Geo-blocking is used to prevent access to websites that advertise actions that are prohibited. As part of their traffic shaping strategy, ISPs (internet service providers) utilize geo-blocking. They use it to limit the internet as a way to manage bandwidth and reduce network traffic congestion.
Although geo-restrictions aren’t necessarily negative, they might make it difficult for businesses. International businesses and online businesses around the world need to conduct market research. This helps them to optimize their offers.
What is Geo-Blocking?
The practice of geo-blocking limits access to online material based on your location. Usually, these limitations extend to international borders.
Your Internet Protocol (IP) address is used to locate you using geo-location technology to perform geo-blocking. Like your home address, your IP address serves as a generic location indicator. Geo-blocking is implemented and you are unable to access a certain website. This happens when your IP address is associated with a region or nation where that site’s content should be restricted.
Your device’s IP address, however, fluctuates based on your location and ISP, unlike a home address. Your ISP provides you with an IP address, and that IP address contains geographic information. There can be geo-restrictions that apply based on your IP. Here is more information on public and private IP addresses.
What is Market Research?
The process of acquiring, evaluating, and interpreting data on a product or service that will be sold in that market, is known as market research.
For a product or service to sell itself, market research’s goal is to know and comprehend the client as well as possible.
Building a successful business starts with having accurate information and market insights. Market insights give the company the proper perspective to develop goods and services that the market demands. The online market research process is discussed below.
- Primary Study: It allows you to speak to the audience directly to gather information from them.
- Secondary Analysis: All of the publicly accessible data can be used in secondary research to determine your target market.
The following are the objectives of online market research:
- · Recognize the target audience:
- · Recognize consumer behavior
- · Look for business possibilities and analyze purchasing trends
Benefits of Bypassing Geo-Blocking for Market Research
1. For Competitor Analysis
It’s challenging to launch a new business or product in a small market. Understanding local rules and adjusting the offer to local rates are the most important factors. To ensure that you present your request in the best light possible, it is crucial to observe how competitors carry out their business.
2. For Ease of Market Analysis
Making wise decisions when operating an internet business requires conducting market research. You should fine-tune your offer to make it appealing to buyers both visually and aurally. Without being aware of what the market is now demanding, you cannot accomplish this.
3. For Privacy
Almost everyone in the web connection chain may see your IP address and location and the websites you visit. During online market research, your privacy may be jeopardized if that information is accessed.
The same techniques used for circumventing geo-blocking also assist in hiding your true location and IP address. This helps to protect your privacy while conducting market research. Your IP address determines your location, which affects geo-blocking.
4. To Avoid Cookies
Websites use cookies to track visitors and gather information about their actions. Cookies assist websites in gathering information about user behavior and geographic location.
Cookies may also be employed to filter the material you see. They help you browse more easily by saving your preferences (like language). However, cookies also have other uses.
5. To Unblock Content
Geo-blocking is used by some nations to limit access to particular websites that the government deems offensive. Unblocking these contents can aid market research
How to Bypass Geo-Blocking
You may visit your favorite websites by getting around geo-blocking in several ways. All of the following techniques assist in masking your IP address.
1. Proxy servers
Between you and the server hosting the content you want to access, a proxy server works as a mediator. A proxy server, as the name implies, acts in your place to access the information and provide it to you. You can get around geo-blocking if your proxy server is situated in another nation.
Different proxy server types provide varying degrees of browsing anonymity. UK proxy IPs can help conceal your IP address. You can use your browser to directly visit many web-based proxy servers.
Contrary to several other methods of bypassing geo-blocking, proxy servers are frequently cost-free. However, using a free proxy server can jeopardize your privacy; therefore, use caution.
2. Virtual Private Network (VPN)
To ensure that your data is kept secret, a VPN (a virtual private network) hides your IP address and encrypts your connection. VPNs can assist you in getting around geo-blocks and other content restrictions. It does this by routing your traffic through a server located somewhere else in the world.
VPNs are entirely lawful. With VPN encryption, you can access the material you love while also enhancing the security of your browsing.
3. SmartDNS
For individuals who only want to get around geo-blocking without any other security measures, SmartDNS is a fantastic choice. Your DNS requests are routed through a distant server by this method. Like a VPN, it does not encrypt all of your internet traffic or disguise your IP address.
Instead, SmartDNS masks your DNS address and enables you to view any geo-restricted content that is made available. Furthermore, compared to a VPN, SmartDNS typically offers a faster internet connection.
4. Tor browser
Another method to get around geo-blocking is the Tor browser. Tor browser is a specialized browser that joins the Tor network. A Tor network is a collection of nodes that cooperate to route your connection. It routes it between them and your destination site to conceal your online behavior.
The so-called onion routing method is used by the Tor network. It ensures user information remains anonymous by encrypting it numerous times. As a result of the additional time required to pass through these additional layers, this may cause a slow internet connection.
Conclusion
While conducting market research it is important to have access to a lot of online content. You can access blocked content using the geo-blocking subversion techniques discussed in this article. Some solutions even provide a free geo-blocking bypass. The best tools to combat geographic blocking with the fewest speed losses are provided by VPNs, and proxies.