Do you ever wonder why that pair of shoes you checked out once keeps following you around the internet? No, it’s not magic. It’s one of the powerful tools called retargeting in performance marketing.
Most people on the internet rarely make a purchase right away, even if they find something interesting. That’s why 97% of visitors leave a website without converting on their first visit, making all your marketing efforts feel like wasted potential.
Retargeting gives you a second chance to reconnect with those visitors, remind them why they were interested in the first place, and guide them toward conversion.
It’s not just about following them around with ads, it’s about staying top-of-mind and nudging them toward a decision. Let’s guide you into how you can use retargeting to turn lost traffic into loyal customers.
What does Retargeting mean?

Ever checked out a product, got distracted, and forgot about it? Then, suddenly, you start seeing it in ads everywhere? That’s retargeting at work! It’s a smart way to reconnect with people who showed interest but didn’t convert.
It’s like a friendly reminder poking you, “Hey, you liked this, still interested?” Instead of losing potential customers, businesses use retargeting to stay on their radar, reminding them at just the right moment. Because let’s be honest, life gets busy, but a well-timed reminder can be the push they need to take action!
Maximize Your ROI with Just 7 Steps of Retargeting in Performance Marketing
Your consumers are bombarded with ads daily, making it easy to scroll past without a second thought. But you never know that the same person who ignored your ad yesterday might be ready to buy today if you show them at the right time.
This magic of retargeting ads brings back the long-lost customers on track. And what happens when blended with performance marketing? Performance marketing focuses on measurable results like conversions and ROI. Combined with remarketing strategies, it maximizes your ability to reach your audience and drive actual sales.
It’s about making every interaction count, turning lost opportunities into meaningful conversions. By following these simple steps of retargeting in performance marketing, you’ll be able to boost your brand’s ROI:
1. Install Tracking Pixels
Without tracking pixels, you miss the opportunity to re-engage users who have already shown interest in your product or service. Tracking pixels helps collect visitor data and monitor user behaviour on your website. This allows you to track potential customers who didn’t convert and re-engage them with retargeting ads.
Benefits of installing tracking pixels:
- Identifies users who interacted with your website but didn’t take action.
- Helps create targeted digital retargeting campaigns for better engagement.
- Provides insights into user behaviour to improve conversion rate optimization with retargeting.
2. Segment Your Audience

Not all visitors are at the same stage of the buying journey. Some just browsed your website, while others added items to their cart but never checked out. Here, performance-based marketing strategies help in proper audience segmentation and create personalized advertising that speaks directly to each user’s level of interest.
How to segment for personalized advertising?
- Viewers who added to the cart but didn’t buy? Show urgency-driven ads with limited-time offers.
- Users who browsed a product page? Highlight key benefits or customer reviews to build trust.
- Abandoned checkout? Offer incentives like free shipping or discounts to seal the deal.
3. Use Dynamic Creative
People don’t engage with generic ads. What truly grabs their attention is an attractive advertising display that hits their pain point and speaks directly to their needs, frustrations, or desires. That’s where dynamic ads come in.
These ads automatically adjust their content based on your target audience user’s past interactions, showing them exactly what they were interested in: a product they viewed, an abandoned cart item, or a special offer tailored to their preferences.
How dynamic ads enhance ad campaigns:
- Show users the exact products they viewed or added to their cart.
- Adjust ad copy to address where the user left off (e.g., “Still thinking about this? Here’s 10% off!”).
- Automatically display available stock, pricing updates, or limited-time deals to create urgency.
When done right, dynamic ads don’t just remind users of what they saw, they make them feel like the ad was made just for them, increasing both engagement and conversion rate optimization with retargeting.
4. Craft Compelling Ad Copy

Effective remarketing strategies aren’t just about attractive visuals. It’s about a killer ad copy that adds value to your retargeting and gives you a wide range of potential customers. When a user sees your ad for the second time, your copy should be compelling enough to turn interest into action.
Tips for writing effective ad copy:
- Use persuasive language that highlights product benefits to reinforce value.
- Address concerns (e.g., “Easy returns – risk-free shopping!”).
- Use strong call-to-actions (CTAs) like“Still thinking about this? Get 10% off now!” to create a sense of urgency
5. Multi-channel retargeting ads
Your potential customers are scattered across multiple social media channels. A user who ignored a Facebook ad might use an email reminder to improve overall customer retention.
By diversifying your approach with multi-channel retargeting in performance marketing, you increase the chances of re-engaging lost visitors.
Additionally, strategically placing ads across different platforms ensures that no potential customer slips through the cracks, increasing the chances of turning interest into action.
Best platforms for multi-channel retargeting:
- Social media ads (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).
- Google Display Network for wide online visibility.
- Email retargeting for abandoned cart recovery.
Pro Tip: Running ads on platforms where your audience is most active increases visibility and improves the chances of returning them to the conversion funnel.
6. Implement Frequency Capping
Too many ads can overwhelm your audience, leading to ad fatigue and a negative brand perception. Setting a frequency cap limits how often someone sees the same ad, ensuring your message stays impactful without becoming intrusive.
Why is frequency capping important?
- Prevents users from being overwhelmed by repetitive ads.
- Maintains a positive brand perception.
- Keeps ads fresh and engaging without feeling intrusive.
7. Test and Iterate

Not all ad campaigns ensure you to run perfectly. Regularly monitor key metrics like retargeting ROI, click-through rates, and conversions to identify what’s working. Constant optimisation ensures you’re always improving your results and maximising conversions.
What to track and optimize:
- Click-through rates (CTR): Are users engaging with your ads?
- Conversion rates: Are retargeted users completing purchases?
- A/B test creatives: Compare different images, messaging, and CTAs to see what works best.
What Are The Best Retargeting Tools for Ads?
Using the right retargeting tools for ads can significantly improve your conversion rates and optimize your marketing strategy. These tools help track visitors, segment audiences, and deliver personalized advertising across different platforms.
- Google Ads Remarketing: Reach past visitors across Google’s Display Network and YouTube with targeted ads.
- Facebook & Instagram Retargeting: Re-engage users on social media using Meta’s powerful audience segmentation.
- LinkedIn Retargeting: Ideal for B2B brands looking to re-engage professionals based on their interactions.
- AdRoll: A comprehensive platform for multi-channel digital retargeting campaigns, covering web, social, and email.
- Criteo: Uses AI-driven personalization to show dynamic retargeting ads based on user behavior.
- Retargeting with Email: Tools like Klaviyo and Mailchimp help send targeted emails to users who abandoned their carts or browsed products.
Key Takeaways!
Think about how many times you’ve browsed a product, got distracted, and never returned. Your potential customers do the same! Retargeting in performance marketing gives you a second chance to stay in their minds, re-spark their interest, and lead them to conversion.
Nowadays, the digital space is crowded, and attention spans are short. Therefore, with the right strategies, such as personalized ads, smart audience segmentation, and a multi-platform presence, you’re not just reminding them; you’re urging them toward action.
Don’t let your potential customers slip away! You can recover lost sales and boost ROI with a smart retargeting strategy from Code Rushers. Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Retargeting is a strategy that shows ads to users who have previously shown interest but didn’t convert.
It keeps your brand on top of mind, reminding potential customers to return and complete their purchase.
Retargeting focuses on ads, while remarketing usually involves re-engagement through emails and personalized offers.
Typically, a good window is 7–30 days, but it depends on your sales cycle and customer behaviour.
We create custom retargeting strategies that bring back lost visitors and boost conversions.