If you run ads on Facebook without first building quality audiences, it's like you're standing in the street, throwing expensive flyers in the air, and hoping for the best.

Facebook offers you the opportunity to microtarget based on tons of different factors.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of microtargeting.

We will also cover the three different Facebook advertising audience types:
• Custom
• Lookalike and
• Saved

​We'll cover what they are, how to build them, and why you should be using them to run ads on Facebook.

If you enjoy this this podcast, please consider reviewing it on iTunes. Thanks for tuning in! 

​​Find other episodes of Step Up Your Social here.

Facebook runs using an amazing algorithm. It analyzes all of the information is how about you (where you live, what kinds of posts you like, where you check in and literally thousands of other pieces of information) and then it works hard to show you content that it thinks you will like.

Even when it comes to paid content, Facebook is working hard to show you things it thinks you'll like.

Before you call BS on this, think about. It makes sense for two reasons. The first is that if you are constantly seeing spam on your page, you are going to spend less time on the platform. That's bad for Facebook. The second is that Facebook genuinely wants businesses and brands using their ads to be successful. If they are successful, they’ll spend more money on Facebook ads. So Facebook will be more successful. Pretty simple formula.

But how does Facebook decide what kind of content (especially ads!) it is going to show you?

Interesting, Facebook will actually share the list of keywords they have associated with you, for the purpose of ad targeting.

Want to see your list? Click here.

Warning: some of these might seem spot on. Others might seem ridiculous. No joke, here are just a few of the words associated with my account: Tattoos (I have none), Beauty Salons (never been to one), Cosmetics (never use them), Golf (never played), Gardening (maybe one day, but not yet!). And so on.

Buzzfeed reporters, who did quite a bit of digging into this, had some particularly interesting topics emerge:

• Hans Zimmer
• Broccoli
• Cucumber
• Vegetable Oil
• Egg
• Adventure
• Try
• Panic
• Away from family
• Away from hometown
• Planking (fad)
• Nonsense
• Types of Business entity
• Dundee United F.C. *(a small Scottish soccer team)
• Gray wolf
• Mammal
• Frog
• Miracle
• Man
• birth without fear
• White
• Tins and shades
• Black culture
• System of a Down discography
• Bark (sound)
• Bee
• Vulture (animal)
• Technology late adopters
• First baseman
• Professional wrestling holds
• Gratitude
• Oriental Orthodoxy
• Crying
• Time *(under the “Travel, Places, and Events” section)
• Victory
• Meme
• Emotion
• Housemate-based Households
• Relationship status: single
• Fun
• Tunic
• Lorry driver
• Rings of Saturn
• Human
• Toilet

Toilet!?!? Maybe that's some poo reporter covering the plumbing beat. But I doubt it.

If you want to clean yours up, you can click the X next to any item you would rather not be targeted for. (Professional wrestling holds anyone?)

Quick note: you can delete all. But Facebook will just repopulate them. So you're probably better off just editing and cultivating your list so that at least when you see ads, they will be somewhat relevant to you.

Want an easy way to shut down all ads on Facebook? It's simple: Delete your account. ;)

Right, didn’t think so. In the meantime, sit back, relax and let those toilet ads come rolling in!

Share any of your absurd targeted keywords in the comments on online using the hashtag #NotMyKeywords. Be sure to tag Reverbal Communications on Facebook or Twitter. Can't wait to see what Facebook thinks you are into!