Combined lists: Mix and match audiences to reach just the right customers

Learn how to combine audiences to reach just the right set of customers.
Important

Not everyone has this feature yet. If you don't, don't worry—it's coming soon!

With combined lists, you combine existing audience lists to create a new one. Combine lists using AND, OR, and NOT conditions to reach just the right set of customers.

Examples

  • Selling products: Let's say you sell camping gear, and you want to drive sales of camping accessories:
    List A
    Purchased a tent
    AND( List B
    Viewed an air mattress
    ORList C )
    Viewed a sleeping bag
    =Combined list
    Audience for accessories sale
  • Getting leads: Let's say you provide tax-preparation services, and you want to reach new customers:
    List A
    Previous website visitor
    NOTList B
    Already filed taxes
    =Combined list
    Potential new customers

Both of these examples were possible previously, but required multiple audience associations or audience exclusions. With combined lists, there's just one audience list to work with.

Using combined lists

How do I create a combined list? expando image
  1. From the top menu, select Tools > Audiences.

    If you're using the new Microsoft Advertising navigation, from the navigation menu on the left, select Tools > Audiences.

  2. Select Create.
  3. Give this audience a unique name.
  4. For Type, select Custom combination list.
  5. Select Next.
  6. Combine audience lists into a set of conditions:
    1. First, select how you want to combine audiences:
      Combination optionWhat it means
      Any of these audiences (OR)This will include customers who are in any of these audience lists.
      Each of these audiences (AND)This will include only customers who are in every single one of these audience lists.
      None of these audiences (NOT)This will exclude customers who are in any of these audience lists.
    2. Then, search or browse for existing audience lists and select the appropriate ones.
    3. Select Done.
  7. You now have the option to select Add and create another set of conditions to combine with the set you just created. Each condition set is combined with the other using an AND condition.
  8. When you're done, select Save.
Note

Combined lists must have at least 300 members.

How do I associate combined lists?expando image
  1. From the collapsible menu on the left, select All campaigns > Audiences.

    If you're using the new Microsoft Advertising navigation, from the navigation menu on the left, hover over Campaigns and select Audiences.

  2. Select Create association.
  3. Select the ad group or campaign you want to associate with the combined list.
  4. Under Ad group targeting or Campaign targeting, select Combined list and then select the appropriate list.
  5. Select your Targeting setting:
    • Bid only: Shows ads to people searching for your ad, with the option to make bid adjustments for the selected audience.
    • Target and bid: Shows ads only to the selected audience, with the option to make bid adjustments.
  6. Set the Default bid adjustment. By default, new targeting associations are set to 15%, however, the bid adjustment can range from -90% to +900%.
  7. Select Save.
What audience types can I combine, and are there any restrictions?expando image
Audience type Restrictions
Remarketing list Can only be combined with customer match lists, custom audiences, other remarketing lists and/or dynamic remarketing lists.
Dynamic remarketing list Can only be combined with customer match lists, custom audiences, other dynamic remarketing lists and/or remarketing lists.
Custom audience Can be combined with other custom audiences, customer match lists, remarketing lists and/or dynamic remarketing lists.
Similar audience Can only be combined using a single OR condition with one other similar audience.
Customer match Can be combined with remarketing lists and/or dynamic remarketing lists or custom audiences.
In-market audience Not eligible for combined lists.
LinkedIn profile targeting Not eligible for combined lists.
Combined list Combined lists cannot be combined.
Note

Combined lists are just one of our audience targeting options.

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