Geotargeting 101: Reaching the Right People at the Right Time

Why show your ad to the whole country when your best customers live five miles away?

When every dollar counts, location-based advertising (aka geotargeting) can give your campaigns a serious edge. Instead of blasting your message to the masses, geotargeting allows you to focus on specific cities, neighborhoods, or even buildings—so you’re reaching people who are more likely to take action.

Whether you’re running a brick-and-mortar business, hosting an event, or offering services in a local market, geotargeting helps you deliver the right message to the right people at the right time.

📍 What Is Geotargeting?

Geotargeting is a digital marketing tactic that delivers ads to users based on their geographic location. This can include:

• City or ZIP code targeting
• Radius targeting (ex: 5 miles from your store)
• Geofencing (triggering ads when users enter a defined location)
• Location history (targeting users who have been to specific places)

🎯 Why It Works

• Higher relevance – Local offers and messages feel more personal and timely
• More efficient spend – You don’t waste budget on people outside your service area
• Better conversions – Users near your business are more likely to take action (visit, call, book)
• Great for mobile – 70%+ of mobile searches have local intent

🧠 Real-World Example

Client: Multi-location dental practice
Strategy: Ran Facebook and Google Ads targeting a 10-mile radius around each location with “same-day appointment” and “$99 cleaning” offers
Result: 212 new patient bookings in 30 days at a cost per lead of $18.52—70% lower than their previous national campaign

🛠️ Where You Can Use Geotargeting

• Google Ads – Display ads, search ads, YouTube pre-roll
• Facebook & Instagram – Radius, city, or ZIP code targeting
• Programmatic platforms – Hyperlocal banner and video placements
• Connected TV & streaming audio – Deliver local ads during Hulu, Spotify, or podcast streams

🔎 Tracking and Optimization

With the right tools, you can track the performance of your geotargeted campaigns by:

• Clicks and calls by location
• In-store visits (via location tracking, when privacy settings allow)
• Conversion rates by city or ZIP
• Cost per lead or sale by region

Platforms like Google and Meta offer built-in analytics, and platforms like VideoPRMedia help you centralize and interpret that data to make smart, localized decisions.

💡 Bonus Tips

• Customize your message – Reference neighborhoods or landmarks to feel more authentic
• Use urgency – “This weekend only” works well with proximity-based campaigns
• Test ZIP codes separately – Discover which neighborhoods convert best

📍 Want Smarter Local Ad Campaigns?

At VideoPRMedia, we help businesses of all sizes use geotargeting to reduce waste and boost results. Whether you're promoting a grand opening or building a local reputation, our team will help you reach the people that matter most—right where they are.

📩 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to build a geotargeted campaign that hits home (literally).