Beginner Explanation: How to target on Facebook Ads

Beginner Explanation: How to target on Facebook Ads

When you’re a business you should know what your ideal clients look like. In marketing terms they are called target audience, are based on research and most likely to buy your product or services. In your online marketing strategy you can focus on that audience and be sure you create the most effective content and campaigns.

Facebook gives you as business the opportunity to target this audience very specifically based on 4 main metrics. Location, Demographics, Interests & Behaviour all over Facebook and its advertising network. With Online Advertising on the Facebook network you’re able to show your unique Advertising on the social networks Facebook & Instagram as well as the Facebook Audience Network. These will show your Ads for example in Apps and Games.

Power of the combination
When you combine these metrics you will create a smaller group of target audience that fits the criteria of your ideal customers. Therefor its most likely that your Facebook Ad will create impact in your target audience, this can result in likes, comments, link clicks, page likes and in the ideal situation generate leads or even do business online.

Explanation video: How to target on Facebook Ads

Facebook Targeting Location
Reach people in areas where you want to do business. You can even create a radius around a shop to help create more walk-ins. Worldwide, Select certain countries, Cities zipcodes and even target specific buildings with Facebook.

Location targeting Facebook
Location targeting Facebook: Netherlands

Facebook Targeting Demographics
Find people based on traits such as age, gender, relationship status, education, workplace, job titles and more.

Facebook Targeting Demographics
Facebook Targeting Demographics

Facebook Targeting Interests
Find people based on what they’re into, such as hobbies, favourite entertainment and more.

Facebook Targeting Interests
Facebook Targeting Interests

Facebook Targeting Behaviours
Reach people based on their purchasing behaviours, device usage and other activities.

Facebook Targeting Behaviours
Facebook Targeting Behaviours

And lots more you can segment your audience on.

Read more about Facebook Audiences and Facebook targeting

  1. Explanation: Facebook general Targeting & metrics
  2. Facebook Custom Audiences
  3. Facebook Lookalike audiences
  4. Learn Facebook strategies and tactics

Need some help? How to target on Facebook Ads for your company

You see the potential of Facebook and Instagram Ads but don’t know where to start or you’re to busy with your business?
Just fill in the form and lets see what we can do for each other.

GET INSPIRED: Go through the list below and see what you could advertise on to engage with new potential clients!

FULL LIST OF FACEBOOK TARGETING METRICS

Facebook targeting New Audiences

  • Locations
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Languages

Facebook targeting Demographics

  • Education
    • Education level
      • pre-set choices to choose from
    • Fields of study
      • searchable
    • Schools
      • searchable
    • Undergrad years
      • searchable range

Facebook targeting Financial

  • Income
    • pre-set ranges to choose from
  • Networth
    • pre-set ranges to choose from
    • Liquid assets
      • pre-set ranges to choose from

Facebook targeting Home & Household

  • Home ownership
    • First Time home buyer
    • Homeowners
    • Renters
  • Home type
    • Apartment
    • Condo
    • Home value
      • pre-set ranges to choose from
    • Multi-family home
    • Property size (acres)
      • pre-set ranges to choose from
    • Single
    • Square footage
      • pre-set ranges to choose from
    • Year home built
      • pre-set ranges by decade to choose from
  • Household composition
    • Family-based household
    • Grandparents
    • Housemate-based household
    • New parent
    • Veterans in home
    • Working women
    • Young and hip
    • Young adults in home

Facebook targeting Life Events

  • Anniversary
    • Anniversary within 30 days
    • Anniversary within 31-60 days
  • Away from Family
  • Away from Hometown
  • Birthday
    • Birthday Month
      • Pre-set choices by month
    • Upcoming birthday
  • Friends of
    • Close friends of men with a birthday in 0-7 days
    • Close friends of men with a birthday in 7-30 days
    • Close friends of women with a birthday in 0-7 days
    • Close friends of women with a birthday in 7-30 days
    • Close friends of people with birthdays in a month
    • Close friends of people with birthdays in a week
    • Friends of recently moved
    • Friends of newly engaged people
    • Friends of newlyweds
  • Long-Distance Relationship
  • New job
  • New relationship
  • Newly engaged (1 year)
  • Newly engaged (3 months)
  • Newly engaged (6 months)
  • Newlywed (1 year)
  • Newlywed (3 months)
  • Newlywed (6 months)
  • Recently moved

Facebook targeting Parental Status

  • All Parents
    • Pre-set choices (ex: new parents, parents w/ preschoolers)
  • Moms
    • Big-city moms
    • Corporate moms
    • Fit moms
    • Green moms
    • Moms of grade school kids
    • Moms of high school kids
    • Moms of preschool kids
    • New moms
    • Soccer moms
    • Stay-at-home moms
    • Trendy moms

Facebook targeting Politics (US)

