Paid media fundamentals

Dynamic ad targeting

Last updated:

Jun 27, 2023

Learn everything you need to know about dynamic ad targeting, including what it is, how it works, and the benefits it offers to digital marketers.

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Ben Harris

Ben Harris

Content Writer

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Dynamic ad targeting is a method of online advertising that uses consumer data to serve highly personalised ads in real time. This targeting method has become increasingly popular in recent years as digital marketers look for ways to improve the effectiveness of their online campaigns.

Dynamic ad targeting is used by a wide range of companies, from small businesses to large corporations. It allows marketers to serve ads that are relevant to the specific interests of each individual consumer. 

How Does Dynamic Ad Targeting Work?

Dynamic ad targeting works by tracking the online behaviour of consumers and using that data to serve ads that are related to the products or services that they are interested in. Marketers use various methods to track consumer behaviour, including cookies, web beacons, and pixel tags.

Once the behaviour of a particular consumer has been tracked, the data is used to create a profile of that consumer's interests. This profile is then used to serve ads relevant to the consumer's interests. For example, if a consumer’s online behaviour clearly indicates they’re interested in buying a new car, they may start to see ads for car dealerships in their area.

Why Use Dynamic Ad Targeting?

Increased Engagement

Dynamic ad targeting has been shown to increase engagement with ads, as well as overall click-through rates. A study by ComScore found ads that were targeted to users based on their previous web browsing behaviour had a click-through rate two times higher than the control ad. Additionally, the study found that users who were exposed to targeted ads were also more likely to recall the ad and the brand it came from. 

Improved ROI

Due to the increased engagement and click-through rates associated with dynamic ad targeting, businesses that use it often see an improved return on investment (ROI). 

Reduced Ad Fraud

Ad fraud is a major problem in the online advertising industry, and it can have a significant impact on a business’s bottom line. Ad fraud occurs when businesses are charged for ads that are not actually seen by users, or when users click on ads that are not relevant to them. Dynamic ad targeting can help to reduce ad fraud by ensuring that ads are only served to users who are interested in them, which reduces the chances of businesses being charged for ads that are not seen or clicked on.

Greater Control Over Ad Spend

Another benefit of dynamic ad targeting is that it gives businesses greater control over their ad spend. With traditional advertising methods, businesses typically have little control over where their ads are placed and who they are served to. However, with dynamic ad targeting, businesses can specifically target their ads to the types of people they want to reach, which helps to ensure their ad spend is being used effectively.

Ability to Target Specific Devices

Dynamic ad targeting also allows businesses to target specific devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. This is beneficial for businesses as it allows them to ensure their ads are being seen by users on the types of devices they are most likely to use when making a purchase decision.

Increased Efficiency

Finally, dynamic ad targeting is also more efficient than traditional advertising methods as it allows businesses to automatically serve ads to users based on their interests and web browsing behaviour. This means that businesses do not have to manually select which users they want to target with their ads, which can save a significant amount of time and resources.