TikTok Adsintermediate 7 min read 2 steps

How to Create Custom Audiences in TikTok Ads

In TikTok Ads Manager, go to Assets > Audiences > Create Audience > Custom Audience. Sources include website traffic (pixel-based, e.g., visitors in last 30 days), customer file (upload email/phone list), app activity, engagement (people who interacted with your TikTok ads or profile), Lead Generati

Targeting & Audiencestiktok custom audiences

Quick summary

In TikTok Ads Manager, go to Assets > Audiences > Create Audience > Custom Audience. Sources include website traffic (pixel-based, e.g., visitors in last 30 days), customer file (upload email/phone list), app activity, engagement (people who interacted with your TikTok ads or profile), Lead Generati

Process Flow

Animated overview of the full workflow

Start
1Best Practices
2Common Issues and Solutions
Complete

TL;DR

In TikTok Ads Manager, go to Assets > Audiences > Create Audience > Custom Audience. Sources include website traffic (pixel-based, e.g., visitors in last 30 days), customer file (upload email/phone list), app activity, engagement (people who interacted with your TikTok ads or profile), Lead Generation (people who opened or submitted lead forms), and Business Account (followers or profile viewers). Minimum audience size for targeting: 1,000 users.


Overview

In TikTok Ads Manager, go to Assets > Audiences > Create Audience > Custom Audience. Sources include website traffic (pixel-based, e.g., visitors in last 30 days), customer file (upload email/phone list), app activity, engagement (people who interacted with your TikTok ads or profile), Lead Generation (people who opened or submitted lead forms), and Business Account (followers or profile viewers). Minimum audience size for targeting: 1,000 users.

Related Guides

See our complete guide library for detailed coverage of account setup, tracking, campaign creation, and optimisation strategies across all platforms.

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these 2 steps to complete this guide

  1. 1

    Best Practices

    Start with the recommended default settings and optimise based on data. Review performance metrics regularly. Make incremental changes. Document your configuration for reference.

  2. 2

    Common Issues and Solutions

    Check the platform's help centre for the latest troubleshooting guidance. Allow 24-48 hours for tracking data to populate. Ensure you have the correct permissions. Verify all integrations are active.

Frequently asked

Questions & answers

How long does setup take?

Most configurations take 10-30 minutes. Full optimisation is ongoing.

What budget should I start with?

Start with enough to generate 50+ conversions per week for effective algorithm learning.

When should I expect results?

Allow 2-4 weeks for the initial learning phase before making strategic decisions.

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