Why Retargeting Website Visitors Still Works

Most people won’t convert the first time they land on your site. Whether they’re just browsing, comparing prices, or waiting for payday, many potential customers slip away without taking action. That’s where retargeting campaigns come in.

A well-executed retargeting marketing strategy helps you reconnect with people who’ve previously visited your website—bringing them back with personalized offers, relevant messages, and well-timed nudges. It’s one of the most effective ways to increase conversions without increasing your ad spend.

But here’s the catch: most retargeting ads look the same. Users see the same ad on social media platforms, across the Google Display Network, and on other websites—over and over. Fatigue sets in. Trust drops. And your remarketing efforts start blending into the background noise.

That’s why serious marketers are now expanding their retargeting strategies beyond just display ads. By combining digital behavior tracking with physical follow-ups—like direct mail—you can reach your target audience in a way that’s unexpected, personal, and highly effective.

At LettrLabs, we help you retarget website visitors using real, handwritten or printed mail—sent automatically based on behavior. It’s a modern twist on an old-school approach that consistently drives higher response rates and ROI.

How Website Retargeting Campaigns Work

To understand how to retarget users effectively, you need to understand how retargeting works behind the scenes.

At its core, website retargeting relies on tracking pixels—tiny snippets of code placed on your website. These pixels track user behavior and help build a retargeting list of people who have visited your website, viewed specific product pages, or taken high-intent actions like starting checkout or clicking on your pricing page.

Once a visitor is added to this list, your advertising platform (like Google Ads, Facebook Advertising, or LinkedIn Ads) can serve ads to them across social media, search ads, and different websites. These are called remarketing campaigns, and they’re designed to bring potential customers back with targeted ads and customized messaging.

There are two main ways this happens:

• Pixel-based retargeting: Automatically captures anonymous traffic based on behavior.
• List-based retargeting: Uses uploaded data (like email addresses or Shopify buyer lists) to target existing customers or audience segments.

You can then create retargeting ads tailored to the user’s journey—offering discounts, reminding them what they left behind, or guiding them back to a relevant landing page.

But digital ads aren’t the only way to retarget website visitors anymore. Tools like LettrLabs extend this strategy by using behavioral triggers to send direct mail—physical, personalized pieces that land right in the customer’s hands. Whether it’s a handwritten postcard, a printed letter, or a VIP offer, it’s all part of a more memorable, multi-channel marketing strategy.

Retargeting Platforms Compared: Digital Ads vs Direct Mail

Most businesses rely on digital retargeting platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Retargeting Campaigns, or LinkedIn Ads to keep their brand in front of website visitors. These tools are powerful, but they come with limitations—especially when your retargeting ads start blending into the noise.

On platforms like the Google Display Network, you can serve ads to users as they browse other websites, scroll through social media, or watch YouTube videos. You can even customize retargeting ads based on what users did on your site—like viewing a product or abandoning a cart. These campaigns are easy to launch and scale, making them a favorite among digital marketers.

But there’s a problem: most users have seen it all before. They’ve been hit with paid ads so often, they barely notice them. And when you show the same ad again and again, the effect wears off.

That’s where direct mail gives you an edge.

LettrLabs takes what works about digital retargeting—behavioral tracking, custom audiences, automation—and brings it into the physical world. Instead of only relying on screens, you can retarget users with a real, tangible message delivered straight to their mailbox. And unlike display ads, these physical mailers are hard to ignore.

Whether you’re running conversion campaigns or awareness campaigns, combining digital ads with direct mail lets you target your audience effectively across multiple touchpoints. And because LettrLabs automates the entire process—from detection to delivery—it’s as seamless as setting up any retargeting campaign online.

LettrLabs’ Retargeting Platform: Real Mail for Real Results

What if you could automatically follow up with anonymous website visitors—even if they didn’t fill out a form or create an account?

That’s exactly what LettrLabs does.

Our proprietary tool, Lead Reveal, identifies visitors who’ve previously visited your website and matches them to real mailing addresses using advanced tracking and intent data. From there, it triggers a personalized piece of direct mail—without you lifting a finger.

Unlike traditional retargeting platforms that rely solely on pixels and cookies, Lead Reveal makes retargeting work even when users don’t log in or submit their contact info. You can use it to create deeply targeted ads in the form of physical postcards, handwritten cards, or letters—based on how visitors behave on your site.

