Here are some possible reasons. Also, we've listed some things you can do (or we already do) to help ensure that you receive the most relevant clicks possible:
1. A user's IP address is mapped outside his or her actual location.
- Example: The user might be located in Santiago but his or her Internet Protocol (IP) address is housed on a server in Buenos Aires. If you target Buenos Aires, this user might see your ads (even if the user is physically located in Santiago).
- Solution: Internet service providers (ISPs) determine the IP address a user is assigned. In some cases a user may be assigned an IP address for a region other than where they are physically located. Unfortunately we can't determine which cases are incorrect, or change the assignment, but we do expose the name of your targeted region below your ad text to help prevent irrelevant clicks on your ads.
2. A user outside your targeted area specifically searches for something Google knows is in your targeted area.
- Example: You might choose to target a specific city, but a user outside the region may include that city in their search while looking for something related to your ad or business. In this case, this user might see your ads (even if the user is physically located outside the target city).
- Solution: We've developed this system for your benefit so you reach as many people looking for your goods or services as possible. However, if you find that your clicks aren't producing the results you expected, you might try refining your ad text and keywords.
3. Your targeted area may be larger than you intended and therefore correctly includes more users.
- Solution: Narrow the focus of your region. Or, you may want to choose customized targeting instead of regional targeting.
4. You target the country/territory level and users search with the matching country-specific Google domain.
- Example: For example, if your campaign targets France, a user with a Spanish IP address may see your ad on Google.fr (Google's French domain).
- Solution: If you don't want your ad showing on a country-specific domain to users outside of your targeted country, you can change your campaign's location targeting from the country/territory option to the regional or customized option.
Returning to our previous example, rather than target your campaign to the country of France, you can target all the regions in France. You'll be reaching the same audience, but your ad won't show on Google.fr to users with IP addresses outside of your selected French regions.
If you're concerned about receiving clicks outside of your desired region, you may want to exclude certain areas from seeing your ad. Learn how to exclude certain areas in your targeted locations. Learn more about targeting your ads.
If this does not answer your question, please contact us.