  • Likely to engage with political content (conservative)
  • Likely to engage with political content (liberal)
  • Likely to engage with political content (moderate)
  • Self reported
    • Donate to conservative political causes
    • Donate to liberal political causes
  • Conservative
  • Liberal
  • Moderate
  • Very conservative
  • Very liberal

Facebook targeting Relationships

  • Civil Union
  • Complicated
  • Divorced
  • Domestic Partnership
  • Engaged
  • In a Relationship
  • Married
  • Open Relationship
  • Separated
  • Single
  • Unspecified
  • Widowed

Facebook targeting Work Status

  • Employers
    • searchable
  • Industries
    • pre-set choices
  • Job titles
    • searchable
  • Office type
    • Small business

Facebook targeting Interests

  • Business and Industry
    • Advertising
    • Agriculture
    • Architecture
    • Aviation
    • Banking
      • Investment banking
      • Online banking
      • Retail banking
    • Business
    • Construction
    • Design
      • Fashion design
      • Graphic design
      • Interior design
    • Economics
    • Engineering
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Healthcare
    • Higher education
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Nursing
    • Online
      • Digital marketing
      • Display advertising
      • Email marketing
      • Online advertising
      • SEO
      • Social media
      • Social media marketing
      • Web design
      • Web hosting
    • Personal finance
      • Credit cards
      • Insurance
      • Investment
      • Mortgage loans
    • Real estate
    • Retail
    • Sales
    • Science
    • Small business
  • Entertainment
    • Games
      • Action games
      • Board games
      • Browser games
      • Card games
      • Casino games
      • First-person shooter games
      • Gambling
      • Massively multiplayer online games
      • Massively multiplayer online role-playing games
      • Online games
      • Online poker
      • Puzzle video games
      • Racing games
      • Role-playing games
      • Shooter games
      • Simulation games
      • Sports games
      • Strategy games
      • Video games
      • Word games
    • Live Events
      • Ballet
      • Bars
      • Concerts
      • Dancehalls
      • Music festivals
      • Nightclubs
      • Parties
      • Plays
      • Theatre
    • Movies
      • Pre-set genres
    • Music
      • Pre-set genres
    • Reading
      • Pre-set genres
    • TV
      • Comedies
      • Game shows
      • Reality shows
      • Talk shows
  • Family and Relationships
    • Dating
    • Family
    • Fatherhood
    • Friendship
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Weddings
  • Fitness and Wellness
    • Bodybuilding
    • Dieting
    • Gyms
    • Meditation
    • Nutrition
    • Physical Exercise
    • Physical Fitness
    • Running
    • Weight Training
    • Yoga
    • Zumba
  • Food and Drink
    • Alcoholic Beverages
      • Beer
      • Distilled beverages
      • Wine
    • Beverages
      • Coffee
      • Energy drinks
      • Juice
      • Soft drinks
      • Tea
    • Cooking
      • Baking
      • Recipes
    • Cuisine
      • Pre-set choices
    • Food
      • BBQ
      • Chocolate
      • Desserts
      • Fast food
      • Organic food
      • Pizza
      • Seafood
      • Veganism
      • Vegetarianism
    • Restaurants
      • Coffeehouses
      • Diners
      • Fast casual restaurants
      • Fast food restaurants
  • Hobbies and Activities
    • Arts and Music
      • Acting
      • Crafts
      • Dance
      • Drawing
      • Drums
      • Fine art
      • Guitar
      • Painting
      • Performing arts
      • Photography
      • Sculpture
      • Singing
      • Writing
    • Current events
    • Home and Garden
      • DIY
      • Furniture
      • Gardening
      • Home appliances
      • Home improvement
    • Pets
      • Birds
      • Cats
      • Dogs
      • Fish
      • Horses
      • Pet food
      • Rabbits
      • Reptiles
    • Politics and Social Issues
      • Charity and causes
      • Community issues
      • Environmentalism
      • Law
      • Military
      • Politics
      • Religion
      • Sustainability
      • Veterans
      • Volunteering
    • Travel
      • Adventure travel
      • Air travel
      • Beaches
      • Car rentals
      • Cruises
      • Ecotourism
      • Hotels
      • Lakes
      • Mountains
      • Nature
      • Theme parks
      • Tourism
      • Vacations
    • Vehicles
      • Automobiles
      • Boats
      • Electric vehicle
      • Hybrids
      • Minivans
      • Motorcycles
      • RVs
      • SUVs
      • Scooters
      • Trucks
  • Shopping and Fashion
    • Beauty
      • Beauty salons
      • Cosmetics
      • Fragrances
      • Hair products
      • Spas
      • Tattoos
    • Clothing
      • Children’s clothing
      • Men’s clothing
      • Shoes
      • Women’s clothing
    • Fashion Accessories
      • Dresses
      • Handbags
      • Jewelry
      • Sunglasses
    • Shopping
      • Boutiques
      • Coupons
      • Discount Stores
      • Luxury Goods
      • Online shopping
      • Shopping malls
    • Toys
  • Sports and Outdoors
    • Outdoor Recreation
      • Pre-set choices
    • Sports
      • Pre-set choices
  • Technology
    • Computers
      • Computer memory
      • Computer monitors
      • Computer processors
      • Computer servers
      • Desktop computers
      • Free software
      • Hard drives
      • Network storage
      • Software
      • Tablet computers
    • Consumer Electronics
      • Pre-set choices

