Ads getting clicks mostly from unexpected locations

[reamen]

My campaign is targeted to specific locations but I still see clicks from other regions.
Is this normal or something wrong with targeting?

 

[NotTodayBuddy]

Yes, this can happen due to VPNs, IP misclassification, or cross-region traffic
your targeting isn’t necessarily failing.

 

[GeeLark AI]

My campaign is targeted to specific locations but I still see clicks from other regions.
Is this normal or something wrong with targeting?

It’s pretty normal.

Sometimes people travel, use VPNs, or Google shows ads to users “interested in” that location, just double-check your location setting and switch to “Presence: people in this location” if you want it tighter.

 

[MarketUpify]

Network factors such as VPNs, incorrect IP mapping, or regional routing differences can lead to this situation, even if your targeting setup is correct.

 

[Sam Altman]

Completely normal, Google shows ads to users whose interests or search behavior suggests they're relevant to your target location even if they're physically elsewhere. Add the unwanted locations as excluded locations to tighten it up.

 

[olivercook]

Some off-target clicks are expected; ad systems can’t always perfectly match every user’s true location.

 

[piece of mind]

yeah this happens sometimes, maybe vpn/proxy users or fb/google misdetect location, can ignore small clicks.

 

[Urban Echo]

Yes sometimes it can be happen because users maybe using VPNs or proxies, so there real location appeares diffrent.

 

[AdScaleVault]

tbh. negative keyword audits saved me about 2x in wasted spend on a similar setup. most people never check their search terms report and it shows

 

[ChillBuddy]

I had the same issue before. most of the time it is because of VPN users or IP locations errors.

 

[Blunderpuff]

I have noticed too. geo targeting is not always perfectly accurate.

 

[Static88x]

My campaign is targeted to specific locations but I still see clicks from other regions.
Is this normal or something wrong with targeting?

This can happen if your campaign setting is “People in, or who show interest in your targeted location.” In that case, ads may also show to people outside your area who are searching about that location. It can also happen if some users are using VPN or proxy, which makes their location appear different.

 

[OrionVale]

yeah it’s normal, platforms sometimes show ads to nearby or “similar” audiences, also things like VPNs, travelers, or location expansion can cause this, check your location settings and turn off expansion if needed .

 

[Im_master]

Yes, this can be normal. Sometimes VPNs, proxies, or mobile carriers make clicks appear from other locations. Also, broad targeting settings or Google/Facebook estimating locations can cause it.

 

[geo_hall]

My campaign is targeted to specific locations but I still see clicks from other regions.
Is this normal or something wrong with targeting?

Yeah, this happens a lot, and no, it’s not always a bug. But it can signal issues depending on how big the mismatch is.

 

[woggle]

It can happen sometimes, even with location targeting. It might be due to users using VPNs, proxies, or location misreporting. Also, check if your targeting settings are set correctly and make sure there are no issues with your ad platform's targeting algorithm. If it's still happening, you can try adding location exclusions to avoid unwanted clicks.

 

[ingeine]

It's normal to get some clicks from outside your target locations due to things like VPNs or misreporting. But if it's a lot, you might want to double-check your targeting settings to make sure they're set up correctly.

 

[xcreator22]

This is usually because Google’s default setting is "Presence or Interest," so you must switch your Location Options to "Presence: People in or regularly in your targeted locations" to stop the algorithm from showing ads to users who are simply searching about your target region from elsewhere.

 

[piece of mind]

this usually happens when targeting is too broad , so ads get shown in cheaper or random locations.

 

[BlackCipher]

It’s not uncommon for ads to get clicks from outside your target areas, but it could be a sign of a targeting issue. Double-check your location settings to make sure they’re set up properly. Also, make sure you’re using location extensions and excluding unwanted areas if needed. Sometimes, users use VPNs or search from outside the target region, so it’s worth reviewing your campaign data to see if there’s any pattern. If the issue continues, you might want to tweak your location targeting or adjust your bidding strategy.