Module 1: Retargeting Essentials · Lesson 2 of 2

Retargeting by Funnel Stage

Different audiences need different messages. Match the ad to the last thing someone did.

1 min readUpdated 2026-09-26

Lesson objectives

  • Build stage-based audiences
  • Write stage-appropriate messages

Audience ladder

  1. Viewed contentOffer lead magnet
  2. Visited offer pageAnswer objections
  3. Started checkoutReminder + help
  4. CustomersExclude or cross-sell
Stage-based retargeting

Rules of thumb

  • Exclude people who already converted from ads for the same offer.
  • Cap frequency so people don't see the same ad repeatedly.
  • Shorter time windows for higher-intent actions (checkout), longer for content viewers.
  • Refresh creative regularly to avoid fatigue.

Action steps

  1. Define three audiences by stage
  2. Write one helpful message for each

Checklist

  • Converters excluded
  • Frequency capped
  • Messages match stage

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