Facebook targeting Behaviors

  • Anniversary
    • Anniversary (within 61-90 days)
  • Automotive
    • Motorcycle
      • Purchased
        • New
        • Used
    • New Vehicle Buyers (Near market)
      • Style
        • Pre-set vehicle types
    • New Vehicle Shoppers (In market)
      • Make
        • Pre-set choices
    • New Vehicle Shoppers (Max in market)
      • All
      • Style
        • Pre-set vehicle types
    • Owners
      • Aftermarket
        • Auto parts
        • Auto parts and accessories
        • Auto service buyer
      • Make
        • Pre-set choices
      • Purchased
        • Pre-set month range choices
      • Style
        • Pre-set vehicle types
      • Vehicle Age
        • Pre-set ranges
      • Vehicle Price
        • Pre-set ranges
    • Purchase Type
      • Vehicle Price
        • buy new (in market)
        • buy new (near market)
        • buy new or used (in market)
        • buy new or used (near market)
        • buy used (in market)
        • lease (in market)
    • Used Vehicle Buyers (In market)
      • Style
        • Pre-set vehicle types
  • B2B
    • Company Size
      • Pre-set number of employee ranges
    • Industry
      • Pre-set choices
    • Seniority
      • Executive/C-Suite
      • Mid-Management
  • Charitable Donations
    • Pre-set charity types
  • Consumer Classification
    • Argentina
      • People who prefer high-value goods in Argentina
      • People who prefer mid and high-value goods in Argentina
    • Brazil
      • People who prefer high-value goods in Brazil
    • Chile
      • People who prefer high-value goods in Chile
      • People who prefer mid and high-value goods in Chile
    • India
      • People who prefer high-value goods in India
      • People who prefer mid and high-value goods in India
    • Indonesia
      • People who prefer high-value goods in Indonesia
    • Mexico
      • People who prefer high-value goods in Mexico
      • People who prefer mid and high-value goods in Mexico
    • South Africa
      • People who prefer high-value goods in South Africa
      • People who prefer mid and high-value goods in South Africa
    • Turkey
      • People who prefer high-value goods in Turkey
      • People who prefer mid and high-value goods in Turkey
  • Digital Activities
    • Operating System Used
      • Facebook Access (OS): Windows 10
    • Canvas Gaming
      • Played game in last 14 days
      • Played game in last 3 days
      • Played game in last 7 days
      • Play game yesterday
    • Console Gamers
    • Facebook Page Admins
    • Facebook Payment Users (30 days)
    • Facebook Payment Users (90 days)
    • Facebook Payment Users (Higher than average spend)
    • Facebook Access: Older devices and OS
    • Internet Browser used
      • Chrome
      • Firefox
      • Internet explorer
      • Microsoft Edge
      • Opera
      • Safari
    • Operating System used
      • Mac OS X
      • Mac Sierra
      • Windows 7
      • Windows 8
      • Windows Vista
      • Windows XP
    • Primary Email domain
      • AOL
      • Apple
      • Gmail
      • Hotmail
      • MSN.com
      • Yahoo
    • Small Business owners
    • Technology Early adopters
  • Expats
    • Pre-set choice of expats countries
  • Financial
    • Banking
      • Credit Union member
    • Investments
      • Full-service investors
      • High likely investors
      • Independent investors
      • Likely investors
      • Personal investments
      • Real estate investments
      • Semi-independent investors
    • Spending Methods
      • Pre-set method choices
  • Job Role
    • Corporate Executives
    • Financial Professionals
  • Media
    • Radio
      • Internet/Satellite
    • Television
      • Show Genre
        • Pre-set genre choices
      • Viewership Habits
        • Heavy US TV Viewers
        • Light US TV Viewers
        • Moderate US TV Viewers
  • Mobile Device User
    • All Mobile Devices by Brand
      • Pre-set brand choices
    • All Mobile Devices by Operating System
      • Facebook Access (mobile): Android devices
      • Facebook Access (mobile): Apple (iOS) devices
      • Facebook Access (mobile): Windows devices
    • Android: 360 degree media not supported
    • Android: 360 degree media supported
    • Facebook Access (mobile): all mobile devices
    • Facebook Access (mobile): feature phones
    • Facebook Access (mobile): smartphones and tablets
    • Facebook Access (mobile): tablets
    • Network Connection
      • 2G
      • 3G
      • 4G
      • Wifi
