Tricks of the (Search Engine) Trade
You look online for lots of things, say “CLEAR internet providers in my area” or “What color is the new black?” but did you know that information is stored and used to help search engines better tailor results to your lifestyle? Here are a few of the ways your internet’s being personalized that you might not even notice
Personalized Ads: If you’re a Gmail user like so many others you may have noticed oddly specific ads at the top of the page for items you need. The trick is that your emails are being scanned for pertinent information so if you’re writing about having a baby expect to see strollers being advertised to you.
Personalized Results: Have you ever noticed when you search for “Thai Food” you automatically get restaurants in your city? That’s because search engines use your IP address to pinpoint your location and serve you results that are likely more pertinent to your area. Just a trick of the trade.
Landing Pages: Oftentimes websites will have specific landing pages for specific customersnew customers get the flashy sale page whereas returning customers get a loyalty program page. It’s all tied back into that IP address.