Geo (marketing)

As a general term, Geomarketing is the integration of Geographical intelligence into all marketing aspects including sales and distribution. Geomarketing Research is the use of geographic parameters in research methodology starting from sampling, data collection, analysis, and presentation. Geomarketing Services are more related to routing, territorial planning, and site selection whereas the location is the key factor for such disciplines. The core base of Geomarketing is the digital map; it can either make or break the concept. Equally important, though, is the association of data with these maps using some place-based component.^[1]

In marketing, geo (also called marketing geography or geomarketing) is a discipline within marketing analysis which uses geolocation (geographic information) in the process of planning and implementation of marketing activities.^[2] It can be used in any aspect of the marketing mix – the Product, Price, Promotion, or Place (geo targeting). Market segments can also correlate with location, and this can be useful in targeted marketing. The methodology geomarketing is successfully applied in the financial sector through identifying ATMs traffic generators and creating hotspots maps based on geographical parameters integrated with customer behavior.^[3]

Geomarketing has a direct impact on the development of modern trade and the reorganization of retail types. Site selection becomes automated and based on scientific procedures that saves both time and money. Geomarketing uses key facts, a good base map, proper data layers, reliable consumer profiling, and proper success/fail criteria.

GPS tracking and GSM localization can be used to obtain the actual position of the travelling customer.

Geo marketing software

Geolocation software is used to display data that can be linked to a geographic region or area. It can be used to:

• Recommend nearby social events.^[2]
• Determine where the customers are (on country, city, street or user level).
• Determine who the customer is (on organisation or user level), or make a guess on it based on earlier encounters by tracking IP address,^[4] credit card information, VOIP address, etc.
• Visualize any data in a geographic context by linking it to a digital map.
• Locate a web client's computer on a digital map.
• Calculate summary information for specific areas.
• Select customers within specific areas.
• Select customers with a certain radius of a point.
• Using micro-geographic segmentation select customers similar to a specific type in the rest of the country.

Some of the software used includes MapInfo, ArcGIS (ESRI), RegioGraph (GfK), assorted open source like Mapwindow, DIVA (which while normally used for bio-diversity creates very visually pleasing density maps), GRASS (which works in Linux and Windows environments). Several other software are available. Indeed Google Earth provides an excellent set of images that are always useful.

Some Applications for Geo

Different content by choice

A typical example for different web content by choice in geo marketing and geo targeting is the FedEx website at FedEx.com where users have the choice to select their country location first and are then presented with different site or article content depending on their selection.

Automated different content

With automated different content in internet marketing and geomarketing the delivery of different content based on the geographical geolocation and other personal information is automated.

Other

• Solve problems regarding location of a new retail outlet
• Map consumer demand trends to best distribute products and advertising. This links with trade zone management.
• Scope digital advertising towards individual consumers.
• Research consumer shopping patterns and observe traffic within shopping centers and between retail outlets. It also helps in visualisation of market research findings and help improve the overall planning ability of organisations.
• Improve customer cooperation.

See also

• Article marketing
• Claritas Prizm
• Content (media and publishing)
• Digital marketing
• GPS tracking
• GSM localization
• Internet marketing
• Local advertising
• Location-based service
• Media transparency
• Pricing
• Targeted advertising
• Variable pricing
• Yield management
• Web content

References

1. ^ Geomarketing in Practice
2. ^ ^{a b} "Recommending Social Events from Mobile Phone Location Data", Daniele Quercia, et al., ICDM 2010
3. ^ Geomarketing
4. ^ IPInfoDB (2010-04-18). "IP location XML API". IPInfoDB. http://ipinfodb.com/ip_location_api.php. Retrieved 2010-04-18. 

External links

• The first Geomarketing community page on facebook
• Wired about Geolocation, dividing markets, price settings and privacy
• GeoAppLab: Geolocation marketing news and tips