
Location-based advertising is a powerful tool for businesses to reach their target audience. With over 90% of mobile users using location-based services, it's no wonder why this form of advertising is becoming increasingly popular.
To effectively use location-based advertising, it's essential to understand the different types of location-based marketing. This includes beacons, geofencing, and proximity marketing, each with its unique benefits and applications.
By leveraging these technologies, businesses can create tailored experiences for their customers, increasing engagement and driving sales. For instance, a coffee shop can use beacons to offer loyalty rewards to customers who visit their store.
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What Is Location-Based Advertising
Location-based advertising is a type of marketing that uses location intelligence data to target leads with precise marketing content.
It involves leveraging location-aware data to deliver tailored advertising to mobile devices, making it an advantageous strategy for connecting with specific audiences or segments.
Geo-aware ad targeting is a key tactic, employing mobile device location intelligence data to target leads with marketing content precisely.
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Marketers can use geofencing to create a virtual perimeter around a particular area, such as a neighborhood or city, and automatically deliver advertising content to targeted audience members when they enter the geofence.
Geotargeting involves using geographic data and other geospatial information to target users with content based on real-time location, enriching their user experience.
For instance, a local restaurant might geo-target potential customers on social media apps when they are within a two-mile radius of the establishment.
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How It Works
Location-based advertising uses various types of location data to deliver tailored content and advertisements to users. These types of location data include GPS data, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth beacon data, IP address and geocoding data, and NFC data.
GPS data provides precise latitude and longitude coordinates, allowing for highly targeted advertising. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth beacons, on the other hand, use signals to identify a user's location within a specific range of a beacon device.
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IP address and geocoding data can provide approximate location information based on the user's internet connection, making it valuable for targeting users at a city or regional level. NFC data, meanwhile, allows devices to establish a connection when near NFC tags or chips, triggering various actions.
Location-based marketing can also create immersive experiences based on a user's location. For example, Pokémon Go uses a user's location to place digital creatures within their physical space. Brands like Yelp allow users to point their camera at their current surroundings and see listings for nearby restaurants.
Here are some ways to use location-based marketing:
- Proximity targeting: Reach customers in real-time in or near locations you have previously geofenced.
- Weather targeting: Use prevailing or upcoming weather conditions to target ads and marketing promotions.
- Geo-conquesting: Use location data to win business from your competitors.
- Audience targeting: Market to people based on location, online and offline behavior, demographics, interests, and more.
By combining these technologies, you can boost in-store traffic and increase brand awareness.
Types and Process
Location-based advertising is a versatile field with several approaches. There are two main types of location-based services: push and pull.
The push approach is more common and allows advertisers to target users until they opt-out. Users can choose to opt-in and select the type of advertisements they receive from advertisers who must abide by legal regulations and respect users' choices.
In contrast, the pull approach allows users to directly search for information by entering keywords. Users can look for specific information, such as finding the nearest Chinese restaurant in Manhattan using a local search application like WHERE.
There are four types of mobile advertising: messaging, display, search, and product placement.
For push-based LBA, users must opt-in by providing their personal information and confirming the subscription via a text message. For pull-based LBA, users interact with local sites or applications and are presented with offers in a standard advertising model.
Here are the two main types of location-based services:
Types
Location-based services can be divided into two main types: push and pull. The push approach is more versatile and allows advertisers to target users with ads until they opt-out. This type is further divided into opt-out and opt-in approaches, with opt-out being the more common method.
There are four types of mobile advertising that are closely related to location-based advertising: messaging, display, search, and product placement. These types can be used to reach a wider audience and increase engagement.

The pull approach, on the other hand, allows users to search for information directly by entering keywords. This type is often used in local search applications, such as WHERE, which can help users find the nearest Chinese restaurant in Manhattan.
Here are the four types of mobile advertising:
- Messaging
- Display
- Search
- Product placement
Geotargeting is another type of location-based service that allows advertisers to serve personalized messages based on a user's location. This can be done through push notifications or in-app messages.
Geofencing marketing involves creating virtual boundaries to trigger actions or deliver content when users enter or exit specific locations. This type of marketing can be used to promote local events or offer special deals to users who are in a specific area.
Location-based advertising can be used to increase awareness about products and services, generate more foot traffic at brick-and-mortar locations, and drive up the marketing campaign ROI.
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Process
To opt-into a push-based LBA program, users typically need to visit the seller's website or store to submit their personal information, such as their mobile phone number and first name.

The company will then send a text message to confirm the LBA subscription, allowing them to use location-based technology to provide customers with geographically based offers and incentives.
In contrast, pull-based LBA involves users interacting with local mobile sites or applications, where they're presented with offers in a standard pull advertising model.
Users may also see location-based display ads served from a location-based ad aggregator/network, such as NAVTEQ or AdLocal by Cirius Technologies, which aggregate local listings from various sources.
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Benefits and Disadvantages
Location-based advertising offers many benefits, but it's essential to consider the potential disadvantages as well.
