How To See Google AdWords Shown In Other Countries

[spunkino]

We advertise for the US and UK markets. Of course we can only see the Google serps and sponsored links based on our IP address which is US based.

In order to advertise effectively we need to be able to view the sponsored links that show if you searched from a UK IP address.

Anybody know how we can get Google to show us the serps as though we were viewing it from the UK?

Thanks

[Shmuel]

Go to http://www.google.co.uk/. That should give you what youa re looking for.

[spunkino]

Thanks for your reply, however, thats what we found that does not work. If we visit google.uk, the system still skews the results because we are in the USA. We do not see UK sponsored links either because our IP says we are American and so serves American sponsored links.

Google works like this for other countries, maybe all of them. We were in Italy a few weeks ago and tried to access google.com but still got Italian results.

We wre looking to be able to log into google.co.uk and have goole think we are at a UK IP address.

At the moment we can use people who are actually based in the UK but this is not suitable in the long term.

[Russian]

Type in your query as usal, then at the end of SERP URL add: &gl=uk

This should do it. If you wanted to look at results for say Germany or Australia you would simply replace the uk with de or au

[abbottsys]

Type in your query as usual, then at the end of SERP URL add: &gl=uk
Yes, I've used this gl command (global locator) often and it works well. Plus, here's the list of ISO country codes:
http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/02iso-3166-code-lists/list-en1.html

[spunkino]

Works Great

Thanks for your help!

[AussieWebmaster]

Missed this one somehow ... great help there guys (Russian and abbot)

[AdWordsRep]

Anybody know how we can get Google to show us the serps as though we were viewing it from the UK?I'll have some really exciting news on this topic, folks - as early as next week. :)

I think you'll like it. After four years with AdWords, I still get excited by new stuff, and I'm pretty jazzed.

Shamless plug: Keep an eye on the Inside AdWords blog (@ http://adwords.blogspot.com/) too, if you don't want to count on me. ;)

AWR

[theRealAirness]

That may be tought to do. The ad should behave the same as UK.

[integramed]

I'll have some really exciting news on this topic, folks - as early as next week. :)

So, Google's homepage will allow you to specify a "search origin" location, irrespective of your actual physical location? And this specifier could be any country, or a region within a country (such as a ZIP in the US)? So, you can travel the world virtually, doing searches as though you were located anywhere? Of course I'm just guessing, but anything less than this will now be a let down ;-)

[leonus]

when you are done with all the genius ideas simply download and install adsense preview tool here https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/answer.py?answer=10005

[integramed]

when you are done with all the genius ideas simply download and install adsense preview tool here https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/answer.py?answer=10005

Yes, this tool has geo-target preview features, but I believe it's only for the Content Channel. Am I wrong? We're interested in the Search Channel.

[leonus]

http://www.google.co.uk/sponsoredlinks

[AussieWebmaster]

That link works for me

[integramed]

I'll have some really exciting news on this topic, folks - as early as next week. :)

I think you'll like it. After four years with AdWords, I still get excited by new stuff, and I'm pretty jazzed.

Shamless plug: Keep an eye on the Inside AdWords blog (@ http://adwords.blogspot.com/) too, if you don't want to count on me. ;)

AWR

AWR - what happened? Did I miss the news?

[AdWordsRep]

I'll have some really exciting news on this topic, folks - as early as next week.AWR - what happened? Did I miss the news? Thanks for the interest. :)

The week isn't over yet! And I'm still quite hopeful. I'll be watching the Inside AdWords blog, and I'll let you know when to visit (not that you wouldn't want to visit every day or so, anyway...).

AWR

[AdWordsRep]

AWR - what happened? Did I miss the news? Ok, please check the Inside AdWords blog now. I hope you'll like the news. :)

Just to make it easy, here's the link: http://adwords.blogspot.com/

AWR

[helen]

Thank you. Really.

Are the search results also representative of what a person in that location would see?

[AdWordsRep]

Are the search results also representative of what a person in that location would see? A good question helen, and the short answer is 'Yes'.

Here's a longer and more detailed answer: You will see the same ads that someone searching in your chosen area would see, in the moment that you do the search.

