Understanding Facebook Ads Location Targeting:
Despite using specific targeting parameters and restrictions, it’s possible for ads to reach users outside of your intended area. Here's why:
Changes in Meta’s Targeting Options (Summer 2023):
Meta removed the ability to separately target people known to be living in, recently in, or traveling in a location.
Now, you can only target people “living in or recently in” your target location, without distinguishing between tourists and locals.
Your Options with Facebook Ads Location Targeting:
Target Locations by:
Specific postcodes
Town, city, or country names
Exact locations
Radius around a location
Who You Can Target:
People living in or recently in that location
People recently traveling in that location
Everyone in that location (all of the above)
Other Reasons for Leads Outside Your Area:
Location Services:
Facebook uses GPS coordinates, Wi-Fi, and cellular network locations.
IP addresses are often tied to the ISP's data center location, not the user's home.
Public Wi-Fi networks and dynamically generated IPs can misidentify mobile phone locations.
IP Addresses:
IP addresses can give a vague idea of your location, sometimes down to the postcode.
A user’s IP could be masked by a VPN, web browser, or email client.
Recent Moves:
If someone recently moved and hasn't updated their location, they will see ads targeted to their previous location.
Proximity to Tourist Destinations:
If you’re near an airport, Disney World, cruise terminals, or other large tourist destinations, tourists might see your ads much more frequently.
Provide us with this information so we can exclude these areas and limit these occurrences as much as possible.
Need Help?
If you have further questions or need assistance with your targeting, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help optimize your ad campaigns and improve lead accuracy.
