Geo-Targeting Links: How to Redirect Users by Country or Region
Running international campaigns? A single link that sends everyone to the same page wastes opportunities. Geo-targeting links automatically redirect users to different destinations based on their location, ensuring every visitor sees the most relevant content.
In this guide, you'll learn how geo-targeting links work and how to set them up for your campaigns.
What Are Geo-Targeting Links?
A geo-targeting link (also called a geo redirect or location-based redirect) detects a visitor's location and sends them to a URL specific to their country, region, or city. Instead of managing multiple links for different markets, you use one smart link that handles the routing automatically.
For example, a single link could redirect:
- US visitors to yoursite.com/us
- UK visitors to yoursite.com/uk
- German visitors to yoursite.de
- Everyone else to yoursite.com/international
Why Use Geo-Targeting Links?
Localized landing pages: Show visitors content in their language with local pricing, shipping info, and payment options.
App store routing: Send iOS users to the App Store and Android users to Google Play, with the correct regional store for their country.
Compliance and licensing: Some content or products can only be shown in specific regions due to licensing restrictions or regulations.
Regional promotions: Run country-specific offers without creating separate campaigns for each market.
Reduced bounce rates: Users who land on relevant, localized content are more likely to engage and convert.
How to Create a Geo-Targeting Link
Setting up location-based redirects in Linkly takes just a few steps:
Step 1: Create Your Base Link
- 1Log into Linkly
- 2Click Create Link
- 3Enter your default destination URL (the fallback for unmatched locations)
- 4Customize your short URL or use a custom domain
Step 2: Add Location Rules
- 1In the link editor, find the Geo Redirects section
- 2Click Add Rule
- 3Select a country (or multiple countries)
- 4Enter the destination URL for that location
- 5Repeat for each location you want to target
For detailed setup instructions, see our geo redirect guide and location redirects documentation.
Step 3: Set Your Default Destination
The default URL catches all visitors who don't match your rules. This might be:
- Your main international site
- An English-language version
- A page asking users to select their region
Geo-Targeting Options
Linkly supports multiple levels of location targeting:
| Level | Example | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States, Germany, Japan | Language/currency localization |
| Region/State | California, Bavaria, Ontario | Regional compliance or offers |
| City | New York, London, Sydney | Hyper-local campaigns |
You can also combine geo-targeting with device targeting to create rules like "US + iPhone = App Store US" or "UK + Android = Play Store UK."
Real-World Use Cases
International E-commerce
An online retailer uses one link in their global Instagram bio:
- US visitors go to the .com store with USD pricing
- EU visitors go to the .eu store with EUR pricing and GDPR-compliant checkout
- Australian visitors go to the .com.au store with local shipping options
Mobile App Promotion
A SaaS company promoting their mobile app shares one link:
- US iOS users → App Store (US)
- US Android users → Play Store (US)
- UK iOS users → App Store (UK)
- UK Android users → Play Store (UK)
Learn more about app redirects in our documentation.
Affiliate Marketing
An affiliate promoting a product available on multiple regional Amazon stores:
- US clicks → Amazon.com affiliate link
- UK clicks → Amazon.co.uk affiliate link
- German clicks → Amazon.de affiliate link
This maximizes commission potential by keeping users in their local marketplace.
Content Licensing
A media company with region-locked video content:
- Allowed regions → Video page
- Restricted regions → "Not available in your region" page with alternatives
Best Practices for Geo-Targeting
Always set a default destination. Not all IP addresses can be accurately geolocated. Your fallback should provide a good experience for edge cases.
Test your rules. Use a VPN to verify that each country redirects correctly before launching your campaign.
Consider user experience. If someone wants to access a different region's site (expats, travelers), provide a way to override the automatic redirect.
Combine with analytics. Linkly's click tracking shows you exactly which countries are clicking, helping you identify new markets to target.
Use with UTM parameters. Add UTM tags to your destination URLs to track which geo-segments perform best in Google Analytics.
Tracking Geo-Targeted Link Performance
Every click on your geo-targeted link is tracked with full analytics:
- Click volume by country: See which markets generate the most traffic
- Device breakdown: Understand mobile vs. desktop usage by region
- Conversion tracking: Connect with retargeting pixels to measure downstream performance
- Time-based patterns: Identify peak hours in different time zones
You can export this data as CSV for deeper analysis or integrate with your analytics stack via the Linkly API.
Geo-Targeting vs. Manual Regional Links
| Approach | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Manual (separate links per region) | Simple setup | Multiple links to manage, harder to share |
| Geo-targeting (one smart link) | Single URL, automatic routing | Requires setup, slight redirect delay |
For most international campaigns, geo-targeting is the clear winner. One link is easier to share, remember, and track.
Conclusion
Geo-targeting links let you deliver personalized experiences to a global audience without the complexity of managing dozens of regional URLs. Whether you're localizing e-commerce, routing app downloads, or running international campaigns, location-based redirects ensure every visitor lands in the right place.
Ready to go global with one link? Get started with Linkly and create geo-targeting links that automatically adapt to your audience's location.