The short answer
Retargeting shows ads to people who visited your site. Website visitor identification tells you who those visitors were. Retargeting is anonymous and one-way, you cannot see who you are advertising to. Identification names the company so sales can reach out directly. They work well together: identify the account, then keep it warm with ads while sales engages.
An ad tactic vs a sales signal
Retargeting is an advertising tactic. It follows anonymous visitors around the web with ads, hoping to pull them back. It never tells you who they are.
Identification is a sales signal. It names the business behind the visit, so instead of just advertising at them, you can have a person reach out.
Retargeting vs visitor identification
| Retargeting | Visitor identification |
|---|---|
| Tells you who: no | Yes, the company |
| Channel: ads | Sales outreach, CRM, alerts |
| Direction: one-way ads | Direct, named follow-up |
The honest catch: they are not rivals. Retargeting keeps a visitor warm anonymously, identification lets a human act on the same visit. Used together, you advertise to the account and have sales reach out to it, ideally as part of one intent-led motion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between retargeting and visitor identification?
Retargeting shows ads to anonymous past visitors. Identification names the company behind the visit so sales can reach out.
Can I use both?
Yes. Identify the account, then keep it warm with retargeting while sales engages directly.
Does retargeting tell me who visited?
No. It is anonymous. You advertise to past visitors without knowing who they are.
Stop advertising at anonymous visitors. See who they are and let sales reach out.