Remarketing

Remarketing is a marketing strategy that shows personalized ads to people who have visited your website or app but did not complete a desired action.

For example, if someone leaves items in their cart, remarketing can display targeted ads on social media or other websites to encourage them to return and finish their purchase.

How does Remarketing work?

Remarketing works by identifying people who have visited your website or app but did not complete an action, such as making a purchase. It tracks their past behavior in a privacy-safe way and uses this information to show relevant ads on platforms like Google, Facebook, or other websites. This helps encourage visitors to return and complete the action they started.

Why use Remarketing?

  • Increases conversion rates by re-engaging visitors who are familiar with your brand, often leading to higher click-through and sales than broad digital campaigns.
  • Enables you to personalize offers or creative based on specific site behaviors, driving relevance and maximizing return on ad spend.
  • Supports frequency and audience controls, so you can adjust messaging and exposures, reducing wasted ad spend and limiting user fatigue.

Remarketing vs. Retargeting


Aspect
RemarketingRetargeting
AutonomyMedium—set up & automate, ongoing optimizationHigh—triggers run automatically
ContextBased on site/app interactionBased on online browsing behaviors
IntegrationAd networks, social platformsWeb publishers, networks
LearningImproves with more user/activity dataImproves with behavioral insights
ExampleCart reminder ad on YouTubeBanner after product view on news site

How can I create a Remarketing Campaign?

The following steps will guide you through setting up a successful remarketing audience in Google Ads and Facebook:

 Google Ads Remarketing:

  1. Log in to your Google Ads account.
  2. Go to the “Audiences” tab and select “Remarketing.”
  3. Click “+” to create a new audience, define type, and set criteria (e.g., time since last visit).
  4. Install the remarketing tag on your website or app.
  5. Launch ad creatives targeted to this audience.

Facebook Remarketing:

  1. Sign in to Facebook Ads Manager and click “Create” for a new campaign.
  2. Choose an objective like “Traffic” or “Conversions.”
  3. In Audiences, select “Custom Audiences.” Select the type of custom audience you want to target, such as website visitors, app users, or engagement audiences.
  4. Set custom criteria such as timeframe or specific user actions.
  5. Build your ad, allocate your budget, and publish.

FAQs

How is remarketing different from retargeting?

Remarketing generally means reconnecting with users who have already visited your website or app via advertising. Retargeting is broader; it includes any ad targeting based on digital behavior, not just past engagement with your brand. For examples of successful remarketing in action, see the guide on 7 remarketing methods to boost conversions.

What channels support remarketing?

Remarketing can be executed across many networks, including Google, Facebook/Meta, TikTok and more. Insider One’s integration guides (for Google, Facebook, TikTok) explain how to connect audience segments and launch campaigns effectively on each platform.

How effective is remarketing for ROI?

Remarketing improves ROI by targeting users who have already interacted with your website or app, making them more likely to engage and convert. You can measure its effectiveness through click-through rates and conversion rates compared to standard display ads.