You made one great video about a product. It got some views, maybe a sale or two, and then it sank. So you moved on to the next shiny thing. Same, friend. Same. But that product that sold? That’s the one you should be filming again.
That’s retargeting. It’s the thing that pulled me out of guessing mode, and it’s honestly the least glamorous growth trick there is: make more videos about what already works.
What is video retargeting?
In creator-speak, video retargeting means posting new, different videos for a product you’ve already covered, so it reaches people again and reaches people who missed it the first time. Same product, fresh angle, new video.
If you’ve heard “retargeting” from the ads world, that’s a cousin: showing ads to people who already visited a store. We’re not running ads here. We’re doing the free, scrappy creator version, where the “ad” is just another good video.
Why one video about a product isn’t enough
- Most people didn’t see it. Even a video that does well only reaches a slice of the people who’d actually buy.
- People rarely buy the first time they see something. I don’t. You probably don’t. Seeing it again, from a different angle, is often what tips it.
- Different people stop for different things. Some want your face and your honest opinion. Some want close-ups and no talking. One video can’t be everything.
- It’s less work than starting over. You already know the product, you already have it, and you already know it sells.
How I retarget a product: three videos, back to back
This is my go-to, and I covered it in my free samples article too. For one product, I make three genuinely different videos and post them back to back, about 30 minutes apart. You do you on the timing.
Mix the format
- Talking head: me, on camera, saying what I actually think. (Yes, me. The person who hates being on camera. Growth is uncomfortable.)
- Faceless: hands, product, close-ups. Great for texture and how something works.
- Hybrid: a quick face-to-camera hook, then product shots.
Mix the sound
One gets a voiceover. One gets music with text on screen. One gets me talking. Different people scroll with the sound on or off, so give each of them a version that works.
Change the opening
The first few seconds decide everything, so each version opens differently: the problem it solves, the moment you use it, or a close-up of the thing that surprised you. If all three start the same way, they’re not really three videos.
Which products should you retarget?
Not everything deserves a sequel. I retarget a product when:
- It sold. Even a little. Sales beat views every time.
- People asked about it. Comments like “does it work on…?” or “where did you get this?” are a free script for your next video.
- It got saves or shares. People bookmarked it for later. Later is when your next video shows up.
- It’s in season. Holiday gifts, summer, back to school. A product that sold last season can sell again.
- I still have it and still like it. If I wouldn’t use it again, I’m not filming it again.
And I skip it when a product flopped twice in different formats. Two honest tries, then let it go. Not every product is for your audience, and that’s fine.
Retargeting ideas when you’re out of angles
- The problem it fixes, shown before you even name the product.
- How to use it, step by step.
- Three things I didn’t expect.
- Who it’s for, and who should skip it.
- A side-by-side with what I used before.
- A “still using it” update a few weeks later.
- Answering a real comment from your first video.
- A gift idea angle, for the right season.
Keep it honest and keep it within the rules: describe what it does and how you use it. Wild claims and price talk are the fastest ways to get a video flagged, so skip both.
Mine the reviews
No comments and no friend on standby? Go read the product’s reviews: on TikTok Shop, Amazon, wherever it sells. Skip the five-star “love it!!” ones and look for what keeps coming up. “Does it work on curly hair?” “Runs small.” “Took forever to charge the first time.” If three people said it, a hundred more are wondering it.
That’s your next video. Put the question on screen (“A lot of reviews ask if this works on curly hair, so let’s find out”) and answer it with the product in your hand. Just keep it honest: say it came from the reviews, not from your comments, and don’t copy anyone’s review word for word. Bonus: you’ll also learn the deal-breakers before your viewers do, so you can answer them before anyone asks.
Reply to comments with a video
This is the easiest retarget there is, and I’ll be honest: I know I should do it, and it’s still about #124 on my to-do list. Don’t be like me. Be better than me.
When someone comments on your video with a question, you can answer it with a whole new video instead of a typed reply. Their comment shows up on screen as a little sticker, and your new video answers it.
Why it works
- It’s a retarget with a built-in hook. A real question on screen (“does this work on oily skin?”) is a better opener than anything I could write.
- It answers the question other people were too shy to ask. If one person asked, ten more were wondering.
- The person who asked usually gets a notification, so you’re talking to someone who’s already interested in the product.
- It’s a fresh video for a product you already know sells. That’s the whole point of retargeting.
How to reply to a comment with a video on TikTok
- Open the comments on your video and tap Reply on the comment you want to answer.
- Tap the little video camera icon next to the reply box (instead of typing).
- Choose to record a new video or upload one you’ve already filmed.
- The comment appears as a sticker. Drag it where it won’t cover the product.
- Film your answer, add the product link as usual, and post.
TikTok moves its buttons around now and then, so if the camera icon isn’t where I said, look for “reply with video” when you tap on a comment.
No comments yet? Ask a friend
Everyone starts with crickets. If your videos aren’t getting questions yet, ask a friend who’s genuinely curious about the product to ask you a real question in the comments, then answer it with a video. Keep it honest: a real question from a real person, not a fake review and not someone pretending they bought it. Platforms don’t like fake engagement, and neither do viewers.
Even better, look at comments on your other videos and other creators’ videos about the same product. The questions people keep asking are your next scripts.
Also, read the reviews for inspiration.
Mistakes I made so you don’t have to
- Reposting the exact same video. That’s not retargeting, that’s a rerun, and platforms can treat copied content as unoriginal. Film something new.
- Only changing the caption. If the video is the same, the result usually is too.
- Retargeting on vibes. I used to film my favorites, not my best sellers. Look at what sold before you pick.
- Forgetting what I already posted. Without notes, I’d film the same angle twice and wonder why it didn’t work.
Track what actually worked
Retargeting only works if you can see which version did the job. For each product, I look at which format got views and, more importantly, which one actually sold. The answer is different for every account, so your numbers matter more than anyone’s advice, including mine.
That’s a big reason psyrenne exists: it remembers what I’ve posted for each product and which videos sold, so my next three videos are based on results instead of a hunch. See what psyrenne does.
Does retargeting work on other platforms?
Yes, and it pairs nicely with repurposing. The talking-head version might shine on Instagram Reels, the faceless one on YouTube Shorts or Pinterest, and the how-to on Amazon. Same product, right video for each place. Just film or edit each one to fit the platform instead of dragging the same file everywhere.
Your turn
What’s the one product you’ve filmed the most times? And did video number three ever beat video number one? Tell me in the comments. I want to know if I’m the only one whose third try is always the winner.
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