4 Effective Geo-Targeting Techniques
More and more advertisers are implementing geo-targeting in their marketing campaigns, but challenges form when limiting location, specifically in regards to volume. Cookies and private browsing also limit ad number, yet a few creative location-targeting techniques are helping advertisers improve ROI. Geo-targeting focuses on city, state, region, country, zip code, designated market area (DMA), radius around a point or location extension targeting, or some combination of these. Let’s take a look at four effective geo-targeting techniques for advertisers wanting to fine-tune campaigns without losing volume:
1) Exclusion is Okay
AdWorks makes it possible for advertisers to exclude certain locations so ads don’t appear there, such as a convenience store chain excluding locations free of their stores. Running reports indicating where locations clicks are coming from, sorting by low-quality clickers and excluding these areas or using bid adjustment all contribute to improved ROI. Bid adjustments refer to increasing or decreasing bids in specific locations for performance optimization.
2) Use Keywords Only
Another geo-targeting technique is using keywords rather than locations to limit targeting. For example, a car dealership could create a separate campaign targeting people searching for “car dealerships Philadelphia” as opposed to relying on geo-targeting only. Because car dealerships serve specific areas or regions, people looking for dealerships are more likely to use geo-modifiers when searching. Using keywords therefore functions as a competitive strategy and a way to drive traffic.
3) A Mobile Focus
Mobile-only AdWord campaigns are important when looking to geo-target mobile audiences. This is especially essential if targeting on-the-go professionals, such as real estate agents, as well as consumers looking for specific services when “out and about,” such as towing help if stranded.
4) Implement Weather-Related Bid Adjustments
Google Scripts makes it possible to make bid adjustments based on weather. For example, marketers can send ads for indoor activities on cold and/or rainy days, and those for outdoor fun on warm and sunny days. A simple spreadsheet is all that’s required to create this bid, and advertisers are excited about the possibilities that weather-related geo-targeting offers. The weather affects purchase and activity decisions, so ads based on how warm it is or not on a certain day is a powerful marketing tool.
A little creativity is all that’s necessary to make geo-targeting work for your business! The potential of precise,location-specific marketing cannot be underestimated, and is set to revolutionize the way people do business.
Posted at October 14 2014 04:59:31 PM by Nic D in Advertising, Apps, Marketing, Mobile Forecasts, Mobile Web,Retail, Small Business, SMB Marketing Tips, Tech | Permalink | Comments (0)
How Geo-Targeting Has Become a Precision Marketing Tool
Recent geo-targeting improvements has this marketing tool poised to become the “next big thing” in mobile advertising.
Once upon a time, advertisers sent ads into universe, not knowing if they would be viewed or attractive to the user. Geo-targeting provided advertisers the ability to leverage smartphone GPS data and subsequently create ads relevant to the user’s location, and track user proximity to competitor businesses. This serious increase in ad relevancy has resulted in marketers looking to further develop geo-marketing practices.
Two Techniques
Geo-tracking also offers targeted messages to consumers who patronize various businesses more than once. Two popular techniques that go beyond standard geo-targeting involve creating targeted ads based on either the user’s “passion points,” i.e. favorite businesses/establishments, or favored brands. Monica Ho, the vice president of marketing at xAd in New York, notes about one-third of the company’s brand campaigns are utilizing sophisticated geo-targeting techniques, a significant increase compared to previous campaigns. Indeed, the company’s location platform has grown an astounding 300 percent in 2014.
New Strategies
New strategies regarding geo-targeting include addressing the issue of delivering mobile ads “at scale with location-based targeting,” since most consumers don’t share their location unless engaging in specific activities. Another problem is ad placement at the “expense of reach.” However, Michael Boland, senior analyst and vice president of content at BIA/Kelsey in Chantilly, Virginia, notes “...using location instead to profile and target audience segments broadens the locus of targeting beyond impression-depleting locales.”
The Challenge
The problem with geo-targeting is frightening off users when marketers make it obvious they know where they are and what they’re looking for. This is also the most effective way to engage with customers, however.
“If someone in Atlanta mentions getting engaged on Facebook and starts asking brides where they got their dress, a local bridal shop could combine that interest with geo-location data and reach out with information about a sample sale," said Kam Desai, cofounder of newBrandAnalytics.
"Combining location with interest for a targeted promotion that’s very relevant to that particular consumer," he said. "If you’re sharing authentic, relevant information, consumers will value that. Knowing location is just another tool to be able to customize campaigns more effectively."
Additionally, marketers are looking to user location history for ad creation. This is thanks to the combination of mobile and big data.
“Signals being captured by smartphones and processed through apps and cloud platforms are unlocking all kinds of valuable data by which to target ads not just by location but location-oriented factors like weather and demographic patterns,” Boland noted.
Marketers will no doubt continue their work with geo-targeting, resulting in even more sophisticated ad campaigns.
Posted at October 12 2014 01:43:17 PM by Nic D in Apps, Marketing, Mobile Coupons, Retail, Small Business, SMB Marketing Tips | Permalink | Comments (0)
