Amongst many things, e-commerce businesses also need data from restricted locations. Useful market data from any part of the internet can be beneficial for e-commerce brands and can even give them a competitive advantage. But this data, as we all know, are not always available. It gets even worse when a brand is located in a geo-restricted area.
Geo-Restricted Content with Proxies
Brands that find themselves in situations like this do not simply give up on trying to source for this data; instead, they find a way to overcome geo-restrictions and access the data they need to grow their businesses. One way businesses can overcome this hurdle and access geo-restricted content is through the use of proxies.
What is a proxy?
A proxy is defined as an intermediary tool that provides a gateway between an internet-enabled device and the internet. It is usually implemented between end-users and the web and allows for a fast and smooth communication flow.
You can think of a proxy as a computer on the internet with millions of internet protocol (IP) addresses. So that whenever you request the internet, the proxy can choose and use any of its IP addresses instead of using yours. This masking of your IP is important for anonymity which itself is vital for performing several web activities, including web scraping.
The proxy performs other key functions such as providing you with extra security, helping to relieve the server of unnecessary traffic while boosting server performance, and helping you access geo-restricted content.
How does proxy work?
All proxies (and, in this case, forward proxies) work using the same basic principle. They go into the vast web on behalf of the client, with their IP addresses, extract the requested data, and return it in a readable format.
The process through which they do this can be explained below:
- The client makes a request to the internet to extract information
- The request is routed via a proxy which may or may not make adjustments to the request
- The proxy takes the request to the target server using its IP
- The proxy extracts a response from the webserver, translates it, then forwards it to the computer’s browser.
Main reasons why businesses need to access geo-restricted content
Geo-restricted content is a type of data found on a server which a business is not allowed to access. Sometimes a host platform or server places restrictions on devices from particular geographical locations. These restrictions generally prevent anyone in those locations from accessing their content.
But brands need data, and, in many cases, this can be geo-restricted content. Below are the main reasons why businesses sometimes need to access geo-restricted content:
- To monitor their brand assets in certain regions to prevent theft;
- To monitor their competitions in other parts of the world;
- To gather user data that could be useful in new market penetration;
- For lead generation and price monitoring and analysis.
Accessing geo-restricted content: using proxies vs. using other options
The following are some of the ways you can gain access to geo-restricted content:
- Through the use of proxies
Using a proxy to access content is as simple as opening the proxy server and typing in the URL of the target website. For example, let’s talk about the use of a Japanese proxy. Proxies work fine for accessing restricted websites, and a brand in a forbidden location trying to access Japanese content could easily use a Japanese proxy to gain access.
Many proxy service providers even offer millions of IP addresses and rotate them constantly to prevent the target server from ever recognizing an address or blocking it. Aside from being easy to use, proxies also come in various types and allow multiple functionalities.
- Through the use of VPN
Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the software you can easily install on your device to help you access restricted websites. Once installed, a VPN allows you to route all your requests through it, and it uses its IP address to connect with the target website. This means that your connections are always remote and redirected.
Even though VPN connections are always encrypted, anyone looking at your connections can quickly tell you are using a VPN. The VPN can then be blocked, which means your requests can be blocked as well.
- Through the use of the Tor browser
The Onion Router (Tor) is open-source software that can be used to sneak past different internet restrictions. The software works by placing several layers of encryption around your connections. This makes it impossible for the servers to tell exactly where you are trying to access their content.
People use Tor and consider it a powerful software for ensuring privacy, especially for individuals. However, Tor is generally slow and may lack a good customer support system mainly because it is an open-source project designed and managed by volunteers.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why brands may need to access restricted content, including using it for the price, brand, and competition monitoring, and breaking into new markets. And while there are many ways to beat geo-restrictions, we still believe that using proxies is the most effective way.
Unlike VPNs, proxy service providers usually offer millions of proxy addresses and hardly get blocked. Unlike the Tor browser, proxies are fast and come with excellent customer support when purchased from reliable providers.
