How do Search Engines Determine User Location?

Feb 20, 2006 - 2:26 pm 0 by
Filed Under Google Ads

An interesting thread developing at SEW Forums has a member asking if "we all live in Virginia." Many would assume that he must be speaking about AOL, and the fact that all of its users are seen as being in Virginia when fed "local" sponsored match ads from AdWords. However, in this case it seems that Verizon is also serving VA ads to the member, who is based in MA.

According to Danny Sullivan:

AOL knows the exact address of everyone using its system, and it could find a way to pass that info to Google if it wanted.

So if they do start doing this, when will it happen? And could/will Verizon follow suit?

Join the discussion at Search Engine Watch Forums.

 

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