Power Of Retargeting: How to Win Back Lost Leads
The Power of Retargeting: How to Win Back Lost Leads (Without Being Creepy)
Let’s be honest most visitors to your website won’t buy on their first visit. They might browse a few products, add something to their cart, and then disappear. Frustrating, right?
But here’s the good news: Those lost leads aren’t gone forever. With the right retargeting strategy, you can bring them back without being pushy or annoying.
I’ve spent years running retargeting campaigns for e-commerce brands, SaaS companies, and local businesses. The strategies I’m sharing here aren’t just theory they’re what’s working right now in 2024.
Why Retargeting is Your Secret Weapon
Think about the last time you looked at a product online but didn’t buy. Then, suddenly, you started seeing ads for it everywhere Facebook, Instagram, even on random blogs. Annoying? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
Power Of Retargeting works because:
People are distracted. They might leave your site because their kid started crying, their boss called, or they just got distracted by TikTok.
Trust takes time. Most people won’t buy from you on the first visit. They need to see your brand a few times before they trust you enough to pull out their credit card.
FOMO is real. When someone sees an ad for the exact thing they almost bought, it triggers that “I should’ve grabbed it” feeling.
5 Power Of Retargeting Strategies That Actually Work (No Fluff)
1. The “Almost Customer” Retargeting List (My Favorite Hack)
Not all website visitors are equal. Some are way more likely to buy than others. Here’s how to find them:
Cart abandoners (obviously)
People who viewed pricing pages (they’re serious)
Visitors who spent 2+ minutes on your site (high intent)
Pro Tip: Exclude people who bounced in less than 5 seconds they probably landed on your site by accident.
2. The “Oops, You Forgot This” Email + Ad Combo
If someone abandons their cart, don’t just rely on Facebook ads. Hit them with:
An email within 1 hour: “Hey, your cart’s getting lonely!”
A retargeting ad 24 hours later: Show the exact product they left behind.
A final “Last Chance” message: “Only 3 left in stock!” (Even if it’s not true this works scarily well.)
3. The “We Miss You” Campaign for Cold Leads
Some leads engage but never buy. After 30 days, run a campaign with:
A funny “breakup” email: “It’s not you, it’s us… wait, no, it’s definitely you.”
A special discount: “Here’s 15% off because we’re desperate.” (Okay, maybe word it better.)
4. Retargeting Beyond Facebook & Google (Underrated Channels)
Everyone uses Facebook and Google which means costs are high and audiences are fatigued. Try:
Reddit ads (surprisingly cheap and hyper-targeted)
SMS retargeting (if they opted in don’t be spammy!)
5. The “Watch This, Then Buy” YouTube Strategy
If someone visited your product page but didn’t buy, serve them a short YouTube ad (15-30 seconds) with:
A quick demo of your product
A real customer saying “This changed my life”
A time-sensitive discount code
The Biggest Retargeting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
A)Showing the same ad 50 times → People will block you. Rotate creatives!
B)Retargeting people who already bought → Waste of money. Exclude past customers.
C)Ignoring mobile users → 70% of carts are abandoned on phones. Optimize for mobile!
How to Know If Your Retargeting is Working
Check your “View Through” conversions (people who saw your ad and later bought)
Look at frequency (if it’s above 7, you’re annoying people)
Track ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) – If you’re spending $100 to make $80, stop.
