Digital marketing is a bustling place filled with terms that sound like they were ripped straight from a sci-fi novel. And if you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head at the phrases remarketing vs retargeting or retargeting vs remarketing, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many marketers and business owners use these terms interchangeably, but – you know what? – they’re not quite the same.
Remarketing vs Retargeting: The Major Differences
So, what’s the big difference between remarketing vs retargeting? It all comes down to the medium and approach:
#1: Medium
Retargeting is primarily done through digital display ads. You’ve probably experienced it – after visiting a product page on an e-commerce website, suddenly you see ads for that exact product popping up on every other website you visit.
Remarketing, on the other hand, often includes direct communication methods like emails. For example, if you abandon your shopping cart, you might receive an email offering a discount to complete your purchase. Remarketing is more about reaching out directly to users through various channels.
#2: Purpose
The goal of retargeting is to bring visitors back to your website to complete a specific action, like making a purchase or signing up for a webinar. It’s all about conversion.
Remarketing is broader and can involve nurturing leads, building relationships, and providing value to past customers. It’s not just about immediate sales; it’s about long-term engagement.
Why You Should Care About Remarketing and Retargeting
Now that you know the difference between remarketing and retargeting, you might be wondering why you should care. In short, both strategies can significantly ease your digital marketing efforts and improve your conversion rates.
When you nail the retargeting vs remarketing issue, you will be a few steps closer to reaping the benefits of combining those two strategies, and these include:
- Re-engaging with potential customers
- Increasing brand awareness
- Adapting the personalized marketing approach
- Improving ROI
Fun Fact: The Cookie Dilemma
Here’s a fun tidbit for you: both remarketing and retargeting rely heavily on cookies (the digital kind, not the chocolate chip ones). These cookies track user behavior, allowing advertisers to serve targeted ads or emails.
However, with increasing privacy regulations and users opting out of cookie tracking, marketers must be more creative in their remarketing and retargeting strategies. So, if you thought cookies were just for dessert, think again!
Conclusion: Understanding Remarketing vs Retargeting
In summary, while remarketing vs retargeting may seem like a case of splitting hairs, understanding the distinction can help you create more effective digital marketing strategies. Try to remember that retargeting focuses on displaying ads to previous visitors to bring them back to your website, while remarketing includes a wider range of outreach efforts, like email campaigns, to engage past customers.
By taking advantage of both strategies, you can effectively
- re-engage lost clients,
- improve brand awareness, and
- increase conversion rates.
So the next time you hear the terms remarketing and retargeting, you can confidently contribute to the conversation – maybe even show others how remarketing and retargeting can help them reclaim those elusive customers.