elements. This is important if you manage multiple venues on your platform, to ensure you're capturing an audience who is likely to attend an event in the location being currently promoted.
4. If you wish, you can narrow down the audience further with Customer Tags, such as "Very Loyal Customer".
5. Export the Facebook or Google Ads CSV.
Great, you have your source audience! 🎉 The second step is creating a lookalike ad.
- Once you have built the segment you want to create a lookalike audience for, click on the
button on the top right visualisation bar, and select what kind of Customer List CSV you would like to export.
- Then, on your social media site's ad manager page, import the exported CSV file to create a Custom Audience for your ad campaign.
Too many options and you don't know where to click or what to choose when creating the ad? 😕
Not to worry, Activity Stream to the rescue!! 🦸🏻♀️ Here's a step by step guide for Facebook lookalike ads, just for you! ⬇️