External Links Retargeting

Ever wished you could track and retarget people who click on links you share, even if those links lead to websites you don't own? That's exactly what external link retargeting allows you to do. This clever marketing tactic lets you place your tracking pixel on any link you share, giving you valuable data and retargeting opportunities for people who engage with your content across the web.

For businesses that frequently share content from other sites or work with affiliate offers, external link retargeting can be a game-changer. It opens up new possibilities for reaching potential customers, even if your own website doesn't get a ton of traffic yet. By attaching your pixel to external links, you can build audiences based on people's interests and behaviors, regardless of where they're clicking.

The beauty of this tactic lies in its ability to help you acquire customers more efficiently. When someone clicks on a link you've shared, it shows they're interested in that topic. By retargeting these individuals with relevant ads, you're reaching out to an audience that's already shown some level of engagement. This targeted approach often leads to cheaper ad costs and higher conversion rates.

Best of all, setting up external link retargeting is relatively simple and doesn't require a massive time investment. With the right tools, you can start tracking and retargeting external link clicks in just a few minutes. This makes it an accessible tactic for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large corporations looking to maximize their marketing efforts.

Why this works

External link retargeting works because it leverages the principle of audience intent and interest. When someone clicks on a link you've shared, they're demonstrating a clear interest in that topic or content. This behavioral data is incredibly valuable for targeted marketing efforts.

Here's why this tactic is particularly effective:

• Expanded audience reach. For internet businesses with limited website traffic, external link retargeting allows you to build an audience based on interactions that happen off your site. This is especially useful for:

  • SaaS companies. A new project management tool can retarget users who click on productivity-related content, even if that content isn't on their own blog.
  • Digital product creators. Course creators can pixel links to relevant industry news or research, capturing potential students before they even reach a sales page.

• Improved ad targeting. By tracking clicks on specific types of content, you can create highly segmented audiences for more precise ad targeting. This often results in:

  • Lower cost-per-click (CPC) rates
  • Higher click-through rates (CTR)
  • Better overall return on ad spend (ROAS)

• Enhanced affiliate marketing. For businesses that rely heavily on affiliate marketing, external link retargeting provides a way to capture and retarget traffic sent to partner sites. This can significantly boost conversion rates for affiliate offers.

• Content marketing amplification. When sharing valuable content from other sources (a common practice in content marketing), you can now track and retarget those engagements, maximizing the value of your curation efforts.

• Early-stage funnel building. This tactic allows you to start building your marketing funnel from the very first interaction, even if that interaction doesn't happen on your own website.

• Cross-channel remarketing. By capturing this data, you can create audiences for remarketing across multiple channels, including social media platforms and display networks.

• Insight into audience interests. The data collected through external link retargeting can provide valuable insights into what content resonates with your audience, informing future marketing and product decisions.

To implement this tactic effectively:

1. Choose a reliable link retargeting tool (like JotURL, mentioned in the original content).
2. Identify high-value external content relevant to your target audience.
3. Create customized retargeting campaigns based on the specific links clicked.
4. Test different ad creatives and offers to optimize your retargeting efforts.
5. Analyze the data regularly to refine your strategy and improve results over time.

By leveraging external link retargeting, internet businesses can significantly expand their marketing reach and effectiveness, even with limited website traffic or content of their own.

How you can steal this

Here's how you can implement external link retargeting for your internet business:

1. Choose a retargeting tool. Start by selecting a tool that supports external link retargeting. JotURL is a popular option that allows you to embed your tracking pixel in shared links.

2. Set up your tracking pixel. If you haven't already, create a Facebook Pixel or Google Tag for your business. This will be the foundation of your retargeting efforts.

3. Identify valuable external content. Look for high-quality content in your niche that your audience would find useful. This could include:

   • Industry news articles
   • Relevant blog posts from authoritative sites
   • Research reports or studies
   • Complementary product reviews

4. Create tracked links. Use your chosen tool to generate tracked links for the external content you want to share. Make sure your pixel is embedded in these links.

