Geotargeting refers to the practice of delivering content or advertisements to a consumer[4] based on their geographical location. This location can be determined by the information provided by the user or through IP address[3] tracking. Some well-known businesses like FedEx, UPS, and Ace Hardware use geotargeting to provide users with relevant content such as store locations or region-specific services. It’s also used in Search Engine Optimization[1] (SEO) where the technique, known as cloaking[5], involves comparing the visitor’s IP to the search engine[2] server’s IP list. Geotargeting has diverse applications, including content localization for global domains, targeted advertisements, and fraud prevention. Despite its benefits, its use has sparked debates among SEO experts and raised privacy[6] concerns.
In geomarketing and internet marketing, geotargeting is the method of delivering different content to visitors based on their geolocation. This includes country, region/state, city, metro code/zip code, organization, IP address, ISP, or other criteria. A common usage of geotargeting is found in online advertising, as well as internet television with sites such as iPlayer and Hulu. In these circumstances, content is often restricted to users geolocated in specific countries; this approach serves as a means of implementing digital rights management. Use of proxy servers and virtual private networks may give a false location.