It's always been the case that different ads could show from one search the next, because of a number of factors such as daily budget, scheduled times for ad delivery, ad rotation, and so on.

With that as a given, when you use the Preview tool you'll see the same ads that searchers in your specified area would see at the time of your search.

AWR

[httpd]

Does this work? The Google AdWords International Search Tool:

shareup.com/dc/swres.html

[abbottsys]

Why do we need the adtest parameter? For example, to see camping tents ads in chicago can't we just use:

http://www.google.com/search?q=camping+tents&gr=US-IL&gcs=Chicago

This method is identical to the gl (country) parameter method we've been using for a while. Google has simply extended it by adding the gr and gcs parameters. Very helpful. Where do we find documentation of *all* these search parameters?

[cuzco]

I'll have some really exciting news on this topic, folks - as early as next week. :)

AWR
well that was worth the wait :eek:
so the exciting news is if i want to see my ads in another county i can append &gl= to the search query

The same as i've been able to do with sponsored results for a long time http://www.google.co.uk/sponsoredlinks?hl=en&q=useless&gl=us

if i want to see the ads on page 2 or 3 i have to append the code again, perform another search append the code again. Crap! :mad:

Can someone write a tool that shows all ads for keyword in one go and remembers your country setting - cheers

[integramed]

Can someone write a tool that shows all ads for keyword in one go and remembers your country setting - cheers

This could *easily* be done by writing a screen scraper that utilizes the gl, gr and gcs search parameters. But, I think Google frowns on screen scrapers. However, I do find this new feature useful. Here's an example..

I'm in New York, but I'm running a set of radius targeted campaigns for our clinics around the country (we're in the IVF business - in vitro fertilization). Each campaign is targeted in a 75 mile radius of a local office. So, how do I check all these ads from New York? No problem. For example, to check my Chicago clinic I just construct a search request for keyword ivf as below and then click it. Bingo, I see what the Chicago folks are seeing.

http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gr=US-IL&gcs=Chicago

The bigger question of course is how many of these search parameters are there? And where are they documented?

[helen]

A good question helen, and the short answer is 'Yes'.

Here's a longer and more detailed answer: You will see the same ads that someone searching in your chosen area would see, in the moment that you do the search.


What I mean is... can we get a tool to see the *natural* results as they would appear in that location? Using the &gl=&gr= parameters does not show me similar organic results as if I use an IP address based in that location.

Being able to see the ads in a specific location is great, but can we see the organic listings for that location? This would be deeply helpful to me, and others, I think, as well.

[Jonathan Mendez]

you're sharing this with your advertisers! Was that so painful Google?

You've had this abiity to do this for what, two years?

[AdWordsRep]

well that was worth the wait
so the exciting news is if i want to see my ads in another county i can append &gl= to the search query

The same as i've been able to do with sponsored results for a long time http://www.google.co.uk/sponsoredli...q=useless&gl=us

if i want to see the ads on page 2 or 3 i have to append the code again, perform another search append the code again. Crap! Oh my. ;)

The ticket here is to use the preview tool, rather than the normal Google search. When doing so, seeing following pages is rather straightforward - just use the 'Result page' tool at the bottom of the page. An added advantage of using the preview tool is that impressions are not counted.

Excerpting from the blog post:

...Preview your ads on the search results page that loads or the subsequent pages (click the next link to see more ads on the right-hand side)

The search results and ads are not active, so you can preview at will without accruing impressions or accidental clicks
integramed asked: The bigger question of course is how many of these search parameters are there? And where are they documented? The blog post actually has two links that'll take you to the page below, which will give you the basics -- along with other links to lots of additional info that will answer your question.

How can I be sure my ad is showing in other geographical locations?
https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=44886

u're sharing this with your advertisers! Was that so painful Google?

You've had this abiity to do this for what, two years? Heheh. ;) I do understand your point, Jonathan Mendez, though things are seldom as simple as they seem at first glance.

For example, a tool such as this needs to have resources assigned to it's creation, must be proven to be more important to a greater number of advertisers than any other desirable changes that could be accomplished with those same resources, must be fully supported and robust enough to function with a truly vast amount of traffic, must be created in dozens of languages, must have all documentation created and continually updated in those languages (a work in progress), and so forth.

