We discovered a useful and useable tool that allows those of us in the online marketing and media fields to view our web content and online ads as local users see them. The GeoSurf™ toolbar is straight-forward, but once you start using it, you just can’t stop. Imagine you live in London, but do some targeted advertising to users in New York. With this toolbar, you simply select that you want to “be” in New York, and you are instantly there, viewing your targeted ads (as well as checking out the competition’s ads).

We recently had the rare opportunity to have a Q&A session with Kfir Moyal, the CEO of BIScience about GeoSurf.

Q: What is GeoSurf?
A: GeoSurf is the toolbar that gives you the local perspective. It is a browser add-on that allows you to select a country or US Demographic Market Area and view any site as if you are browsing from that location.

Q: How does it work?
A: We own servers in over 70 global locations and the simple interface of the toolbar allows you to use those servers to surf the web. Once you install the toolbar either on Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Firefox for Mac, you simply select the desired location from a pull-down list and click “Apply.” In seconds, you are surfing as if you are in that location. As soon as you are ready for a new location, you simply select it from the list and “apply.” It’s really easy.
In this way, our customers see how their sites (or ads, games, applications, etc.) appear in different parts of the world. They can also use GeoSurf to research new areas to target.
You can watch this video demo to see how easy it is:


Q: I used to do that with a free proxy or a service like Hide My Ass. Why GeoSurf?
A: Well, it depends on what your needs are. Free proxies often use hacked servers so they tend to be slow and unreliable. They sometimes “steal” your information or filter the content you see to show their own advertising. We have heard from customers who previously used services like Hide My Ass that these are better suited for consumers who want to hide their IP. GeoSurf offers more than three times the global locations, our servers are much quicker, our interface is much friendlier . . . in short, GeoSurf is a professional tool for QA and research.
We also offer tools to monitor and interact with web content as if you are an iphone, Android, or WAP user. We have a way to monitor and interact with non-web applications as a local user as well.

Q: Which countries and cities are included?
A: We are consistently adding more locations. As of now, the 59 countries included are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam.
We also offer these 18 high-value US metro areas: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis.

Q: How can we be sure it is secure?
A: Because we own all of the servers on our network, third parties cannot access our users’ information. We constantly maintain and upgrade our network to ensure the latest technology for keeping your information safe. Also, we are not a fly-by-night operation. Our vision is long-term. Our process is transparent. Our founders have been involved in different sectors of the online media business for many years and understand the imperativeness of absolute privacy and security. Many reputable and respectable companies use GeoSurf and would gladly vouch for the authenticity and the integrity of our company and our team.
We are confident in our infrastructure and our capacity to protect our customers. In fact, we sign legally binding agreements to this effect that protect our customers’ privacy.

Q: Can you tell us about some of your customers?
A: I can tell you about the ones who have given us permission as our customers’ privacy is an integral part of our business. Here are some testimonials that some of them have written about us:
“GeoSurf allows us to see exactly what ads are displayed on our sites in our most important countries. We can see which ads aren’t good for our brand as well as those that are incompliant or contain liability.” eBuddy
“With GeoSurf we are able to replicate user experience on social sites like facebook from anywhere in the world” Noman Ali, CEO & Co-founder, Peanut Labs
“With Geosurf, we can build truly global applications and experience our games as users from every corner of the world.” Q Wang, Director of Product, Playfish
“Geosurf, although expensive, is a solid one-stop solution that will probably be worth your while if you require a multi-country proxy”. Pieter Kooyman, Director of Advertising, Miniclip
“Finally we found a safe & secure tool that allows us to surf the net from all over the world” Sid Fein, SVP Technology, CPX Interactive

Q: How can we try it?
A: You can get a free 5-day trial on our website, www.geosurf.com/. The free trial does require a credit card number, but the credit card does not get charged whatsoever if you do not continue past the 5 days.

Q: How much does it cost if we want to continue?
A: There are several packages available depending on your needs. Our packages start from just $29 a month. I have to be honest; this is not the cheapest service available. As you mentioned before, some people are quite happy using even a free proxy service. But if you try our product and agree, as most of those who try it do, that it is simply a superior service, the charge is minimal compared to the value of the time and aggravation it will save you.

Q: Do you use affiliates?
A: We do! We are set up through Clickbank and welcome new affiliates and their feedback on our program.

Q: In conclusion, what would you say is the best feature of GeoSurf?
A: Wow, that’s a hard one! A lot of our customers tell us that it is the time they save because of the toolbar’s easy-to-use interface, but I would have to say that I think that the guarantee of privacy and security is equally important to all of us in this business.