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Behavioral Targeting: What it is with Examples

Behavioral targeting allows marketers to provide relevant advertisements depending on a user's browsing activity. Learn more.

Behavioral targeting is a sort of advertising that allows advertisers to show users relevant advertisements based on their browsing habits. It is based on search results, page views, button clicks, and time spent on a website, among other things.

You may be aware of such targeted ads for consumers. You see it when a product “chases” you around the web in ads. This can increase your likelihood of buying by offering you relevant objects that really are (or were) on your mind, especially if you demonstrate interest.

Random targeting doesn’t happen anymore. 

There are many ways for marketers to ensure the right message gets to the right person at the right time. Advertisers have increased conversion rates for both offline and online campaigns thanks to improvements in tracking behavior and the growth of powerful datasets.

Using these examples of this targeting, you can make your ads and outreach more relevant and recast a vast (and ineffective!) net.

Content Index hide
1 What is behavioral targeting?
2 Why is behavioral targeting important?
3 Types of Behavioral targeting
4 The Value of behavioral targeting
5 Examples of Behavioral Targeting
6 Conclusion
7 Frequently Asking Questions (FAQ)

What is behavioral targeting? 

Behavioral targeting is a type of marketing that uses information about how people use the Internet to improve advertising campaigns. The technique involves getting information from different places about how the potential customer browses and shops online.

This information is used to produce advertisements tailored to the habits and interests of that individual, which the publisher may then show in the visitor’s web browser.

This technique’s main goal is to distribute advertising messages to behavioral target populations who have shown the greatest interest in them. 

The procedure entails accumulating online searches, purchase histories, frequented websites, and other data to produce a comprehensive user profile that reveals what your target audience wants, avoids, and buys.

Companies may use these behavioral data points to create advertising that is tailored to each individual’s trackable tastes and requirements while avoiding messages that are unpleasant or irrelevant to the viewer.

LEARN ABOUT: Behavioral Research

Why is behavioral targeting important?

Behavioral targeting strategy can significantly impact marketing effectiveness and drive success for businesses. Let’s explore why behavioral targeting is so important in today’s digital era.

  • Increased relevance and engagement

One of the primary reasons why behavioral targeting holds immense significance is its ability to deliver personalized content to users based on their web-browsing behavior. Marketers can understand user preferences and interests by analyzing behavioral data such as pages viewed, search terms, and past interactions. 

Consequently, they can present ads and marketing messages that align precisely with what the user is looking for, increasing the relevance of the content and driving higher user engagement.

  • Enhanced user experience

The behavioral targeting process is about promoting products or services and creating a seamless and enjoyable user experience. When users are presented with content that resonates with their interests and needs, they feel understood and valued by the brand. 

A personalized experience fosters a positive perception of the brand, leading to increased customer loyalty and repeated interactions with the website or app.

  • Efficient resource allocation

Traditional marketing approaches often involve broad-stroke campaigns that target a wide audience, hoping to reach potential customers. However, such methods can be inefficient and costly, as they may target individuals who have little or no interest in the offerings. 

Behavioral targeting teaches companies to allocate resources more efficiently by focusing on the audience segments most likely to convert. This precision targeting saves valuable marketing resources and increases the return on investment (ROI).

  • Improved conversion rates

The ultimate goal of any marketing campaign is to drive conversions and sales. With its personalized approach, behavioral targeting significantly improves the chances of converting prospects into customers. 

By offering relevant products or services based on the user’s demonstrated interests and behavior, businesses can entice users to take the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or subscribing to a service.

  • Compliance with user privacy concerns

While behavioral targeting relies on collecting consumer data, its importance also lies in respecting user privacy concerns. With regulations like the GDPR in place, businesses must be transparent and responsible in their data collection and usage practices. 

Behavioral targeting allows marketers to adhere to privacy guidelines by providing users with more control over their behavioral data and enabling opt-out options for those who prefer not to be targeted.

  • Deeper insights and data-driven decision-making

Behavioral targeting provides marketers with valuable insights into consumer behavior and preferences. By analyzing user behavioral data, businesses gain a deeper understanding of their target audience, which helps refine buyer personas and marketing strategies. Analyze customer behaviors to find out what they think and what they eventually buy.

This data-driven approach empowers marketers to make informed decisions, optimize marketing campaigns, and continually improve their behavioral marketing efforts.

Types of Behavioral targeting 

You can customize your marketing using it by using data from a variety of sources, like:

types-of-behavioral-targeting
  1. Engagement with the website

Using behavioral targeting, you may customize the website’s user experience. It comprises pop-up promotions, behavioral advertising, and connections to relevant material. Website visitors may view personalized ads depending on what they’re interested in. Google remarketing advertisements are another approach to engaging website visitors after they leave.

