Have you ever visited a website, left without buying anything, and then suddenly saw an ad for that exact product while scrolling on Facebook or Instagram?
That is not a coincidence. That is retargeting — and it works like magic. Most people do not buy something the first time they see it. In fact, studies show that only about 2% of website visitors convert on their first visit. So what happens to the other 98%? That is where retargeting ads come in.
At Marketing Scalers, a performance-based digital marketing agency in the USA, we have helped dozens of brands use retargeting ad campaigns to recover lost customers and multiply their revenue. In this blog, we will show you 7 real-world examples of retargeting ads from US brands that actually worked — and break down exactly why they performed so well.
By the end of this post, you will know what makes a great retargeting creative, what retargeting ads examples look like in practice, and how you can apply the same strategies to your own brand.
What Are Retargeting Ads?
Imagine you walk into a store, pick up a shirt, then put it back and walk out. Now imagine that store sends you a postcard the next day saying, “Hey, that shirt is still here — and we are giving you 10% off today only!”
That is basically what retargeting does — but online.
Retargeting ads (also called remarketing ads) are shown to people who have already visited your website, viewed a product, or interacted with your brand in some way. Because these people already know you, they are far more likely to buy.
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Retargeting Ads | Ads shown to past website visitors |
| Remarketing Ads | Google’s term for the same concept |
| Facebook Retargeting | Retargeting specifically on Facebook/Instagram |
| Repetitive Advertising | Showing ads multiple times to warm audiences |
| Retargeting Ad Campaign | A full strategy using retargeting across platforms |
Why Retargeting Works So Well?
Before diving into the examples, here is a quick fact check. Retargeted ads have a click-through rate (CTR) that is about 10 times higher than regular display ads. People who are retargeted are 70% more likely to convert compared to cold audiences.
So yes — if you are not running a retargeting ad campaign, you are leaving serious money on the table.
Now let’s look at the 7 best examples of retargeting ads from US brands, and what made each one a winner.
7 High-Converting Ad Creative Examples
1. Amazon
Amazon is the king of retargeting. If you browse a product on Amazon and don’t buy, you will start seeing that exact product across Google Display ads, Facebook, and even news websites.
- What makes it work: Amazon uses dynamic product retargeting — meaning the ad automatically shows the exact item you viewed, your browsing history, and sometimes even adds “Only 3 left in stock” to create urgency.
- Lesson for your brand: Dynamic product ads are one of the most powerful remarketing ads examples because they feel personal. They remind people of what they already wanted.
2. Airbnb
Airbnb ran one of the most talked-about Facebook retargeting examples in the travel space. When a user searched for rentals in Miami but did not book, Airbnb retargeted them with beautiful photos of Miami listings, paired with a headline like “Your Miami trip is waiting.”
What makes it work:
- It spoke directly to the destination the user was already considering
- The visual was aspirational and emotional, not just salesy
- A clear CTA (Call to Action) made the next step obvious
Lesson for your brand: Tie your retargeting creative to the specific interest or action the person took. Generic ads get ignored. Personalized ones get clicked.
3. Dollar Shave Club
Dollar Shave Club used repetitive advertising with a comedic twist. Instead of showing the same boring product banner, they ran a series of video-based retargeting ads, each one slightly different, funnier, and more persuasive than the last.
The first ad introduced the brand. The second added social proof. The third offered a discount.
- What makes it work: They understood that people need to see a message multiple times before acting. Instead of annoying users with the same ad, they evolved the story with each impression.
| Ad in Sequence | Message Type | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Ad #1 | Brand Introduction | Awareness |
| Ad #2 | Customer Reviews | Trust Building |
| Ad #3 | Discount Offer | Conversion |
- Lesson for your brand: A retargeting ad campaign should never be a single ad. Think in sequences. Move people from “curious” to “convinced” step by step.
4. Nike
Nike runs some of the cleanest cart abandonment retargeting ads examples you will find. When a shopper adds sneakers to their cart and leaves, Nike hits them with a sleek Instagram ad showing that exact pair of shoes with copy like “Still thinking about it? These won’t stick around forever.”
What makes it work:
- Urgency without being pushy
- Lifestyle imagery that makes the product feel aspirational
- The ad fits perfectly into Instagram’s visual feed
Lesson for your brand: Cart abandonment is one of the highest-intent moments you can retarget. These people were literally about to buy. A well-timed, well-designed ad can bring them back fast.