Examples of behavior-based triggers include:

• Visiting your landing page but not converting
• Spending time on pricing or product pages
• Clicking buttons or interacting with your calendar
• Starting checkout but abandoning the process
• Viewing multiple pages in one session

If you're using Shopify, LettrLabs also integrates natively to retarget existing users or potential customers based on real-time shopping data. You can run remarketing campaigns for:

• First-time buyer flows
• Lapsed customer retargeting efforts
• Product-specific conversion campaigns
• Loyalty and win-back sequences

All of this can be managed in just a few clicks. No printing. No manual list uploads. Just real mail, sent at the right time, to the right audience—automatically.

LettrLabs combines the personalization of custom audiences with the lasting impact of physical mail to create truly successful retargeting campaigns that break through the digital noise.

Smart Triggers: Targeting Potential Customers Based on Real Behavior

Most retargeting campaigns rely on simple signals—like “visited your website” or “added an item to cart.” But for smarter, more effective results, you need to dig deeper into user behavior.

With LettrLabs, you can set up ultra-specific triggers to retarget users at the perfect moment. Using our retargeting platform, you’re not just chasing clicks—you’re responding to real intent.

Some of the most effective behavior-based triggers include:

• Visited a specific landing page (like pricing, features, or high-value product pages)
• Viewed multiple pages or stayed on site for a defined duration
• Clicked a key button (e.g., “Book a Demo” or “Start Free Trial”) but didn’t convert
• Started checkout or account creation but didn’t finish
• Interacted with your calendar tool but didn’t schedule
• Browsed Shopify product pages without purchasing

These behaviors tell you something: these are potential customers. They’re interested, but they haven’t taken the final step. That’s when a personalized ad promoting your offer—delivered via handwritten direct mail—can push them over the edge.

Better yet, all of these triggers can be configured using:

• Google Tag Manager
• Shopify event filters
• CRM or automation tools like Zapier, HubSpot, and Klaviyo

By building campaigns around real-time behavior instead of broad audience assumptions, you're creating retargeting ads that feel personal, timely, and relevant. And because they’re physical, not just digital, they’re far more likely to get opened, read, and remembered.

This is how serious marketers go beyond generic retargeting efforts and into fully customized, high-converting flows that win.

List-Based Retargeting for Existing Users

Not all retargeting has to rely on real-time website activity. If you already have customer data—whether from a CRM, email platform, or online store—you can run powerful list-based retargeting campaigns using LettrLabs.

This strategy is perfect for existing users and existing customers who haven’t engaged in a while, haven’t purchased again, or might be ready for an upsell. It’s also ideal for segmentation-based flows where you want to target users with specific messages based on their purchase history, behavior, or lifecycle stage.

Here’s how it works:

1. Upload your audience segment to LettrLabs via CSV, Shopify, HubSpot, or Klaviyo.
2. Choose your preferred mail format: a handwritten card, postcard, or letter.
3. Personalize your message using merge fields—like name, product, or last purchase date.
4. Match your ad creative and messaging to your campaign goal—whether it’s a win-back, cross-sell, or loyalty reward.

Example retargeting campaigns include:

• “We miss you” postcards to previously visited customers who haven’t reordered in 90 days
• VIP offers for top spenders with declining activity
• Personalized thank-you cards that drive second purchases
• Replenishment reminders based on product usage timelines

Because these users already know your brand, they’re easier to convert—if you show up at the right time with the right message. And unlike standard social media retargeting, physical mail isn’t buried in an inbox or ignored in a feed. It gets seen.

List-based campaigns are also an easy entry point for brands new to retargeting marketing. You don’t need complex pixel setups or tracking scripts—just a clean list and a strong offer.

If you’re already investing in paid ads to acquire customers, leverage retargeting via mail to increase retention and average lifetime value. It’s one of the most overlooked tactics in a modern marketing strategy, and one of the easiest to implement with LettrLabs.

Designing High-Converting Direct Mail Retargeting Campaigns

Running successful retargeting campaigns isn’t just about sending mail—it’s about sending the right mail to the right person at the right time. With LettrLabs, you can craft fully automated direct mail pieces that feel as personalized as your best retargeting ads—but without relying solely on screens.

