A modeled audience is a segment derived from an owned audience you already built. Use modeled audiences for lookalike-style targeting; use owned audiences when you need full control or the widest sync compatibility.
Use this article when
- You see Modeled as an audience type and want to know how it differs from Owned.
- You plan lookalike-style targeting on an ad platform.
- A destination rejects a modeled audience during sync.
- You need to pick a base audience before creating a modeled segment.
Applies to and prerequisites
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Feature | Pathways |
| Permissions | Access to create and manage audiences in Pathways. |
| Prerequisites | At least one owned audience to use as the base. Connected data sources for owned audiences. |
| Time | 3–5 minutes to read |
What a modeled audience is
A modeled audience is derived from an owned audience. You select a base owned segment, and Avid builds a related audience from that seed group.
Modeled audiences depend on their base audience. They cannot stand alone. If you change or delete the base audience, the modeled audience may break or need to be rebuilt.
For a side-by-side comparison, see Owned vs. modeled audiences in Avid.
Why modeled audiences matter
Owned audiences answer who matches these rules? Modeled audiences answer who resembles this group?
Use modeled audiences to expand reach on ad platforms, test lookalike targeting, or find donors with patterns similar to a high-value segment.
How modeled audiences work
- You create or select an owned audience with filters on your data.
- You create a modeled audience and choose that owned audience as the base.
- Avid stores the modeled segment in Pathways > Manage Audiences with type Modeled.
- You use the modeled audience in Playbooks or push it to supported destinations.
Find modeled audiences
- Open Pathways in the left navigation.
- Click Manage Audiences.
- Filter or scan for audiences with type Modeled.
Each modeled audience lists the base owned audience it was built from.
When to use each type
| Type | Use when |
|---|---|
| Owned | You know the exact filters (recency, gift amount, channel). You need the broadest destination compatibility. |
| Modeled | You have a strong seed audience and want similar donors for ads or experiments. |
Sync limit: Some destinations do not accept modeled audiences. If push is blocked, use an owned audience or check What integrations work with Pathways?.
Key terms
- Owned audience — a segment you build from your data and filters.
- Modeled audience — a segment derived from an owned audience.
- Base audience — the owned segment a modeled audience is built from.