It has become abundantly clear that not all online information is equally accessible to all internet users. Many streaming platforms, for instance, have different content selections for users from different areas. Some social media platforms might have different features available for all global users.
However, it’s not only entertainment content with limited, region-specific availability. Many business and e-commerce websites, industry news websites, and more will have limitations on which users are given access to which types of content – if they’re given access at all.
It can seriously impede your data collection and analysis, preventing you from making informed business decisions that can push your company forward.
To develop comprehensive tactics and strategies for success, you’ll need to learn how to overcome these limitations, and the best way to do it is with the help of a US proxy tool.
How geo-restrictions affect your data collection processes
Geo-restrictions are nothing more than a nuisance for the average internet user. However, for businesses, they are an essential issue that needs to be solved.
Websites that use them use location information to limit or prevent users from accessing their content. Most commonly, geo-blocks will fall under specific national borders. Therefore, users from different geographic regions or countries might not have access to the same information on the same website.
Sites rely on users’ IP address information to restrict or prevent access in such a way. IP addresses are assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and contain rough location information revealed to websites as soon as you access them.
For example, suppose you connect to a website with an IP address provided by an ISP belonging to Australia. In that case, the website will immediately know your approximate location and (if it uses geo-restrictions) curate the type of data you can collect from it.
It’s obvious why this could pose problems for your data collection. Instead of being able to collect accurate, relevant information, you’d only have access to the content the website wants you to have access to.
If you’re coming from Australia and trying to gauge accurate prices in the US, for example, you’d be shown prices relevant to Australia, not the US. That’s if you’re even shown any such data at all.
Therefore, overcoming geo-restrictions should be your top priority if you need to conduct any type of research relevant to your business.
Overcoming geo-restrictions with the help of proxies
As mentioned, websites primarily use your IP address to gain insights into the rough geographic region where your traffic is coming from. In a nutshell, that means that changing your IP will change the restrictions imposed by the website.
Of course, that’s often easier said than done. As soon as you connect to your WiFi network, you’ll be given an IP address that identifies your device and its location. You’ll still have the same location even if you restart your network (or your device). Your IP location will only change when you change location. That’s where proxies come in.
Proxy providers have servers around the world that you can connect to. Proxies are intermediaries that sit between you and the websites you’re visiting. They take over your information requests, forward them to the website, then relay the website’s response back to you.
Once you establish a connection with a proxy server, any traffic from your device will be routed through your chosen server. When routing your traffic, these servers will hide your IP address, give you a new one from any location you choose, and unlock restricted access.
The key is choosing a server in the location you want.
So, for instance, let’s say you’re from Australia and want to access a restricted US-based website and have it think that your traffic is coming from the US. You can simply bypass restrictions with a US proxy and route all the following traffic through it.
The benefits of using a US proxy
US proxies are powerful tools that can give you access to any type of content that’s available to users coming from the US. Regardless of where you’re located, you can browse the net and collect data as if you were from the US.
It can prove to be indispensable to businesses as it simplifies critical processes, such as:
- Market research;
- E-commerce monitoring;
- Price comparison and monitoring;
- Ad verification;
- Copyright infringement monitoring;
- SERP data collection.
With a US proxy, it doesn’t matter where your traffic is coming from. As far as any sites you’re visiting are concerned, your traffic is coming from the US, and you’ll see all the information available to US users.
Conclusion
A powerful proxy is a necessary tool in every business’s arsenal. It helps you bypass geo-restrictions with the utmost ease, unlocks access to any site’s contents, and gives you access to the latest, most accurate, and relevant data.