AWR

[AdWordsRep]

What I mean is... can we get a tool to see the *natural* results as they would appear in that location? Using the &gl=&gr= parameters does not show me similar organic results as if I use an IP address based in that location.

Being able to see the ads in a specific location is great, but can we see the organic listings for that location? This would be deeply helpful to me, and others, I think, as well. Ahhh - understood.

I'll certainly pass that feedback along, helen.

AWR

[Jonathan Mendez]

Heheh. ;) I do understand your point, Jonathan Mendez, though things are seldom as simple as they seem at first glance.

For example, a tool such as this needs to have resources assigned to it's creation, must be proven to be more important to a greater number of advertisers than any other desirable changes that could be accomplished with those same resources, must be fully supported and robust enough to function with a truly vast amount of traffic, must be created in dozens of languages, must have all documentation created and continually updated in those languages (a work in progress), and so forth.

AWR

Well, kudos to the new change of attitude towards customers over at the plex. This is another great example of it. Keep it up.

To your note though, all we are really talking about here are some URL parameters that I know internally you've had and used for a very long time. I'm not buying the resources and importance excuses. All you've done is let the cat out of the bag. Long overdue IMO.

[AdWordsRep]

I'm not buying the resources and importance excuses...Having posted here for a couple of years, and elsewhere for even longer, I long ago realized that much of what I say won't be taken at face value. But, in fact, I'm a very straightforward sort. ;)

AWR

[helen]

Ahhh - understood.

I'll certainly pass that feedback along, helen.

AWR

I would appreciate that AWR - it's hard to tell a client they're on page 1 when they appear on page 6 from their location. All we want is to see the results as the client sees them.

[integramed]

...all we are really talking about here are some URL parameters that I know internally you've had and used for a very long time. I'm not buying the resources and importance excuses. All you've done is let the cat out of the bag. Long overdue IMO.

Yes. I've been looking for documentation on these for a while. Every now and again a few parameters get "revealed", one way or another. They are incredibly useful. But, by documenting them Google would in some way be promising to support them, as third parties build on their existence. Perhaps Google does not want to do that. Perhaps some of the parameters are in test mode, or beta mode, or might just dissapear one day. They are kinda like the crown jewels for Google, since they let third parties request services from the Google infrastructure in ways that, perhaps, Google does not want ;-)

Here's a simple example, a regular (i.e. no "ad tool" or any such thing) search on keyword ivf as though I was in Chicago.
http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gr=US-IL&gcs=Chicago

[Jonathan Mendez]

Perhaps some of the parameters are in test mode, or beta mode, or might just dissapear one day.

Here's a simple example, a regular (i.e. no "ad tool" or any such thing) search on keyword ivf as though I was in Chicago.
http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gr=US-IL&gcs=Chicago

There are numeric parameters at the city level on a global basis. Thousands of them. I have seen and used the list. They've had it for some time.

[AdWordsRep]

This could *easily* be done by writing a screen scraper that utilizes the gl, gr and gcs search parameters. But, I think Google frowns on screen scrapers...That is in fact correct, integramed. ;)

Here's a simple example, a regular (i.e. no "ad tool" or any such thing) search on keyword ivf as though I was in Chicago. I do hope that folks will bookmark the page, and get in the habit of using the ad preview tool - particularly to avoid accruing impressions when checking one's ads.

AWR

[AussieWebmaster]

The sponsored listing check will not count impressions but even a localised search done through the browser will get an impression I thought!!!

[AdWordsRep]

...but even a localised search done through the browser will get an impression I thought!!! Honestly, I'm not quite sure what you meant there - but, bottom line, I've double-checked and have been assured that impressions are not counted when using the preview page.