5. Share strategically. Distribute your tracked links across various channels:

   • Social media posts
   • Email newsletters
   • Forums or community discussions
   • Guest blog posts

6. Set up retargeting campaigns. Create targeted ad campaigns for people who click on your tracked links. Consider segmenting based on:

   • Content topic. Someone who clicks on a link about SEO might be interested in your SEO software.
   • Time since click. Recent clickers might be more receptive to your messaging.
   • Frequency of engagement. Users who've clicked multiple links might be warmer leads.

7. Craft relevant ad content. Develop ads that align with the content users engaged with. For example:

   • SaaS company. If someone clicked a link about productivity tips, show them an ad for your project management tool that emphasizes its time-saving features.
   • Digital course creator. For users who engaged with content about career advancement, highlight how your course can help them level up professionally.

8. Test and optimize. Continuously refine your approach:

   • A/B test ad creatives and messaging
   • Experiment with different retargeting windows (e.g., 7 days vs. 30 days)
   • Adjust bid strategies based on performance

9. Monitor performance. Keep a close eye on key metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates, and return on ad spend. Use this data to inform future content sharing and retargeting strategies.

10. Expand your reach. As you see success, consider scaling your efforts:

    • Marketplace app. Partner with popular bloggers in your niche to share their content using your tracked links, expanding your retargeting pool.
    • E-commerce store. Create tracked links for product reviews or unboxing videos, even if they're on external channels like YouTube.

Remember, the power of external link retargeting lies in its ability to capture and nurture potential customers, even if your own site doesn't get heavy traffic yet. By strategically sharing valuable content and retargeting engaged users, you can build a robust marketing funnel that starts well before someone visits your website.

Examples of external links retargeting

Here are some detailed examples of how different types of internet businesses can leverage external link retargeting:

• SaaS company. A project management software startup uses external link retargeting to build awareness among potential customers. They share productivity articles from well-known business publications, attaching their pixel to these links. When readers click, they're added to a retargeting audience. The startup then shows ads highlighting how their software addresses common productivity pain points mentioned in the articles.

• Digital course creator. An online marketing instructor creates tracked links for the latest industry reports and trend forecasts. When aspiring marketers click these links, they're served ads for the instructor's courses that align with the trending topics they've shown interest in. This approach allows the instructor to position their courses as cutting-edge and relevant.

• Marketplace app. A freelance job platform uses external link retargeting to attract both clients and freelancers. They share career advice articles for professionals and small business tips for potential clients, all with tracked links. Retargeting campaigns are then tailored to each audience segment, promoting the platform's benefits for finding talent or securing gigs.

• E-commerce store. An eco-friendly product retailer shares news articles about environmental issues, using tracked links. Readers who engage with these articles are retargeted with ads showcasing the store's sustainable products, connecting their offerings directly to the issues consumers care about.

• Affiliate marketer. A tech review blogger uses external link retargeting on all their affiliate links. When readers click through to read full product specs on manufacturer websites, they're added to retargeting lists. The blogger then shows ads for their in-depth review content, building their audience and increasing the likelihood of future affiliate conversions.

• Subscription box service. A gourmet food subscription box uses tracked links when sharing recipes from popular food blogs. Cooking enthusiasts who click are retargeted with ads showcasing how the subscription box can help them explore new ingredients and cuisines without the hassle of shopping.

• B2B software provider. An AI-powered data analytics platform shares industry reports and academic papers about machine learning advancements. They retarget readers of this content with ads that demonstrate how their software makes these advanced techniques accessible to businesses without in-house data science teams.

• Online community platform. A niche social network for creative professionals shares articles about freelancing and portfolio building from various career websites. They retarget engaged readers with ads highlighting how their platform can help creatives network and find opportunities.

Remember, the key to successful external link retargeting is to provide value first through the content you share, then follow up with highly relevant ads that address the interests or needs demonstrated by the link clicks. This approach allows businesses to build targeted audiences and nurture potential customers, even before they visit the company's own website.