Remarketing and retargeting are two commonly used terms in digital marketing, and while they are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two.
What Is Retargeting?
Retargeting, also known as remarketing, is a digital marketing strategy that involves showing ads to individuals who have previously interacted with your brand or visited your website, but have not yet made a purchase or taken a desired action. The goal of retargeting is to remind these individuals of your brand and encourage them to return to your website to complete the desired action, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or downloading a resource.
Retargeting works by using cookies to track the browsing behavior of website visitors. Once an individual visits your website, a retargeting pixel is placed on their browser. This pixel enables your retargeting provider to display your ads to that individual as they browse other websites or social media platforms.
Retargeting ads can be displayed in various formats, including banner ads, native ads, social media ads, and more. The ads are typically personalized based on the individual’s previous interactions with your brand and are designed to entice them to return to your website and complete the desired action.
Overall, retargeting is an effective way to reach individuals who have shown interest in your brand and increase the likelihood of them becoming customers.
What Is Remarketing?
Remarketing, also known as retargeting, is a digital marketing strategy that involves reconnecting with individuals who have previously interacted with your brand, but have not yet taken a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. The goal of remarketing is to re-engage with these individuals and encourage them to take the desired action.
Remarketing typically involves sending targeted email campaigns or showing targeted ads to individuals who have previously engaged with your brand, such as website visitors or previous customers. These email campaigns or ads are typically personalized based on the individual’s previous interactions with your brand and are designed to entice them to return to your website and complete the desired action.
Remarketing ads can be displayed in various formats, including banner ads, native ads, social media ads, and more. The ads are typically personalized based on the individual’s previous interactions with your brand and are designed to entice them to return to your website and complete the desired action.
Overall, remarketing is an effective way to reconnect with individuals who have previously shown interest in your brand and increase the likelihood of them becoming customers or taking other desired actions.
Remarketing Vs Retargeting: Which One Should a Brand Use?
Whether a brand should use remarketing or retargeting depends on their specific goals and the stage of the customer journey they are trying to target.
If a brand is looking to reconnect with previous customers who have already engaged with their brand, but have not yet taken a desired action, then remarketing would be the better option. Remarketing is particularly effective for encouraging repeat purchases and building customer loyalty.
On the other hand, if a brand is looking to target potential customers who have shown interest in their brand, but have not yet made a purchase or taken a desired action, then retargeting would be the better option. Retargeting is particularly effective for reaching potential customers who may have abandoned their cart or left your website without completing a purchase.
Ultimately, a brand should use a combination of both remarketing and retargeting strategies to effectively reach and convert their target audience. By using both strategies, a brand can target individuals at different stages of the customer journey and encourage them to take the desired action.
Key Differences Between Retargeting and Remarketing
Retargeting and remarketing are two similar, yet distinct, digital marketing techniques. Here are the key differences between retargeting and remarketing:
Target Audience: Retargeting targets individuals who have visited your website or interacted with your brand in some way but have not yet taken the desired action. Remarketing targets individuals who have already engaged with your brand, such as previous customers, but have not taken a desired action.
Timing: Retargeting typically occurs in real-time while the user is still browsing other websites, whereas remarketing is typically done through email campaigns or ads targeted at previous customers.
Conversion Goals: Retargeting aims to convert website visitors into customers by reminding them of your brand and encouraging them to take a desired action, such as making a purchase. Remarketing aims to encourage previous customers to make repeat purchases or take other desired actions, such as filling out a form or leaving a review.
Channels: Retargeting is typically done through display ads on other websites or social media platforms, while remarketing is typically done through email campaigns or ads targeted at specific individuals on various platforms.
Overall, both retargeting and remarketing are effective digital marketing strategies that can be used to reach and engage with potential customers. By understanding the key differences between the two, brands can create more targeted and effective campaigns to achieve their specific goals.