Why do so many people visit your Shopify store and leave without buying anything? It’s a common issue faced by almost every online store. In 2025, with higher ad costs and shorter attention spans, converting visitors into customers has become even more difficult. That’s why retargeting is more important than ever. It allows you to reconnect with people who’ve shown interest in your products and guide them back to your store to complete their purchase. In this blog, we’ll explore why visitors leave, how retargeting works, and the best retargeting strategies and tools you can use specifically tailored for Shopify stores in 2025.
Understanding why shoppers bounce or abandon carts is key to boosting conversions. Here are the main reasons:
Common Reasons for Bounce & Abandonment
- High Prices or Hidden Costs: Unexpected fees at checkout drive users away.
- Distractions & Bad UX: Cluttered design, too many popups, or confusing navigation kill interest.
- Slow Loading Speed: Every second counts slow sites lose sales.
- Lack of Trust: No reviews, unclear policies, or sketchy design makes shoppers hesitate.
- Complicated Checkout: Long forms or forced account creation causes drop-offs.
Behavioral Insights in 2025
- Short Attention Spans: People won’t stay if it’s not quick and clear.
- Emotional Triggers: Shoppers buy based on feelings that make them feel something.
- Too Many Choices Hurt: Simpler product options = better decisions.
- Mobile First: Most users browse on phones optimised for mobile behavior.
Importance of Understanding User Intent
- Not Everyone’s Ready to Buy: Some are browsing, comparing, or saving for later.
- Track Behavior: Use tools like Hotjar, GA4, or Shopify Analytics to see what users do.
- Segment & Personalize: Match your content and offers to where they are in their journey.
What Is Retargeting and How Does It Work?
Retargeting is a way to bring back visitors who left your store without buying. It shows ads or sends messages to people who’ve already interacted with your brand like visiting a product page or adding to cart.
Two Main Types:
- Pixel-Based Retargeting:
Uses a small code (pixel) on your site to track visitors and show them ads later on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, or TikTok. - List-Based Retargeting:
Uses email or phone number lists (like from your Shopify customers) to retarget them with ads, emails, or texts.
Key Retargeting Platforms:
- Facebook/Instagram: Show dynamic product ads to past visitors or cart abandoners.
- Google Ads: Display your products across websites and YouTube to people who’ve visited your store.
- TikTok Ads: Retarget younger audiences with short, engaging video content.
- Email: Send reminders, discount offers, or product recommendations.
- SMS: Deliver quick follow-ups or flash sale alerts directly to phones.
How Shopify Integrates:
Shopify makes retargeting easy by syncing with major tools:
- Facebook & Instagram: Shopify’s Facebook channel automatically adds the pixel and syncs your catalog for dynamic ads.
- Google Ads: Shopify’s Google & YouTube app helps set up remarketing and Smart Shopping campaigns.
- TikTok: The TikTok channel installs the pixel and lets you run video ad campaigns.
- Email/SMS: Tools like Klaviyo, Omnisend, and Shopify Email use customer behavior to trigger personalized follow-ups.
Must Have Retargeting Tools for Shopify in 2025
Retargeting helps re-engage shoppers who didn’t convert on their first visit. Shopify supports several powerful tools that make this process smooth and effective. Here are the top options to consider in 2025:
1. Meta Pixel (for Facebook & Instagram Ads)
What It Does: Tracks user behavior on your Shopify store and allows you to run personalized retargeting ads on Facebook and Instagram like abandoned cart ads or dynamic product ads.
Pros:
- Deep integration with Shopify
- Supports dynamic, behavior-based product ads
- Access to massive user base
Cons:
- Requires consistent creative testing to stay effective
- Ad performance may vary with privacy updates (iOS, GDPR)
Setup:
Use the Facebook & Instagram Shopify channel. Once connected, the Meta Pixel installs automatically and syncs your product catalog for ad targeting.
2. Google Ads Remarketing Tag
What It Does: Adds visitors to remarketing lists so you can show them ads across Google Search, Display Network, YouTube, and Gmail.
Pros:
- Wide reach across Google properties
- Great for bringing back comparison shoppers
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- Requires tracking consent in some regions
Setup:
Install the Google & YouTube app from the Shopify App Store. It automatically adds your remarketing tag and links to your product feed.
