Behavioral retargeting in Shopify is a marketing strategy that helps online stores re-engage visitors who have interacted with their store but didn’t make a purchase. It tracks customer behavior—like viewing products, adding items to cart, or spending time on certain pages—and then shows targeted ads to those users later, often on other websites or social media platforms.

Think of it like this: imagine someone walks into your physical store, looks at a few shirts, and leaves without buying. With behavioral retargeting, it’s like you gently remind them of those shirts later, maybe with a discount, by showing an ad on their Facebook feed or when they’re browsing a blog.

Here’s how it works in Shopify:

1. Tracking Visitors: Shopify apps or integrations (like Facebook Pixel, Google Ads, or third-party tools like Klaviyo) track customer behavior using small pieces of code called pixels or cookies.
2. Segmenting Audiences: Based on that behavior, visitors are grouped into audiences—like “Viewed Product but Didn’t Buy” or “Abandoned Cart.”
3. Showing Ads: Personalized ads are then displayed to those groups on platforms like Instagram, Google, or TikTok, reminding them to return and complete their purchase.

Shopify makes behavioral retargeting easy through built-in integrations and apps. For example, you can set up automated email campaigns for abandoned carts or launch dynamic retargeting ads through Facebook or Google directly from your Shopify dashboard.

The goal? Increase conversions by bringing back interested customers who just need a little nudge.

As online shopping gets more competitive, smart retargeting can be the difference between a lost sale and a loyal customer.