Location-based advertising allows marketers to reach specific target audiences in a more targeted manner than in the past. For example, if a customer has purchased a Harry Potter movie from a DVD/CD rental store and subscribed to the store's location-based advertising program, they can expect to receive a message on their mobile phone about the release date of the next Harry Potter movie.
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With location-based advertising, marketers can improve advertising relevance by giving customers control over what, when, where, and how they receive ads. This can lead to higher response rates, with some marketers achieving up to 20% response rates.
However, location-based advertising also has some disadvantages. For instance, it only works when users opt-in and give verified apps access to their location data, which can be a challenge due to privacy concerns. Additionally, it may not be effective for non-smartphone users, who don't have phones with location technology built in.
Some key benefits of location-based marketing include location targeting, data offerings, enhanced targeting, and the cost per visit performance model. Location targeting can help businesses increase in-store visits by targeting ads to customers when they're within range of a selected organization.
Here are some of the key advantages and disadvantages of location-based marketing:
Location-based marketing can be cost-effective because it reaches users who are more likely to convert. This efficiency can lead to a higher return on investment (ROI) for marketing efforts. However, the effectiveness of location-based marketing relies on accurate location data, which can be impacted by factors such as VPNs reporting different locations.
Businesses across various sectors are embracing location-based advertising, including real estate firms, restaurants, local service providers, and gyms. Top brands are also using location-aware technologies to enhance their consumers' experience.
Marketing and Advertising
Location-based advertising is a powerful marketing strategy that can help businesses reach their target audience and drive conversions. It involves using location-aware technology to deliver tailored advertising content to users based on their real-time location.
For example, Adidas used location extensions in their search ads to encourage visitors to shop at the closest store, resulting in a 680% increase in ROI. Similarly, Whole Foods used geofencing and geo-conquesting tactics to win market share and increase conversions, with a 4.69% conversion rate.
Location-based marketing can be used in various ways, including geo-aware ad targeting, geofencing, and geotargeting. These tactics can help businesses connect with specific audiences or segments, and deliver relevant content to users based on their location.
Here are some examples of how businesses have used location-based marketing:
- Coach drove 76% of in-store visits through location targeting, with 5% of visits coming from people who saw ads while in the vicinity.
- Toyota combined the CPV model with audience and location targeting to increase visits to certain dealerships by visitors likely to buy.
- No Kid Hungry used location and audience targeting to result in 129,000 visits and $1 million raised.
Brands and Marketing Examples
Adidas took location-based marketing to the next level by using location extensions in their search ads. This led to a 680% increase in ROI, with one out of every five people who viewed the page ending up going to a physical store.
Whole Foods used geofencing and geo-conquesting tactics to win market share and increase conversions. Their campaign had a 4.69 percent conversion rate, significantly higher than the national average of 1.43 percent.
By using location-based marketing, brands can create targeted campaigns that drive real results. For example, a fintech app could provide users with financial advice when they're in a shopping district, helping them make wise spending decisions.
Here are some specific examples of how brands can use location-based marketing:
Who Uses?
Any business with a physical footprint can effectively use location-based marketing to boost in-store traffic. This includes cafes, restaurants, and retail stores.
You can use location-based marketing to show ads for coupons on ice-cold drinks when a hot summer's day is forecasted, enticing more people to walk through the door. For example, a local restaurant might want to geo-target potential customers on social media apps when they are within a two-mile radius of the establishment.

Event marketing is also a great use case for location-based marketing. You can use it to push a discount promotion to those nearby the venue, ultimately boosting audience numbers. Let's say you are running a popular music festival and want to increase attendance.
Location-based marketing can also be used to bring together all your customer data to encourage desired consumer behavior. For instance, you could place ads for running shoes to target joggers running past your store.
GroundTruth's customers have had amazing results with location-based marketing, driving thousands of in-store visits and increasing sales. Coach, for example, drove 76% of 20,000 in-store visits through location targeting, resulting in a 16% increase in engagement.
Technology and Decision-Making
Location-aware technology is playing a crucial role in modern advertising, marketing, and decision-making. It gathers data that can be analyzed and transformed into interactive maps, charts, or other easy-to-digest content.
Location-based advertising is a must-use tactic in today's competitive digital marketplace. It enables businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors, increase ROI on ad spending, generate higher quality leads, and drive conversions.
Location intelligence data improves the efficacy of active campaigns and assists with planning and optimizing future ones. You can create robust interactive maps using geospatial data to identify where most of your leads and conversions originate, and then hyper-target more lucrative markets.
Location-aware data can also help you understand why your campaigns weren't as effective in areas producing less conversions. This insight can inform your future marketing strategies and improve your overall return on investment.
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IP Address
IP Address marketing is a simple way to get started with location-aware technology. It uses the unique IP address of a device to target marketing efforts.
Every computer or device connected to the Internet has an IP address, which can be used to determine a user's location. This location information can be used to tailor marketing efforts.
Location-based advertising can help businesses like yours reach customers within their target market or demographic. By using IP address marketing, you can target specific areas and increase the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.
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IP address marketing can help you identify where most of your leads and conversions originate, allowing you to hyper-target more lucrative markets. This can also help you understand why your campaigns were not as effective in areas producing less conversions.
