Retargeting
Retargeting is an advertising method where you show ads to people who have already visited your webshop. It reminds them of your products and draws them back to complete a purchase.
What is retargeting?
Retargeting (also called remarketing) is a form of online advertising that targets ads to people who have previously interacted with your online store. When a visitor looks at a product without buying, you can show them an ad for that product when they subsequently scroll on Facebook, Instagram or other sites.
It's one of the most effective forms of advertising because you're reaching people who already know your brand and have shown interest in your products.
How does retargeting work?
- A visitor lands on your webshop and browses products
- A tracking pixel (Facebook Pixel, Google Ads tag etc.) registers the visit and the products viewed
- The visitor leaves your shop without buying
- When they subsequently use Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or other sites, your ads are shown with the products they viewed
- The visitor clicks on the ad and returns to your shop - hopefully to buy
Types of retargeting
Dynamic product retargeting
The most effective form for webshops. The ads automatically show the specific products the visitor looked at, added to the basket or similar. Requires a product feed and a correctly positioned pixel.
Standard retargeting
General ads shown to everyone who has visited your online store without adapting the content to the individual's behavior. Easier to set up, but less effective.
Basket retargeting
Specifically targeting people who have added products to the cart without completing the purchase. This group has the highest purchase intent and typically converts best.
Existing customer retargeting
Show ads to customers who have already purchased with related products, news or offers. Also called upselling or cross-selling.
Retargeting platforms
- Meta (Facebook/Instagram): The most commonly used retargeting platform for webshops. Dynamic product retargeting via Facebook Pixel and product catalog.
- Google Ads (Remarketing): Display retargeting ads on Google Display Network, YouTube and in Gmail. Google calls it "remarketing".
- TikTok: Retargeting via TikTok Pixel - growing platform with strong reach in younger audiences.
- Pinterest: Visual retargeting for products in lifestyle and inspiration categories.
- Criteo: Specialized retargeting platform with strong dynamic product optimization.
Retargeting in Shoporama
Shoporama makes retargeting easy with built-in integrations:
- Facebook Pixel + Conversions API: Automatically tracks ViewContent, AddToCart and Purchase.
- Google Ads tracking: Conversion tracking and remarketing tags.
- TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat pixels: Built-in support for all major platforms.
- Product feeds: Automatic feeds to Facebook, Google Shopping, etc. used for dynamic retargeting.
Best practices for retargeting
- Segment your audiences: Don't show the same ad to everyone. People who have viewed a product, added to cart and purchased should be treated differently.
- Set frequency limits: Limit the number of times a person sees the same ad. Over 5-7 views per week can get annoying.
- Use time as a factor: Retarget aggressively in the first 3-7 days (when the buying position is still hot) and then reduce.
- Exclude buyers: Don't show product ads to people who have already bought the product. Exclude the Purchase audience from your retargeting campaigns.
- Offer incentives: For cart abandoners, a small discount or free shipping can be enough to close the sale.
Retargeting and privacy
Retargeting is under pressure from privacy initiatives like GDPR, ITP (Safari) and Apple's ATT. To maintain effective retargeting:
- Implement server-side tracking (Conversions API) to complement browser pixels
- Ensure proper cookie consent
- Keep your audiences up to date and weed out inactive users
We know online marketing in Shoporama
We've been working with online marketing ourselves for decades. As the only shop system in the country, we have spoken multiple times at conferences such as Marketingcamp, SEOday, Shopcamp, Digital Marketing, E-commerce Manager, Ecommerce Day, Web Analytics Wednesday and many more.