Retargeting Has Become Harder And You Need a New Way to Re-Engage Website Visitors
- MiaVita Solutions
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
For years, digital advertisers relied on one of the most effective tactics in the playbook: retargeting. Drop a pixel on your website, follow users around the internet with relevant ads, and bring them back until they convert.
But the days of easy retargeting are over. Between privacy regulations, browser restrictions, and shifting user behavior, it’s become increasingly difficult to re-engage the people who visit your website but never convert.
If your marketing strategy still depends on traditional retargeting, it’s time for a serious rethink.
The Decline of Traditional Retargeting
A few short years ago, retargeting was simple. Platforms like Facebook and Google let you easily track visitors and serve personalized ads wherever they went online. Today, however, several key factors have changed the game:
Third-party cookie deprecation – Safari and Firefox have blocked them for years, and Chrome (the biggest player of all) is phasing them out. No cookies means no easy way to follow users across the web.
Privacy regulations – GDPR, CCPA, and a growing list of state-level privacy laws restrict how and when you can collect user data—and require explicit consent to use it.
Platform signal loss – iOS updates and platform privacy settings now limit data sharing between apps and advertisers, drastically reducing the accuracy of remarketing audiences.
Consumer awareness – Users are more privacy-conscious than ever, often opting out of tracking entirely.
The result? Smaller audiences, higher CPMs, and lower ROI from traditional remarketing efforts.
Why Re-Engagement Still Matters
Even though retargeting has gotten harder, the need to re-engage your audience hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s more important than ever.
On average, 97% of website visitors don’t convert on their first visit. They might be comparing prices, checking inventory, or researching options, but they leave without taking action. If you don’t have a strategy to bring them back, you’re leaving a massive amount of opportunity on the table.
Re-engagement is about turning that anonymous web traffic into warm leads, nurturing them with relevant messages, and ultimately driving them back to your site to convert.
Modern Solutions for Re-Engaging Website Visitors
To adapt to this new reality, businesses need to evolve beyond cookie-based retargeting. Here are some effective strategies leading marketers are using today:
1. First-Party Data Collection
Build your own database of engaged users. Capture emails, phone numbers, and consented behavioral data through newsletters, lead magnets, or gated content. This gives you durable, privacy-compliant ways to reach your audience across channels.
2. De-Anonymization and Visitor Identification Tools
Advanced software now lets you identify a portion of your anonymous website visitors by matching IPs and behavioral data with verified contact records. This allows you to follow up with those visitors directly through email, CRM, or sales outreach without relying on third-party cookies.
3. Omnichannel Automation
Combine email, SMS, and dynamic on-site personalization to re-engage visitors across touchpoints. When a visitor returns, tailor their experience based on their past behavior to improve conversion rates.
The Bottom Line
The digital landscape has changed, but the goal remains the same: turning interest into action.
As retargeting becomes more challenging, businesses that invest in modern, privacy-compliant re-engagement solutions will gain a serious competitive edge. Whether through first-party data or identity resolution, the key is to stay connected with your audience long after they leave your site.
Because if you’re not finding new ways to reach them… someone else will.
Need help maximizing your current website traffic? Call today for a no obligation consultation on how you can convert more traffic into quality leads.
Comments