Ad Targeting

 

Ad Targeting

Introduction

Ad targeting is the process of defining and reaching a specific group of people who are most likely to be interested in a product or service. Instead of showing ads to everyone, marketers use targeting to ensure ads appear only to relevant audiences — saving money and increasing conversions.

Types of Ad Targeting

• Demographic Targeting: Focuses on characteristics such as age, gender, education, or income.
  Example: A university promoting an MBA program targets working professionals aged 25–35.

• Geographic Targeting: Delivers ads to users based on location.
  Example: A local restaurant runs ads for customers within a 10 km radius.

• Interest-Based Targeting: Reaches people who engage with specific topics or hobbies.
  Example: A sportswear brand targets users who follow fitness pages or watch gym videos.

• Behavioral Targeting: Based on users’ online activities like searches or past purchases.
  Example: An e-commerce site shows shoe ads to someone who recently browsed footwear online.

• Device Targeting: Targets users on specific devices such as mobiles, tablets, or desktops.

Importance of Ad Targeting

• Increases ad relevance and engagement

• Reduces wasted ad spending

• Reaches audiences most likely to convert

• Helps personalize marketing campaigns

Example:
A skincare brand targets ads to women aged 20–40 in urban areas, improving response rates and sales.

Related Article:  Bidding Strategies |  Quality Score  |  Ad Rank  |  Ad Extensions  |  Ad Targeting  |  Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)