A user browses an online store for running shoes, exploring several models and adding a pair to their shopping cart. However, they leave the site without completing the purchase. In the following days, as they visit other websites or scroll through social media, they begin to see ads featuring the exact pair of shoes they considered, sometimes with a special discount offer. This scenario illustrates web remarketing, a strategy designed to re-engage users who have interacted with a website but did not finalize a desired action.

Web remarketing operates through cookie-based tracking, which records the user's behavior during their visit. A cookie is stored in the user's browser, capturing details such as the pages viewed, products considered, and items added to the cart. This data enables a business to build a detailed profile that is crucial for delivering personalized ads. By targeting individuals who have already shown interest, a company can create highly relevant advertisements that are more likely to lead to conversions.

Once the user leaves the website without making a purchase, the data collected via cookies serves as a targeted ad on another site or social media platform. This ad is tailored to the user's previous interactions, often featuring the specific product viewed or offering an incentive like a discount. This level of personalization increases the ad's relevance, making it more effective in prompting the user to return to the original site and complete the transaction.

Web remarketing is especially effective because it focuses on an individual who has already demonstrated interest in a product or service, thereby enhancing the likelihood of conversion. By integrating remarketing into a broader digital marketing effort, a business can forge a stronger connection with a potential customer, improving both conversion rates and overall marketing performance.