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Shield Your Google Ads: Mastering IP Address Blocking

January 3, 2024
5 min read

In a world where Google handles 8.5 billion daily searches, it's a marketer's haven, connecting with a vast audience globally. However, the surge in ad fraud poses a threat to advertisers using paid ads. This is where the art of IP address blocking becomes vital, acting as the first line of defense against unwanted traffic.

Table of Contents:

  1. Importance of Blocking IP Addresses
  2. Manual IP Address Blocking in Google Ad
  3. Limitations of Manual Blockin
  4. Automated Click Fraud Detection Software

Importance of Blocking IP Addresses:

Fake traffic in paid marketing is on the rise, with businesses losing an average of 5.9% of their ad budget to fake clicks. Blocking IP addresses is crucial for various reasons:

  • Repetitive Clicks: Prevent competitors or malicious entities from draining your ad budget with repeated clicks.
  • Bot Traffic and Click Farms: Block non-genuine ad interactions from bots and click farms by excluding their IP addresses.
  • Paid-to-Click (PTC) Sites: Avoid low-quality traffic from PTC sites by blocking IP addresses associated with them.
  • Enhanced Analytics Accuracy: Ensure accurate data for informed decision-making by blocking suspicious IP addresses.

Manual IP Address Blocking in Google Ads:

Taking swift action is key to protecting Google Ads campaigns. Follow these steps for manual IP address blocking:

  1. Identify Suspicious IP Addresses: Monitor website traffic for unusual patterns in Google Analytics.
  2. Access Google Ads Account: Go to ads.google.com and navigate to the "Campaigns" icon.
  3. Choose Specific Campaign: Select the campaign you want to block IP addresses from
  4. Access Campaign Settings: Click on the settings icon (Admin Icon) and choose "Additional settings."
  5. Expand IP Exclusions: Click to expand the "IP exclusions" section.
  6. Enter IP Addresses: Input the IP addresses you want to block.
  7. Save Changes: Click "Save" to apply the changes.

Additional Tips for Manual Blocking:

  • Use Wildcards for IP Address Ranges: Employ wildcards like (*) to block entire IP address ranges.
  • Be Careful with Wildcards: Exercise caution to avoid excluding real users with incorrect wildcards.
  • Leverage Third-Party IP Exclusion Lists: Explore using lists maintained by cybersecurity services for additional protection.
  • Consider Ad Fraud Protection Services: For a substantial volume of IP addresses, these services efficiently identify and exclude fraudulent clicks.

Limitations of Manual Blocking:

While manual IP address blocking is effective, it has limitations. It takes time to track and identify fraudulent IP addresses, potentially impacting your ad budget. Identifying suspicious patterns can be tricky, and sophisticated bots can bypass manual blocking using proxies and VPNs.

Automated Click Fraud Detection Software:

Unlike manual processes, automated software operates swiftly, detecting and blocking fraudulent IP addresses efficiently. The advantages include:

  • Efficiency: Automated systems eliminate the need for time-consuming tracking, catching fraudulent traffic sources before they interact with your ad.
  • Detection of Sophisticated Bots: Advanced software can identify and block bots and click farms using proxies and VPNs.
  • Tapper’s Solution: Tapper’s solution combines several thousand behavioral tests, efficiently blocking suspicious activities without excluding real users.

Conclusion:

While manual IP address blocking is a valuable step, automated click fraud detection software provides enhanced efficiency and comprehensive protection. Tapper offers a free 14-day trial., integrating seamlessly with Google Ads to save your ad budget and enhance campaign performance. Try it today!

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