Core Audience
What it is: You define your audience using filters inside Meta Ads Manager.
Targeting options:
Location
Age, gender
Interests, behaviors, demographics
Use case: Good when reaching new people who fit your ideal customer profile.
Custom Audience
What it is: People who already know your business.
Sources:
Website visitors (via Meta Pixel)
App users
Customer lists (email, phone)
Engagement (people who interacted with your social posts, videos, or ads)
Use case: Perfect for remarketing — showing ads to warm leads.
Lookalike Audience
What it is: A new audience that resembles your best existing customers.
How it works: Meta analyzes your custom audience data (like top customers) and finds similar users.
Use case: Great for scaling — reaching people likely to convert.