Adwords: Targeting locations by UK Post Code.

[inthesky]

Hi all,

I am currently working through trying to figure out the best way to target areas based on post code in the Adwords campaign.

Does anyone know how to do this?

Thanks.

 

[RedEvo]

IMHO Geo targeting AdWords is flakey at best. This will provide the info you need but it doesn't go down to postcode areas.

d

 

[inthesky]

May I ask how you have formed the opinion you have with Adwords and Geo targeting?

 

[RedEvo]

I'm not convinced by the accuracy of their IP database. It depends how accurate you need it to be I guess. Research suggests the IP accuracy varies, if you missed 30% of your target audience would that be a problem for your business?

d

 

[Shopping 4 Shelves]

From what I have been told the problem is with mobile devices. If you do a long journey and you then do a search the network still assumes that you are in the original location! If you look at search tools in Google from a laptop it can also give a big gap in actual location. However on the whole it is OK and it would only be a problem if you do not spend all your budget and had more money to spend!

 

[Dreamsight]

No, the problem with Postcode areas is it doesn't work properly. We spent hours breaking 'Greater London' area down to individual postcodes, missing postcodes covered with radius areas. In the end we had a larger area covered on the map than Google's pre-selected 'Greater London' area. The reach was lower, but we put that down to using radius and the anomalies you come to expect with Google. The impressions dropped from 1300 to 2500 per day to a lousy 500!! And that was with an increased impression share. Phoned support, tweeted Google my post with screenshots blog.dreamsight_co_uk/pay_per_clicks/google-adwords-postcode-areas-dont-work-properly/ ...as usual, they'll pass it on and we never hear back from them

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Since switching to Virgin business broadband, Google keeps thinking we are in London. We're about 150 miles away in Cardiff. This has made me think carefully about how I'm going to do my PPC, as I may have to just skip the entire cit/radius filters and just put everything to exact match and ensure it includes Cardiff and the surrounding areas that I'd travel to.

Unless anyone knows a better way?

 

[Dreamsight]

When you are in Cardiff do a search then click Search Tools. Is the auto-detect saying London?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Being really dull I'm sure, but where is search tools?

 

[Dreamsight]

I can't add a link or photo here...

To change your location on your computer or tablet, follow these steps:

1. Do a search on Google.
2. Click Search Tools under the search box.
3. Click the location.
4. Type the location you want to use in the box that says "Enter location." For example, Boston.
5. Click Set.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Thanks, found it and it was correct.

My mistake, I double checked and it is Yell.com that keeps defaulting to London not Google.

But thanks anyway, that's helpful to check results for surrounding areas!