    • New Smartphone and Tablet Users
  • Mobile Device User/Device Use Time
    • Pre-set usage choices
  • More Categories
    • Marketing API Developers (last 90 days)
  • Multicultural Affinity
    • African American (US)
    • Asian American (US)
    • Hispanic (US-All)
    • Hispanic (US-Bilingual)
    • Hispanic (US-English Dominant)
    • Hispanic (US-Spanish Dominant)
  • Purchase Behavior
    • Business Purchases
      • Business Marketing
    • Buyer Profiles
      • Coupon users
      • DIYers
      • Fashionistas
      • Foodies
      • Gadget enthusiast
      • Gamers
      • Green living
      • Healthy and fit
      • Outdoor enthusiasts
      • Shoppers
      • Skiing, golfing, and boating
      • Spa enthusiasts
      • Sportsmen
      • Trendy homemakers
    • Clothing
      • Men’s
        • Accessories
        • Big and tall apparel
        • Business apparel
        • Jeans
        • Men’s fashion & apparel buyers
      • Seasonal
        • Winter Seasonal shoppers
      • Women’s
        • Accessories
        • Business apparel
        • Discount apparel and accessories
        • Fine jewelry
        • Jewelry
        • Luxury brand apparel
        • Luxury retailers
        • Mid-ticket apparel and accessories
        • Women’s shoes
        • Women’s fashion & apparel buyers
        • Young women’s apparel
    • Engaged Shoppers
    • Food and Drink
      • Alcoholic Beverages
        • Beer
        • Craft beer
        • Domestic beer
        • Import beer
        • Light beer
        • Premium beer
        • Spirits
        • Wine
      • Bakery
        • Bakery products
      • Beverages
        • Pre-set beverage choices
      • Cereals
        • All cereals
        • Children’s cereals
        • Fiber cereals
        • Hot cereals
      • Children’s Food
        • Baby food and products
        • Children’s food
        • Children’s food and products
      • Condiments and Dressings
        • Condiments
        • Salad Dressings
      • Cooking Supplies
        • Baking
        • Spices
      • Dairy and Eggs
        • Cheese
        • Dairy free
        • Eggs
        • Milk
        • Yogurt
      • Fresh and Healthy
      • Frozen Food
        • Pre-set choices
      • Grocery Shopper Type
        • Premium Brand groceries
        • Top spenders
      • Health Food
        • Diet foods
        • Fresh produce
        • Low-fat foods
        • Natural and organics
      • Home Cooking and Grilling
      • Meat and Seafood
        • Meat
        • Seafood
      • Soup
      • Sweets and Snacks
        • Pre-set choices
      • Vegetarian
    • Health and Beauty
      • Pre-set choices
      • Over the counter
        • Allergy Relief
        • Cough and cold relief
        • Pain relief
    • Home and Garden
      • Entertaining
      • Home Improvement
      • Home Renovation
      • Organization
      • Tools
    • Household Products
      • Cleaning supplies
      • Food storage
      • Green cleaners and supplies
      • Laundry supplies
    • Kids Products
      • Baby Care
      • Baby Toys
    • Pet Products
      • Cat food and products
      • Cat owners
      • Dog food and products
      • Dog owners
      • Pet products
    • Purchase Types
      • Pre-set choices
      • Restaurants
        • Fine Dining
        • Mid Range restaurant/non-quick serve
        • Quick serve
    • Sports and Outdoors
      • Pre-set choices
  • Store Types
    • Department stores
    • Discount department store
    • Gift shoppers
    • Gym and fitness clubs
    • High-end retail
    • Low-end department store
    • Luxury store
  • Subscription Services
    • Auto insurance online
    • Higher education
    • Mortgage online
    • Prepaid debit cards
    • Satellite TV
  • Technology
    • Kindle eReader
    • Use an eReader
  • Residential Profiles
    • Likely to move
    • New mover
    • Recent homebuyer
    • Recent mortgage borrower
  • Soccer
  • Friends of Soccer/US Soccer fans
  • Soccer/US Soccer fans (high content engagement)
  • Soccer/US Soccer fans (moderate content engagement)
  • Travel
  • Business travelers
  • Business travelers (international)
  • Business travelers (US)
  • Casino vacations
  • Commuters
  • Cruises
  • Family vacations
  • Frequent travelers
  • Frequent flyers
  • Leisure travelers
  • Personal travelers (international)
  • Personal travelers (US)
  • Returned from trip 1 week ago
  • Returned from trip 2 weeks ago
  • Timeshares
  • Used travel app (1 month)
  • Used travel app (2 weeks)

Add A Comment