TikTok Adsintermediate 5 min read 3 steps

TikTok Lookalike Audiences: How to Create and Use Them

TikTok Lookalike Audiences find users similar to your existing customers or website visitors. Create a source audience (customer list, pixel audience, or app activity audience), then create a Lookalike from it. Choose from Narrow (most similar, smallest reach), Balanced, or Broad (least similar, lar

Targetingtiktok lookalike audiences

Quick summary

TikTok Lookalike Audiences find users similar to your existing customers or website visitors. Create a source audience (customer list, pixel audience, or app activity audience), then create a Lookalike from it. Choose from Narrow (most similar, smallest reach), Balanced, or Broad (least similar, lar

Process Flow

Animated overview of the full workflow

Start
1Creating a Source Audience
2Creating a Lookalike
3Best Practices
Complete

TL;DR

TikTok Lookalike Audiences find users similar to your existing customers or website visitors. Create a source audience (customer list, pixel audience, or app activity audience), then create a Lookalike from it. Choose from Narrow (most similar, smallest reach), Balanced, or Broad (least similar, largest reach). Minimum source audience size is 1,000 users. Lookalikes update automatically as your source audience grows.


Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these 3 steps to complete this guide

  1. 1

    Creating a Source Audience

    Go to Assets > Audiences > Create Audience > Custom Audience. Options: customer file upload, website traffic (pixel), app activity, engagement (video viewers, profile visitors), or lead generation activity.

  2. 2

    Creating a Lookalike

    Select your source audience > Create Lookalike. Choose your target location. Select audience size: Narrow (top 1% similar), Balanced (top 5%), or Broad (top 10%). TikTok builds the audience, typically ready within hours.

  3. 3

    Best Practices

    Use your best customers as the source — purchasers or high-value users produce better lookalikes than all website visitors. Start with Balanced size and test Narrow vs Broad. Minimum 1,000 source users, but 5,000+ produces better results.

Was this guide helpful?

Your feedback helps us improve our guides

Let's Build What's Next

Ready to grow
differently?

Let's design your market expansion engine—built on data, creativity and technology.

Book a Strategy Call