Here’s how to create high-converting campaigns:

Choose the Right Mail Format

Different formats serve different goals. For example:

• Use handwritten cards for trust-building or high-touch moments.
• Choose postcards for quick promotions or awareness campaigns.
• Send printed letters for product launches or multi-step conversion campaigns.

Each format can be fully customized with your ad creative, CTA, and offer.

Match Message to User Behavior

Just like when you create ads for Facebook Advertising or Google Ads, your messaging should reflect what the user did:

• Abandoned checkout? Mention the product left behind.
• Viewed pricing page? Emphasize limited-time deals.
• Existing customer? Introduce a loyalty program or new release.

This alignment between behavior and message is what separates good from great retargeting efforts.

Customize Retargeting Ads with Merge Fields

Our system allows you to customize retargeting ads with dynamic elements—like the recipient’s name, product viewed, or discount code. Personalization drives engagement and dramatically improves response rates, especially compared to generic display ads.

Align with Your Landing Page

Always make sure the mail piece points to a tailored landing page—with matching design, message, and CTA. This consistency improves trust and makes it easier for the user to take action.

Time It Right

The best retargeting strategies don’t just rely on what you say—they consider when you say it:

• Send mail within 48 hours of high-intent behavior.
• Avoid overwhelming the same user with digital and physical ads at once.
• Use frequency logic to avoid overexposure, just like you would in social media retargeting.

Direct mail gives you a physical edge—but it’s timing, personalization, and context that drive results.

Measuring Success: How to Optimize Retargeting Workflows

If you’re investing in retargeting campaigns, you need to know what’s working—and what’s not. Tracking performance is essential to refining your retargeting strategy and improving ROI over time.

Here’s how to optimize your retargeting efforts using key metrics and tools:

Track Delivery and Response Rates

Direct mail gives you trackable outcomes—especially when paired with:

• QR codes that lead to unique landing pages
• Personalized URLs (PURLs) for attribution
• Discount codes tied to specific audiences

These tools help you tie mail responses directly to campaign performance.

Monitor Key Metrics

Just like you would with Google Ads or Facebook Retargeting Campaigns, keep an eye on:

• Response rate
• Redemption rate
• Conversion rate
• Cost per response / per conversion
• Lifetime value of retargeted users

These metrics tell you not just if someone acted—but whether the campaign aligned with your broader campaign goals.

Run A/B Tests

Test different:

• Ad messaging (tone, offer, length)
• Mail formats (postcard vs. handwritten card)
• Visual design and layout
• Audience segments (e.g., new vs. returning)

Direct mail offers a unique opportunity to test contextual targeting with real-world impact. You can even test delivery timing (e.g., mail sent 1 day vs. 3 days post-visit).

Connect to Your CRM or Ad Platforms

If you're already tracking retargeting ads across social media platforms or search ads, you can integrate LettrLabs’ data with tools like:

• HubSpot
• Klaviyo
• Google Analytics
• Shopify

This helps unify your digital and physical remarketing efforts in one place—creating a clearer view of the buyer journey.

Use Results to Refine Audience Segments

By understanding which triggers, segments, and offers perform best, you can tighten your retargeting list and allocate your ad spend more efficiently—whether that’s on display ads, mail, or both.

The best retargeting marketing isn’t “set and forget.” It’s built on insight, iteration, and improving with every send.

Common Retargeting Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even the best marketers sometimes fall into traps that limit the impact of their retargeting strategies. Whether you’re running social media retargeting or sending personalized mail, these are the pitfalls to watch out for—and how to avoid them.

Showing the Same Ad Repeatedly

Nothing kills performance faster than ad fatigue. Seeing the same ad across social media platforms, websites, and emails makes users tune out—especially if the messaging never changes. Rotate your ad creative and formats, and use behavior-based triggers to keep it fresh.

Targeting the Wrong Audience

Not every website visitor is worth retargeting. Instead of blasting everyone who’s visited your website, focus on audience segments that show real intent—like users who reached the checkout page, visited high-value pages, or engaged with your product calendar.

LettrLabs helps you build smarter retargeting lists using behavioral filters and tracking pixels, so you can retarget users when it matters most.

