Adwords geo-targeting vs. Analytics geo-reporting

[DyeA]

Okay, I bang my head about this everyday as I imagine do other people. First off, I am aware geo targeting in adwords is notoriously flaky - thats inherent with targeting an ip to an isp that could be serving customers in another geo location.

BUT - why would adwords serve ads from a campaign targeted to Oregon, to users that Analytics is defining as from California and Utah. I just don't get it. Are the geo targeting capabilities of the two products different? I doubt it. Sigh... just bugs me looking at my results everyday.

Anyone have an idea?!

Thanks,
DyeA

[eWhisper]

AdWords serves geo-targeted ads by both a users location and/or by what a user is searching for.

For instance, if you geo target 'widget' to Omaha. Both a search from someone inside Omaha for widget and someone searching for 'omaha widget' could potentially see your ad.

Analytics works off just user location; and not geo-keyword searches.

[DyeA]

Hmmmm I didn't think of that. Checking the help files that is indeed true. Thanks!

[cyberandroid]

eWhisper is right
i dont think its in the help files, i was looking for this before.

for one client i have actually found that he gets better leads with targeting set to his city AND each all of his keywords contain the city name

[netmeg]

That's typically how I set up local geo targeted campaigns anyway.