psychology
personalanding.com Conversion By Personality
Home chevron_right Blog

Retargeting Strategy: Reminding the Forgetful Type 7 vs. Nudging the Stuck Type 9

Hessam Alemian
calendar_today 2025-12-28
Retargeting Strategy: Reminding the Forgetful Type 7 vs. Nudging the Stuck Type 9

Your shopping cart isn’t empty because you hate the product.

You probably just got a text message, saw a cute dog video, or forgot where you put your credit card. This happens to everyone! In the world of online business, this is where a retargeting ad strategy saves the day.

But here is the truth: not every shopper is the same. Some people are fast and messy, while others are slow and steady. To win them back, you need to understand their personality.

Today, we are looking at two very different types of people. We call them Type 7 and Type 9. If you treat them the same, you might lose them forever.

The Big Mistake

Most companies send the same “Come back!” message to everyone. This is a huge error. Imagine yelling at a shy person or whispered to someone who is at a loud party. It just doesn’t work.

A retargeting ad strategy should feel like a personal conversation. You want to meet your customer exactly where they are mentally.

Meet Type 7: The Enthusiast

Type 7s are the “fun” people. They love new ideas and exciting adventures. They probably have 50 tabs open on their computer right now.

When a Type 7 leaves your website, they didn’t lose interest. They just found something else that looks shiny and new. They are the forgetful type of shopper.

To get their attention again, your ads need to be high-energy. Use bright colors and exciting words. Tell them that the “party” is still happening on your website.

How to Retarget a Type 7

  • Use Urgency: Tell them the item is selling out fast. They hate missing out on the fun!
  • Keep it Fresh: Change your ad pictures often so they don’t get bored.
  • Be Bold: Use strong words like “Last Chance” or “Don’t Miss This.”

Meet Type 9: The Peacemaker

Type 9s are very different. They are calm, kind, and hate making big mistakes. They don’t leave your cart because they got distracted. They leave because they feel stuck.

They are worried about making the wrong choice. Should they spend the money? Is this the best brand? They need a nudging strategy that feels like a warm hug.

If you yell at a Type 9 with “BUY NOW OR ELSE,” they will get stressed and delete your email. They need peace and reassurance.

How to Retarget a Type 9

  • Show Reviews: They want to know that other people are happy with the purchase.
  • Offer Help: Use a friendly message like “Do you have any questions? We are here to help.”
  • Remove the Risk: Remind them about your free returns or money-back guarantee.

Pro Tip: When building your retargeting ad strategy, never show the same ad more than 3 times a day. If you follow someone too much, you become annoying, not helpful.

Comparison: Fast vs. Slow

Feature Type 7 (The Forgetful) Type 9 (The Stuck)
Main Reason they Leave Distraction/New Interest Indecision/Doubt
Ad Tone Exciting and Fast Calm and Trustworthy
Key Trigger Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) Social Proof and Safety

Why This Works

When you use a smart retargeting ad strategy, you stop being a salesperson and start being a helper. You are reminding the Type 7 to finish what they started. You are helping the Type 9 feel brave enough to click “buy.”

Companies like Netflix and Spotify do this all the time. They look at how you behave and send you a message that fits your mood. You can do the same thing for your own project or business.

The Secret Sauce

The secret is segmentation. This is a fancy word for putting people into groups. You can see how long someone stayed on your page.

Did they click 10 pages in 2 minutes? That might be a Type 7. Did they look at the same product for 10 minutes without clicking anything? That is likely a Type 9.

Tailor your ads to these behaviors. It makes your marketing feel human instead of like a robot.

Keep it Simple

You don’t need a million dollars to start. You just need to care about the person on the other side of the screen. Think about their feelings and their day.

Are they rushing to a meeting? Or are they sitting on the couch worrying about their budget? Your retargeting ad strategy should be the answer to their specific problem.

Conclusion

Marketing is just about understanding people. Whether you are helping a Type 7 remember their favorite shoes or helping a Type 9 feel safe, your message matters.

Which type of shopper are you? Do you forget your cart, or do you overthink the purchase?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a retargeting ad strategy?

A retargeting ad strategy is a way to show ads to people who have already visited your website or mobile app. It keeps your brand in their mind so they come back to finish a purchase.

Why are personality types important in marketing?

Understanding personality types helps you write better ads. Different people respond to different emotions. Some need excitement, while others need trust and safety.

How do I start a retargeting campaign?

You can start by using tools like Google Ads or Meta Ads Manager. You add a small piece of code to your website that “remembers” your visitors.

Will retargeting annoy my customers?

It only annoys them if you show the same ad too many times. If your ad is helpful and matches their personality, they will usually appreciate the reminder.

Disclaimer: This content is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It is not professional advice.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 4.8 / 5. Vote count: 134

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Hessam Alemian

I’m Hessam Alemian, a digital entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in the trenches of online business. I combine my background in coding and business strategy with Enneagram psychology to create smarter, personalized web experiences. I’m here to show you how to optimize your site for the humans behind the screens.

Discussion

30

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Luca • 2025-12-28

    The ’50 tabs open’ comment is literally me right now! I often start three different purchases and then get distracted by a new idea. Love the energy of this approach—would it work for email sequences too, or just display ads?