  1. Participation in the campaigns

Campaign engagement lets you target specific emails based on opens and clicks. Using this data as a major difference might help you arrange your audience. You may resend emails to non-openers, unengaged people, and the most engaged people.

  1. Buying behavior

Purchase behavior is a typical and strong targeting source. This suggests related items and companies on an e-commerce site’s homepage and shopping basket. You may use purchase behavior to promote items, convey gratitude, and incentivize consumers.

  1. App interaction

It is important for increasing app engagement because it allows you to send targeted marketing that encourages additional use depending on what people do (or don’t) in your app. 

You may also segment users depending on their actions within a specified period, such as congratulating customers who have finished their first lesson in your teaching and learning mobile apps or reaching out to people who have installed your app but haven’t signed in for a week.

The Value of behavioral targeting

Because more and more organizations are adopting a customer-centric approach to marketing, this is what they need. Contextual targeting, which was prominent a few years ago, has given way to behavior-based advertisements.

Brands acquire vast quantities of information on their customers and website visitors from a variety of sources in order to utilize it to both sides’ benefit. They provide highly-tailored recommendations for each user depending on the following:

  • Pages visited
  • Clicked links, buttons, and content
  • Products are added to a cart or wish list.
  • Time spent on each page
  • The degree of involvement
  • Past search queries
  • Additional interactions

All of this data may be gathered using tracking pixels and cookies and then analyzed using customer data management solutions.

Advertisers benefit from behavior-based advertisements. First, they generate a lot of clicks since customers see previously seen things. This form of targeted ad converts site visitors into customers. This lets you design a suitable offer at the right moment while guiding a user through your sales funnel analysis. This method increases sales for any company, regardless.

Examples of Behavioral Targeting

More marketers are integrating such targeting into their marketing campaigns. Examples of such targeting by customers or consumers:

  • Cross-selling and boosting sales

Knowing what your clients appreciate and how they engage with your company helps you advertise new goods. If you can connect products X and Y, your product X-interested audience will likely interact with a product Y ad.

  • Behavioral targeting in email campaigns

Behavioral email campaigns aren’t limited to programmatic media advertising. Personalize email marketing depending on how your target uses your site or app.

Examples are targeting abandoned cart sessions, adding seen goods in regular updates, or referring to previously read information. Behavioral email campaigns raise email productivity and targeting possibilities.

  • Behavioral targeting in remarketing

Retargeting is an easy approach to use for behavioral targeting. Recognizing site visitors may entice them to return and accomplish objectives on other sites.

Facebook and Google provide easy-to-install tracking pixels which can comprehend site visitors. These parts may be activated on their respective data management platforms.

  • Targeting based on location

Location-based targeting reaches target audiences based on real-world activity. Retarget audiences who’ve visited your business or a competitor’s. This applies to internet retailers and e-commerce.

These targeting initiatives may be valuable since they reveal real-world customer behavior. This lets you construct interesting segments depending on people’s behavior.

Conclusion

Behavioral targeting is a type of marketing that uses information about how people use the Internet to improve behavioral advertising campaigns. Brands are now adopting a customer-centric approach to their marketing. Contextual advertising has given way to behavior-based advertisements.

Facebook and Google provide easy-to-install tracking pixels which can comprehend site visitors. Knowing what your clients appreciate and how they engage with your company helps you advertise new goods.

QuestionPro’s survey software has helped students and professionals gather all the data needed to deliver high-value insights. It also features a data analysis package to help you evaluate the final findings.

QuestionPro is more than survey software; we offer solutions for every business and every difficulty. We also offer Insights Hub, which is a data management platform. So, contact QuestionPro today for a free trial or learn more!

Create memorable experiences based on real-time data, insights and advanced analysis. Request Demo

Frequently Asking Questions (FAQ)

What is behavioral targeting?

Behavioral targeting is a method that displays ads and marketing messages to users based on their web-browsing behavior and interactions with digital assets.

How does behavioral targeting work?

 Behavioral targeting collects user data, analyzes behavior patterns, and creates user segments to deliver personalized ads and content.

How does behavioral targeting improve user experience?

By delivering personalized content, behavioral targeting creates a more relevant and enjoyable experience for users.

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About the author
Fabyio Villegas
Copywriter and SEO Specialist. With over 11 years of experience in Digital Marketing and Educational Content Curation.
View all posts by Fabyio Villegas

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