Digital Advertising

Legacy Machine Learning solutions have much to lose when clients learn an inconvenient truth: using two different-in-kind retargeters leads to demonstrably superior performance. For this reason, legacy vendors tout a “one retargeter” approach to programmatic advertising that doesn’t align with the lived reality of marketers. The one retargeter strategy is driven by a vendor’s internal business concerns, not by what’s best for their clients. If a single-vendor retargeting strategy were so superior and so powerful, why would a proper retargeting stack be such a threat to legacy Machine Learning vendors?

I’m going to look at, and then disprove, four myths around the choice of a single- or multiple-vendor retargeting strategy. And I’ll explain why sophisticated markers build programmatic marketing stacks.

There are more options online for consumers to choose from than ever before. But rather than this manifesting as any kind of “paralysis of choice” or panicked rush to purchase, consumer journeys are actually becoming longer and more researched. More people are starting with careful consideration, comparison, and in-depth research of prices and brands. They make more site visits and spend more time weighing their options before transacting, creating a “messy middle” between consideration and purchase that has significant implications for merchants.

Many of the world’s biggest brands choose to deploy a multiple retargeting strategy (using more than one retargeting vendor in combination) because it delivers a host of benefits like larger audiences, more efficient advertising, and a higher return on ad spend. Despite the advantages, or maybe because of them, it can be tempting for organizations to wonder exactly how much value, in isolation, each provider brings.

But is a straight comparison, as seen with head-to-head testing, a strategically sound approach, or should brands be focusing on the wider picture of true added value? Let’s investigate.

Performance marketing has changed, but many marketers haven't noticed. The shift to first-price auctions since 2019 has created new opportunities for those willing to challenge conventional wisdom about running multiple performance partners. The old rules about bid collision no longer apply.
Today, the path to incremental revenue growth requires a bold approach. Instead of relying on a single partner or worrying about budget cannibalization, successful marketers are discovering that multiple performance partners can work together to drive genuine incremental lift.

Some brands spend the year building up to Q4, focusing their entire strategy on Black Friday and Christmas. However, the most savvy performance marketers know that huge sales opportunities don't just start in November.

The Marketing Events 2026 calendar features over 60 big events for ecommerce: demand-driving moments marketers can capitalize on, industry conferences for insights and networking, and cultural events that shape consumer behavior—if you plan properly. Instead of chading "brand moments," you start to understand when your audience is actively searching, comparing, and ready to convert.

The classic phrase “if you snooze, you lose,” aptly applies to Black Friday marketing. Why? The online noise leading up to and during Black Friday is so deafening, it requires staying up-to-date on the latest tips and tech to gain an advantage. Such an advantage though, even if it comes in the form of a few useful Black Friday Marketing tips, can pay dividends.