In the ever-evolving world of paid search, Remarketing Lists for Search Ads (RLSA) allow you to tailor your bids and ad copy to people who’ve previously visited your website. But before you can leverage this powerful tactic, Google Ads requires that your remarketing list for search ads must have at least 1,000 active users.
Here’s why that floor matters—and how to build toward it.
Why the 1,000-User Minimum?
Google sets this threshold before enabling remarketing search ads to:
- Protect user privacy. With fewer users, it’s easier to identify individuals in your list—a risk Google minimizes by enforcing a higher count.
- Ensure statistical significance. Bidding and performance data based on very small audiences can fluctuate wildly. A larger pool helps you get reliable insights and stable CTR/conversion metrics.
Learn more in this detailed guide on Google Ads Remarketing to understand how audience size impacts performance.
How to Grow Your List Fast
To tap into the power of remarketing lists for search ads, start by:
- Deploy site-wide tags. Install the Google Ads remarketing tag on every page to capture all visitor types—new and returning.
- Create high-value content offers. Use gated ebooks, quizzes, or webinars that entice visitors to engage and trigger list membership.
- Segment early. Don’t wait to define lists by behavior (e.g., “cart abandoners”)—build broad buckets first (e.g., “all visitors”) to hit 1,000 users quickly.
- Run complementary display campaigns. Drive additional traffic via Google Display Network or YouTube ads and capture those visitors in your remarketing pool.
Need help with strategy? Explore expert pay-per-click services to supercharge your campaign.
Once You Hit 1,000 Users…
- Activate RLSA bidding. Layer your search campaigns with list-based bid modifiers to boost (or reduce) your bids for returning visitors.
- Customize ad copy. Highlight promotions or reminders (“Welcome back—get 10% off your next order!”) to re-engage known prospects.
- Monitor performance. Track ROI separately for your RLSA segment to optimize budgets and messaging over time.
In Summary
Building a remarketing list to at least 1,000 active users is the gateway to enriched search campaigns, tighter targeting, and higher ROI. Focus first on capturing broad visitor pools, then refine your segments and ad strategies once you’ve crossed the threshold.
With the right approach, your RLSA campaigns will become a cornerstone of your paid search success.
Have questions or want help tailoring your campaigns? The team at Reliqus is ready to help you maximize every ad dollar. Feel free to get in touch here.