5. HubSpot
Most retargeting ad examples you see are from e-commerce brands. But HubSpot shows that B2B brands can win at retargeting too.
HubSpot retargets visitors who viewed their pricing page (but didn’t sign up) with ads offering a free CRM tool or a free marketing audit. No hard sell. Just value.
What makes it work:
- It removes the fear of commitment
- Offering something free lowers the barrier to re-engagement
- It speaks to where the user is in the funnel (they were interested but not ready to pay)
Lesson for your brand: If you sell a service or high-ticket product, lead with value in your retargeting. Free guides, free trials, and free consultations work incredibly well.
6. Warby Parker
Warby Parker, the US eyewear brand, nailed the concept of multi-touch retargeting. Their funnel works like this: A visitor explores glasses on the website → they get retargeted with an ad promoting their free home try-on program → once they try the frames, another retargeting layer brings them back to complete the purchase.
What makes it work:
- They broke a high-consideration purchase into smaller, easier steps
- Each retargeting layer addressed a specific hesitation
- The creative felt helpful, not pushy
| Funnel Stage | Retargeting Ad Type | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Website Visitor | Display Ad | Discover your perfect frame |
| Try-On Interest | Facebook Ad | Try 5 frames at home — free |
| Post Try-On | Email + Facebook | Ready to pick your favorite? |
Lesson for your brand: For high-consideration products, map out your customer’s hesitations and build a retargeting sequence that addresses each one.
7. Chewy
Chewy, the US-based pet supplies brand, uses one of the most emotionally intelligent retargeting ad approaches in the game. Their ads do not just show products — they show happy pets, relatable moments, and messages like “Because your pup deserves the best.”
They also use behavior-based retargeting. If you bought dog food from Chewy 25 days ago (and it’s a 30-day bag), you will start seeing an ad reminding you to reorder — before you even run out.
What makes it work:
- Emotional connection beats product features every time
- Predictive retargeting (showing ads based on purchase cycles) keeps customers returning without them feeling “sold to”
- It feels less like an ad and more like a thoughtful reminder
Lesson for your brand: Retargeting is not just for people who didn’t buy. Use it to bring back past customers at exactly the right time.
What Made These Retargeting Campaigns Work?
| Brand | Platform Used | Key Strategy | What Made It Convert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Google Display + Facebook | Dynamic product ads | Personalization + urgency |
| Airbnb | Facebook/Instagram | Destination-specific visuals | Emotional + relevant creative |
| Dollar Shave Club | Facebook Video | Ad sequence storytelling | Humor + progressive CTAs |
| Nike | Cart abandonment | Urgency + lifestyle imagery | |
| HubSpot | LinkedIn + Google | Free value offer | Low-friction re-engagement |
| Warby Parker | Facebook + Email | Multi-step funnel | Overcomes objections at each stage |
| Chewy | Facebook + Email | Predictive + emotional | Timing + emotional resonance |
How to Build Your Own High-Converting Retargeting Ad Campaign
Now that you’ve seen the best retargeting ads examples in action, here’s a simple framework to apply to your own brand:
Step 1 — Install your pixel. Whether it’s Meta Pixel or Google Tag, you need tracking set up before anything else.
Step 2 — Segment your audience. Don’t retarget everyone the same way. Homepage visitors, product viewers, and cart abandoners all need different messages.
Step 3 — Create ad sequences, not single ads. Just like Dollar Shave Club, plan 3 to 5 creatives that move users through awareness, trust, and conversion.
Step 4 — Use urgency and personalization. The most effective remarketing ads examples always feel timely and specific.
Step 5 — Test, measure, optimize. Monitor your CTR, ROAS, and cost per conversion weekly.
Final Thoughts
Retargeting is not about chasing people around the internet. It is about showing up at the right time, with the right message, for someone who already showed interest in what you offer. Done right, it is one of the most cost-efficient and high-converting strategies in digital marketing.
The brands above — Amazon, Nike, Chewy, and others — didn’t win by accident. They won because they understood their audiences, built smart funnels, and created ads that felt relevant rather than intrusive.
If you want to build retargeting campaigns that actually bring results for your US-based business, Marketing Scalers is here to help. We are a performance-based agency that turns ad spend into real revenue — no guesswork, just growth.