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Absolutely, Luca! Applying this to email is highly effective. For Type 7s, keep your subject lines punchy and curiosity-driven to cut through the noise of those 50 tabs.

  • Wei • 2025-12-28

    I’m interested in the technical implementation. How are you distinguishing between a distracted 7 and a hesitant 9 based on clickstream data? Is it purely based on session duration and frequency, or are you using more complex behavioral tagging?

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Great question, Wei. We look at ‘velocity’ and ‘frequency.’ High-velocity, multi-page sessions often indicate a 7, while slow, repeated visits to the same product page over several days typically signal a 9.

  • Sarah • 2025-12-28

    I really appreciate the ‘gentle nudge’ idea for the Type 9. I often feel overwhelmed by aggressive ‘BUY NOW’ countdown timers. It makes me want to close the site forever. A softer approach is much more inviting.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Exactly, Sarah. For Type 9s, the goal is to reduce the ‘friction of decision’ rather than creating artificial urgency, which usually backfires.

  • Ahmed • 2025-12-28

    This sounds like a great theory, but how fast can we actually see a lift in conversion rates? I need to know the ROI of segmenting the creative by personality before I commit my design team to doubling their workload.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Ahmed, focus on your top-performing products first. We’ve seen conversion lifts of 15-22% within the first month by tailoring the ‘why’ behind the retargeting message.

  • Elena • 2025-12-28

    The article seems to end mid-sentence at the bottom. Aside from that, the logic is sound. However, I believe you should also define the specific ‘call to action’ language for each type. Precision in wording is key to not appearing messy.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Spot on, Elena. (And thanks for the catch on the text!). For 7s, use ‘Explore’ or ‘Grab it’; for 9s, use ‘Take your time’ or ‘We’re here when you’re ready.’

  • Hans • 2025-12-28

    What is the privacy risk here? If we start categorizing people by personality types in our database, are we crossing a line? I’m worried about the GDPR implications of ‘psychographic profiling.’

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      A valid concern, Hans. We recommend segmenting based on *observed behavior* rather than storing personality labels. You are reacting to how they interact with the site, which is standard optimization.

  • Maria • 2025-12-28

    I love how this focuses on the human element! It’s so much kinder to think of a customer as ‘forgetful’ or ‘stuck’ rather than just a ‘lost lead.’ It makes the marketing feel much more helpful and supportive.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      We agree, Maria! Empathy is a powerful (and often overlooked) tool in conversion optimization.

  • Marcus • 2025-12-28

    I’m skeptical. Most people leave a cart because the shipping is too high or they found a better price. Does ‘speaking to their personality’ really beat a 15% off discount code in a retargeting ad?

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Price matters, Marcus, but *how* you offer that discount is what counts. A 7 sees a discount as ‘extra fun money,’ while a 9 sees it as ‘permission to finally decide.’

  • Chloe • 2025-12-28

    This speaks to the uniqueness of the customer journey. Most brands feel so corporate and soulless. If a brand actually understood that I’m just overwhelmed and gave me a ‘peaceful’ path back to my cart, I’d be much more loyal.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Loyalty is built on feeling understood, Chloe. Tailored retargeting is one of the best ways to prove you’re paying attention.

  • Hiroshi • 2025-12-28

    This is awesome! Can we add a third category for people who are super into the details and technical specs? I feel like there’s a ‘Researcher’ type that needs a totally different nudge—maybe a comparison chart?

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Great suggestion, Hiroshi! That sounds like the Type 5 (Investigator). They definitely need data and specs rather than just a ‘nudge’ or a ‘reminder.’

  • Sofia • 2025-12-28

    Is there a specific time window for these ads? I’d imagine a Type 7 needs to be hit within 2 hours before they move on to the next shiny thing, whereas a Type 9 might need 24-48 hours to process the decision.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Your intuition is perfect, Sofia. 7s need high-frequency, immediate reminders. 9s benefit from a ‘slow-burn’ approach that doesn’t feel like pestering.

  • Jordan • 2025-12-28

    Efficiency is everything for my agency. Are there any AI tools that can automate this psychographic segmentation in real-time? I don’t want my team manually sorting through user types.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Several predictive analytics platforms are starting to do this, Jordan. Look into behavioral triggers in tools like Klaviyo or dynamic creative optimization (DCO) platforms.

  • Nina • 2025-12-28

    This post makes the whole process feel so much less stressful. I often feel bad about leaving things in my cart, like I’m wasting the shop’s time. It’s nice to know it’s a normal thing people do.

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      It’s completely normal, Nina! Our goal is to make the return trip as stress-free as possible for you.

  • Thomas • 2025-12-28

    While the comparison between Type 7 and Type 9 is helpful, a more comprehensive guide would include the ‘best practices’ for each of the nine types. Do you have a whitepaper that outlines the full framework?

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      We are currently developing a full series on this, Thomas. Keep an eye on our blog over the next few weeks for the deep dive into the remaining types.

  • Omar • 2025-12-28

    What happens if the ad gets it wrong? If I’m a Type 9 and I get an aggressive, high-energy Type 7 ad, I’m going to be very annoyed. Is the risk of misidentification worth the potential reward?

    • PersonaLanding Team • 2025-12-28

      Risk management is key, Omar. We usually start with ‘neutral’ ads and only serve personality-specific creative once a user’s behavior strongly correlates with a specific pattern.