5 IP Targeting Tips To Boost Your Marketing Strategy
Tags: marketing, api, tips, ip
Published: 2022-05-17 08:50:13

Marketing that fits the consumer's needs has been around for quite a while now. We all had experiences researching a product and then getting it suggested hours later on our social media or somewhere else. 

This obviously is a great way to connect people with the products they really want. Studies show that [80% of consumers](https://www.epsilon.com/us/about-us/pressroom/new-epsilon-research-indicates-80-of-consumers-are-more-likely-to-make-a-purchase-when-brands-offer-personalized-experiences) are more likely to make a purchase when brands offer a personalized experience. 

But how can companies build a marketing strategy that reaches the right target group without wasting money on ads for the wrong people?

Here are five tips on boosting your marketing strategy by using IP targeting. 

## What Is IP Targeting?

First of all, what even is an IP? IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP is a unique numerical code that each internet-enabled device, like phones, computers, and tablets, has. 
Therefore, IP targeting is a strategy that targets your users through their IP addresses and delivers your ads to their specific networks and devices.

IP Targeting is widely used for and can help you with:

- Learning more about your customers
- Offering a customized user experience
- Accurate demographic user targeting
- Gaining insights on metrics like traffic, sales, etc.
- Generating awareness 
- Saving resources

The most straightforward way to track IPs is by using an [IP API](https://ipbase.com/). These tools offer you information on your customers' location regarding countries and cities and other relevant information like time zones, latitudes, and longitudes. 

## How Does IP Targeting Work?

There are two forms of IP targeting; either by geolocation or by network. Suppose you base your targeting strategy on geolocation or geotargeting. In that case, you can work with data about their country of residence, state, city, and neighborhood via their WiFi or GPS data. 
If you base your IP targeting on the network, you will also get information about the internet provider, the company, and the domain name.

## 5 Tips on creating an IP targeting strategy
If you are looking to improve your lead generation or user experience, these five tips will help you along the way. 

**1. Research IP APIs**
IP APIs are like fish in the sea, but not all of them are Nemo. In order to find your Nemo, it is vital to research them properly. While some solutions offer a wide range of functionality, others keep it simple and down to the essential features. The suitable IP API for you will depend on your needs and budget. 

**2. Select the right demographic**
IP targeting will only work if your target is set correctly. Otherwise, you won't get the hoped-for results.

Start by creating a simple [buyer persona](https://userwell.com/buyer-persona/) that includes gender, age, and interests. Collect as much valuable data as possible on your demographic to narrow down your IP targeting list.  

From here on, instead of broadcasting your marketing campaign all over the place, narrow it down to specific geographical locations. Think about the type of customers you want and cross-reference your insights with your website's return analytics. In the areas your customers live in or frequent students, for example, will log into the university's WiFi. This would be a great place to offer a student discount. The type of device your demographic uses can also contribute to a successful campaign.  

The more you know about your customers' needs and preferences, the more personalized your campaign will be. 

**3. Stand out**

Once you have your target group ready, you have to ensure that your campaign stands out. Targeting alone won't get you far if a generic design doesn't engage your customers. 

Luckily IP tracking can also help you out with this. After all, it allows you to personalize your content. Knowing your users' location, for example, allows you to provide content in their native language or show your prices in their currency. Whatever approach you decide on, make sure you connect with your customers.  

**4. Testing, Testing, Testing**

If you followed tips one and two but still struggle with seeing results, the problem might lie elsewhere. 

People are more and more inclined to use VPNs or ad blockers. VPNs allow users to show a location different from their actual one. While they provide security for individuals, VPNs can be a pain for companies as they can support malicious traffic. There are, however, tools that help you move around this problem. 

However, maybe the issue is something different. The only real way to find out what works best is by testing it out. Test by making smaller changes in your demographic or criteria and compare two or more campaigns with another. While this will be more pricey initially, it will be more profitable in the long run. 

**5. Don't be too specific**
While the great benefit of IP tracking is being able to specify your target audience to the (almost) smallest detail, this can also become a challenge. 

If you choose a target group that is too narrow, for example, only 18 to 20-year-old psychology students, you will lose out on potential customers. If you are too specific, you leave out parts of your audience, limiting your IP targeting success. 

## IP tracking: Personalized and customized
While IP tracking sounds like a lot of work, the payoff can be huge. Improving your customer experience through personalized campaigns might set you ahead of your competition. 

Connect with your audience by creating a customized campaign to their needs, and remember that the design is as important as the right demographic. Test out your strategies, learn from your insights and improve your business.