What is the difference between ‘presence or interest’ and ‘only presence’ in location settings?

Short Answer: ‘Presence or interest’ allows your ad to be shown to people who may be outside your targeted location but are actively searching for something within that location. In contrast, ‘only presence’ restricts your ad visibility to individuals who are physically in or regularly present within the targeted area.

Full Explanation

When setting up location targeting for ads, understanding the distinction between ‘presence or interest’ and ‘only presence’ is crucial. The ‘presence or interest’ option broadens your ad reach by including not only people who are actually located in the target area but also those who show interest in the location through their search behavior. This means someone outside the area who searches for something inside it will still see your ad.

On the other hand, selecting ‘only presence’ narrows your audience strictly to people who are physically present in or regularly visit your targeted location. This approach ensures that only those within the geographic boundaries or frequenting the location will be exposed to your ads.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Presence or Interest: Your ad shows to:
   • People currently in the targeted location.
   • People outside the location but searching for something related to it.
2. Only Presence: Your ad shows to:
   • People physically in the targeted location.
   • People who regularly visit or are based in that location.

Real Examples

Imagine you are advertising a local restaurant in a city. If you choose ‘presence or interest,’ people currently outside the city but searching for restaurants in that city will see your ad. With ‘only presence,’ your ad will appear solely to people physically inside or regularly visiting the city, ensuring highly local targeting.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing ‘presence or interest’ with strict geographic targeting, leading to ads shown to broader audiences than intended.
• Assuming ‘only presence’ includes people interested in the location but not physically there.
• Neglecting to match the targeting option with campaign goals, which could result in wasted budget or reduced ad effectiveness.

FAQs

Q: Can ‘presence or interest’ increase ad reach?
Yes, because it includes people interested in your location even when they are not physically there.

Q: Is ‘only presence’ better for local businesses?
It can be, as it targets people physically in or regularly visiting the area, which may better suit businesses reliant on local foot traffic.

Key Takeaways

• ‘Presence or interest’ expands ad visibility to both those physically present and those interested in the location.
• ‘Only presence’ restricts ad targeting to users physically in or regularly in the targeted area.
• Choosing the right location setting depends on your advertising goals and desired audience reach.