Over-relying on Digital Only

Many brands stick to display ads or paid ads on Google Ads and Facebook Advertising, missing out on the impact of a physical follow-up. Adding direct mail as a secondary marketing channel increases reach, improves recall, and helps you stand out—especially for high-AOV products or B2B accounts.

Ignoring Landing Page Experience

A killer ad means nothing if your landing page doesn’t deliver. Whether your user comes from a digital click or a QR code on a mailer, your page needs to:

• Match the message and offer
• Load fast on mobile
• Guide the visitor toward the next step

Your retargeting campaign is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain.

Treating Retargeting as a Standalone Tactic

Retargeting marketing works best when it’s part of a larger marketing strategy—aligned with email, organic content, SMS, and paid efforts. When all your channels are working toward the same campaign goals, conversion rates improve across the board.

By avoiding these common errors, you’ll ensure your remarketing campaigns aren’t just busywork—they’re strategic, scalable, and driving real results.

Why Direct Mail Retargeting Complements Your Marketing Strategy

In a world saturated with retargeting ads across every screen and scroll, direct mail stands out—not just visually, but emotionally. When done right, it doesn’t compete with your digital campaigns. It enhances them.

Here’s why serious marketers are adding mail to their retargeting strategies:

Physical Mail Cuts Through Digital Noise

Most users are hit with hundreds of paid ads every day across Google Display Network, search ads, and social media platforms. But a well-designed, personalized postcard or handwritten card? That’s rare. That’s memorable. It turns a generic remarketing campaign into a real, human moment.

It Builds Trust and Attention

People are more likely to open, read, and engage with physical mail than yet another display ad. It creates perceived value—especially when the mail feels relevant and personal. This is critical when reaching high-AOV customers or re-engaging existing users.

It's Triggered Like Digital—But Feels Personal

With LettrLabs, you can use tracking pixels, behavioral triggers, and tools like the LinkedIn Insight Tag or Google Tag Manager to launch physical mail based on:

• Abandoned carts
• High-intent page visits
• Account creation drop-offs
• Product page interactions

This lets you serve ads—but in a real-world format that feels more deliberate and less disposable.

It Integrates with Your Tech Stack

LettrLabs plugs into your Shopify store, HubSpot CRM, and marketing automations via Zapier or Klaviyo. That means your retargeting efforts stay aligned across channels, and your direct mail campaign fits right into your overall marketing strategy.

It Drives Higher ROI

When you reach the right audience, at the right time, with a message they weren’t expecting—conversion rates rise. Whether your goal is reactivation, upsell, or brand recall, direct mail retargeting helps you target users more meaningfully, and with less competition for attention.

Get Started: Launching a Direct Mail Retargeting Campaign with LettrLabs

Launching a direct mail retargeting campaign with LettrLabs is fast, scalable, and fully automated—no printing, stuffing, or manual mailing required.

Whether you’re retargeting anonymous website visitors with our Lead Reveal feature or sending personalized postcards to your existing customers, the setup process is simple:

✅ Step 1: Connect Your Data

Use your preferred method:

• Install a tracking pixel via Google Tag Manager
• Enable Lead Reveal to capture high-intent anonymous traffic
• Connect your Shopify store for behavior-based retargeting efforts
• Upload a list-based retargeting segment from HubSpot, Klaviyo, or CSV

✅ Step 2: Choose a Format

Pick the mailer that matches your campaign:

• Handwritten cards for high-touch experiences
• Printed postcards for quick offers or awareness
• Letters for deeper storytelling and upsells

All formats support merge fields and dynamic content to customize retargeting ads based on user behavior and data.

✅ Step 3: Match It to a Landing Page

Make sure your mail drives users to a relevant, high-converting landing page. Whether it’s a product offer, a renewal prompt, or a loyalty flow, message consistency across channels is key to making your retargeting work.

✅ Step 4: Automate & Launch

LettrLabs handles the printing, postage, and delivery. You get full visibility into what’s been sent, and how users respond. No more guesswork—just high-impact targeted ads delivered in a format that gets noticed.

If you're already investing in retargeting marketing through Facebook Advertising, Google Ads, or LinkedIn Ads, this is your chance to add a powerful physical layer to your stack.

Start retargeting with intent. Make it personal. Make it real.

👉 Request a personalized sample or book a strategy call to see how LettrLabs can turn your website visitors into long-term customers—automatically.