3. Klaviyo (Email Retargeting)
What It Does: Automates emails based on user actions like cart abandonment, product views, or browse abandonment. You can segment users and send targeted follow-ups.
Pros:
- Advanced segmentation and automation
- Deep Shopify integration (syncs products and behavior)
Cons:
- Pricing scales with your email list
- Requires setup time to build effective flows
Setup:
Install the Klaviyo app, connect your Shopify store, and start building flows like welcome series, browse/cart abandonment, and win-back emails.
4. SMSBump (SMS Retargeting)
What It Does: Sends SMS campaigns and automations to customers based on Shopify events like abandoned checkout or delivery updates.
Pros:
- High open and response rates
- Instant reach and mobile-friendly
Cons:
- Must collect user consent (especially in the U.S. and EU)
- Pay-per-message pricing can add up
Setup:
Install from the Shopify App Store. Collect SMS opt-ins via Shopify checkout or popups. Create automation flows directly in the dashboard.
5. AdRoll (Multi-Channel Retargeting)
What It Does: Manages retargeting ads across web, social platforms, and email. Centralizes your campaign efforts in one dashboard.
Pros:
- Easy for beginners to launch multi-platform ads
- Automates audience syncing and ad creative
Cons:
- Less granular control than running ads natively
- Subscription cost may not suit small stores
Setup:
Add AdRoll via Shopify App Store. Connect your ad accounts, install the pixel, and sync your Shopify product feed to start campaigns.
6. Shopify Audiences (Exclusive to Shopify Plus)
What It Does: Builds high-intent custom audiences using Shopify’s network-wide data. Helps run more effective ads on Meta, Google, Pinterest, and more.
Pros:
- Leverages massive Shopify data for better targeting
- Boosts ROAS for paid ads
Cons:
- Available only for Shopify Plus merchants
- Requires integration with ad platforms
Setup:
Enable via the Shopify Audiences app. Shopify will auto-generate audiences you can use directly in supported ad platforms.
Top Retargeting Strategies That Actually Convert
a. Abandoned Cart Email & SMS Flows
Timing:
- Send the first reminder within 1 hour after abandonment
- Follow up with another message 24 hours later
- A final reminder 3-5 days after
Copy Examples:
- “Hey, you left something behind! Your cart is waiting.”
- “Still thinking it over? Here’s 10% off to complete your order.”
- “Last chance! Your cart expires soon grab it before it’s gone.”
Automation Tips:
- Use Klaviyo or Omnisend to set up automated flows triggered by cart abandonment.
- Personalize emails with product images and customer names.
- Add SMS reminders for faster, more direct reach.
b. Dynamic Retargeting Ads on Meta & Google
What to Do:
- Use your Shopify product feed to show visitors ads featuring the exact products they viewed or added to cart.
- Automate product updates so ads stay fresh and relevant.
Best Ad Formats:
- Carousel Ads: Showcase multiple products or features in one ad.
- Collection Ads: Combine video and product cards for immersive browsing.
- Dynamic Product Ads: Automatically pull products based on user behavior.
c. Post-Engagement Retargeting on TikTok and Instagram
Video Strategies:
- Retarget users who watched your videos or interacted with your content but didn’t buy.
- Use short, catchy clips highlighting product benefits or social proof.
Creative Tips:
- Incorporate UGC (User-Generated Content) like real customer reviews or unboxings.
- Collaborate with influencers to create authentic retargeting ads that resonate.
d. On-site Retargeting: Popups & Exit-Intent Offers
Tools to Use:
- Privy, OptiMonk, and Justuno are popular Shopify apps for onsite retargeting.
Effective Triggers:
- Show popups after a set time delay (e.g., 30 seconds on site).
- Use exit-intent popups when the cursor moves toward the browser close button.
Incentives That Work:
- Offer discounts or free shipping to encourage checkout.
- Use countdown timers to create urgency.
Audience Segmentation: Target Smarter, Not Harder
1. Behavioral Segmentation
Segment your audience based on their actions on your Shopify store:
- Viewed Product: Target visitors who browsed specific items but didn’t buy.
- Added to Cart: Focus on users who showed high intent but abandoned checkout.
- Repeat Visitors: Engage loyal visitors or window shoppers with special offers or new arrivals.
