Geofencing: How to Use Location-Based Advertising to Your Advantage
Are you looking for a better way to target potential customers? Want to grow your brand awareness? Not sure where to start? Geofencing may
be for you!
What is Geofencing?
Geofencing is a type of display advertising in which the advertiser targets people who visit specified physical locations to see picture ads
on their mobile phones. Although the purpose of Geofencing is to increase brand awareness, it has other benefits. Not only will you get your
brand in front of (in our experience) 50,000+ sets of eyes per month, but you can increase traffic to your website and foot traffic to your
store - and see all of these results in one transparent monthly report! There is no other digital marketing product like this.
How Does It Work?
During campaign setup, you will choose the physical locations you want to target then set up virtual boundaries around these locations.
These boundaries can detect when a mobile phone enters which will trigger adding the phone’s IP address to an audience pool.
Your ad will show to your audience pool for up to 30 days after leaving one of your virtual fences and will be displayed on the mobile apps
already installed on their phones! There are over 300,000 apps on mobile devices including Google Chrome and other browsers that have ad
space for geofencing ads.
Where Should You Fence?
There are different targeting options for geofencing campaigns. You can target people based off of behaviour, competition, or geography.
Depending on the type of business you have, one of these may be a clear winner or perhaps a combination of these will work best for you.
For Example: Let’s say your business sells sports equipment.
Behaviour – Target soccer fields, hockey rinks, schools. It is likely that the people who are active in sports have use for the products you
are selling.
Competition – Target other sporting goods stores. It is likely that the people who visit your competitors will have interest in what you
have to offer.
Geography – Target the area surrounding your store. After all, everyone knows someone who loves sports!
In this case, a mix of all three may work well. If budget is limited and you have to cut back, start with behavioural and competition
location targeting. These are most likely to result in new customers!
Should You Be Concerned About Privacy?
Some people have concerns with privacy when it comes to using geofencing. They worry about what information is being collected, if it’s
being shared, and if other business owners can tell when their location is being targeted. Here are some facts about how it works:
This technology works off of mobile phones and they have to have locations services turned on in order to register as a user and be added to
your audience pool.
Individual user data is not saved or shared in anyway. All users are completely anonymous. The data that is saved is related to an IP
address only – not an actual person.
Geofencing does not add or change anything on user devices. It only tracks whether the device entered a 'geofence', whether your ads were
displayed on that device, if that view resulted in a click to the website or a visit to your 'conversion zone’.
Business owners cannot tell if you are targeting their locations. They are not notified in anyway and there is no tool to check. They may be
added to your audience pool and see your ads since they frequent your targeted location, however this does not prove that you are targeting
their location. Geofencing ads are not obviously from geofencing. As mentioned above, they are a type of display advertising. There are
other types that target people based off of websites they have visited online and more so they could be seeing your ads for other reasons.
Maybe they checked out your website online, visited a website similar to yours, or happened to enter another location you targeted.
There are no privacy issues or breaches in security that can result from Geofencing ads.
Can Your Business Benefit from Geofencing?
Geofencing helps businesses target people who are most likely to be interested in the products or services you offer. It is comparable to
having a large team of people staking out these locations and handing out flyers telling them to check out your company. Or like a billboard
that is only shown to people who care what the message is and instead of having to find the billboard, it finds them!
It is such a neat and stealthy way to target potential customers, increase your brand awareness, and grow your business! If those goals
align with the needs of your business, incorporating geofencing into your digital marketing plan may be a great first step. For more
information on geofencing and how it can benefit your business, give
us a call today.
Specialty:
Digital Marketing Strategies Education:
MA Communications & Technology, BComm [U Alberta] Author: The
Online Marketing Handbook for Busy Entrepreneurs (coming soon)
Lynne is known for her strategic approach to marketing communications, technologies, and lead generation. She has a passion for education,
keeping up with current marketing trends and practices, and helping clients keep ahead of their competition.
In today's fast-paced, digitally driven world, businesses are increasingly turning to digital marketing as a powerful tool to connect
with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive business growth. But what exactly is digital marketing?
Read More…
So, you're thinking about selling your business? That's a big move, and we're sure you've got a lot on your plate right now. Before you dive
into the nitty-gritty of valuations and negotiations, let's talk about something that's often overlooked but incredibly important: your
website and marketing assets.
Read More…
If you're looking to optimize your online presence, you've likely come across the importance of your Google Business Profile
(formerly known as Google My Business and even earlier Google+/Google Places).
Read More…
Whether you're working with a local small business digital marketing agency or managing things in-house, you should know that two key
elements can make or break your online success: User Experience (UX) and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO).
Read More…
You’re a busy business owner. You've got your website up, your social media buzzing, and your products or services are top-notch. But how do
you know if your digital marketing efforts are actually paying off? Enter the world of digital marketing analytics for small businesses
Read More…
The use of AI in digital marketing is definitely on the rise, and it’s a trend that you’ll need to get on to keep up with your competitors.
Below is a list of AI tools that we have researched and tested, and how they can fit into your digital marketing strategy.
Read More…
Having a well-defined and tailored digital marketing strategy is essential for the success of any small business. With the right approach,
you can effectively reach your target audience, drive traffic to your website, and ultimately increase your conversions and sales.
Read More…
These days small businesses rely heavily on effective marketing strategies to thrive in a competitive marketplace. To make informed
decisions, it's crucial for these businesses to understand what is working and what's not when it comes to their marketing efforts.
Read More…
Are you looking to enhance the online presence of your small business and gain recognition in your community? Look no further! In this
in-depth guide, our local search engine optimization company will break down the process of local SEO, focusing on critical components such
as Google My Business listings, local keywords, and review management.
Read More…