Discover Top Posts Tagged with #geo-target

How to test geo-targeting

You can set up a redirect so that a visitor in France sees a different website to a visitor in Germany. But can you test it without actually being in either country?

Fortunately you can use a free proxy server, or a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

Google "free proxy server France" and you'll see many you can try. Simply enter your GeoPro2 redirect URL (eg. http://www.geopro2/###), and it should bounce you to the site for France according to your redirect's instructions. When you use a French proxy server, you are routing through a computer with a French IP address, so GeoPro2 thinks you are a French visitor and redirects you accordingly.

A better, and less clumsy solution (although not usually free) is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

VPNs are often used to circumvent regional restrictions (geoblocking). For example, journalists often use VPNs to get around state-sponsored censorship. VPNs are also useful for recreational purposes, for example, connecting to a British VPN to watch the BBC iPlayer outside the UK. Because you are routed through the VPN, it looks as if you are just another British visitor.

We use HideMyAss, but there are many other VPNs also worth considering. With HideMyAss, you can test your GeoPro2 redirect from locations all around the world.

#geo-target #VPN #virtual private network #GeoPro2 #proxy #proxy server

Geo target tweets with HootSuite

Have you ever wanted to geo target tweets in a similar way to how it is possible to geo target Facebook posts? Without the possibility to geo target tweets, companies often create additional Twitter accounts to deliver tweets in the local language of their countries. All Twitter accounts should have adequate resources and a local well managed content calendar in order for them to be effective. If the local content flow is anticipated to be low and the local resources are not available, and there is no long term budget for a local agency to help out, then using HootSuite to geo target tweets from the main company account is a viable option.

Here is a simple guide how you can do this.

“How to” video about geo targeting tweets with HootSuite.

The video highlights an important point that geo targeted tweets for a specific country will only appear to the followers of that account when they log into their Twitter accounts. Otherwise they see all the other non geo targeted tweets as normal.

HootSuite Pro, Enterprise, and free versions

They all have the geo targeted process demonstrated in the video.

In summary

The geo targeting tweets process in HootSuite is very simple to use and is available in all the versions of HootSuite. This provides us all with a ready and simple solution to the headache of creating separate language Twitter account just to send the odd local language tweet. The advantages are numerous, but here are just a few..

Reduction in local language Twitter accounts created for low volumes of Tweets. These can now be geo targeted using the main Twitter accounts. Local accounts work best with a solid resource and content plan.

Increased Twitter social authority as your local language Tweets are not sent to all your followers, obtaining low engagement figures.

Less annoyed main account followers, who will be spared seeing their Twitter feeds filled with your “other language” tweets not meant for them.

You will be less likely to be “muted” by your main account followers while “other language” tweets are sent out via your main Twitter feed, especially during high output occasions like events etc.

Reduction in costs if you used promoted tweets in order to send “other language” tweets.

I am a social media strategist, blogger and speaker about social media marketing. This blog is a fun outlet for me to talk about new trends and applications, especially helpful if you are new to Social media. Subscribe and learn about how to use and adopt Social media for Marketing, and keep up with the latest news. I am also the Head of Social Media for Philips Lighting. I am active with strategy development, activation, governance, projects and educational training activities for all aspects of social media within Philips Lighting. I have been working in the digital marketing area since 1997, and previously held roles in engineering, design and sales. In addition to this blog, I tweet daily on two Twitter accounts, have two Facebook pages, Google+, Pinterest, So.cl, Instagram, and participate in many other social networks.

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