2. RFM Segmentation (Recency, Frequency, Monetary Value)
Use RFM to prioritize customers by:
- Recency: How recently they bought (more recent = more engaged).
- Frequency: How often they purchase (frequent buyers = loyal).
- Monetary Value: How much they spend (high spenders = VIPs).
This helps tailor marketing like VIP rewards or win-back campaigns.
3. Lookalike vs. Custom Audiences in 2025
- Custom Audiences: Built from your own Shopify data (emails, site visitors). These are warm audiences already familiar with your brand ideal for retargeting.
- Lookalike Audiences: Created by platforms like Meta or Google by finding new users similar to your best customers. Great for scaling and acquiring new buyers.
In 2025, these audiences are refined by AI and privacy changes, so use high-quality data and first-party signals to get the best results.
Creative & Copywriting Tips for Retargeting Success
1. Write Personalized, Friendly Ad Copy
- Use the customer’s name or mention the product they viewed (e.g., “Still thinking about your [product name]?”)
- Focus on benefits, not just features (“Experience comfort all day long.”)
- Avoid sounding pushy or desperate; use gentle reminders and helpful language (“Here if you need us!”)
- Include clear calls-to-action (e.g., “Complete your order” or “Grab yours today”)
2. Visual Tips for 2025
- Motion Graphics & Short Videos: Capture attention with subtle animations or short clips instead of static images.
- AI-Generated Creatives: Use AI tools to generate fresh ad visuals and quickly test variations.
- Show Real Product Reviews or UGC: Incorporate real customer photos or quotes to build trust and authenticity.
3. Keep a Consistent Brand Voice
- Use the same tone and style across emails, SMS, ads, and popups to build recognition.
- Whether playful, professional, or warm, consistency helps customers feel connected and confident.
Measuring Success: Retargeting Metrics to Track
1. Key KPIs to Monitor
- ROAS (Return on Ad Spend): How much revenue you earn for every dollar spent on retargeting ads.
- CTR (Click-Through Rate): Percentage of users who click your ads shows ad relevance.
- CPA (Cost Per Acquisition): How much it costs to gain one customer via retargeting.
- Conversion Rate: Percentage of visitors who complete a purchase after clicking your ads or messages.
2. Shopify Analytics vs. Ad Platform Analytics
- Shopify Analytics: Tracks on-site behavior, sales, and customer journeys great for overall store performance.
- Ad Platform Analytics (Facebook, Google, TikTok): Focuses on ad performance, audience engagement, and campaign-level ROI.
Use both to get a full picture of retargeting effectiveness.
3. A/B Testing Creatives & Messages
- Test different headlines, images, offers, and call-to-actions.
- Run experiments with email subject lines or SMS timing.
- Use results to optimize campaigns and improve ROI continuously.
Common Retargeting Mistakes to Avoid
1. Over-Targeting and Annoying Users
Retargeting works best when it’s helpful and not overwhelming. Showing the same ad repeatedly in a short time can frustrate shoppers and harm your brand reputation. People may start ignoring your ads or even develop negative feelings toward your store.
How to avoid this:
- Set frequency caps on your ad platforms to limit how many times one user sees your ad daily or weekly.
- Limit retargeting windows to a reasonable period (e.g., 7-14 days after their last visit) so you don’t chase cold leads indefinitely.
- Use diverse ad creatives to keep content fresh and less repetitive.
2. Not Updating Ads Frequently
Running the same ads for too long causes ad fatigue audiences become blind to your message, which lowers CTR and increases costs. Static or stale ads lose impact quickly, especially on social media where users scroll fast.
How to avoid this:
- Rotate ad creatives and copy every 1-2 weeks.
- Experiment with new formats like short videos or carousel ads to maintain interest.
- Use AI tools or creative teams to generate fresh content regularly.
3. Sending the Same Message to All Segments
One-size-fits-all messaging rarely converts well. Your visitors have different levels of interest and intent. Someone who just browsed a product is very different from a loyal repeat buyer. Using identical ads or emails misses the opportunity to address specific needs or objections.
How to avoid this:
- Segment your audience based on behavior (e.g., viewed product, added to cart, previous buyers).
- Customize your copy and offer it to each group. For example:
- Browsers get product benefits and social proof.
- Cart abandoners get reminders and discounts.
- Repeat customers get VIP rewards or early access offers.
