Local Business Ads on Google Content Network

[Mohit]

We are running local business Ads for our business only on the G search network currently though there's an option for targeting the content network as well.

How will that be accomplished in the contextual advertising? I can understand in the case of search network (IP sniffing) but how does G figure out which (target area specific) website they have to syndicate the Ads on?

I heard local business ads also feature on Google SMS, are there any other places where we can find local business ads?

Are there any tools available to track these ads from outside the area?

What should be the strategy while estimating content bids?

Thanks.

[La_Valette]

I'm no Google insider but it seems to me that IP sniffing would work for content too - after all Google has a large stable of ads and can choose what to display on any content site. It would just pre-filter out ads which are not local to the viewer of the content site first, then display the remaining ads by relevancy. Just my own guess...

[farmboy]

There was a thread here recently on this topic.

Google seems to have a problem determining the geographic location of the user sometimes.

As I noted in the other thread, Google often shows me local ads for a city 200 miles away. My ISP has a primary location in that city.

I've read of AOL users getting a lot of Virginia ads because AOL has a facility in Virginia.

FarmBoy

[Mohit]

"I've read of AOL users getting a lot of Virginia ads because AOL has a facility in Virginia."

This is what I am talking about. The response from Content Network has always been less accurate(in terms of relevant visitors) as compared to Search Network from what I have experienced and read on forums.

It becomes more critical when you are running Local Business Ads for a popular vertical with limited budget.If you advertise in a popular vertical, you can estimate the costs incurred as a result of wasted clicks. Ok, Site Exclusion can be used to minimize the loss but it will save a lot of time if

(contextual advertising + Geo targeting) works more effectively...

Any tools which can track the (local) Ads from areas outside it?