# How to Create a CTWA Custom Audience in Meta Ads Manager
To run CTWA retargeting campaigns, the first step is creating a **Custom Audience**.
A Custom Audience allows you to show ads to people who have **already interacted with your business on WhatsApp.**
This guide explains how to prepare your CTWA lead list and upload it into Meta Ads Manager.
***
#### **What You Need Before You Start**
Before creating your Custom Audience, make sure you have:
* A list of CTWA leads exported from DoubleTick
* Phone numbers with country codes
* Optional information such as names or email addresses
Including more data helps Meta **match users more accurately.**
***
#### **Step 1: Prepare Your Lead List**
1. Log in to your **DoubleTick account** (or wherever your CTWA leads are stored).
2. Export or download your lead list in a **CSV format** — a simple spreadsheet format that can be opened in Excel.
3. Ensure your **phone numbers include the correct country code** (for example, `+91` for India).
* Example: Instead of `9876543210`, it should appear as `+919876543210`.
> **Why it matters:** Meta identifies users globally. Missing or incorrect country codes can cause matching errors later.
***
#### **Step 2: Open Meta Ads Manager**
1. Open your web browser and visit [facebook.com/adsmanager](https://facebook.com/adsmanager).
2. On the left-hand side menu, **hover over the navigation icons** until you find **“Audiences.”**
3. Click **Audiences** to open the page where all your audience lists are managed.
This is where you’ll build your new group of WhatsApp leads.
***
#### **Step 3: Create a Custom Audience**
1. On the “Audiences” page, click the **blue button** labeled **“+ Create Audience.”**
2. From the dropdown menu, select **“Custom Audience.”**
This tells Meta that you’re creating a list based on your own customer data — not from page visitors or app activity.
#### **Step 4: Choose Customer List**
1. A new window will open showing several audience source options.
2. Select **“Customer List.”**
3. Click **Next** to continue.
4. You’ll be given the option to **download a sample file** — it’s worth reviewing this sample so you can compare your CSV structure.
> **Tip:** You don’t need to include every field. Even just the phone number column (with country codes) works perfectly fine for retargeting.
***
#### **Step 5: Upload Your CSV File**
Now comes the key step — uploading and matching your data correctly.
1. When asked about “Customer Value,” select **“No”** (you can skip this for now).
2. Click **“Next.”**
3. Click **“Upload File”** and choose the CSV file you prepared in Step 1.
Once uploaded, Meta will automatically try to **match your columns** (for example, identifying your “Phone” column as phone numbers).
> **Important:**
>
> * Check that your phone number column is labeled as **“Phone Number.”**
> * If you’ve included emails, make sure the column is mapped as **“Email.”**
> * If you see “Action Needed,” click on it and manually select the correct type.
Once everything looks correct, click **“Upload and Create.”**
***
#### **Step 6: Name Your Audience**
Give your new audience a **clear, simple, and descriptive name** — this helps you stay organized later.
Here are some good examples:
* `CTWA Leads - All Chats`
* `WhatsApp Leads - Replied Last 60 Days`
* `CTWA Audience - Interested in Product X`
Use names that describe what kind of leads are inside, or when they last interacted.
Then click **“Next.”**
***
#### **Step 7: Allow Meta to Process the Audience**
Meta will now begin processing your upload. This may take a few minutes, especially if your list is large.
When it’s done, your new **Custom Audience** will appear in your **Audiences** dashboard with a green “Ready” indicator.
> **Note:**\
> If you see “Populating” or “Processing,” that’s normal. Meta is matching your contact data with real Facebook and Instagram users.
And that’s it — you’ve successfully created your first **CTWA Custom Audience!**
***
#### **What Happens Next**
Once your audience is ready, you can use it to:
* Run **CTWA Retargeting campaigns** — showing ads to users who already chatted with your business.
* Create **Lookalike Audiences** — to reach new people similar to your WhatsApp leads.
* Track **engagement trends** — see how existing customers respond to reminder or re-engagement ads.
> **Pro Tip:**\
> Keep your Custom Audience updated. Every few weeks, export your latest CTWA leads from DoubleTick and upload a new CSV file. This ensures your ads always reach the freshest, most relevant users.
***
#### **Real-World Example**
A coaching institute exports WhatsApp leads from DoubleTick.
These leads include students who asked about course fees.
The institute uploads the list into Meta Ads Manager and creates a Custom Audience.
Later, they run ads specifically targeting these students with reminders about upcoming batches.
***
#### **What You Will Learn Next**
Now that your Custom Audience is ready, the next step is **using that audience when creating a CTWA ad campaign.**
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