Use dynamic ad features and email personalization tools like Klaviyo to automate this process.
Future Trends in Retargeting (2025 and Beyond)
1. AI-Driven Predictive Retargeting
Artificial Intelligence is transforming retargeting by analyzing huge amounts of data to predict which users are most likely to convert and when. AI-powered tools can:
- Automatically adjust bids and budgets for high-potential customers
- Personalize ad creatives and messaging in real-time based on user behavior
- Identify patterns and segment audiences more accurately than manual methods
This means smarter, more efficient retargeting campaigns with higher ROI and less wasted spend.
2. Cookieless Tracking and Privacy-First Approaches
With increasing privacy regulations (like GDPR, CCPA) and browser changes limiting third-party cookies, traditional tracking methods are becoming less reliable. Retargeting is shifting toward:
- First-party data collection (from your own store and customers)
- Contextual targeting instead of behavioral cookies
- Privacy-compliant consent management tools to build trust
Shopify and ad platforms are adapting with new ways to track and target users without compromising privacy.
3. Integrating Zero-Party Data (Quizzes, Preferences, etc.)
Zero party data is the information customers willingly share, such as preferences, interests, and feedback. This data is gold for personalized retargeting because it’s explicit and accurate.
Examples include:
- Product quizzes that recommend items and capture preferences
- Surveys or polls asking about style or budget
- Wishlist or saved items features
Using zero party data allows brands to deliver highly relevant ads and emails, improving customer experience and boosting conversions while respecting privacy.
Ready to Recover Lost Visitors and Boost Your Shopify Sales?
Lost visitors and abandoned carts don’t have to mean lost revenue. With Oyecommerz, you get expert-crafted retargeting campaigns designed specifically for Shopify stores like yours. We help you reconnect with interested shoppers, deliver personalized ads and messages, and turn window-shoppers into loyal customers.
Our proven strategies focus on maximizing your ROI through targeted, data-driven retargeting that fits your brand and audience. Whether it’s email, SMS, dynamic ads, or on-site offers, we tailor every step to your unique business needs.
Don’t let potential sales slip away, let’s build your winning retargeting strategy today.
Book a Free Strategy Call and start converting more visitors into paying customers!
Contact to Migrate your Site to Shopify Now
Conclusion
Retargeting goes beyond simply driving quick sales; it’s a key part of nurturing long-term customer relationships. To be effective, your retargeting efforts should focus on delivering relevant and valuable messages that truly address your customers’ interests and needs. Avoid overwhelming users with too many ads instead, time your outreach to when they are most likely to engage. Providing helpful content, personalized offers, and consistent communication helps build trust and shows customers that you care about their experience. This approach not only improves immediate conversion rates but also encourages repeat purchases and loyalty, leading to sustainable growth for your business over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
A retargeting strategy is a marketing approach used to re-engage visitors who interacted with your website but didn’t complete a desired action (like making a purchase). It involves showing targeted ads or messages to those users across platforms like Facebook, Google, email, or SMS to bring them back and encourage conversion.
Let’s say a visitor adds a product to their cart on your Shopify store but leaves without buying. Later, they see a Facebook ad showing that same product with a 10% discount. That’s retargeting in action reminding and motivating them to return and complete the purchase.
Click-through rates (CTR) for retargeting ads are typically higher than regular display ads. A good CTR for retargeting ads is usually 0.7% to 1.5%, depending on the platform and industry. Anything above 1% is considered strong performance.
Retargeting tools are software or platforms that help businesses track user behavior and deliver personalized follow-up ads or messages. Popular retargeting tools include:
Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram)
Google Ads Remarketing
Klaviyo (email)
SMSBump (SMS)
AdRoll
Shopify Audiences (for Shopify Plus)
Retargeting in SEO isn’t a direct SEO practice, but it complements it. SEO brings organic traffic to your site, and retargeting helps convert that traffic by re-engaging users who didn’t convert on their first visit. Together, they improve the efficiency of your marketing funnel.
While often used interchangeably, there’s a subtle difference:
Retargeting typically refers to display ads shown to users based on their past behavior on your site.
Remarketing is a broader term, often associated with email campaigns targeting past visitors or customers.
In short, both aim to re-engage users, but remarketing is more email-based, while retargeting is ad-based.