By using location intelligence data from IP address marketing, you can improve the efficacy of active campaigns and plan and optimize future ones. This can help you differentiate your business from competitors and increase ROI on ad spending.
Technology in Advertising and Decision-Making
Location-aware devices and applications play a crucial role in modern advertising, marketing, and decision-making. They gather data that can be analyzed and transformed into interactive maps, charts, or other easy-to-digest content.
Location-based advertising is becoming a must-use tactic in the competitive digital marketplace, enabling businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors, increase ROI on ad spending, and drive conversions. It also prevents wasted marketing revenue on individuals outside the target market or demographic.
Geo-aware ad targeting is a marketing tactic that employs mobile device location intelligence data to target leads with marketing content precisely. It’s an advantageous strategy for defining, targeting, and connecting with specific audiences or segments.
Geofencing involves the use of geographic data to create a virtual perimeter around a particular area, such as a neighborhood, community, or even an entire city. Marketers can automatically deliver tailored advertising content to targeted audience members when they enter the geofence.
Augmented location allows brands to do more with location data than just send notifications. Marketers can create experiences based on where the user is at the moment, such as Pokémon Go, which tracks a user’s location and places digital creatures within their physical space.
Location data is valuable for understanding customer behavior, but it is still only one data point. To create the best customer experiences, marketing teams must combine location data with additional insights, such as attribution models, to get a complete picture of needs and preferences.
Location intelligence (LI) refers to collected, structured, analyzed, and visualized geospatial data that provides actionable insights. It includes geospatial information such as weather, traffic, demographics, and movement trends.
IP address marketing is a simple way to get started with location-based marketing, using the location information of a device's IP address to target marketing efforts.
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Investment and Suitability
More retailers are investing in location-based marketing, with nearly 60 percent planning to focus their budget on it in 2019.
It's clear that location-based marketing is becoming a key strategy for businesses, but it's essential to consider user privacy as marketers adopt these tactics.
Retailers need to be transparent about how they're using location data to build trust with their customers.
More Investment
Retailers are getting on board with location-based marketing, with nearly 60 percent planning to focus their budget on it in 2019.
It's no surprise that location-based marketing is gaining traction, as it's a powerful way to increase brand awareness and reach customers in real-time.
Retailers are careful to consider user privacy as they adopt location-based tactics, recognizing the importance of protecting consumers' rights.
Businesses are now more aware than ever of the need to be transparent about how they collect and store consumer information, including location data.
The introduction of laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act has made it clear that businesses have a responsibility to uphold consumers' privacy rights.
Getting Started

Before investing in location-based marketing, it's essential to clear up privacy concerns with your legal team. This should be the first step to ensure you're targeting the right audience and complying with local laws.
Establishing clear goals is crucial to measure the impact of your campaign. What is the goal of the campaign? Are you trying to drive former customers into your store or steer people away from a competitor?
To choose the right targeting method, consider the goals established. For example, geotargeting could be a great way to drive former customers into your store, while geofencing may be a good way to attract new business for a restaurant during lunch hours.
Here are some targeting methods to consider:
By analyzing results, you can determine which tactics worked well for your business and which didn't. Use geo-zone analytics combined with marketing attribution analytics to get a better understanding of what drove conversions.
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Privacy and Concerns
59 percent of companies are hesitant to move forward with location-based marketing due to concerns about user privacy.
To minimize these concerns, marketers must ensure that users opt into location sharing services when using apps, and have the ability to opt out. Anonymizing data can also help reduce privacy concerns, as information on behavior and preferences are not attached to specific names or email addresses.
Customers are wary of cyberattacks that could make their data available to broader, likely malicious audiences, and 64 percent of consumers say they would not shop at a business from which their data had been stolen.
Organizations must make sure cybersecurity solutions and protocols are put in place to reduce the chances of a successful attack. This is crucial to maintaining customer trust and preventing damage to a business's reputation.
Marketers should inform their consumers on how their information is to be stored, secured, and used or combined with other purposes of marketing. This transparency is key to establishing and maintaining consumer trust.
GDPR is a stringent regulation applicable to all organizations that do business with residents of the European Union, and it requires explicit opt-in from users before targeting them with location-based marketing.
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Examples
Location-based advertising is all about using a user's location to deliver targeted ads and offers. Adidas used location extensions in their search ads to encourage visitors to shop at the closest store, resulting in a 680% increase in ROI.
Adidas' success highlights the power of location-based marketing. By using location extensions, they were able to drive physical store visits and boost their return on investment.
Whole Foods used geofencing and geo-conquesting tactics to win market share and increase conversions. This campaign had a 4.69 percent conversion rate, significantly higher than the national average of 1.43 percent.
Location-based marketing can be applied across various verticals, including fintech, gaming, e-commerce, mobility, and travel apps. Fintech apps can provide users with financial advice when they're in a shopping district.
Here are some example scenarios where mobile marketers could effectively use location-based marketing:
By leveraging location-based marketing, businesses can create targeted and relevant experiences for their customers, driving engagement and conversions.
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