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How do I set up retargeting for Instagram ads?

How do I set up retargeting for Instagram ads?

Retargeting (remarketing) shows ads to people who already interacted with your business. Here's how to set it up:

What is Retargeting:

Shows ads to warm audiences
Targets website visitors, video viewers, engagers
Higher conversion rates than cold traffic
Lower cost per acquisition
Reminds people to complete purchase

Types of Retargeting Audiences:

1. Website Visitors:

All website visitors (last 30/60/90/180 days)
Specific page visitors
Visitors who didn't convert
Cart abandoners
High-value page visitors

2. Engagement:

Instagram profile visitors
People who engaged with posts
Video viewers (25%, 50%, 75%, 95%)
Form openers
Lead form submitters

3. Customer Lists:

Past customers
Email subscribers
App users
CRM contacts

4. Instagram Activity:

Profile visitors
People who messaged you
People who saved posts
Story viewers

Setup Steps:

Step 1: Install Facebook Pixel

1. Go to Events Manager

2. Create pixel

3. Install on website

4. Verify it's working

Step 2: Create Custom Audience

1. Go to Audiences in Ads Manager

2. Click "Create Audience"

3. Select "Custom Audience"

4. Choose source (Website, Engagement, Customer List)

5. Define rules

6. Name audience

7. Create

Step 3: Create Retargeting Campaign

1. Create new campaign

2. Choose "Conversions" objective

3. At ad set level, select your custom audience

4. Set budget and schedule

5. Create ad

6. Launch

Retargeting Strategies:

Cart Abandonment:

Target: Added to cart but didn't purchase
Timeframe: Last 7 days
Offer: 10% discount or free shipping
Urgency: Limited time offer

Product Page Viewers:

Target: Viewed product but didn't add to cart
Timeframe: Last 14 days
Show: Product they viewed
Include: Social proof, reviews

Homepage Visitors:

Target: Visited site but not product pages
Timeframe: Last 30 days
Show: Best sellers, new arrivals
Goal: Drive deeper engagement

Past Customers:

Target: Purchased in last 60-90 days
Offer: Related products, upsells
Goal: Repeat purchase
Exclude: Recent purchasers (last 7 days)

Video Viewers:

Target: Watched 50%+ of video
Timeframe: Last 30 days
Show: Product featured in video
Include: Special offer

Retargeting Best Practices:

Audience Segmentation:

Create specific audiences for each stage
Don't lump everyone together
Exclude converters
Layer audiences for precision

Ad Creative:

Reference their previous interaction
Show products they viewed
Use dynamic product ads
Include urgency/scarcity
Add social proof

Frequency:

Cap frequency at 3-5 per week
Avoid ad fatigue
Rotate creatives
Use different placements

Timing:

Strike while iron is hot (first 7 days)
Extend to 30 days for consideration
Adjust based on sales cycle
Test different windows

Budget Allocation:

Allocate 20-30% of budget to retargeting
Higher for e-commerce
Scale based on performance
Prioritize high-intent audiences

Advanced Retargeting:

Dynamic Product Ads:

Automatically show products viewed
Requires product catalog
Highly personalized
Best for e-commerce

Sequential Retargeting:

Show different ads based on stage
Ad 1: Awareness/education
Ad 2: Consideration/benefits
Ad 3: Conversion/offer

Cross-Sell/Upsell:

Target past customers
Show complementary products
Bundle offers
Loyalty rewards

Exclusions:

Exclude recent converters (last 7-14 days)
Exclude current customers (for acquisition)
Exclude employees
Exclude low-quality traffic

Retargeting Metrics:

Key Metrics:

Conversion rate: 2-5% (higher than cold)
CPA: 30-50% lower than cold traffic
ROAS: 5-10x (higher than cold)
CTR: 1.5-3% (higher than cold)

Pro Tips:

Start with website visitors (easiest)
Use 30-day window for most audiences
Exclude converters to avoid waste
Test different offers
Use urgency and scarcity
Combine with email retargeting
Monitor frequency closely
Refresh creative regularly

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