Which Websites and Apps Retargeting Ads Appear On

“If my retargeting ads show up on other websites and apps but I don’t see them, where are they?”

It’s a top question we get at Zoe Marketing & Communications. Businesses want to know exactly where their ads appear — and we get it. You’re making an investment, and you want to be sure your ads are showing up in the right places.

Fortunately, with thousands of retargeting campaigns under our belt, we can pull back the curtain. Let’s break it down.

How retargeting works

Retargeting keeps your business in front of people who’ve visited your site but didn’t convert. Here’s how:

1. A user visits your website.
2. A tracking pixel tags their browser.
3. As they browse other sites, they see your ads.

Where your ads show up depends entirely on the sites they visit next. That’s why retargeting works — it follows their online habits, keeping your brand top of mind.

Where retargeting ads display

Many clients worry their ads will appear on irrelevant websites, but that’s not how it works. What matters is that:

• Whoever sees your ad visited your website.
• These viewers see your ad again on the sites they frequent.
• You stay visible until they take action.

While ad placements vary, retargeting often appears on high-traffic sites like news platforms (like CNN, Wall Street Journal), lifestyle sites (e.g., People, TMZ), weather apps and popular mobile games.

At Zoe, we ensure ads land in high-quality spaces by using Quantcast, which tracks millions of websites. This means:

• Your ads appear on the top 5,000 most-visited sites.
• Faketraffic (bots) gets filtered out.
• Your campaign stays cost-effective and targeted.

Since 20% of websites get 80% of traffic, this approach ensures you're hitting the right audience.

Where retargeting ads won’t display

Concerned about where your brand appears? Here’s what you should know:

1. Adult and cannabis sites: These use separate ad networks. Your ads won’t show here.
2. Political or controversial sites: While you can’t exclude all political sites, you can block specific ones.
3. Custom blocklists: You can create a “do-not-serve” list to avoid particular sites or apps.

However, the goal of retargeting isn’t where your ad appears — it’s how often it’s seen. Casting a wider net often leads to better results.

Can I see where my ads appeared?

Yes! At the end of your campaign, you’ll receive a report detailing:

• The websites and apps where your ads displayed.
• The volume of impressions and clicks per site.
• Visitor locations and engagement data.

The scale of this report depends on your campaign size. At Zoe, we run campaigns in 30-day cycles, delivering anywhere from hundreds to thousands of impressions.

Running a successful retargeting campaign

Retargeting works by keeping your business visible long after a visitor leaves your site.

With smart targeting, your ads land on high-traffic, reputable sites — while avoiding risky placements.

And with quality data, you can see exactly where your campaign ran.

Ready to explore retargeting? If you want expert guidance, talk to us. Zoe Marketing & Communications has the tools and experience to help optimize your results.

Or learn more about:

• How retargeting campaigns work
• Good landing pages to send people to from ads