Remarketing vs Retargeting: Which is Better for Marketing


2021-05-10

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Remarketing Meaning: What is remarketing in digital marketing?

Remarketing is the practice of re-engaging current and past customers for generating sales. Remarketing typically uses email correspondence to reconnect with users. A business needs an email list to unleash the full potential of remarketing emails.

In simple words, we can say that the practice of reconnecting with past and current customers through email is called remarketing.

Remarketing is done when the prospect already has the intent to purchase a product or service. More specifically, remarketing emails include cart abandonment emails, up-sell and cross-sell emails, personalized discount announcement emails, etc.

Retargeting Meaning: What is retargeting in digital marketing?

Retargeting is the practice of identifying users who have interacted with your website in the past and targeting them / advertising to them using online ad placements and display ads.

Simply put, retargeting means re-approaching past users that you see as potential customers. With retargeting, customer-business interaction is not limited to a one-time engagement, and the location of remarketing display ads is not limited to your website alone.

Amongst others, retargeted display ads are shown over third party networks like Google Display Network and Facebook. As such, we can say that you can target your potential customers anytime and anywhere with remarketing display ads. Its beauty lies in helping you reach out to your users on other platforms long after they have left your website and stopped interacting with your brand.

Remarketing vs Retargeting: Similarities to Know:

To learn the similarities between remarketing and retargeting, read on.

What are the similarities of Remarketing and Retargeting?

We have outlined the similarities between remarketing and retargeting here:

  • Objective: Retargeting and remarketing may have different short-term goals. But in the long-term, they are equally focused on increasing sales conversions for a business. More specifically, both marketing practices seek to:
  • Advertise to audiences who have interacted with your brand/business in the past.
  • Engage qualified audiences who are likely to make a purchase from you.
  • Build brand recognition and leave a lasting impression on target customers.

Remarketing vs Retargeting: Differences to Know:

To learn the differences between remarketing and retargeting, read on.

What is the difference between Remarketing and Retargeting?

We have outlined the difference between remarketing and retargeting here:

  • Primary medium: Retargeting uses display advertisements as the primary medium, whereas remarketing uses email as the key platform for advertising.
  • Objective: The goal of both retargeting and remarketing is generating sales. However, the more immediate goal of retargeting is scaling website traffic and building brand awareness by redirecting past users to a website through retargeted display ads. Remarketing re-engages past customers through strategic emails with the sole motive of generating sales.
  • Cost: Remarketing display ads cost money while remarketing email campaigns can be executed without incurred costs. Unless you automate your email campaigns, google remarketing proves to be highly cost-effective when compared to retargeting.