AWR

[abbottsys]

I do hope that folks will bookmark the page, and get in the habit of using the ad preview tool - particularly to avoid accruing impressions when checking one's ads. AWR

Sorry AWR, no "ad preview tool" for me. I like to use the real thing..
Here's a simple example, a regular (i.e. no "ad tool" or any such thing) search on keyword ivf as though I was in Chicago.
http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gr=US-IL&gcs=Chicago

[dannysullivan]

AdWordsRep, I love having the tool. Kudos. Well, actually, the tool isn't that useful right now. The documentation of the various parameters are. Finally, I can point people at one page explaining how all this works.

For those who simply can't stand the idea of using the tool, take the parameters, slap them on to the end of a regular Google search, and away you go.

Like others, I'd use the tool if it changed. I really appreciate the idea that using it won't generate impressions or clicks, if you hit an ad. Heck, I'll be using this the next time we do an ad clinic at some conference.

My wish list? Turn the parameters into drop down boxes on the preview page. Give me a drop down to narrow by country/region/city/etc where all the values are shown. Let me also either save those settings or bookmark a new URL with them embedded. If you bookmark something like http://www.google.com/search?q=+&adtest=on&gl=us now, you lose the US parameter when you do a search.

I also love love love the idea of seeing organic results as if you were in that country as well. Matt knows I've been more and more concerned about this over time (see Blair "Liar" Linkbomb Highlights Country-Specific Skewing (http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050517-135157)). This is a great opportunity to solve that issue as part of the tool. Make it not just an adtest tool but a country/region preview tool.

The only downside I see is that some people might decide to start using this instead of regular Google. If that becomes a real issue, make it linked to an API key or hobble it in some other way.

I've added a poll on features, to see what others think.

[integramed]

For those who simply can't stand the idea of using the tool, take the parameters, slap them on to the end of a regular Google search, and away you go

Yes indeed. This is my prefered approach. For example, I'm in New York, but if I wanted to search for keyword ivf *as if I were in London* I would use the URL below.

I'm assuming this gives me the real London Organics and Ads i.e. the full London SRP. It certainly looks correct. But can we confirm that. Can someone in London do a regular search for ivf, and then compare it with the one below.

http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gl=uk&gr=GB-ENG&gcs=London
(search for ivf from anywhere worldwide as though you were in London)

[dannysullivan]

It won't necessarily give you the organic same results. I can say that simply because I know that the results are often different between the countries. There's also no way for someone in London to confirm this. They can't see what you saw on your end. You'd need to list the order, then they can tell you on their end :)

[integramed]

It won't necessarily give you the organic same results. I can say that simply because I know that the results are often different between the countries. There's also no way for someone in London to confirm this. They can't see what you saw on your end. You'd need to list the order, then they can tell you on their end :)

Good point. I guess we would need to exchange screen shots to really compare. But, I was wondering if an approximate comparison could be done (by someone in London for example) by simply clicking on the 2 URLs below and comparing SRPs.

http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf
http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gl=uk&gr=GB-ENG&gcs=London

Of course, I just did the same thing here (in New York), and the results were very close.

http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf
http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gr=US-NY&gcs=New+York

So, the bottom line, constructing and using a universal inbound query (such as http://www.google.com/search?q=ivf&gr=US-NY&gcs=New+York for example) *seems* to give accurate results that match the local query. But, we really need to exchange screen shots to confirm.

[ganeshjacharya]

you can use

&gl=US&gr=US-NJ&gcs=Absecon code at the end of the Search Result URL

gl=US (US = ISO Country Code)

gr=US-NY (US-NY = US State Code)
you can change that to US-NY, US-NJ, US-FL etc

gcs=Absecon (City Code)
you can change that to any US cities.

Similar Example for UK

&gl=GB&gr=GB-ENG&gcs=Abingdon

Regards!
Ganesh J. Acharya

We advertise for the US and UK markets. Of course we can only see the Google serps and sponsored links based on our IP address which is US based.

In order to advertise effectively we need to be able to view the sponsored links that show if you searched from a UK IP address.

Anybody know how we can get Google to show us the serps as though we were viewing it from the UK?

Thanks

[hanschee]

Greetings,

I'm new here; found this post via a google search on GL paramenter ;)

Anyone know whether there's something similar for yahoo or msn sponsored search? I like to know what ads are showing on different geo so I can be more creative in my ad copy.

TIA,
Hans