Developer Retargeting That Works
Re-engage developers who visited but didn't convert. Reach them in their IDE—not with banner ads they'll ignore.
Sound familiar?
97% of website visitors leave without converting
Traditional retargeting ads get ignored or blocked
Developers are particularly resistant to 'follow me' ads
Retargeting feels creepy when done on social platforms
Low conversion rates even after retargeting spend
Can't reach developers across their actual workflow
How Idlen solves this
Retarget in a professional context—their IDE—not on social media
Native format doesn't trigger the 'stalker ad' reaction
2-3x higher engagement than display retargeting
Frequency capping prevents ad fatigue
Combine with tech stack data for hyper-relevant messaging
Full conversion tracking to measure true ROI
Key Benefits
Retargeting Effectiveness by Channel
| Metric | Traditional | With Idlen |
|---|---|---|
| Retargeting CTR | 0.5-1.0% | 2.5-4.0% |
| Ad blocker impact | 60-70% blocked | <5% blocked |
| User perception | Creepy/annoying | Relevant/helpful |
| Conversion rate | 2-3% | 8-12% |
| Cost per re-engagement | $15-30 | $8-15 |
"We had 50,000 monthly visitors but only 2% converted. Traditional retargeting wasn't working—developers just ignored the banner ads. Idlen retargeting feels different because it reaches them while they're coding, not while they're doom-scrolling. Our retargeting conversion jumped to 9%."
Nina Patel
Developer Productivity Tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Use Cases
Boost Developer Trial Signups
Turn AI response time into trial signups. Reach developers in context when they're actively coding and most receptive to discovering new tools.
Developer Brand Awareness at Scale
Put your brand in front of 50,000+ developers daily. Build recognition in the most saturated market with native, non-intrusive presence.
Reduce Developer CAC by 52%
Stop wasting budget on developers who will never convert. Tech stack targeting ensures every impression reaches your ideal customer profile.
Ready to transform your results?
Launch your first campaign and see the difference for yourself.
The Retargeting Problem
Here's the harsh truth about your website traffic:
- 97% of visitors leave without converting
- Only 3-5% ever come back on their own
- Most never convert even after seeing retargeting ads
Traditional retargeting doesn't work for developers because:
- Ad blockers kill 60-70% of display retargeting impressions
- Banner blindness means even seen ads get ignored
- Context mismatch — dev tool ads on social media feel wrong
- Creep factor — developers hate feeling "followed"
Why In-IDE Retargeting Works
Idlen retargeting reaches developers in a completely different context:
| Display Retargeting | Idlen Retargeting |
|---|---|
| While browsing social media | While actively coding |
| Banner format | Native format |
| 60-70% blocked | <5% blocked |
| Off-context, intrusive | On-context, relevant |
| "Why is this ad following me?" | "Oh yeah, I was looking at this" |
The result: 2-3x higher engagement and conversions.
Setting Up Retargeting
Step 1: Add the Idlen Pixel
<!-- Add to your website's <head> -->
<script src="https://pixel.idlen.io/v1/pixel.js"></script>
<script>
idlen('init', 'YOUR_ADVERTISER_ID');
idlen('track', 'PageView');
</script>
Step 2: Track Conversions
// Add to your signup success page
idlen('track', 'SignUp');
Step 3: Create Audience Segments
- All visitors: Everyone who visited your site
- Pricing page visitors: High-intent prospects
- Docs visitors: Evaluating your product
- Signup abandoned: Started but didn't finish
- Recent (0-7 days): Hottest leads
Step 4: Launch Retargeting Campaign
Target your segments with relevant messaging:
| Segment | Message Focus |
|---|---|
| Pricing visitors | Value, comparison, special offer |
| Docs visitors | Specific features they explored |
| Abandoned signup | Overcome objections, simplicity |
| Older visitors | What's new, product updates |
Stack-Enhanced Retargeting
What makes Idlen retargeting unique: combining retargeting with tech stack data.
Example: A visitor looked at your React component library but didn't convert.
Traditional retargeting: Show them the same generic ad everywhere.
Idlen retargeting: Show them the ad only when they're:
- Actually coding in React
- Using TypeScript (your library supports it)
- In VS Code or Cursor
This hyper-relevance drives 3x higher conversion.
Frequency Strategy
Retargeting frequency matters. Too little = forgotten. Too much = annoying.
Recommended Cadence
Days 1-3 after visit: 1 impression/day (strike while hot)
Days 4-14: 1 impression every 2 days (stay top-of-mind)
Days 15-30: 2 impressions/week (gentle reminder)
Days 31-90: 1 impression/week (long-term nurture)
Automatic Exclusions
- Users who convert → removed immediately
- Users who explicitly dismiss → respect their choice
- Users at frequency cap → pause until next window
Measuring Retargeting ROI
Track the full funnel:
Retargeting impressions → Clicks → Site visits →
Sign ups → Activations → Paid conversions
Key metrics to monitor:
- View-through conversions: Saw ad, converted later
- Click-through conversions: Clicked ad, converted
- Cost per re-engagement: Total spend / total conversions
- Incremental lift: Conversions vs. control group